Phanerozoic Evolution of North American Continent- Ocean Transitions

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PHANEROZOIC EVOLUTION OF NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT- OCEAN TRANSITIONS

1. Proterozoic N. America, little deformed in Phanerozoic

2. Proterozoic N. America, deformed in Phanerozoic

ancient displaced terranes

4. displacing terranes

n 5. oceanic lithosphere \ \ >

Explorer

Juan de Fuca

Rivera PI passive and other inactive margins active margin era, n 5

Summary Volume to Accompany the DNAG Continent-Ocean Transect Series

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Phanerozoic Evolution of North American Continent-Ocean Transitions

Edited by

Robert C. Speed Department of Geological Sciences Northwestern University Evanston, Illinois 60208

1994

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Publication of this volume, one of the synthesis volumes of The Decade of North American Geology Project series, has been made possible by members and friends of the Geological Society of America, corporations, and government agencies through contributions to the Decade of North American Geology fund of the Geological Society of America Foundation. Following is a list of individuals, corporations, and government agencies giving and/or pledging more than $50,000 in support of the DNAG Project:

Amoco Production Company Pennzoil Exploration and Production ARCO Exploration Company Company Chevron Corporation Phillips Petroleum Company Cities Service Oil and Gas Company Shell Oil Company Conoco, Inc. Caswell Silver Diamond Shamrock Exploration Standard Oil Production Company Corporation Oryx Energy Company (formerly Exxon Production Research Company Sun Exploration and Production Getty Oil Company Company) Gulf Oil Exploration and Production Superior Oil Company Company Tenneco Oil Company Paul V. Hoovler Texaco, Inc. Kennecott Minerals Company Union Oil Company of California Kerr McGee Corporation Union Pacific Corporation and Marathon Oil Company its operating companies: Maxus Energy Corporation Union Pacific Resources Company McMoRan Oil and Gas Company Union Pacific Railroad Company Mobil Oil Corporation Union Pacific Realty Company Occidental Petroleum Corporation U.S. Department of Energy

© 1994 by The Geological Society of America, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data All rights reserved. Phanerozoic evolution of North American continent-ocean transitions / All materials subject to this copyright and included edited by Robert C. Speed, in this volume may be photocopied for the noncommercial p. cm. purpose of scientific or educational advancement. At head of title: The Decade of North American Geology summary volume to accompany the DNAG continent-ocean transect series. ISBN 0-8137-5305-8 Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared 1. Geology, Structural—North America. 2. Continental margins- by government employees within the scope of their -North America. 3. Plate tectonics—North America. 4. Earth- employment. -Crust. I. Speed, Robert C. II. Decade of North American Geology Project. Published by The Geological Society of America, Inc. QE626.P48 1994 3300 Penrose Place, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, Colorado 80301 551.7'0097—dc20 94-15452 CIP Printed in U.S.A.

Cover Photo: Map of North America showing the locations of the continent-ocean transects discussed in this volume.

10 987654321

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Preface v

Foreword vii

NORTH AMERICAN TRANSITIONS AS A WHOLE

1. North American continent-ocean transitions over Phanerozoic time 1

R. C. Speed

EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

2. Transects of the ancient and modern continental margins of eastern Canada 87 R. T. Haworth, C. E. Keen, and H. Williams 3. Continental margin of the eastern United States: Past and present 129 D. W. Rankin

SOUTHERN NORTH AMERICA

4. Crustal structure and evolution of the southeastern margin of North America and the Gulf of Mexico basin 219 R. T. Buffler and W. A. Thomas

5. Phanerozoic tectonic evolution of Mexico 265 F. Ortega-Gutiérrez, R. L. Sedlock, and R. C. Speed

WESTERN NORTH AMERICA

6. Synopsis of geologic history portrayed along Corridor C-3: Southern California borderland-Rio Grande rift 307 D. G. Howell and J. G. Vedder 7. Tectonic evolution of the central U.S. Cordillera: A synthesis of the CI and C2 Continent-Ocean Transects 315 J. B. Saleeby, R. C. Speed, and M. C. Blake

8. Continent-ocean transitions in western North America between latitudes 46 and 56 degrees: Transects Bl, B2, B3 357 J.W.H. Monger, R. M. Clowes, D. S. Cowan, C. J. Potter, R. A. Price, and C. J. Yorath

iii

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NORTHERN NORTH AMERICA

9. Continent-ocean transition in Alaska: The tectonic assembly of eastern Denalia 399 T. E. Moore, A. Grantz, and S. M. Roeske

10. The polar continent-ocean transition in Canada (Corridor G) 443

J. F. Sweeney, U. Mayr, L. W. Sobczak, and H. R. Balkwill

TOPICAL SYNTHESES

11. Rifted continental margins of North America 453 D. S. Sawyer 12. Modern active oceanic margins of North America All R. von Huene and R. Riddihough

Index 489

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The Geology of North America series has been prepared to mark the Centennial of The Geological Society of America. It represents the cooperative efforts of more than 2,000 individuals from academia, state and federal agencies of many countries, and industry to prepare syntheses that are as current and authoritative as possible about the geology of the North American continent and adjacent oceanic regions. This series is part of the Decade of North American Geology (DNAG) Project, which also includes six wall maps at a scale of 1:5,000,000 that summarize the geology, magnetic and gravity anomaly patterns, regional stress fields, thermal aspects, and seismicity of North America and its surroundings. Together, the synthesis volumes and maps are the first co- ordinated effort to integrate all available knowledge about the geology and geophysics of a crustal plate on a regional scale. The products of the DNAG Project present the state of knowledge of the geology and geophysics of North America through the 1980s, and they point the way toward work to be done in the decades ahead.

A. R. Palmer General Editor for the volumes published by The Geological Society of America

J. O. Wheeler General Editor for the volumes published by the Geological Survey of Canada

The focus of this book is the structure and Phanerozoic others; Monger and others; Moore and others); and northern or evolution of the transitional region of the North American conti- Arctic margin (Moore and others; Sweeney and others). nent between its craton and bordering oceanic lithospheres It has become evident in recent years, as discussed in these (Fig. 1). The geological continent of North America here con- chapters, that heterogeneity is much greater than previously rec- sidered includes Canada, the United States except for Hawaii, ognized; that long-distance correlations among rocks, structures, Mexico, and northern Central America. The transitional region is and events are commonly wrong or controversial; and that obli- the part of North America that is peripheral to the craton (zones quity of velocity relative to the strike of the plate boundary zone 2-4, Fig. 1) and has undergone tectonism within a plate bound- is the rule. Nonetheless, the long-recognized diversity of Phaner- ary zone at one or more times in the Phanerozoic. The transi- ozoic evolution among North American margins survives new tional regions that are now active margins provide an understand- data and analysis, and such differences are here employed in a ing of tectonic phenomena that is highly resolved but of short hemispheric synthesis. observational period. In contrast, the ancient margins of North Besides the chapters with tectonic-geographic bases, this America—passive, active, and collisional—provide a long-term book contains topical chapters on modern active and passive tectonic record although one of low resolution in time and space. margins of North America (Von Huene; Sawyer). These synthe- The objectives of this book are an up-to-date synthesis of the size the recent findings of the processes and structures created at main structures in and sequences of passive, active, and collisional modern continent-ocean transitions. margins around Phanerozoic North America; its 600 m.y. history Finally, a chapter on the Phanerozoic continent-ocean tran- of growth and attrition; and interpretations of the processes of sitions of North America as a whole (Speed) offers an attempt to plate boundary tectonics. encapsulate the interactions, similarities, and differences around The restriction of scope of this book to the Phanerozoic eon the margins of the continent. stems from the thought that at the end of Proterozoic time, the North American continent was mostly or wholly embedded BACKGROUND within a supercontinent (Rodinia, McMenamin and McMena- min, 1990). A phase of widespread rifting and drifting at about This book is an outgrowth of a study program on continent- the Proterozoic-Phanerozoic boundary blocked out the North ocean transitions (The Transect Program) begun in about 1980 American continent approximately in its current shape and sur- under the auspices of the U.S. Geodynamics Committee of the face area (Stewart, 1976; Bond and others, 1984). End- U.S. National Academy of Sciences. The ideas for such a study Proterozoic North America thus provides a moderately well-deter- came from John C. Maxwell, then chairman of USGC, and the mined frame of reference with which to gauge the deformations, organization of the program was facilitated by Pembroke C. Hart, motions, additions, and attritions in Phanerozoic time, including permanent coordinator of the USGC. The program expanded via the amalgamation of the transient supercontinent, Pangea. the Canadian Committee on the lithosphere and the Institute of This book is organized by chapters that have a mainly geo- Geology, University of Mexico, to include the whole of North graphic basis. They are divided among regions that traditionally American margins and a group of about 200 geologists and geo- have been thought to have some degree of uniformity of Phaner- physicists. The program received direct support from the National ozoic tectonic evolution. These are the eastern or Appalachian Science Foundation, the Geological Society of America, the Uni- margin (Haworth and others; Rankin), southern or Ouachitan- versity of Mexico, the Geological Survey of Canada, and the U.S. Mexican margin (Buffler and Thomas; Ortega and others), west- Geological Survey as well as indirect support from the many ern or cordilleran margin (Howell and Vedder; Saleeby and institutions of the participants.

vii

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1. Proterozoic N. America, little deformed in Phanerozoic

2. Proterozoic N. America, deformed in Phanerozoic

3. ancient displaced terranes

4. displacing terranes

oceanic lithosphere

5 B

Explorer PI

Juan de Fuca

Rivera PI passive and other — inactive margins

-»-active margin Caribb era n Plate

120° • . Figure 1. Map of North American continent and plate, showing positions of 19 published transects of the Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect Program.

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The program was organized by concentration of study into A-3 Grantz, A., Moore, T. E., and Roeske, S., compilers, 1991, 23 100-km-wide corridors or transects that cross the margin of A-3 Gulf of Alaska to Arctic Ocean: Boulder, Colorado, North America, from craton to bordering oceanic lithosphere Geological Society of America, Centennial Continent- Ocean Transect no. 15,3 sheets with text, scale 1:500,000. where possible (Fig. 1 and Appendix A). The transect positions B-l Yorath, C. J., and 7 others, compilers, 1985, B-l Intermontane were selected in recognition of important problems and by the Belt (Skeena Mountains) to Insular Belt (Queen Charlotte concentration of data, especially of deep seismic profiling. The Islands): Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America, program employed existing data. Each transect was manned by a Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 8, 2 sheets with team of scientists that varied from 3 to 25. text, scale 1:500,000. B-2 Monger, J.W.H., and 5 others, compilers, 1985, B-2 Juan de The principal vehicle for synthesis and interpretation in the Fuca Plate to Alberta Plains: Boulder, Colorado, Geologi- Transects Program was the preparation of graphic displays. These cal Society of America, Centennial Continent-Ocean displays, called Continent-Ocean Transects, focus on tectonic Transect no. 7, 2 sheets with text, scale 1:500,000. cross sections and tectonic event-history diagrams, and include B-3 Cowan, D. S., and Potter, C. J., compilers, 1986, B-3 Juan de related maps, age-based sections, geophysical data profiles, and Fuca Spreading Ridge to Montana Thrust Belt: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America, Centennial explanatory text. The tectonic sections are at 1:500,000 and Continent-Ocean Transect no. 9, 3 sheets with text, scale extend down at least to the Moho. These are published by 1:500,000. the Geological Society of America; Appendix A indicates the C-l Blake, M. C., and 5 others, compilers, 1985, C-l Mendocino transect names and principal authors. The corridor abbreviations Triple Junction to North American craton: Boulder, tie the transects to Figure 1. The tectonic sections of all 23 Colorado, Geological Society of America, Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 12,3 sheets with text, scale transects are compiled at 1:1,000,000 in a separate publication 1:500,000. (Speed, 1991). C-2 Saleeby, J. B., compiler, 1986, C-2 Central California Off- Most of the chapters in this book discuss the principal shore to Colorado Plateau: Boulder, Colorado, Geologi- phenomena that occur in geographic groups of transects and cal Society of America, Centennial Continent-Ocean frame them in a tectonic evolution. The reader will find data and Transect no. 10, 2 sheets with text, scale 1:500,000. C-3 Howell, D. G., and 7 others, compilers, 1985, C-3 Pacific discussion of local structures and tectonics in the individual tran- abyssal plain to the Rio Grande rift: Boulder, Colorado, sect's display sheets. Although each chapter should stand alone, Geological Society of America, Centennial Continent- much insight will be gained by reading the book with the transects Ocean Transect no. 5,3 sheets with text, scale 1:500,000. in hand. D-l Haworth, R. T., Williams, H., and Keen, C. E., compilers, 1985, D-l (West sheet) Grenville Province, Quebec, to Newfoundland: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of R. C. Speed America, Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 1, 1 December 1993 sheet with text, scale 1:500,000. and REFERENCES CITED Keen, C. E., and Haworth, R. T., compilers, 1985, D-l (East Sheet) Rifted margin offshore northeast Newfoundland: Bond, G. C., Nickeson, P. A., and Kominz, M. A., 1984, Breakup of a superconti- Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America, Cen- nent between 625 Ma and 555 Ma: New evidence and implications for tennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 1,1 sheet with text, continental histories; Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 70, p. 325-425. scale 1:500,000. McMenamin, M.A.S., and McMenamin, D.L.S., 1990, The emergence of D-2 Keen, C. E., and Haworth, R. T., compilers, 1985, D-2 animals; the Cambrian breakthrough: New York, Columbia University Transform margin south of Grand Banks: Offshore Press, 217 p. eastern Canada: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of Speed, R. C., 1991, Tectonic section displays, Centennial Continent-Ocean Tran- America, Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 2, 1 sects: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America, 2 sheets with text, sheet with text, scale 1:500,000. scale 1:1,000,000. D-3 Keen, C. E., and Haworth, R. T., compilers, 1985, D-3 Stewart, J. H., 1976, Late Precambrian evolution of North America; Plate tec- Rifted continental margin off Nova Scotia: Offshore tonic implication: Geology, v. 4, p. 11-15. eastern Canada: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America, Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 3, APPENDIX A. BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES 1 sheet with text, scale 1:500,000. FOR PUBLISHED CONTINENT-OCEAN TRANSECTS D-4 Keen, C. E., and Haworth, R. T., compilers, 1985, D-4 Rifted continental margin off Labrador: Boulder, Colo- Speed, R. C., 1991, compiler, Tectonic section displays, Centennial rado, Geological Society of America, Centennial Con- Continent-Ocean Transects: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of tinent-Ocean Transect no. 4, 1 sheet with text, scale America, 2 sheets with text, scale 1:1,000,000. 1:500,000. E-l Thompson, J. B., Jr., Bothner, W. A., Robinson, P., and Transect Reference Klitgord, K. D., compilers, 1993, E-l Adirondacks to corridor Georges Bank: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of A-2 Von Huene, R., and 5 others, compilers, 1985, A-2 Kodiak to America, Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 17,2 Kuskokwim, Alaska: Boulder, Colorado, Geological sheets with text, scale 1:500,000. Society of America, Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect E-3 Glover, L., Ill, Klitgord, K. D., and 15 others, compilers, no. 6,1 sheet with text, scale 1:500,000. 1994, E-3 Southwestern Pennsylvania to Baltimore

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Canyon Trough: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society Centennial Continent-OceanTransect no. 11, 2 sheets of America, Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 19, with text, scale 1:500,000. 2 sheets with text, scale 1:500,000 (in press). H-l Mitre-Salazar, L-M, and Roldan-Quintana, J., compilers, E-4 Rankin, D. W. and 13 others, compilers, 1991, E-4 Central 1990, H-l La Paz to Saltillo, Northwestern and northern Kentucky to the Carolina Trough: Boulder,Colorado, Mexico: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of Amer- Geological Society of America, Centennial Continent- ica, Centennial Continent-Ocean Transect no. 14,2 sheets Ocean Transect no. 16, 2 sheets with text, scale with text, scale1:500,000. 1:500,000. H-3 Ortega-Gutierrez, F., compiler, 1990, H-3 Acapulco Trench E-5 Hatcher, R. D., Jr., and 11 others, compilers, 1994, E-5 to the Gulf of Mexico across Southern Mexico: Boulder, Cumberland Plateau to Blake Plateau: Boulder, Colorado, Colorado, Geological Society of America, Centennial Geological Society of America, Centennial Continent- Continent-Ocean Transect no. 13,1 sheet with text, scale Ocean Transect no. 18,2 sheets with text, scale 1:500,000 1:500,000. (in press). Transects A-l, E-2, F-l, F-2, and H-2 were never completed as separate G Sweeney, J. F., compiler, 1986, G Somerset Island to Canada publications. Transects E-2, F-l, and F-2 are shown only on the Tectonic Basin: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America, Section Displays (Speed, 1991).

Printed in U.S.A.

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