Jurassic-Cretaceous paleogeography of Central-West Parnaiba Basin, NE Brazil - stratigraphy and sedimentary provenance of detrital zircons

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Pereira de Assis ◽  
Kelly Aparecida Caldas da Cruz ◽  
Renata da Silvia Schmitt ◽  
Silvia Regina de Medeiros
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Hypersaline Lake ◽  
Red Sandstone ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Aeolian Dunes ◽  
Marine Ingression ◽  
And Shifts

<p><span>The Phanerozoic Parnaíba Basin occupies 600.000km² in northeast Brazil, covering cratons and Neoproterozoic belts. Its Central-West region is mostly represented by the Jurassic-Cretaceous Sequence (Mosquito, Corda Grajaú, Codó and Itapecuru formations) recording magmatic events from the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, with depocenters migrations and shifts on depositional environments related to Pangea breakup.<span>  </span>This work discusses the Jurassic-Cretaceous siliciclastic units testing possible sedimentary source areas with U-Pb and combined Lu-Hf data on detrital zircons, using LA-ICP-MS. The basalts from Mosquito Formation are dated at +/- 198Ma and the Codó Formation present accurate Aptian fossil data. This formation records a hypersaline lake system, succeeded by a transgression that represents pioneer marine ingression within an intracontinental rift. The other units (Corda, Grajaú and Itapecuru) are constituted by siliciclastic sediments involved in intracontinental sub-environments. The Corda Formation consists of aeolian system, sand sheets and <em>wadis</em> deposited in a desertic setting. The contact between the subsequent Grajaú Formation is abrupt, represented, at the base, by thick coarse braided river facies grading laterally and upwards to ephemeral channels in association with low amplitude Aeolian dunes, evidencing still arid conditions. Interlayered beds of fluvial and aeolian sandstones within lacustrine deposits, indicates that Codó and Grajaú formations consists the same seasonal fluvial-lacustrine system. The last Itapecuru Formation, is represented by a thick red sandstone succession deposited in a deltaic system. Paleocurrents measurements below Codó Formation (i.e. Corda and lower Grajaú) points a W-NW sense of direction, whereas paleocurrents above Codó Formation (i.e. upper Grajaú and Itapecuru) presents a regional sense to E-NE. Detrital zircons geochronology analysis helped to identify the source area of sediments through the comparison of the main ages of possible uplifted tectonic terranes. The preliminary results revealed that sandstones below Codó Formation shows a major Neoproterozoic population (56, 41% to 40%) with age peaks at 583 and 628 Ma; and also Paleoproterozoic (43, 48% to 35,05%); Archean (4,35%) and Paleozoic (2,61%) populations. Sandstones above Codó Formation, also show a Neoproterozoic major detrital zircon population (40% to 37,12%) with 625, 665 and 783 Ma age peaks. Two other populations are present: Paleoproterozoic (22.68% to 20%) with peaks at 1749 and 1881 Ma, and Archean (24,45% to 15,47%). This last source has a greater contribution than in the formations below the Codó maker. We envisaged that the shift from W-NW to E-NE sandstones paleocurrent is coherent with the rise on Archean contribution, possibly related to the Amazon Craton to the West. In addition, the youngest Phanerozoic detrital zircons obtained in all samples are minor (6,66% to 6,18%). The integration of field stratigraphic analysis, paleocurrents and detrital zircon provenance studies corroborate to the hypothesis that Codó Formation must represent a Cretaceous stratigraphic datum for the transition of a rift and post-rift phase, thus the change of source areas is consistent. </span></p><p><span>The authors acknowledge support from Shell Brasil Petroleo Ltda. and ANP (Brazil’s National Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency) through the R&D levy regulation (Technichal Cooperation #20.219-2).</span></p>

Resistance of zircons to U–Pb resetting in a prograde metamorphic sequence of Caledonian age in East Greenland

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Peucat ◽  
D. Tisserant ◽  
R. Caby ◽  
N. Clauer
Keyword(s):  
Source Area ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Metamorphic Event ◽  
Great Resistance ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
Geological Interpretation ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Metasedimentary Rocks ◽  
Sedimentary Source

In the Alpefjord area, Caledonian metamorphism from the chlorite zone to the sillimanite zone is seen to cut across the sedimentary pile of the lower Eleonore Bay Group. Zircons have been collected from quartzite layers enriched in heavy minerals.U–Pb zircon dating in the chlorite and the sillimanite zones does not reveal the Caledonian event but, instead, previous episodes at 1100 and 2500 Ma ago. The Caledonian event can be recognized in anatectic gneisses where detrital zircons are surrounded by overgrowths, K–Ar and Rb–Sr methods yield 1030–410 Ma ages on micas, with a positive correlation between the degree of apparent reselling of mica ages and the grade of the Caledonian metamorphism.The following geological interpretation of the age data is proposed. (1) A major metamorphic event occurred around 1100 Ma ago in the source area for the lower Eleonore Bay Group sediments. During this Grenvillian event, Archaean detrital zircons were affected by an episodic lead loss and a muscovite phase recorded the cooling and uplift of a basement source area. (2) Erosion of this source area occurred after 1100 Ma, followed by sedimentation of the lower Eleonore Bay Group [Formula: see text]. The 2500–1100 Ma U–Pb system remained nearly a closed system during Caledonian metamorphism up to and including sillimanite-zone conditions.This example shows the great resistance or inherited zircons to an important secondary Pb loss during Caledonian metamorphism and consequently shows that the lower-intercept ages of zircons from metasedimentary rocks do not always record the last metamorphic event observed in situ, but retain memories of previous geological events in the sedimentary source areas. By contrast, zircons separated from quartzitic xenoliths in migmatitic gneisses have recorded a disturbance in their U–Pb systems that corresponds to Caledonian partial melting.

Dating lacustrine carbonate strata with detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology

Geology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily S. Finzel ◽  
Justin A. Rosenblume
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Relative Proportion ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Sediment Flux ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Southwestern Montana ◽  
Tectonically Active ◽  
Lacustrine Carbonate

Carbonate lacustrine strata in nonmarine systems hold great potential for refining depositional ages through U-Pb dating of detrital zircons. The low clastic sediment flux in carbonate depositional environments may increase the relative proportion of zircons deposited by volcanic air fall, potentially increasing the chances of observing detrital ages near the true depositional age. We present U-Pb geochronology of detrital zircons from lacustrine carbonate strata that provides proof of concept for the effectiveness of both acid-digestion recovery and resolving depositional ages of nonmarine strata. Samples were collected from Early Cretaceous foreland basin fluvial sandstone and lacustrine carbonate in southwestern Montana (USA). Late Aptian–early Albian (ca. 115–110 Ma) maximum depositional ages young upsection and agree with biostratigraphic ages. Lacustrine carbonate is an important component in many types of tectonic basins, and application of detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology holds considerable potential for dating critical chemical and climatic events recorded in their stratigraphy. It could also reveal new information for the persistent question about whether the stratigraphic record is dominated by longer periods of background fine-grained sedimentation versus short-duration coarse-grained events. In tectonically active basins, lacustrine carbonates may be valuable for dating the beginning of tectonic subsidence, especially during periods of finer-grained deposition dominated by mudrocks and carbonates.

scholarly journals Mexico: Basement framework and pre-Cretaceous stratigraphy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe C. Martens ◽  
Roberto S. Molina Garza
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Source Area ◽  
White Mica ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Local Character ◽  
South Central ◽  
Specific Source ◽  
Maya Mountains

ABSTRACT Provenance determinations of sediment deposited in circum–Gulf of Mexico basins rely on understanding the geologic elements present in the basement provinces located from northeast Mexico to Honduras. Relevant geologic features of these provinces are herein summarized in text and pictorial form, and they include the Huizachal-Peregrina uplift, western Gulf of Mexico, Huayacocotla, Zapoteco, Mixteca, Xolapa, Juchatengo, Cuicateco, Mixtequita, south-central Chiapas, southeast Chiapas, western Guatemala, central Guatemala, Maya Mountains, and the Chortis block. We recognized basement elements of local character that serve as fingerprints for specific source areas. However, many elements are ubiquitous, such as 1.4–0.9 Ga, high-grade metamorphic rocks that occur both as broad exposures and as inliers in otherwise reworked crust. Xenocrystic and detrital zircon of Mesoproterozoic age is very common and hence not diagnostic of provenance. Neoproterozoic rocks are very scarce in Mexican basement provinces. However, Ediacaran–Cambrian detrital zircon grains are found in Mexican Paleozoic strata; these were possibly derived from distant sources in Gondwana and Pangea. Ordovician–Silurian magmatism is present in approximately half the provinces; magmatic detrital zircon of such age is somewhat informative in terms of provenance. More useful populations are detrital zircon grains with Ordovician–Silurian metamorphic overgrowth, which seem to be mainly sourced from the Mixteca region or the southern Chiapas Massif. Devonian basement has only been discovered in the Maya Mountains of Belize, and detrital zir-on of such age seems to be characteristic of that source. A similar case can be made about Carboniferous zircon and the Acatlán Complex, Middle Pennsylvanian zircon and Juchatengo plutons, and Late Triassic zircon and the basement exposed in central Guatemala. In all these cases, the age and geographic extent of the zircon source are restricted and serve as a distinct fingerprint. Plutons of Permian–Early Triassic age are widespread, and detrital zircon grains from them are rather nonspecific indicators of source area. Future dating of detrital white mica using 40Ar-39Ar could help in recognizing Carboniferous–Triassic schist from more restricted schist occurrences such as west Cuicateco (Early Cretaceous) and central Guatemala (Late Cretaceous).

scholarly journals Tracking the <sup>10</sup>Be–<sup>26</sup>Al source-area signal in sediment-routing systems of arid central Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Struck ◽  
John D. Jansen ◽  
Toshiyuki Fujioka ◽  
Alexandru T. Codilean ◽  
David Fink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Area ◽  
Stream Sediments ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Environmental Signals ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Sediment Routing ◽  
Aeolian Dunes ◽  
Primary Determinant ◽  
Central Australia ◽  
Cosmogenic 10Be

Abstract. Sediment-routing systems continuously transfer information and mass from eroding source areas to depositional sinks. Understanding how these systems alter environmental signals is critical when it comes to inferring source-area properties from the sedimentary record. We measure cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al along three large sediment-routing systems (∼ 100 000 km2) in central Australia with the aim of tracking downstream variations in 10Be–26Al inventories and identifying the factors responsible for these variations. By comparing 56 new cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al measurements in stream sediments with matching data (n= 55) from source areas, we show that 10Be–26Al inventories in hillslope bedrock and soils set the benchmark for relative downstream modifications. Lithology is the primary determinant of erosion-rate variations in source areas and despite sediment mixing over hundreds of kilometres downstream, a distinct lithological signal is retained. Post-orogenic ranges yield catchment erosion rates of ∼ 6–11 m Myr−1 and silcrete-dominant areas erode as slow as ∼ 0.2 m Myr−1. 10Be–26Al inventories in stream sediments indicate that cumulative-burial terms increase downstream to mostly ∼ 400–800 kyr and up to ∼ 1.1 Myr. The magnitude of the burial signal correlates with increasing sediment cover downstream and reflects assimilation from storages with long exposure histories, such as alluvial fans, desert pavements, alluvial plains, and aeolian dunes. We propose that the tendency for large alluvial rivers to mask their 10Be–26Al source-area signal differs according to geomorphic setting. Signal preservation is favoured by (i) high sediment supply rates, (ii) high mean runoff, and (iii) a thick sedimentary basin pile. Conversely, signal masking prevails in landscapes of (i) low sediment supply and (ii) juxtaposition of sediment storages with notably different exposure histories.

scholarly journals U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) age of detrital zircons and the sources of terrigenous sediments of the Ipsit suite, Karagass series (Sayan segment of the Sayan-Baikal-Patom belt)

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 1313-1329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. L. Motova ◽  
T. V. Donskaya ◽  
D. P. Gladkochub ◽  
V. B. Khubanov
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Potassium Feldspar ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Igneous Rocks ◽  
Zircon Age ◽  
Genetic Types ◽  
Terrigenous Rocks ◽  
Detrital Material ◽  
Icp Ms

The petrographic, lithogeochemical and U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) geochronological studies were carried out to investigate the terrigenous rocks sampled from the lower part of the Ipsit suite of the Karagass series (Sayan segment of the Sayan-Baikal-Patom belt). These rocks include sandstones, aleurite sandstones and aleurolites, and their mineral compositions are close to that of arkose. Most of the studied rock samples show petrographic features typical of the epigenetic changes at the stage of catagenesis: regeneration of quartz clastic grains, pelitization of potassium-feldspar clastic grains, occurrence of clay-hydromica aggregate, sericitization of plagioclase, chloritization of biotite, and silicification of dolomite pieces, and occurrence of authigenous tourmaline. The above was confirmed by the analysis of the concentrations of petrogenic elements in the studied rocks from the lower part of the Ipsit suite. The analysis results show that the concentrations of K2O are elevated, while the concentrations of Na2O are relatively very low, which may be due to the redistribution of these elements during epigenetic transformations. According to the classification by genetic types on the basis of the system of petrochemical modules, the rocks of the lower part of the Ipsa suite are of the petrogenic nature. The acidic igneous rocks are dominant in the source area, as evidenced by the presence of granitoid and quartzite fragments in the clastogenic component, as well as the set of accessory minerals typical of the igneous rocks of the acidic composition, and the distribution pattern of rare and trace elements. According to the U-Pb (LA-ICP-MS) dating of detrital zircons from the aleurite sandstone sampled from the lower part of the Ipsit suite, the zircons are exclusively of the Archean-Early Proterozoic ages. Such ages correlate with the age of the granitoids of the Sayan complex and the felsic volcanites from the Maltsev layer of the Elash series (Biryusa block). Furthermore, the detrital-zircon age spectra of the aleurite sandstone of the lower part of the Ipsit suite are identical to the detrital-zircon age spectra of the terrigenous rocks from the underlying strata of the Shangulezh and Tagul suites of the Karagass series. This study suggests that sedimentation of the Ipsit suite of the Karagass series took place due to the influx of detrital material from the southern part of the Siberian craton into the sedimentation basin, and the acidic igneous rocks of the Biryusa block were one of the main sources of detrital material.

Evidence from the U-Pb-Hf signatures of detrital zircons for a Baltican provenance for basal Old Red Sandstone successions, northern Scottish Caledonides

2021 ◽  
pp. jgs2020-241
Author(s):  
Rob A. Strachan ◽  
Hugo K. H. Olierook ◽  
Christopher L. Kirkland
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Early Devonian ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Red Sandstone ◽  
Isotopic Signatures ◽  
Supplementary Material ◽  
Detrital Zircon Ages ◽  
Subduction System ◽  
Isotope Analyses

The provenance of Devonian Old Red Sandstone (ORS) continental successions in the northern Scottish Caledonides is poorly known: were they derived locally or from more distal sources? The integration of U-Pb and Hf isotope analyses in detrital zircon crystals reduces potential ambiguities arising from non-unique age populations and yields information on the crustal evolution of source terranes. Samples of basal ORS successions yield zircon U-Pb age groupings of c. 1800–1500 and c. 1200–900 Ma, with minor Neoarchaean, Tonian, Ediacaran and Ordovician contributions. SW Baltica provides the best match for detrital zircon ages and Hf isotopic signatures, and much of the >900 Ma zircon population was probably recycled from Neoproterozoic successions. εHf(t) values in c. 1800–1000 Ma grains reflect the assembly of Nuna, development of a long-lived retreating subduction system along its margin, and Grenville collisional orogenesis. These basal ORS successions were likely deposited within the same regional fluvial system as coeval sedimentary rocks in the Midland Valley, draining an area of positive relief in SW Baltica where continental convergence continued through the Early Devonian.Supplementary material:https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5301780

scholarly journals Tracking the <sup>26</sup>Al/<sup>10</sup>Be source-area signal in sediment-routing systems of arid central Australia

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Struck ◽  
John D. Jansen ◽  
Toshiyuki Fujioka ◽  
Alexandru T. Codilean ◽  
David Fink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Source Area ◽  
Stream Sediments ◽  
Sediment Supply ◽  
Sediment Flux ◽  
Environmental Signals ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Sediment Routing ◽  
Aeolian Dunes ◽  
Central Australia ◽  
Cosmogenic 10Be

Abstract. Sediment-routing systems continuously transfer information and mass from eroding source areas to depositional sinks. Understanding how these systems alter environmental signals is critical when it comes to inferring source-area properties from the sedimentary record. We measure cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al along three large sediment-routing systems (~ 100,000 km2) in central Australia with the aim of tracking downstream variations in 26Al/10Be inventories and to identify the factors responsible. By comparing 56 new cosmogenic 10Be and 26Al measurements in stream sediments with matching data (n = 55) from source areas, we show that 26Al/10Be inventories in hillslope bedrock and soils set the benchmark for relative downstream modifications. Lithology is the primary determinant of erosion-rate variations in source areas and despite sediment mixing over hundreds of kilometres downstream a distinct lithological signal is retained. Postorogenic ranges yield catchment erosion rates of ~ 6–11 m/m.y. and silcrete-dominant areas erode as slow as ~ 0.2 m/m.y. 26Al/10Be inventories in stream-sediments reveal overall downstream-increasing minimum cumulative burial terms up to ~ 1.1 m.y. but more generally ~ 400–800 k.y. The magnitude of the burial signal correlates with increasing sediment cover downstream and reflects assimilation from storages with long exposure histories, such as alluvial fans, desert pavements, alluvial plains, and aeolian dunes. We propose that the tendency for large alluvial rivers to mask their 26Al/10Be source-area signal differs according to geomorphic setting. Signal preservation is favoured by i) high sediment supply rates, ii) high mean runoff, and iii) a thick sedimentary basin pile. Conversely, signal masking prevails in landscapes of i) low sediment supply, ii) discontinuous sediment flux, and iii) juxtaposition of sediment storages with notably different exposure histories.

Detrital zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic composition of the Ordovician Duguer quartz schist, central Tibetan Plateau: constraints on tectonic affinity and sedimentary source regions

2016 ◽  
Vol 154 (3) ◽  
pp. 558-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
YIMING LIU ◽  
CAI LI ◽  
CHAOMING XIE ◽  
JIANJUN FAN ◽  
HAO WU
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Crustal Material ◽  
The South ◽  
Northern Margin ◽  
Source Regions ◽  
Pan African

AbstractMany previous studies have investigated the late Palaeozoic ophiolites, migmatites and high-pressure metamorphic belts of the Tibetan Plateau, whereas the early Palaeozoic evolution of the regions is relatively poorly understood. Lower Palaeozoic strata, including the Duguer quartz schist, occur in the Himalaya, Lhasa and South Qiangtang terranes of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we report the depositional age and sedimentary provenance of the Duguer quartz schist of the central South Qiangtang terrane, which enables us to interpret the tectonic affinity of the terrane. We obtained U–Pb ages, trace-element compositions and Hf isotopic data from zircons from the Duguer quartz schist. A total of 162 U–Pb analyses of detrital zircons from the schist yielded two pronounced age peaks at c. 600 Ma and c. 960 Ma. These results indicate that the provenance of the Duguer quartz schist is India Gondwana or the terranes that share an affinity with India Gondwana in the Tibetan Plateau, which include the South Qiangtang and Himalaya terranes. Detrital zircon crystals show large variations in Hf isotope compositions, with εHf(t), TDM and TDMC values of −52.5 to 13.2, 900–3300 Ma and 1010–4240 Ma, respectively. This suggests that the source area for the Duguer quartz schist included Precambrian rocks and, more specifically, Pan-African and Grenville–Jinning crustal material. During Pan-African and Grenville–Jinning events, crustal recycling and the addition of mantle material occurred in the source regions of the quartz schist, when the South Qiangtang, Lhasa and Himalaya terranes were all part of the northern margin of Gondwana.

Pollen Representation, Source Area, and Basin Size: Toward a Unified Theory of Pollen Analysis

1985 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.Colin Prentice
Keyword(s):  
Forest Canopy ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Depositional Environments ◽  
Forest Composition ◽  
Source Areas ◽  
Deposition Velocities ◽  
Calibration Methods ◽  
Predicted Values

The concepts of pollen source area and of production and dispersal biases in pollen representation are quantified by means of a simple theoretical model. Source areas and relative pollen representation are shown to depend on basin size according to functions that describe the amount of pollen remaining airborne at increasing distances from single pollen sources. The form of these functions is determined by physical processes. Standard formulas for elevated sources do not apply, but the integrated form of Sutton's equation for particle dispersal from a ground-level source gives useful approximations applicable to pollen transport over a forest canopy. Simulations using this equation yielded source areas that increased realistically with basin size, showed substantial differences between source areas for pollen grains with different deposition velocities, and predicted that lighter pollen grains should become better represented with increasing basin size. All of these predictions are qualitatively consistent with present knowledge of the characteristics of pollen assemblages in different depositional environments. The model further allows parameters that can be estimated by statistical calibration methods to be predicted from underlying physical quantities. This extension suggests procedures for testing the theory with quantitative data on surface pollen and forest composition. Preliminary results showed reasonable agreement between estimated and predicted values of dispersal indices for the most abundant taxa in pollen spectra from the northern midwestern United States.

scholarly journals Cordilleran Subduction Initiation: Retroarc Timing and Basinal Response in the Inyo Mountains, Eastern California

Lithosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Emma Lodes ◽  
Nancy R. Riggs ◽  
Michael E. Smith ◽  
Paul Stone
Keyword(s):  
Detrital Zircon ◽  
Subduction Zones ◽  
Plate Tectonics ◽  
El Paso ◽  
Source Area ◽  
Strike Slip ◽  
Detrital Zircons ◽  
Late Permian ◽  
Subduction Initiation ◽  
Sandstone Petrography

Abstract Subduction zones drive plate tectonics on Earth, yet subduction initiation and the related upper plate depositional and structural kinematics remain poorly understood because upper plate records are rare and often strongly overprinted by magmatism and deformation. During the late Paleozoic time, Laurentia’s western margin was truncated by a sinistral strike-slip fault that transformed into a subduction zone. Thick Permian strata in the Inyo Mountains of central-eastern California record this transition. Two basins that were separated by a transpressional antiform contain sedimentary lithofacies that record distinct patterns of shoaling and deepening conditions before and during tectonism associated with subduction initiation. Sandstone petrography and lithofacies analysis show that rocks in a southeastern basin are dominated by carbonate grains derived from adjacent carbonate shelves, whereas sandstones in a northwestern basin are predominantly quartzose with likely derivation from distant ergs or underlying strata. Detrital zircon spectra from all but the youngest strata in both basins are typical of Laurentian continent spectra with prominent peaks that indicate ultimate sources in Appalachia, Grenville, Yavapai/Mazatzal, and the Wyoming or Superior cratons. The first Cordilleran arc-derived detrital zircon grains appear in the uppermost strata of the northwestern basin and record Late Permian (ca. 260 Ma) Cordilleran arc magmatism at this approximate latitude, and a possible source area is suggested by geochemical similarities between these detrital zircons and broadly coeval magmatic zircons in the El Paso Mountains to the southwest. Deformation responsible for basin partitioning is consistent with sinistrally oblique contraction in the earliest Permian time. The data presented from the Inyo Mountains shed more light on the nature of Cordilleran subduction initiation and the upper-crustal response to this transition.

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