history of arizona’s basin and range and related landforms gcu 221

History of Arizona’s History of Arizona’s Basin and RangeBasin and Range

and Related Landforms and Related Landforms

GCU 221GCU 221

Game Plan:Game Plan:

Cenozoic history of the Basin and RangeCenozoic history of the Basin and Range- Time step 1 – Compression - Time step 1 – Compression (Thrust Faults)(Thrust Faults)

- Time step 2 – Extension - Time step 2 – Extension (Fault Block / Metamorphic Core (Fault Block / Metamorphic Core Complexes)Complexes)

- Time step 3 – Basin filling - Time step 3 – Basin filling (Playas)(Playas)

- Time step 4 – Drainage integration- Time step 4 – Drainage integration

Cenozoic Cenozoic History of History of the Basin the Basin

RangeRange

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step Time Step 11 - 70 to 20 million years ago - 70 to 20 million years ago

Arizona COMPRESSED from North Arizona COMPRESSED from North America overriding the Pacific PlateAmerica overriding the Pacific Plate

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 1Time Step 1 - 70 to 20 million years ago - 70 to 20 million years ago

How compression works…

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 1Time Step 1 - 70 to 20 million years ago - 70 to 20 million years ago

“Keystone Thrust Fault”

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 1Time Step 1 - 70 to 20 million years ago - 70 to 20 million years ago

“Arizona Thrust Faults”

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step Time Step 22 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Arizona EXTENDED because North Arizona EXTENDED because North America overrode a “spreading center”America overrode a “spreading center”

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

“San Andreas Fault”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxPTLmg0ZCw

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

“Compressionto extension”

Two major features:1. Fault Block

Mountains2. Metamorphic Core

Complexes

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Fault Block Mountains

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

“Little More Complicated”

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Arizona Fault Block Mountains

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

“Sierra Estrella Mountains”

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

“Camelback Mountain” – Red Tertiary deposits and very old granite, typical Fault Block

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Death Valley Normal Fault

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Metamorphic Core Complexes

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

South Mountain

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Tempe Butte – A fault block that rotated away from South Mountain

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Catalina Mountains

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Catalina Mountains

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Can you find a fault block mountain and a metamorphic core complex? How can you tell?

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 2Time Step 2 - 20 to 10 million years ago - 20 to 10 million years ago

Bonus, Bear Claw Mountains or a detachment fault.

Harcuvar Mountains.

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step Time Step 33 – 10 to ~5 million years ago – 10 to ~5 million years ago

Extension shuts down, Arizona dominated Extension shuts down, Arizona dominated by interior drainageby interior drainage

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 3Time Step 3 – 10 to ~5 million years ago – 10 to ~5 million years ago

Arizona kinda looked like numerous Death Valleyshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEOYyjYVkR0

Interior drainage in arid locations forms playas or dry lakes

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 3Time Step 3 – 10 to ~5 million years ago – 10 to ~5 million years ago

Death Valley… again

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 3Time Step 3 – 10 to ~5 million years ago – 10 to ~5 million years ago

Arizona’s old Death Valleys

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step 3Time Step 3 – 10 to ~5 million years ago – 10 to ~5 million years ago

Wilcox Playa

Cenozoic History of the Basin RangeCenozoic History of the Basin Range Time Step Time Step 44 – ~5 to the present – ~5 to the present

Arizona’s drainages become mostly Arizona’s drainages become mostly integratedintegrated

Development and integration of the Salt, Verde, and Gila Rivers

Things to know:Things to know: Basin and Range History Basin and Range History

- Time step 1 – Compression (Thrust Faults)- Time step 1 – Compression (Thrust Faults)- Time step 2 – Extension (Fault Block / - Time step 2 – Extension (Fault Block /

Metamorphic Core Complexes)Metamorphic Core Complexes)- Time step 3 – Basin filling (Playas)- Time step 3 – Basin filling (Playas)- Time step 4 – Drainage integration (basin - Time step 4 – Drainage integration (basin

spillover)spillover)

If you have questions, ask Dr. Douglass