Triassic to Neogene geologic evolution of the Queen Charlotte region

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 854-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Lewis ◽  
J. W. Haggart ◽  
R. G. Anderson ◽  
C. J. Hickson ◽  
R. I. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Queen Charlotte Islands ◽  
Upper Paleozoic ◽  
Coast Plutonic Complex ◽  
Present Distribution ◽  
Deformation Event ◽  
Differential Uplift ◽  
Uplift And Erosion ◽  
Block Faulting

A wealth of new geological and geophysical data from recent studies of the Queen Charlotte region are integrated into a coherent model. In this paper, we summarize these new studies and discuss possible correlations with other areas. Four tectonostratigraphic divisions are distinguished by stratigraphic, structural, and magmatic character, and each is separated by a major unconformity. The oldest division comprises widely distributed, upper Paleozoic through Middle Jurassic strata of Wrangellia that accumulated in volcanic-arc and stable shelf and basinal settings. No significant deformation occurred in the Queen Charlotte Islands region during the accumulation of these rocks. A Middle and Upper Jurassic assemblage comprises two plutonic suites and volcanic and epiclastic rocks. The unconformity below the Middle and Upper Jurassic assemblage marks a regional, southwest-vergent contractional deformation that is the most significant Mesozoic or Cenozoic deformation in the region. Jurassic plutons in the Queen Charlotte Islands are the oldest and most primitive members of an eastwardly migrating and evolving Jura-Cretaceous magmatic front recognized by other workers in the Coast Plutonic Complex. Widespread Late Jurassic block faulting led to differential uplift and erosion of northwest-trending fault blocks. A third assemblage consists of Cretaceous marine sedimentary rocks derived principally from subjacent Jurassic volcanic rocks as well as older strata. The present distribution of Cretaceous strata reflects a gradual eastward transgression, briefly interrupted in the Coniacian by progradation of conglomerate fans from the east. A second regional contractional deformation event in latest Cretaceous time was concentrated along a northwest-trending zone coinciding with Jurassic block faults. The early Tertiary marked another distinct shift in sedimentation style, with the inception of local nonmarine deposition on the present islands and widespread volcanism and plutonism on the southern islands. Syntectonic deposition in offshore extensional basins (Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound) may have commenced at this time. Later in the Tertiary, extensive deposition occurred in offshore regions, coeval with northward migration of plutonism and volcanism on the islands. Contractional structures in Pliocene sediments in Hecate Strait are the youngest deformational features observed.

Correlation among lower to upper crustal components in an island arc: the Jurassic Bonanza arc, Vancouver Island, Canada

1999 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1371-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan M DeBari ◽  
Robert G Anderson ◽  
James K Mortensen
Keyword(s):  
Middle Jurassic ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Island Arc ◽  
Calc Alkaline ◽  
Queen Charlotte Islands ◽  
Basement Rocks ◽  
Plutonic Rocks ◽  
Differential Uplift ◽  
Age Range

The Westcoast Crystalline Complex (WCC), Island Intrusions, and Bonanza Group of Vancouver Island, Canada, form three different crustal levels of the Early to Middle Jurassic Bonanza island arc. Differential uplift has exposed the plutonic roots and the volcanic carapace of the arc for a strike length of ~500 km, and for another 250 km on the Queen Charlotte Islands. At deeper crustal levels within the arc, influx of mantle-derived magmas was accompanied by metamorphism and melting of Wrangellian basement rocks, yielding the heterogeneous WCC. Upward mobilization and hybridization of magmas to shallower levels in the crust resulted in the batholiths of the Island Intrusions and the lavas and pyroclastic rocks of the Bonanza Group. New U-Pb crystallization ages for plutonic rocks of the arc span an age range of 190.3 ± 1.0 to 168.6 ± 5.3 Ma. Ages of the WCC and western Island Intrusions are indistinguishable and overlap with published fossil and isotopic ages for the Bonanza Group. Younger Middle Jurassic ages for the eastern Island Intrusions overlap with those for plutonic rocks in the southern Coast Belt and Queen Charlotte Islands. All plutonic and volcanic rocks within the arc have overlapping geochemical signatures, supporting their comagmatic origin. All are light rare earth element-enriched with abundances 10-50× chondrites. The most mafic noncumulate gabbroic rocks have compositions typical of island arc basalts, with intermediate values of Al2O3 (16-17 wt.%) and high MgO (7-9 wt.%). More differentiated rocks follow a calc-alkaline trend with concomitant increase in Al2O3 (18-20 wt.%). Their geochemistry indicates varying degrees of mixing with melts of mafic Wrangellian basement.

Upper Paleozoic to lower Mesozoic strata and their conodonts, western Coast Plutonic Complex, British Columbia

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1329-1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. J. Woodsworth ◽  
M. J. Orchard
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Sedimentary Rocks ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
Upper Paleozoic ◽  
Facies Metamorphism ◽  
Volcanic Suite ◽  
Plutonic Complex ◽  
Coast Plutonic Complex ◽  
Greenschist Facies Metamorphism

Six lithologic units, including two newly named formations, were mapped on Randall, Dunira, and nearby islands. The islands are characterized by greenschist-facies metamorphism and westerly directed thrusting. The oldest unit is a Late Mississippian, massive limestone on Ducie Island. The Dunira Formation, composed of thin-bedded limestone and siltstone, is Early and Middle Pennsylvanian in age. It is unconformably overlain by limestone and dolomite of the Upper Triassic Randall Formation. The Randall Formation grades upwards into a green phyllitic unit of Late Triassic(?) age. Rhyolitic and more mafic volcanic rocks may represent a bimodal volcanic suite of Early Jurassic age, based on a U–Pb date of 188 Ma on zircons. These five units correlate with rocks in the Alexander Terrane in southeastern Alaska. The sixth and presumed youngest unit consists of flysch-like sedimentary rocks of probable Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age that may correlate with rocks of the Gravina–Nutzotin belt. The three older units yielded 15 conodont genera from 29 localities. The 13 Paleozoic genera are described and illustrated.

Tectonic framework of the upper Paleozoic and lower Mesozoic Alava sequence: a revised view of the polygenetic Taku terrane in southern southeast Alaska

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 881-893 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles M. Rubin ◽  
Jason B. Saleeby
Keyword(s):  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Western Boundary ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Upper Paleozoic ◽  
Plutonic Complex ◽  
Coast Plutonic Complex ◽  
Tectonic Framework ◽  
Narrow Belt ◽  
Carbonaceous Phyllite

Fragments of upper Paleozoic and lower Mesozoic metavolcanic and metasedimentary sequences of the Taku terrane are exposed discontinuously along a narrow belt in southeast Alaska and form a distinct lithostratigraphic package in the Ketchikan area called the Alava sequence. Crinoidal and argillaceous marble, carbonaceous phyllite, argillite, mafic flows, pillow breccia, pyroclastic tuff, and quartzite characterize the sequence. These strata are unconformably overlain by Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous fine- to coarse-grained epiclastic rocks of the Gravina sequence. The upper Paleozoic part of the Alava sequence may be correlative with the Yukon–Tanana terrane, whereas the Middle and Upper Triassic portion of the Alava sequence may represent a metamorphic vestige of the Stikine terrane. Both parts are now exposed on the western flank of the Coast Plutonic Complex, in contrast with their correlatives to the east. These relations suggest that the Stikine and Alexander terranes were juxtaposed prior to deposition of the Gravina sequence. The western boundary between rocks of North American affinity and allochthonous ensimatic crustal fragments of the Alexander and Wrangellian terranes lies west of the Coast Plutonic Complex.

Geology of the Chatham Sound region, southeast Alaska and coastal British Columbia

2001 ◽  
Vol 38 (11) ◽  
pp. 1579-1599 ◽  
Author(s):  
George E Gehrels
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
The West ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Coast Mountains ◽  
Early Tertiary ◽  
Metavolcanic Rocks ◽  
Upper Paleozoic ◽  
Coastal British Columbia

The Coast Mountains orogen is thought to have formed as a result of accretion of the Alexander and Wrangellia terranes against the western margin of the Stikine and Yukon–Tanana terranes, but the nature and age of accretion remain controversial. The Chatham Sound area, which is located along the west flank of the Coast Mountains near the Alaska – British Columbia border, displays a wide variety of relations that bear on the nature and age of the boundary between inboard and outboard terranes. Geologic and U–Pb geochronologic studies in this area reveal a coherent but deformed and metamorphosed sequence of rocks belonging to the Yukon–Tanana terrane, including pre-mid-Paleozoic marble, schist, and quartzite, mid-Paleozoic orthogneiss and metavolcanic rocks, and upper Paleozoic metaconglomerate and metavolcanic rocks. These rocks are overlain by Middle Jurassic volcanic rocks (Moffat volcanics) and Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous strata of the Gravina basin, both of which also overlie Triassic and older rocks of the Alexander terrane. This overlap relationship demonstrates that the Alexander and Wrangellia terranes were initially accreted to the margin of inboard terranes during or prior to mid-Jurassic time. Accretion was apparently followed by Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous extension–transtension to form the Gravina basin, left-slip along the inboard margin of Alexander–Wrangellia, mid-Cretaceous collapse of the Gravina basin and final structural accretion of the outboard terranes, and early Tertiary dip-slip motion on the Coast shear zone.

scholarly journals Palaeozoic tectonic and sedimentary evolution and hyrdrocarbon prospectivity in the Bornholm area

1994 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Ole Valdemar Vejbæk ◽  
Svend Stouge ◽  
Kurt Damtoft Poulsen
Keyword(s):  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Fault System ◽  
Structural Development ◽  
The South ◽  
Alum Shale ◽  
Present Distribution ◽  
Lower Palaeozoic ◽  
Wrench Fault ◽  
Uplift And Erosion

The present distribution of Palaeozoic sediments in the Bornholm area is a consequence of several different tectonic regimes during the Phanerozoic eon. This development may be divided into three main evolutionary phases: A Caledonian to Variscian phase encompassing the Lower Palaeozoic sediments. The sediments are assumed originally to have showed a gradual thickness increase towards the Caledonian Deformation Front located to the south. This pre-rift development may be further subdivided into three sub-phases: A period of slow sedimentation on a relatively stable platform as recorded by the uniformly low thicknesses of the Cambrian to Lower Silurian sediments. A period of foreland-type rapid sedimentation commencing in the Llandoverian to Wenlockian, continuing in the Ludlovian and possibly into the Devonian. The period is characterized by /olding and uplift of the Caledonides to the south causing tectonic loading of the foreland and resultant rapid sedimentation in the foreland basin. A period of gravitational collapse causing minor erosion during the Devonian. The transition to the second major phase in the Phanerozaic structural development, during which the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist zone came into existence, is recorded by regional deposition of Carboniferous sediments. These sediments are, however, mostly removed by tater erosion. A syn-rift phase characterized by sedimentation in graben areas and expanding basins commencing in the Rotliegendes and continuing through the Triassic, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. This phase was probably initiated by a Late Carboniferous- Early Permian tensional dominated right-lateral wrench fault system within the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist zone. A Post-rift development phase dominated by Late Cretaceous carbonate sedimentation. During Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary times the Bornholm area was strongly affected by inversion tectonism caused by compressional strike-slip movements. This resulted in reverse faulting and uplift and erosion of former basinal areas. Understanding the two latter phases is important for understanding the present distribution of the Palaeozoic. A key to understanding the hydrocarbon potential of the area is the maturation of the organic matter in the main potential source, the Ordovician Upper Alum Shale. Maturity was mainly achieved during the Silurian to Late Palaeozoic time, and little further maturation took place later. The Upper Alum Shale is accordingly expected to be overmature in the main part of the study area and mature in the Hano Bay Basin. This reflects the assumed primary uniform thickness of the Lower Palaeozoic, with a general thinning towards the northeast. A Caledonian to Variscian phase encompassing the Lower Palaeozoic sediments. The sediments are assumed originally to have showed a gradual thickness increase towards the Caledonian Deformation Front located to the south. This pre-rift development may be further subdivided into three sub-phases: A period of slow sedimentation on a relatively stable platform as recorded by the uniformly low thicknesses of the Cambrian to Lower Silurian sediments. A period of foreland-type rapid sedimentation commencing in the Llandoverian to Wenlockian, continuing in the Ludlovian and possibly into the Devonian. The period is characterized by /olding and uplift of the Caledonides to the south causing tectonic loading of the foreland and resultant rapid sedimentation in the foreland basin. A period of gravitational collapse causing minor erosion during the Devonian. The transition to the second major phase in the Phanerozaic structural development, during which the Sorgenfrei - Tornquist zane came into existence, is recorded by regional deposition of Carboniferous sediments. These sediments are, however, mostly removed by tater erosion. A syn-rift phase characterized by sedimentation in graben areas and expanding basins commencing in the Rotliegendes and continuing through the Triassic, Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. This phase was probably initiated by a Late Carboniferous- Early Permian tensional dominated right-lateral wrench fault system within the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist zone. A Post-rift development phase dominated by Late Cretaceous carbonate sedimentation. During Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary times the Bornholm area was strongly affected by inversion tectonism caused by compressional strike-slip movements. This resulted in reverse faulting and uplift and erosion of former basinal areas. Understanding the two latter phases is important for understanding the present distribution of the Palaeozoic. A key to understanding the hydrocarbon potential of thearea is the maturation of the organic matter in the main potential source, the Ordovician Upper Alum Shale. Maturity was mainly achieved during the Silurian to Late Palaeozoic time, and little further maturation took place later. The Upper Alum Shale is accordingly expected to be overmature in the main part of the study area and mature in the Hano Bay Basin. This reflects the assumed primary uniform thickness of the Lower Palaeozoic, with a general thinning towards the northeast.

scholarly journals Stitch in the ditch: Nutzotin Mountains (Alaska) fluvial strata and a dike record ca. 117–114 Ma accretion of Wrangellia with western North America and initiation of the Totschunda fault

Geosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Trop ◽  
Jeffrey A. Benowitz ◽  
Donald Q. Koepp ◽  
David Sunderlin ◽  
Matthew E. Brueseke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fault Zone ◽  
Lower Cretaceous ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Alkali Feldspar ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Sediment Provenance ◽  
Lake Formation ◽  
Beaver Lake ◽  
Channel Bar ◽  
Marine Basin

Abstract The Nutzotin basin of eastern Alaska consists of Upper Jurassic through Lower Cretaceous siliciclastic sedimentary and volcanic rocks that depositionally overlie the inboard margin of Wrangellia, an accreted oceanic plateau. We present igneous geochronologic data from volcanic rocks and detrital geochronologic and paleontological data from nonmarine sedimentary strata that provide constraints on the timing of deposition and sediment provenance. We also report geochronologic data from a dike injected into the Totschunda fault zone, which provides constraints on the timing of intra–suture zone basinal deformation. The Beaver Lake formation is an important sedimentary succession in the northwestern Cordillera because it provides an exceptionally rare stratigraphic record of the transition from marine to nonmarine depositional conditions along the inboard margin of the Insular terranes during mid-Cretaceous time. Conglomerate, volcanic-lithic sandstone, and carbonaceous mudstone/shale accumulated in fluvial channel-bar complexes and vegetated overbank areas, as evidenced by lithofacies data, the terrestrial nature of recovered kerogen and palynomorph assemblages, and terrestrial macrofossil remains of ferns and conifers. Sediment was eroded mainly from proximal sources of upper Jurassic to lower Cretaceous igneous rocks, given the dominance of detrital zircon and amphibole grains of that age, plus conglomerate with chiefly volcanic and plutonic clasts. Deposition was occurring by ca. 117 Ma and ceased by ca. 98 Ma, judging from palynomorphs, the youngest detrital ages, and ages of crosscutting intrusions and underlying lavas of the Chisana Formation. Following deposition, the basin fill was deformed, partly eroded, and displaced laterally by dextral displacement along the Totschunda fault, which bisects the Nutzotin basin. The Totschunda fault initiated by ca. 114 Ma, as constrained by the injection of an alkali feldspar syenite dike into the Totschunda fault zone. These results support previous interpretations that upper Jurassic to lower Cretaceous strata in the Nutzotin basin accumulated along the inboard margin of Wrangellia in a marine basin that was deformed during mid-Cretaceous time. The shift to terrestrial sedimentation overlapped with crustal-scale intrabasinal deformation of Wrangellia, based on previous studies along the Lost Creek fault and our new data from the Totschunda fault. Together, the geologic evidence for shortening and terrestrial deposition is interpreted to reflect accretion/suturing of the Insular terranes against inboard terranes. Our results also constrain the age of previously reported dinosaur footprints to ca. 117 Ma to ca. 98 Ma, which represent the only dinosaur fossils reported from eastern Alaska.

The Flinton Group: a late Precambrian metasedimentary succession in the Grenville Province of eastern Ontario

1980 ◽  
Vol 17 (12) ◽  
pp. 1685-1707 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Moore Jr. ◽  
Peter H. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Regional Metamorphism ◽  
Grenville Province ◽  
Arc Volcanism ◽  
Late Precambrian ◽  
Granitic Intrusions ◽  
Group A ◽  
Eastern Ontario ◽  
Orogenic Cycle ◽  
Uplift And Erosion ◽  
Block Faulting

Clastic and carbonate metasediments, preserved in narrow synclines, have been correlated over an area of 2000 km2. These strata, the Flinton Group, lie unconformably on metamorphosed volcanic, clastic, and carbonate rocks, and on large granitic intrusions. The group, which comprises six formations, has undergone at least two major folding episodes and one main regional metamorphism of varying grade. The only post-Flinton intrusions are pegmatites at high grade and one tectonically emplaced ultramafic slice.Depositional environment ranged from fluvial to moderate-depth marine. Rapid facies changes, coupled with persistence of some units along strike and close relationships between facies and underlying lithology, point to local sources and local tectonic control of deposition basins. At the onset of sedimentation, a deeply weathered source terrain yielded mature basal redbeds, which were succeeded by less mature clastics as block faulting caused increase of relief between sources and basins. These facies passed offshore into finer, more reduced sediments. Deposition took place between 1050 and 1080 (±25) Ma ago, after arc volcanism, plutonism, uplift, and erosion, and before major regional metamorphism. All these events can be grouped within the Grenvillian orogenic cycle, spanning at least the interval 1300–1000 Ma and including, in eastern Ontario, the pre-Flinton Elzevirian Orogeny and post-Flinton Ottawan Orogeny.

A Late Mesozoic island arc in the southern Andes, Chile

1979 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Suárez
Keyword(s):  
Continental Crust ◽  
Rift Zone ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Upper Jurassic ◽  
Island Arc ◽  
Volcanic Complex ◽  
Late Mesozoic ◽  
Marginal Basin ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pacific Side

SummaryThe Hardy Formation, a sequence of Upper Mesozoic volcanic rocks exposed in Peninsula Hardy (Isla Hoste) in the southernmost archipelago of Chile represents, at least in part, the island-arc assemblage of an island-arc-marginal-basin system related to an eastward dipping subduction zone. This island arc was founded on South American continental crust and is also represented in the island of South Georgia 2000 km to the E. The island-arc assemblage includes pyroclastic rocks, characterized by a high proportion of vitric material, and lava intercalations ranging in composition from rhyolite to basalt. These rocks underwent zeolite and prehnite-pumpellyite facies metamorphism and are gently folded, in contrast with the intense folding exhibited by the rocks exposed to the north of Peninsula Hardy. Silicic volcanics assigned to this assemblage underlie pillow lavas, and are intruded by dolerites and gabbros probably related to a Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous ophiolite magmatism associated with the generation of a quasioceanic marginal basin. Volcanic turbidites (Yahgan Formation) were deposited into the marginal basin.It is suggested that in pre-marginal basin times the Hardy Formation interfingered towards the Atlantic with the silicic volcanics of the Tobifera Formation. However, recent geochemical work on the Tobifera Formation suggest an origin by continental crust anatexis in a volcano-tectonic rift zone related to upper mantle diapirism, whereas an island arc origin is favoured for at least the andesitic and basaltic components of the Hardy Formation. Therefore, the geology of Peninsula Hardy as presented here, confirms early assumptions of the splitting apart of a Middle–Upper Jurassic volcanic terrain along the Pacific margin of South America during the generation of a marginal basin. The spreading axis of the latter seems to have been located at the boundary of two somewhat overlapping petrotectonic assemblages: and island arc on the Pacific side and a silicic volcano-tectonic rift zone towards the Atlantic. A probably Cenozoic volcanic complex discordantly overlies the Yahgan and Hardy formations.

Petrology and tectonic implications of Upper Paleozoic volcanic rocks of the Chiang Mai belt, northern Thailand

1990 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra M. Barr ◽  
Charn Tantisukrit ◽  
Winai Yaowanoiyothin ◽  
Alan S. Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Chiang Mai ◽  
Northern Thailand ◽  
Tectonic Implications ◽  
Upper Paleozoic
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