Plume-modified orogeny: An example from the western United States

Research Article| August 01, 1998 Plume-modified orogeny: An example from the western United States J. Brendan Murphy; J. Brendan Murphy 1Department of Geology, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gary L. Oppliger; Gary L. Oppliger 2Kennecott Exploration Co., 961 Matley Lane, Suite 120, Reno, Nevada 89502 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar George H. Brimhall, Jr; George H. Brimhall, Jr 3Earth Resources Center, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Andrew Hynes Andrew Hynes 4Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2A7, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1998) 26 (8): 731–734. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0731:PMOAEF>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation J. Brendan Murphy, Gary L. Oppliger, George H. Brimhall, Andrew Hynes; Plume-modified orogeny: An example from the western United States. Geology 1998;; 26 (8): 731–734. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1998)026<0731:PMOAEF>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Plate tectonic theory implies that orogeny at convergent margins results from several processes, including subduction of oceanic crust, subduction of aseismic ridges, accretion of terranes, and continental collision. Each of these processes involves the consumption of an oceanic tract, and each has its own characteristic style of tectonothermal activity. An additional, potentially important, orogenic process has been largely overlooked. Oceanic regions contain chains of volcanic islands formed at hotspots, which are generally considered to reflect the sites of rising plumes. In a hotspot reference frame, where active continental margins advance and override a plume, the plume's buoyant swell may profoundly change the tectonothermal expression of subduction and hence orogenic processes at the continental margin. The Late Cretaceous–Tertiary evolution of the western United States may be an example of this process, which has been overlooked in the development of orogenic paradigms. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.