The northwestern margin of the Basin and Range province

Egger, Anne E.; Glen, Jonathan M.G.; Ponce, David A.

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2009.05.029

Cited by 16 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The onset of Basin and Range faulting is younger toward the borders of the province; rapid slip on faults began ca. 15-10 Ma in both the northwestern and northeastern parts of the province, including the region in and around the ARG metamorphic core complex (e.g., Wells et al, 2000;Egger et al, 2003Egger et al, , 2010Colgan and Metcalf, 2006;Colgan et al, 2007;Fosdick and Colgan, 2008).…”

Section: Regional Cenozoic Tectonic and Magmatic Setting Of The Argmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multistage Cenozoic extension of the Albion–Raft River–Grouse Creek metamorphic core complex: Geochronologic and stratigraphic constraints

et al. 2012

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Despite numerous studies on the structural evolution of metamorphic core complexes, there is still little consensus on the set and sequence of processes that bring deep levels of the crust to the surface during extension. This problem is partially related to the fact that core complexes expose polydeformed rocks, the history of which has been challenging to decipher. New geochronological and structural data combined with existing data provide improved insight into the Cenozoic extensional evolution of the Albion-Raft River-Grouse Creek (ARG) metamorphic core complex. The Cenozoic extensional history of the core complex can be divided into several distinct stages based on the geochronol ogy and structure of igneous and metamorphic rocks in the lower plate of the complex combined with the geochronology and regional geologic context of sedimentary and volcanic rocks fl anking the complex. Initial volcanism and plutonism was Eocene age (42-34 Ma), related to a regional southwardyounging magmatic event. The development of high-temperature (sillimanite grade) metamorphic fabrics and mineral assemblages in footwall rocks was mostly Oligocene (ca. 32-25 Ma), synchronous with the diapiric rise and intrusion of evolved plutons to midcrustal depths (~10-15 km), formed by partial melting and remobilization of the deeper crust. There is no evidence for associated volcanism or basin development at the surface during this time span. The metamorphic and plutonic rocks of the core complex apparently remained at depth for ~10-12 m.y. until the Middle Miocene (ca. 14 Ma), when they were exhumed by Basin and Range faulting.Detrital zircon studies of continental basin sediments demonstrate that the synextensional Raft River Basin, bounded by the Albion-Raft River fault system, began to develop along the eastern side of the ARG metamorphic core complex ca. 13.5 Ma, synchronous with footwall cooling and uplift between 13.5 and 7 Ma recorded by apatite fi ssion track ages. The evolution of sediment sources in the Raft River Basin help defi ne three phases of Miocene tectonism.(1) Between 13.5 and 10.5 Ma, rapid slip on the Albion fault, which rooted into a ductilebrittle transition zone represented by the Raft River detachment, exhumed Paleozoic strata that, together with Miocene volcanic rocks, sourced the basin. (2) Between 10.5 and 8.2 Ma, continued slip resulted in a topographic depression fi lled with volcanic rocks and detritus derived from footwall metamorphic and crystalline rocks as well as prior sources. (3) After 8.2 Ma, the sedimentary basin was cut, rotated, and repeated by a set of younger north-south-striking normal faults that extended the basin in an east-west direction, structurally uplifting the basin sedi ments to erosion. These younger faults die out to the south and minimally displace the fault system that bounds the metamorphic core of the Raft River Mountains.The Cenozoic evolution proposed for the ARG metamorphic core complex indicates that the formation of Oligocene granitecored gneiss domes and their high-temp...

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Section: Regional Cenozoic Tectonic and Magmatic Setting Of The Argmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multistage Cenozoic extension of the Albion–Raft River–Grouse Creek metamorphic core complex: Geochronologic and stratigraphic constraints

et al. 2012

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“…While master extensional faults localize the largest amount of displacement and subsidence for basin formation at their hanging wall (e.g., Schlische, 1991;Cowie et al, 2000;Khalil and McClay, 2001;Gawthorpe et al, 2003;Mack et al, 2009;Wilson et al, 2009;Egger et al, 2010;Ford et al, 2017), complex patterns of minor fault systems often accommodate the overall tectonic deformation (e.g., Gibbs, 1984;Destro, 1995;Fossen and Hesthammer, 1997;Cifelli et al, 2007;Balsamo et al, 2008;Faccenna et al, 2011). The structural architecture, spatial distribution, and displacement accumulation of these minor structures are strictly correlated with the growth style and the extent of the master fault, contributing to the whole crustal extension.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Extensional Faulting and Fluid Circulation in the Amatrice Basin (Central Apennines, Italy) During the Pleistocene

et al. 2020

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Identification of blind geothermal resources in Surprise Valley, CA, using publicly available groundwater well water quality data

Fowler

Spycher

Zierenberg

et al. 2017

Applied Geochemistry

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Geothermal resource exploration is generally limited to areas with surface expressions of thermal activity (fumaroles and hot springs), or relies on expensive geophysical exploration techniques. In this study, the hidden subsurface distribution of geothermal fluids has been identified using a free and publicly available water quality dataset from agricultural and domestic water wells in Surprise Valley, northeastern California. Thermally evolved waters in Surprise Valley have element ratios that vary in response to Ca carbonate and Mg silicate mineral precipitation, and have elevated total dissolved solids (TDS). The arid climate in Surprise Valley leads to surface water evaporation in a closed basin, producing high TDS Na-Cl-CO3-SO4 brines in three ephemeral alkali lakes and in shallow groundwater under elevated soil CO2 conditions. Evaporated fluids in Surprise Valley follow a chemical divide that leads to Ca carbonate and Mg silicate mineral precipitation. Plots of dissolved element ratios can be used to distinguish groundwater affected by evaporation from water affected by thermal water-rock interaction, however it is challenging to select components for plotting that best illustrate different fluid evolution mechanisms. Here, we use a principal component analysis of centered log-ratio transformed data, coupled with geochemical models of fluid evaporation and thermal mixing pathways, to identify components to plot that distinguish between groundwater samples influenced by evaporation from those influenced by thermal processes. We find that groundwater samples with a thermal signature come from wells that define a coherent, linear geographical distribution that closely matches the location of known and inferred faults. Modification of the general approach employed here provides promise for identifying blind geothermal resources in other locations, by applying low-cost geochemical modeling and statistical techniques to areas where large groundwater quality geochemical datasets are available. Figure 1: Map of Surprise Valley showing locations of creek sampling stations, groundwater wells, alkali lake sampling stations and thermal springs.

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The northwestern margin of the Basin and Range province

Cited by 16 publications

References 30 publications

Multistage Cenozoic extension of the Albion–Raft River–Grouse Creek metamorphic core complex: Geochronologic and stratigraphic constraints

Multistage Cenozoic extension of the Albion–Raft River–Grouse Creek metamorphic core complex: Geochronologic and stratigraphic constraints

Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Extensional Faulting and Fluid Circulation in the Amatrice Basin (Central Apennines, Italy) During the Pleistocene

Identification of blind geothermal resources in Surprise Valley, CA, using publicly available groundwater well water quality data

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