Tectonic Setting of Faulted Tertiary Strata Associated with the Catalina Core Complex in Southern Arizona / William R
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
L Tectonic setting ojJaulted Tertiary strata associated with the Catalina core complex in southern Arizona William R. Dickinson Department of Geosciences University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 85721 l © 1991 The Geological Society of America, Inc. All rights reserved. All materials subject to this copyright and included in this volume may be photocopied for the noncommercial purpose of scientific or educational advancement. Published by The Geological Society of America, Inc. 3300 Penrose Place, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, Colorado 80301 Printed in U.S.A. GSA Books Science Editor Richard A. Hoppin Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dickinson, William R. Tectonic setting of faulted tertiary strata associated with the Catalina core complex in southern Arizona / William R. Dickinson. p. cm.-(Special paper; 264) Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 0-8137-2264-0 1. Geology, Stratigraphic-Tertiary. 2. Geology, Structural -Arizona. 3. Geology-Arizona. I. Title. II. Series: Special papers (Geological Society of America) ; 264. QE736.D55 1991 551.7'8'09791-dc20 91-17084 CIP Cover photo: View northeast across floor of San Pedro trough past incised drainage of San Pedro River in middle ground toward range front of Galiuro Mountains on skyline. 10 9 8 Contents Acknowledgments vn Abstract 1 Introduction 3 Regional Setting 5 Catalina Core Complex 5 Nearby Structures 7 San Pedro Trough 8 Geologic History 8 Plan of This Paper 10 Pre-Laramide Rock Assemblages 10 Precambrian Basement 10 Proterozoic Stratigraphy 12 Paleozoic Stratigraphy 12 Mesozoic Assemblages 14 Laramide Geologic Features ............................... .. 15 Laramide Orogeny 15 Laramide Rocks 16 Metaluminous Intrusions and Volcanic Fields 18 Synorogenic Sedimentary Units 21 Peraluminous Two-Mica Granite 21 Laramide Structures 22 Ductile Structures Inside the Core Complex 22 Brittle Structures Outside the Core Complex 23 Tertiary Tectonomagmatic Relations 24 Overview of Inland Cordilleran Magmatism 24 Regional Magmatic Patterns 25 Southwest Border Region 29 Tectonomagmatic Transition 29 Local Volcanic Fields 31 Core Complex Plutons 32 III iv Contents Intermountain Taphrogeny ............................................ 33 Deformational Phases ............................................... 33 Mid-Tertiary Tectonism ............................................. 34 Mid-Miocene Transition ............................................ 34 Basin-Range Tectonism ............................................. 35 Core Complex Geometry 36 Characteristic Structural Features 36 Origin of Domical Morphology 38 Occurrence of Mylonitic Gneiss 39 Conditions of Mylonitic Deformation 41 Configuration of Detachment System 41 Displacement Along Detachment Fault 42 Timing of Tectonic Denudation 43 Alternate Structural Models 44 Unidirectional Tilt Domains 44 Indination of Detachment Surfaces 46 Evolution of Detachment Systems 47 Kinematics of Detachment Faults 48 Contrasting Rotational Mechanisms 48 Tertiary Sedimentary Assemblages 49 Overall Facies Framework 49 Alluvial Fan and Braidplain Facies 50 Interstratified Megabreccia Bodies 52 Lacustrine and Related Facies 54 Half-Graben Facies Associations 55 Capping Basin-Fill Successions 55 Key Paleocurrent Indicators 56 Tertiary Stratigraphic Framework 57 Mid-Tertiary Units 59 Mineta Formation 59 Galiuro Volcanics 64 Cloudburst Formation 64 Cloudburst/San Manuel Contact 64 San Manuel Formation 65 Pantano Formation 65 Basin Fill Units 65 Quiburis Formation 66 Quiburis Equivalents 66 Quaternary Alluvium 66 Terraces and Benchlands 66 Subarea Structure and Stratigraphy 67 Tortilla Mountains Area 67 Structural Relations 69 Hackberry Wash Facies of Cloudburst Formation 71 San Manuel Formation 73 Quiburis Formation 76 Putnam Wash Area 76 Structural Relations 78 Stratigraphic Relations 79 lilli' d Contents v Black Hills Area . 80 Structural Relations . 80 Alternate Fault Geometry . 82 Cloudburst Formation . 82 San Manuel Formation . 84 Quiburis Formation . 85 Soza-Teran Area . 85 Structural Relations . 85 Mineta Formation . 87 San Manuel Formation . 88 Quiburis Formation . 89 Cienega Gap Area . 89 Discussion and Conclusions . 90 General and Regional Relations . 90 Syntectonic Mid-Tertiary Strata . 91 Detachment Timing and Displacement . 91 Post-Detachment Neogene History . 91 Kinematic and Geometric Uncertainties . 92 References Cited 92 Acknowledgments This project was initiated by the following participants in the 1980 Chimichanga Seminar at the University ofArizona: J. A. Grover, L. E. Harding, K. F. Inman, K. Jamison, R. A. LeVeque, S. H. Lingrey, W. C. McClelland, J. Quade, S. M. Richard, D. M. Taylor, and W. L. Weibel. I am also indebted to scores ofprevious workers who prepared detailed geologic maps of various parts of the study area prior to my work. Special attention is called to the efforts of several USGS geologists, and their co-workers, whose multiple quadrangle maps formed an indispensable background for the present investigation: N. G. Banks in the Santa Catalina and Tortolita Mountains, S. C. Creasey in the Santa Catalina and Galiuro Mountains, H. D. Drewes in the Rincon Mountains, and most notably M. H. Krieger in 12 key contiguous quadrangles occupying parts of the Tortilla, Dripping Spring, and Galiuro Mountains. My understanding of the Catalina core complex has been nurtured for a decade by discussions with P. J. Coney, P. E. Damon, G. H. Davis, S. B. Keith, and S. J. Reynolds. Further insight has come from recent discussions with L. A. Anovitz, C. G. Chase, E. R. Force, G. E. Gehrels, R. A. Johnson, R. R. Richardson, and T. C. Wallace. Discussions with H. W. Peirce and R. B. Scarborough about Tertiary basins in Arizona were also especially helpful. Oral presentations by R. L. Armstrong, P. J. Coney, P. B. Gans, and J. Jackson at the 1987 Elko Penrose Conference on Cordilleran metamorphic core complexes helped me formulate critical ideas. Throughout the study, M. Shafiqullah provided unselfish geochrono logical advice and support. Information derived from theses and dissertations of the following graduate students at the University of Arizona form an integral part of my own knowledge about the study area: R. S. Balcer, A. Burchell, A. Bykerk-Kauffman, T. C. Goodlin, J. A. Grover, J. B. Hansen, S. U. Janecke, S. H. Lingrey, R. A. Mark, S. J. Naruk, M. D. Olivares, R. Risley, J. D. Shenk, C. H. Smith, P. N. Swift, J. L. Walsh, W. L. Weibel, and J. C. Yarnold. Moreover, the earlier graduate research of E. A. Schmidt was seminal for my own interpretations. Conclusions about geologic relationships were improved by discussions during special field trips with C. J. Ando, M. N. Bass, R. Brett, R. N. Brothers, R. D. Conrad, D. S. Cowan, W. K. Gealey, S. A. Graham, D. D. Hastings, R. Higgins, R. V. Ingersoll, T. E. Jordan, C. F. Kluth, C. A. Landis, E. C. Leitch, J. D. Lowell, J. C. Moore, E. M. Moores, C. MeA. Powell, J. G. Ramsey, F. Royse, D. R. Seely, C. A. Simpson, S. B. Smithson, W. S. Snyder, K. E. Telleen, G. A. Thompson, and B. P. Wernicke. Partial financial support was provided by National Science Foundation Grant EAR 8018231 and the Chaplin Fund of the Laboratory of Geotectonics at the University of Arizona. My wife, J. J. Dickinson, was a constant companion during the field work, and vii viii Acknowledgments discussions about extensional tectonics with our son, J. E. Spencer, were ofunique benefit to me. Finally, the project would have been impossible without the inspiration provided by W. D. Darton. I thank J.M.G. Miller and G. W. Viele for thoughtful reviews that notably improved the manuscript. All figures were drafted by Rick Brokaw. Geological Society of America Special Paper 264 1991 Tectonic setting offaulted Tertiary strata associated with the Catalina core complex in southern Arizona ABSTRACT Stratigraphic and structural relations of syntectonic sedimentary sequences associated with Cordilleran metamorphic core complexes provide valuable information about the style and timing of extensional deformation related to tectonic denudation. Adjacent to the Catalina core complex, the San Pedro trough and other nearby depocen ters contain multiple tilted half-grabens of conglomeratic mid-Tertiary strata partly buried beneath Neogene basin fill. Major episodes of local geologic history included mid-Proterozoic construction of continental crust, subsequent but intermittent platform sedimentation extending through Paleozoic time, mid-Mesozoic initiation ofarc magma tism that persisted at intervals through mid-Tertiary time, complex Laramide orogenic deformation of latest Cretaceous to early Tertiary age, and Cenozoic extensional defor mation involving both mid-Tertiary and basin-range phases of development. Precambrian basement includes lower Proterozoic Pinal Schist intruded by volu minous lower to middle Proterozoic granitic plutons. Pre-Laramide stratigraphic cover includes middle Proterozoic sedimentary strata and intercalated diabase sills, Paleozoic carbonate and clastic units, and Mesozoic volcaniclastic and clastic successions. Lara mide assemblages include metaluminous plutons and andesitic to rhyolitic volcanic fields, synorogenic nonmarine sedimentary sequences, and large bodies ofperaluminous two-mica granite. Laramide structural features include both premetamorphic and ductile synmetamorphic thrusts within the Catalina core complex, brittle thrusts of uncertain vergence and overall configuration outside the Catalina core complex, and folds of varied geometry related in part to local thrusts exposed