Provenance of North American Phanerozoic sandstones in relation to tectonic setting

Research Article| February 01, 1983 Provenance of North American Phanerozoic sandstones in relation to tectonic setting WILLIAM R. DICKINSON; WILLIAM R. DICKINSON 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L. SUE BEARD; L. SUE BEARD 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. ROBERT BRAKENRIDGE; G. ROBERT BRAKENRIDGE 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JAMES L. ERJAVEC; JAMES L. ERJAVEC 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ROBERT C. FERGUSON; ROBERT C. FERGUSON 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar KERRY F. INMAN; KERRY F. INMAN 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar REX A. KNEPP; REX A. KNEPP 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar F. ALAN LINDBERG; F. ALAN LINDBERG 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar PAUL T. RYBERG PAUL T. RYBERG 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information WILLIAM R. DICKINSON 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 L. SUE BEARD 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 G. ROBERT BRAKENRIDGE 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 JAMES L. ERJAVEC 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 ROBERT C. FERGUSON 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 KERRY F. INMAN 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 REX A. KNEPP 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 F. ALAN LINDBERG 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 PAUL T. RYBERG 1Laboratory of Geotectonics, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1983) 94 (2): 222–235. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1983)94<222:PONAPS>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation WILLIAM R. DICKINSON, L. SUE BEARD, G. ROBERT BRAKENRIDGE, JAMES L. ERJAVEC, ROBERT C. FERGUSON, KERRY F. INMAN, REX A. KNEPP, F. ALAN LINDBERG, PAUL T. RYBERG; Provenance of North American Phanerozoic sandstones in relation to tectonic setting. GSA Bulletin 1983;; 94 (2): 222–235. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1983)94<222:PONAPS>2.0.CO;2 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 Framework modes of terrigenous sandstones reflect derivation from various types of provenance terranes that depend upon plate-tectonic setting. Triangular QFL and QmFLt compositional diagrams for plotting point counts of sandstones can be subdivided into fields that are characteristic of sandstone suites derived from the different kinds of provenance terranes controlled by plate tectonics. Three main classes of provenance are termed "continental blocks," "magmatic arcs," and "recycled orogens." Sandstone suites from each include three variants, of which the subfields lie within the larger subdivisions. Average modes for sandstone suites can be classified provisionally according to tectonic setting using the subdivided QFL and QmFLt plots.To test the validity of the classification, average modes for 233 Phanerozoic sandstone suites from North America were plotted on the triangular compositional diagrams and accompanying paleotectonic maps. Paired maps and ternary diagrams were prepared for eight different time slices, for each of which the tectonic setting of each major region within the continent remained relatively unchanged. Time slices are unequal in length but are controlled by the timing of major orogenic and rifting events that affected North America during the Phanerozoic. Comparison of the sandstone compositions with inferred tectonic setting through the Phanerozoic indicates that the proposed classification scheme is generally valid and yields satisfactory results when applied on a broad scale. Its application, together with other approaches, in regions of the world where over-all trends of geologic history are less well known could lead to important conclusions about the timing and nature of major tectonic events. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.