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Paleozoic Tectonic Domains of Nevada: an Interpretive Discussion to Accompany the Geologic Map of Nevada

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Paleozoic Tectonic Domains of Nevada: an Interpretive Discussion to Accompany the Geologic Map of Nevada Paleozoic tectonic domains of Nevada: An interpretive discussion to accompany the geologic map of Nevada A. Elizabeth Jones Crafford GeoLogic, 9501 Nettleton Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99507, USA ABSTRACT contain rocks unlike those from the adjacent tectonic domains is to help characterize and dis- margin or other terranes and suggest they are tinguish groups of rocks by the distinct tectonic The Paleozoic geologic history of Nevada far traveled. A change in the plate boundary histories that have (or have not) impacted them. can be viewed in terms of tectonic domains confi guration in the Middle Pennsylvanian Traditional interpretations of Paleozoic tec- derived from the newly interpreted digi- led to the development of a new margin that tonic events in Nevada have primarily relied tal geologic map of Nevada. These domains refl ected the effects of a new plate boundary on pre-plate tectonic or early plate tectonic reveal that Paleozoic tectonic events were farther to the west. Accretion to the margin ideas of displacement of the Earth’s crust that shaped by complex interactions between the of upper Paleozoic oceanic terranes at the do not necessarily address the complexity of continental margin in Nevada and accreted close of the Paleozoic redefi ned the margin structural and stratigraphic evidence that has terranes outboard of the margin. once again as it changed from a transpres- been observed since they were fi rst proposed Ten domains are described. They include sive accretion regime to a true backarc plate (Brueckner and Snyder, 1985; Burchfi el and lower Paleozoic domains based on paleogeo- tectonic setting in the Mesozoic. East-vergent Davis, 1972, 1975; Burchfi el and Royden, 1991; graphic facies, the Carbonate Shelf, Slope and west-vergent, thick-skinned thrusting Miller et al., 1984; Roberts et al., 1958; Speed, and Basin domains; the Nolan Belt domain, and exhumation coupled with signifi cant 1979; Speed and Sleep, 1982). Specifi cally, a structurally complex domain that includes translation of components of Mesozoic and ideas of terrane accretion and displacement have Precambrian and lower Paleozoic slope and older terranes rearranged the Paleozoic only been applied either very generally to the basin facies rocks; the Dutch Flat domain, rocks of the shelf and earlier accreted ter- Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks within Nevada an Upper Devonian feldspathic sandstone of ranes during Jurassic and Cretaceous time. (Dickinson and Gehrels, 2000; Geissman et exotic origin; an Upper Devonian to Lower Viewing the geologic history of the region al., 1984; Silberling et al., 1987; Silberling et Pennsylvanian siliciclastic Foreland basin in the context of terrane accretion provides al., 1992), or to a few specifi c terranes (Blome domain resting conformably over the Shelf new insight into the complex processes that and Reed, 1995; Darby et al., 2000; Gehrels and domain; the Pennsylvanian and Permian shaped the continental margin of western Dickinson, 2000; Gehrels et al., 2000a; Gehrels siliciclastic and carbonate Antler Overlap North America. et al., 2000b; Gehrels et al., 1995; Harwood domain, which sits unconformably over all of and Murchey, 1990; Jones, 1990; Ketner et al., the older domains; the Golconda domain of Keywords: Nevada, Tectonic, Paleozoic, Ant- 2005; Madden-McGuire and Marsh, 1991a; deformed upper Paleozoic oceanic, carbon- ler, terrane Smith and Gehrels, 1994). The two primary ate and siliciclastic rocks, which is faulted tectonic events of the Paleozoic, the Antler and over the Antler Overlap domain; the upper INTRODUCTION Sonoma orogenies, are discussed in detail in this Paleozoic and Mesozoic volcaniclastic Black paper together with evidence for other less well Rock-Jackson domain; and numerous car- The purpose of this paper is to present a new known Paleozoic tectonic events. The “Antler bonate, siliciclastic, and volcaniclastic Meso- viewpoint of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic geo- Orogeny” (Roberts, 1951) refers to the folding zoic terranes and assemblages that were logic history in Nevada using tectonic domains and faulting of pre-Pennsylvanian rocks that is either accreted to the margin or deposited derived from the newly interpreted digital geo- observed throughout northern Nevada and is unconformably over previously accreted logic map of Nevada (Crafford, 2007). The new generally considered to be Late Devonian and Paleozoic terranes. map provides detailed descriptions of how each Mississippian in age. The “Sonoma Orogeny” Interpretations of these domains defi ne local rock unit or formation was grouped into (Silberling and Roberts, 1962) has been defi ned multiple, distinct, lower Paleozoic tectonic a regional geologic unit. This paper attempts to as a Late Permian to Early Triassic tectonic environments. They suggest that the “Antler group those regional geologic units into tectonic event that deformed Upper Paleozoic oceanic Orogeny” can be reinterpreted as a sequence domains and to discuss the signifi cance of those facies rocks and emplaced them over the Upper of tectonic events involving deformation of domains relative to the geodynamic evolution Paleozoic margin of northern Nevada. the margin and the accretion of multiple ter- of the region. The tectonic domains are each The observations derived from viewing the ranes to the margin over an extended period defi ned by a combination of stratigraphic, litho- Paleozoic and Mesozoic geology of Nevada as from the Late Devonian to the Early Penn- logic, facies, and structural characteristics of the regional tectonic domains pose more questions sylvanian in a complex transpressive tec- regional geologic units, and not generally by than they answer, but they also demonstrate tonic regime. Some of the accreted terranes any single feature. The purpose of creating the that early models of tectonic events affecting Geosphere; Month 2008; v. 4; no. 1; p. 260–291; doi: 10.1130/GES00108.1; 13 fi gures; 1 table; supplementary ArcGIS fi les. 260 For permission to copy, contact [email protected] © 2008 Geological Society of America Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geosphere/article-pdf/4/1/260/3341460/i1553-040X-4-1-260.pdf by guest on 29 September 2021 Paleozoic Tectonic Domains of Nevada Paleozoic rocks in the region can benefi t from history, these assemblages can be recast in the Lower Paleozoic Shelf Domain being analyzed in the context of terrane accre- form of domains that relate in specifi c ways to tion, and that important components of these the tectonic environment where they formed. This domain is defi ned by the sequence of events can be enhanced and updated. Defi ning Domains can be defi ned primarily by the paleo- passive margin carbonate shelf rocks exposed domains helps to provide a spatial context for geographic setting of the rocks (where that can in the eastern half of Nevada (Cook and Cor- the various rock units. How the natures of the be reasonably defi ned), or by groupings of ter- boy, 2004), sitting depositionally on Proterozoic boundaries of the domains are interpreted pro- ranes or assemblages that refl ect a combina- North American basement (Fig. 1). It is dis- vides important constraints on the timing and tion of tectonic setting and specifi c structural tinguished from other tectonic domains by its orientation of tectonic events affecting the dif- history. The pre-Tertiary rocks in Nevada can relative lack of Paleozoic deformation east of ferent domains and the margin. Understanding be grouped into a number of tectonic domains. its western boundary, its well-defi ned carbon- tectonic relations between the various terranes Each domain is defi ned in terms of the rocks ate platform paleogeographic setting, and its and the margin is necessary for the geology included, its spatial extent, the nature of its unequivocal stratigraphic link to the autochtho- to be an effective predictive tool for resource boundaries, and how it was impacted by vari- nous coeval rocks of the Colorado Plateau. exploration and regional tectonic synthesis. ous tectonic events. Ten domains are discussed The terminology “tectonic domain” is below. In this paper, Mesozoic terranes and Rocks explicitly intended to encompass the variety assemblages are grouped into a single domain This domain comprises Devonian through of geologic entities including stratigraphic and are not discussed in detail. Cambrian carbonate shelf facies rocks includ- sequences, assemblages, and terranes, delib- The geologic units described on the new map ing limestone, dolomite, sandstone, shale, and erately utilized and described in detail on (Crafford, 2007) utilize stratigraphic nomen- quartzite. It is very similar to the “eastern assem- the new geologic map (Crafford, 2007); but clature as well as informal assemblages and blage” of Roberts et al. (1958) and the “carbon- it is also meant to distinguish “domains” as terranes. In many cases, there is a one-to-one ate assemblage” of Stewart and Carlson (1978). interpretive groupings derived from the more correlation between an assemblage or terrane The rock units from the map (Crafford, 2007) explicit geologic groupings used on the map. described on the new geologic map, and a tec- that are included in the Lower Paleozoic Shelf On the map, traditional stratigraphic units are tonic “domain” described in this paper. In other domain are the Devonian through Cambrian grouped into sequences; “terrane” is used in cases, a tectonic domain represents a group of units of the Carbonate Shelf Sequence including the classic sense for fault-bounded geologic assemblages or stratigraphic units on the map. the undivided and metamorphosed equivalent entities of regional extent, each characterized The text that accompanies the map describes rocks (Table 1). by a geologic history that is different from the all of the geologic units and their groupings as histories of contiguous terranes (Jones et al., sequences, assemblages, or terranes in detail Extent and Boundaries 1983); and “assemblage” is used for a group (Crafford, 2007), and is not covered in this The extent of the Lower Paleozoic Shelf of related rock units within a terrane, or for paper.
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