Summary The images presented here show the paleogeography of the SW US from 1.8 billion years ago to 10 million years ago. When played in order, the paleogeographic evolution of the region unfolds. Emphasis is on the Mesozoic where two or more images of each period are shown. Two different interpretations are presented for some of the periods. One shows a tectonic ... interpretation in which most elements of the western US were derived from North America; the second shows a tectonic interpretation in which some elements originated far from North America (exotic elements). Debate continues concerning these two different tectonic models.
The images were prepared by placing various stratigraphic, tectonic, and sedimentologic data on a base map, plotting land vs. sea over this data, and then adding more detailed landforms such as mountains, shelf edges, rivers, arc-trench systems, and lowlands. The data was then painted in Photoshop 5.5. Climatic data is also added as tones of browns and reds for arid and greens for humid.
The database for the images consists of many papers published on the geology of SW NAM. Dr. Blakey's work is incorporated onto the Colorado Plateau portion of the maps. Plate patterns are from PGIS MAC, a plate-tectonic computer program by the Paleomap Project, &http://www.scotese.com/Default.htm&. Major sources of data are listed below:
- Geology of North America, vol G3; GSA DNAG Series, Burchfiel et al, 1992: Poole et al; E. L. Miller et al; Saleeby et al; Cowan and Bruhn; D. M. Miller et al
- Ingersoll and Schweickert, 1986, Tectonics, vol 5, p. 901-912
- Pacific Coast Paleogeography Syp 1 (Pacific Sect SEPM), Stewart et al, 1977: Ross; Poole et al; Poole and Sandberg; Rich; Stevens
- Riggs and Blakey, 1993, in Dunne and McDougall, Mz Paleogeography Western US (Pacific Sect SEPM)
- Blakey, R.C., 1994, Paleogeographic and tectonic controls on some Lower and Middle Jurassic erg deposits, Colorado Plateau, in Caputo, M.V., Peterson, J.A., and Franczyk, K.J., (eds.), Mesozoic systems of the Rocky Mountain region, USA: Rocky Mountain Section, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, p. 273-298.
- Blakey, R. C., 1996, Permian eolian deposits, sequences, and sequence boundaries, Colorado Plateau, in Longman M, W. and Sonnenfeld, M. D. (eds), Paleozoic systems of the Rocky Mountain Region: Rocky Mountain Section SEPM, p. 405-426.
- Blakey, R. C., Havholm, K. G., and Jones, L.S., 1996, Stratigraphic analysis of eolian interactions with marine and fluvial deposits, Middle Jurassic Page Sandstone and Carmel Formation, Colorado Plateau, U.S.A.: Journal of Sedimentary Research, V. 66, p. 324-342.
Name:
RONALD
C.
BLAKEY
Phone:
(928) 523-2740
Fax:
(928) 523-9220
Email:
ronald.blakey at nau.edu
Contact Address:
Department of Geology, Box 4099
Northern Arizona University City:
Flagstaff
Province or State:
AZ
Postal Code:
86011
Country:
USA
Distribution Media
Distribution_Media:
Online (HTTP)
Distribution_Format:
HTML
Fees:
none
Personnel
TYLER
B.
STEVENS Role:
SERF AUTHOR
Phone:
(301) 614-6898
Fax:
301-614-5268
Email:
Tyler.B.Stevens at nasa.gov
Contact Address:
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Global Change Master Directory City:
Greenbelt
Province or State:
MD
Postal Code:
20771
Country:
USA
Publications/References Geology of North America, vol G3; GSA DNAG Series, Burchfiel et al, 1992: Poole et al; E. L. Miller et al; Saleeby et al; Cowan and Bruhn; D. M. Miller et al.
Ingersoll and Schweickert, 1986, Tectonics, vol 5, p. 901-912
Pacific Coast Paleogeography Syp 1 (Pacific Sect SEPM), Stewart et al, 1977: Ross; Poole et al; Poole and Sandberg; Rich; ... Stevens
Riggs and Blakey, 1993, in Dunne and McDougall, Mz Paleogeography Western US (Pacific Sect SEPM)
Blakey, R.C., 1994, Paleogeographic and tectonic controls on some Lower and Middle Jurassic erg deposits, Colorado Plateau, in Caputo, M.V., Peterson, J.A., and Franczyk, K.J., (eds.), Mesozoic systems of the Rocky Mountain region, USA: Rocky Mountain Section, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, Special Publication, p. 273-298.
Blakey, R. C., 1996, Permian eolian deposits, sequences, and sequence boundaries, Colorado Plateau, in Longman M, W. and Sonnenfeld, M. D. (eds), Paleozoic systems of the Rocky Mountain Region: Rocky Mountain Section SEPM, p. 405-426.
Blakey, R. C., Havholm, K. G., and Jones, L.S., 1996, Stratigraphic analysis of eolian interactions with marine and fluvial deposits, Middle Jurassic Page Sandstone and Carmel Formation, Colorado Plateau, U.S.A.: Journal of Sedimentary Research, V. 66, p. 324-342.
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