Tracking changes in crustal thickness during orogenic evolution with Sr/Y: An example from the North American Cordillera

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 2015 Tracking changes in crustal thickness during orogenic evolution with Sr/Y: An example from the North American Cordillera James B. Chapman; James B. Chapman 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mihai N. Ducea; Mihai N. Ducea 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA2Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Peter G. DeCelles; Peter G. DeCelles 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lucia Profeta Lucia Profeta 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information James B. Chapman 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Mihai N. Ducea 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA2Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania Peter G. DeCelles 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Lucia Profeta 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 20 May 2015 Revision Received: 31 Jul 2015 Accepted: 18 Aug 2015 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2015 Geological Society of America Geology (2015) 43 (10): 919–922. https://doi.org/10.1130/G36996.1 Article history Received: 20 May 2015 Revision Received: 31 Jul 2015 Accepted: 18 Aug 2015 First Online: 09 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 B. Chapman, Mihai N. Ducea, Peter G. DeCelles, Lucia Profeta; Tracking changes in crustal thickness during orogenic evolution with Sr/Y: An example from the North American Cordillera. Geology 2015;; 43 (10): 919–922. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G36996.1 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Global compilations indicate that the geochemistry of arc magmatism is sensitive to Moho depth. Magmatic products are prevalent throughout the history of Cordilleran orogenesis and can be employed to constrain the timing of changes in crustal thickness as well as the magnitude of those changes. We investigate temporal variations in crustal thickness in the United States Cordillera using Sr/Y from intermediate continental arc magmas. Our results suggest that crustal thickening began during the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and culminated with 55–65-km-thick crust at 85–95 Ma. Crustal thicknesses remained elevated until the mid-Eocene to Oligocene, after which time crustal thicknesses decreased to 30–40 km in the Miocene. The results are consistent with independent geologic constraints and suggest that Sr/Y is a viable method for reconstructing crustal thickness through time in convergent orogenic systems. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.