Editors: Ben A. van der Pluijm and Paul A. Catacosinos
The mid-continent region of North America is arguably the best studied cratonic interior, but our knowledge of it is limited, compared with ancient and present-day plate margins. Continental interiors, or cratons, consist of exposed Precambrian basement rocks or regions covered by a relatively thin veneer of Phanerozoic sediments. In basic plate tectonic theory, cratons are considered tectonically inactive (i.e., the rigid portion of plates) relative to active plate margins. However, the geologic record shows that continental interiors are seismically active and that they preserve a record of tectonic activity following initial cratonization that includes the formation of intracratonic basins and arches, large-scale tilting, reactivation of faults and associated folding, regional strain patterns, and chemical processes. This volume includes new contributions on the geology, geophysics, and geochemistry of the mid-continent region of North America, and illustrates that continental interiors are subtle, yet sensitive recorders of past tectonic activity.
Published: 10/10/1996
ISBN Number: 0813723086
Pages: 209
Product Category: EBooks