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Geometry of Proterozoic sutures in the central Rocky Mountains from seismic reflection data: Cheyenne belt and Farwell Mountain structures
Author(s) -
Morozova Elena,
Wan Xin,
Chamberlain Kevin R.,
Smithson Scott B.,
Morozov Igor B.,
Boyd Nickolas K.,
Johnson Roy A.,
Karlstrom Karl E.,
Tyson Amanda R.,
Foster C. T.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2001gl013819
Subject(s) - geology , proterozoic , archean , cheyenne , fibrous joint , crust , reflection (computer programming) , block (permutation group theory) , paleontology , seismology , geomorphology , tectonics , geometry , archaeology , geography , computer science , programming language , medicine , mathematics , anatomy
Seismic reflection data show ∼40° S‐dipping reflectors that extend from the Cheyenne belt (CB‐Archean‐Proterozoic suture) to 20 km depths, and profound differences in crustal reflectivity across the suture zone, which is itself imaged as an interwedging boundary. Archean crust has a Moho reflection (at 40 km) and abundant upper crustal reflectivity; Proterozoic crust has no Moho reflection and is distinctly less reflective. Reflective zones south of the Cheyenne belt include 40° S‐ and N‐dipping reflections that extend from the Farwell Mountain zone to 20 km depths; these are interpreted to be a complex cryptic suture zone between the 1.78–1.76 Ga Green Mountain block and 1.75–1.72 Ga Rawah block.