Quiz 13 bonus 3 (9:30 – 9:35 AM)
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA
GY 112: Earth History
Lecture 35:
Cenozoic Tectonics
Instructor: Dr. Douglas W. Haywick
Last Time
A) Cenozoic Overview
B) Cenozoic Ocean currents
C) Messinian Salinity Crisis
(Web notes 33, 34)
Cenozoic Time Frame
Phanerozoic
Era
Years
Cenozoic
(0 to 65 MA)
Mesozoic
(65 to 245 MA)
Paleozoic
(245 to 550 MA)
Cenozoic Time Frame
Cenozoic
Period
Epoch
Quaternary
Holocene (10,000 – 0 years)
(1.6 - 0 MA)
Pleistocene (1,600,000 – 10,000 years)
Pliocene (5.0 – 1.6 MA)
Tertiary
Miocene (24-5.0 MA)
(65-1.6
MA)
Oligocene (37 - 24 MA)
Eocene (58- 37 MA)
Paleocene (65-58 MA)
Introducing the Epochs (the
smallest common divisions
of geological time)
Mesozoic Climate
• Oceans stagnated
– Epicontinental black
muds when seas spilled
over
– Normally thin oxygen
poor zone expanded
This will change in the
early Cenozoic (Late
Eocene)
Cenozoic Climate
Paleocene-Middle Eocene:
•No circumpolar current
Late Eocene-today:
•Circumpolar current
–Permitted development of glaciers
on Antarctica
Cenozoic Life
• Mammals diversified
– Most modern orders present by Early Eocene
Today’s Agenda
A) Cenozoic Tectonics
1. More orogenies (Laramide)
2. Western North American tectonic provinces
3. Plateaus and canyons
(Web notes 36)
Cenozoic Tectonic Events
Cenozoic Tectonic Events
•Final breakup of Gondwanna (Australia separated from Antarctica in the Latest
Paleocene – earliest Eocene epochs)
•India began to collide with Asia forming the Himalayan Mountain Range (Oligocene
to Recent)
•Africa started to shift northward, gradually sliding under Europe and uplifting the Alps
(Oligocene to Recent)
•Continued westward movement of North America and South America formed an on
again off again land bridge between the two continents. This gave rise to some
interesting animal exchanges (see evolutionary events below).
•North American orogenies become dominated by strike-slip faulting and uplift.
Mountain building in the northern part of the Cordilleran mountains (mostly Canada)
slow down stop during the Oligocene. Activity shifts to the southern part of the
mountain chain (Colorado, Nevada etc.).
•Major late Tertiary flood basalt eruptions occur in Oregon and Washington state. Hot
spot volcanism occurs in the area of Yellowstone (Pliocene to present). Composite
volcanic eruptions (some incredibly explosive) periodically occurred and still do (e.g.,
Mt St Helen’s).
Cenozoic Tectonic Events
•Final breakup of Gondwanna (Australia separated from Antarctica in the Latest
Paleocene – earliest Eocene epochs)
•India began to collide with Asia forming the Himalayan Mountain Range (Oligocene
to Recent)
•Africa started to shift northward, gradually sliding under Europe and uplifting the Alps
(Oligocene to Recent)
•Continued westward movement of North America and South America formed an on
again off again land bridge between the two continents. This gave rise to some
interesting animal exchanges (see evolutionary events below).
•North American orogenies become dominated by strike-slip faulting and uplift.
Mountain building in the northern part of the Cordilleran mountains (mostly Canada)
slow down stop during the Oligocene. Activity shifts to the southern part of the
mountain chain (Colorado, Nevada etc.).
•Major late Tertiary flood basalt eruptions occur in Oregon and Washington state. Hot
spot volcanism occurs in the area of Yellowstone (Pliocene to present). Composite
volcanic eruptions (some incredibly explosive) periodically occurred and still do (e.g.,
Mt St Helen’s).
Cenozoic Tectonic Events
•Final breakup of Gondwanna (Australia separated from Antarctica in the Latest
Paleocene – earliest Eocene epochs)
•India began to collide with Asia forming the Himalayan Mountain Range (Oligocene
to Recent)
•Africa started to shift northward, gradually sliding under Europe and uplifting the Alps
(Oligocene to Recent)
•Continued westward movement of North America and South America formed an on
again off again land bridge between the two continents. This gave rise to some
interesting animal exchanges .
•North American orogenies become dominated by strike-slip faulting and uplift.
Mountain building in the northern part of the Cordilleran mountains (mostly Canada)
slow down stop during the Oligocene. Activity shifts to the southern part of the
mountain chain (Colorado, Nevada etc.).
•Major late Tertiary flood basalt eruptions occur in Oregon and Washington state. Hot
spot volcanism occurs in the area of Yellowstone (Pliocene to present). Composite
volcanic eruptions (some incredibly explosive) periodically occurred and still do (e.g.,
Mt St Helen’s).
Cenozoic Tectonic Events
•Final breakup of Gondwanna (Australia separated from Antarctica in the Latest
Paleocene – earliest Eocene epochs)
•India began to collide with Asia forming the Himalayan Mountain Range (Oligocene
to Recent)
•Africa started to shift northward, gradually sliding under Europe and uplifting the Alps
(Oligocene to Recent)
•Continued westward movement of North America and South America formed an on
again off again land bridge between the two continents. This gave rise to some
interesting animal exchanges (see evolutionary events below).
•North American orogenies become dominated by strike-slip faulting and uplift.
Mountain building in the northern part of the Cordilleran mountains (mostly Canada)
slow down stop during the Oligocene. Activity shifts to the southern part of the
mountain chain (Colorado, Nevada etc.).
•Major late Tertiary flood basalt eruptions occur in Oregon and Washington state. Hot
spot volcanism occurs in the area of Yellowstone (Pliocene to present). Composite
volcanic eruptions (some incredibly explosive) periodically occurred and still do (e.g.,
Mt St Helen’s).
Cenozoic Tectonic Events
•Final breakup of Gondwanna (Australia separated from Antarctica in the Latest
Paleocene – earliest Eocene epochs)
•India began to collide with Asia forming the Himalayan Mountain Range (Oligocene
to Recent)
•Africa started to shift northward, gradually sliding under Europe and uplifting the Alps
(Oligocene to Recent)
•Continued westward movement of North America and South America formed an on
again off again land bridge between the two continents. This gave rise to some
interesting animal exchanges (see evolutionary events below).
•North American orogenies become dominated by strike-slip faulting and uplift.
Mountain building in the northern part of the Cordilleran mountains (mostly Canada)
slows down stop during the Oligocene. Activity shifts to the southern part of the
mountain chain (Colorado, Nevada etc.).
•Major late Tertiary flood basalt eruptions occur in Oregon and Washington state. Hot
spot volcanism occurs in the area of Yellowstone (Pliocene to present). Composite
volcanic eruptions (some incredibly explosive) periodically occurred and still do (e.g.,
Mt St Helen’s).
Cenozoic Tectonic Events
•Final breakup of Gondwanna (Australia separated from Antarctica in the Latest
Paleocene – earliest Eocene epochs)
•India began to collide with Asia forming the Himalayan Mountain Range (Oligocene
to Recent)
•Africa started to shift northward, gradually sliding under Europe and uplifting the Alps
(Oligocene to Recent)
•Continued westward movement of North America and South America formed an on
again off again land bridge between the two continents. This gave rise to some
interesting animal exchanges (see evolutionary events below).
•North American orogenies become dominated by strike-slip faulting and uplift.
Mountain building in the northern part of the Cordilleran mountains (mostly Canada)
slows down stop during the Oligocene. Activity shifts to the southern part of the
mountain chain (Colorado, Nevada etc.).
•Major late Tertiary flood basalt eruptions occur in Oregon and Washington state. Hot
spot volcanism occurs in the area of Yellowstone (Pliocene to present). Composite
volcanic eruptions (some incredibly explosive) periodically occurred and still do (e.g.,
Mt St Helen’s).
Tectonic Events
• Cordilleran region
– Laramide orogeny
– New tectonic style
Laramide Orogeny
• Northern segment
• Active igneous
activity
– Active fold and thrust
belt inland
– Quiescent from Great
Valley to Colorado
Plateau
• Low angle of
subduction
Laramide Orogeny
• Thrust sheets exposed in Rockies
Laramide Orogeny
• Yellowstone hot spot
– Buried trees in lavas
• Over 20 successive
forests buried
Regional Events–Caribbean
• Caribbean plate isolated
Land Bridges
• Isthmus of Panama
– North and South
American mammals
developed separately
– Pliocene uplift of
isthmus allowed for
exchange of terrestrial
fauna
Other US Cenozoic Events
• Scablands
– Bare rock scoured by
floods
– Water-carved channels
– 20,000–11,000 years
ago
– Bretz, 1923
http://www.airphotona.com/image.asp?imageid=16899&catnum=0&keyword=&country=&state=
&pagenum=6
Other US Cenozoic Events
• Scablands
– Bare rock scoured by
floods
– Water-carved channels
– 20,000–11,000 years
ago
– Bretz, 1923
http://hugefloods.com/Ellensburg.html
Other US Cenozoic Events
• Scablands
– Depositional features
– Giant ripples
• 5 m tall
• 100 m apart
Other US Cenozoic Events
• Water source
– Lake Missoula
(Waitt, 1980)
Himalayan Mountains
• Indian craton collided
with Eurasia
Himalayan Mountains
• Miocene clastic
sediments overlying
Eocene limestone
• Most uplift during last
15 million years
Himalayan Mountains
• Broad Tibetan plateau
– 3 miles above sea level
Himalayan Mountains
• Indian plate subducted
• Continental collision
– Fold and thrust belt
– Modern motion along
main boundary fault
Cenozoic
Tectonic Events
• Cordilleran region
– Laramide orogeny
– New tectonic style
Cenozoic Tectonics
First a recap:
The tectonic style in the Mesozoic is best described as
“accretionary”
Mesozoic Tectonics
Jurassic
Mesozoic Tectonics
Cretaceous
Mesozoic Tectonics
Cretaceous
Mesozoic Tectonics
Cretaceous
Cenozoic Tectonics
But that’s not all. In the southwest during the Cenozoic
(Oligocene to Recent), compression is gradually replaced by
shear and then by uplift
Cenozoic Tectonics
But that’s not all. In the southwest during the Cenozoic,
compression is gradually replaced by shear and then by uplift
Uplift
Cenozoic Tectonics
Compression is gradually replaced
by shear and then by uplift
60 MA
Cenozoic Tectonics
Compression is gradually replaced
by shear and then by uplift
35 MA
Cenozoic Tectonics
Compression is gradually replaced
by shear and then by uplift
25 MA
Cenozoic Tectonics
Compression is gradually replaced
by shear and then by uplift
10 MA
Cenozoic Tectonics
Compression is gradually replaced
by shear and then by uplift
Uplift
10 MA
Cenozoic Tectonics
?
Cenozoic Tectonics
Eocene Tectonic elements:
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g109/Additional/plate_motions.htm
Cenozoic Tectonics
Miocene Tectonic elements:
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g109/Additional/plate_motions.htm
Cenozoic Tectonics
Modern Tectonic elements:
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g109/Additional/plate_motions.htm
Cenozoic Tectonics
As North America drifts to the
WNW, we eventually run over
the leading edge of the East
Pacific Rise
Eocene
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g109/Additional/plate_motions.htm
Cenozoic Tectonics
As North America drifts to the
WNW, we eventually run over
the leading edge of the East
Pacific Rise
Oligocene
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g109/Additional/plate_motions.htm
Cenozoic Tectonics
As North America drifts to the
WNW, we eventually run over
the leading edge of the East
Pacific Rise
Miocene
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g109/Additional/plate_motions.htm
Cenozoic Tectonics
As North America drifts to the
WNW, we eventually run over
the leading edge of the East
Pacific Rise
Today
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g109/Additional/plate_motions.htm
Cenozoic Tectonics
As North America drifts to the
WNW, we eventually run over
the leading edge of the East
Pacific Rise
Uplift
And uplift now affects the SW
Today
http://www.geology.wisc.edu/courses/g109/Additional/plate_motions.htm
Cenozoic Tectonics
Key tectonic elements:
1) Farallon Plate (east of East Pacific Rise; east drift)
2) Pacific Plate (west of East Pacific Rise; west drift)
Cenozoic Tectonics
Key tectonic elements:
1) Farallon Plate (east of East Pacific Rise; east drift)
2) Pacific Plate (west of East Pacific Rise; west drift)
3) Juan de Fuca Plate (east of East Pacific Rise; east drift)
4) Cocos Plate (east of East Pacific Rise; east drift)
Cenozoic Tectonics
Key tectonic style: simple uplift
Laramide Orogeny
Cenozoic Tectonics
One explanation for the uplift
and high heat flow is shown
here…
... low thrust angle shifts
heat/magma generation
eastward.
Cenozoic Tectonics
One explanation for the uplift
and high heat flow is shown
here…
Another consideration is that
we have increased convection
associated with the East Pacific
Rise that we ran over starting
20 million years ago
Cenozoic Tectonics
Several important basins and tectonic provinces are recognized
in the western USA
Cenozoic Tectonics
Important Basins
1) Green River Basin
2) Uinta Basin
3) Washakie/Sandwash Basins
4) Piceance Creek Basin
1
3
2
4
Cenozoic Tectonics
1
3
2
4
Cenozoic Tectonics
Important Basins
1) Green River Basin
2) Uinta Basin
3) Washakie/Sandwash Basins
4) Piceance Creek Basin
All are rich in oil shale
1
3
2
4
Cenozoic Tectonics
Important Tectonic
Provinces
http://www.huttoncommentaries.com/subs/PSResearch/Strain/Fig8.gif
Cenozoic Tectonics
1) Basin and Range
Cenozoic Tectonics
1) Basin and Range
2) Colorado Plateau
Cenozoic Tectonics
1) Basin and Range
2) Colorado Plateau
3) Columbia River Plateau
Cenozoic Tectonics
1)
2)
3)
4)
Basin and Range
Colorado Plateau
Columbia River Plateau
Rio Grande Rift
Cenozoic Tectonics
1) Basin and Range
2) Colorado Plateau
3) Columbia River Plateau
Basin and Range
Cenozoic Tectonics
Basin and Range: Uplifted
deformed strata
Cenozoic Tectonics
1) Basin and Range
2) Colorado Plateau
3) Columbia River Plateau
Colorado Plateau
Cenozoic Tectonics
Colorado Plateau:
Uplifted undeformed
strata
Cenozoic
Tectonics
• Miocene
– Columbia Plateau
basalts
• Up to 5 km thick
Cenozoic Tectonics
Columbia River Plateau:
Basalt lava flow covered
terrain
Cenozoic Tectonics
Rio Grande Rift: Uplifted
rifting strata
Cenozoic Tectonics
Rio Grande Rift: Uplifted
rifting strata
Cenozoic Tectonics
Other interesting Cenozoic (Recent) Tectonics:
1) Yellowstone
http://people.uwec.edu/ERICKSKM/histor1.jpg
Cenozoic Tectonics
Other interesting Cenozoic (Recent) Tectonics:
1) Yellowstone
2) Crater Lake
http://people.uwec.edu/ERICKSKM/histor1.jpg
Cenozoic Tectonics
Other interesting Cenozoic (Recent) Tectonics:
1) Yellowstone
2) Crater Lake
3) Composite
Volcanoes
http://people.uwec.edu/ERICKSKM/histor1.jpg
http://www.sfu.ca/~qgrc/subduction.JPG
Cenozoic Tectonics
Today’s Homework
1. Time Chart 3 due Thursday April 30th
Next Time
1. Last Official Lecture: Sea Level Change
2. Review Session
GY 112: Earth History
Lectures 35: Cenozoic Tectonics
Instructor: Dr. Doug Haywick
dhaywick@southalabama.edu
This is a free open access lecture, but not for commercial purposes.
For personal use only.