Widespread effects of middle Mississippian deformation in the Great Basin of western North America

Research Article| October 01, 2003 Widespread effects of middle Mississippian deformation in the Great Basin of western North America James H. Trexler, Jr.; James H. Trexler, Jr. 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0042, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Patricia H. Cashman; Patricia H. Cashman 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557-0042, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James C. Cole; James C. Cole 2U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Walter S. Snyder; Walter S. Snyder 3Department of Geology and Geophysics, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard M. Tosdal; Richard M. Tosdal 4Mineral Deposit Research Unit, Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Vladimir I. Davydov Vladimir I. Davydov 5Department of Geology and Geophysics, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2003) 115 (10): 1278–1288. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25176.1 Article history received: 10 May 2002 rev-recd: 27 Nov 2002 accepted: 19 Jan 2003 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation James H. Trexler, Patricia H. Cashman, James C. Cole, Walter S. Snyder, Richard M. Tosdal, Vladimir I. Davydov; Widespread effects of middle Mississippian deformation in the Great Basin of western North America. GSA Bulletin 2003;; 115 (10): 1278–1288. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25176.1 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 Stratigraphic analyses in central and eastern Nevada reveal the importance of a deformation event in middle Mississippian time that caused widespread deformation, uplift, and erosion. It occurred between middle Osagean and late Meramecian time and resulted in deposition of both synorogenic and postorogenic sediments. The deformation resulted in east-west shortening, expressed as east-vergent folding and east-directed thrusting; it involved sedimentary rocks of the Antler foredeep as well as strata associated with the Roberts Mountains allochthon. A latest Meramecian to early Chesterian unconformity, with correlative conformable lithofacies changes, postdates this deformation and occurs throughout Nevada. A tectonic highland—created in the middle Mississippian and lasting into the Pennsylvanian and centered in the area west and southwest of Carlin, Nevada—shed sediments eastward across the Antler foreland, burying the unconformity. Post oro genic strata are late Meramecian to early Chesterian at the base and are widespread throughout the Great Basin. The tectonism therefore occurred 20 to 30 m.y. after inception of the Late Devonian Antler orogeny, significantly extending the time span of this orogeny or representing a generally unrecognized orogenic event in the Paleozoic evolution of western North America.We propose a revised stratigraphic nomenclature for Mississippian strata in Nevada, based on detailed age control and the recognition of unconformities. This approach resolves the ambiguity of some stratigraphic names and emphasizes genetic relationships within the upper Paleozoic section. We take advantage of better stratigraphic understanding to propose two new stratigraphic units for southern and eastern Nevada: the middle Mississippian Gap Wash and Late Mississippian Captain Jack Formations. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.