Detrital zircon provenance of the Late Cretaceous–Eocene California forearc: Influence of Laramide low-angle subduction on sediment dispersal and paleogeography

Research Article| January 01, 2015 Detrital zircon provenance of the Late Cretaceous–Eocene California forearc: Influence of Laramide low-angle subduction on sediment dispersal and paleogeography Glenn R. Sharman; Glenn R. Sharman † 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA †E-mail: gsharman@stanford.edu. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephan A. Graham; Stephan A. Graham 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Marty Grove; Marty Grove 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David L. Kimbrough; David L. Kimbrough 2Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James E. Wright James E. Wright 3Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Glenn R. Sharman † 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA Stephan A. Graham 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA Marty Grove 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA David L. Kimbrough 2Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, USA James E. Wright 3Department of Geology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA †E-mail: gsharman@stanford.edu. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 10 Jan 2014 Revision Received: 15 May 2014 Accepted: 06 Jun 2014 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2014 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2015) 127 (1-2): 38–60. https://doi.org/10.1130/B31065.1 Article history Received: 10 Jan 2014 Revision Received: 15 May 2014 Accepted: 06 Jun 2014 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Glenn R. Sharman, Stephan A. Graham, Marty Grove, David L. Kimbrough, James E. Wright; Detrital zircon provenance of the Late Cretaceous–Eocene California forearc: Influence of Laramide low-angle subduction on sediment dispersal and paleogeography. GSA Bulletin 2015;; 127 (1-2): 38–60. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B31065.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Upper Cretaceous–Eocene forearc strata deposited along the California continental margin record a complex history of plate convergence that shaped the tectonic development of the U.S. Cordillera. Synthesis of new and published detrital zircon U-Pb ages over a 2000 km length of the southern Oregon–California–northern Baja forearc clearly demonstrates spatial and temporal changes in sandstone provenance that reflect evolving sediment dispersal patterns associated with the extinction of continental margin arc magmatism and transfer of deformation to the continental interior during latest Cretaceous–early Cenozoic Laramide low-angle subduction.Measured age distributions from Cenomanian to Campanian forearc strata indicate the existence of a drainage divide formed by a high-standing mid-Cretaceous Cordilleran arc that crosscut older, Late Permian–Jurassic arc segments. Progressive influx of 125–85 Ma detrital zircon in the Great Valley forearc reflects ongoing denudation of the Sierra Nevada batholith throughout Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene time. In contrast, age distributions in the Peninsular Ranges forearc indicate early denudation of the Peninsular Ranges batholith that is hypothesized to have resulted from the initial collision of an oceanic plateau with the southern California margin; as a result, these age distributions exhibit little change over time until delivery of extraregional detritus to the margin in Eocene time. Maastrichtian through middle Eocene strata preserved south of the Sierra Nevada record a pronounced shift from local to extraregional provenance caused by the development of drainages that extended across the breached mid-Cretaceous continental margin batholith to tap the continental interior. This geomorphic breaching of the mid-Cretaceous arc, and associated inland drainage migration, represents the culminating influence of Laramide low-angle subduction on the continental margin and likely occurred following subduction of the Shatsky conjugate plateau beneath the western United States. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.