Timing of volcanism in the Sierra Nevada of California: Evidence for Pliocene delamination of the batholithic root?

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 2000 Timing of volcanism in the Sierra Nevada of California: Evidence for Pliocene delamination of the batholithic root? Curtis R. Manley; Curtis R. Manley 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3315, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Allen F. Glazner; Allen F. Glazner 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3315, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. Lang Farmer G. Lang Farmer 2Department of Geological Sciences and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Curtis R. Manley 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3315, USA Allen F. Glazner 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3315, USA G. Lang Farmer 2Department of Geological Sciences and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Feb 2000 Revision Received: 15 Jun 2000 Accepted: 20 Jun 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (9): 811–814. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<811:TOVITS>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 24 Feb 2000 Revision Received: 15 Jun 2000 Accepted: 20 Jun 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Curtis R. Manley, Allen F. Glazner, G. Lang Farmer; Timing of volcanism in the Sierra Nevada of California: Evidence for Pliocene delamination of the batholithic root?. Geology 2000;; 28 (9): 811–814. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<811:TOVITS>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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Recent seismic experiments across the southern Sierra Nevada, California, show that the range lacks a thick crustal root. Xenolith studies indicate that delamination and loss of much of the lower crust may have occurred between 10 and 3 Ma. We estimate that delamination occurred ca. 3.5 Ma on the basis of a sudden pulse of mafic potassic magmatism within and just east of the Sierra Nevada from 4 to 3 Ma. This pulse interrupted the low level of volcanism that had prevailed regionally since 13 Ma. Delamination could have promoted magmatism via decompression melting, heating of the shallow lithosphere by upwelling asthenosphere, and foundering of crustal rocks into the mantle, and could have provided dynamic support to the range. Foundering of the lower crust may have occurred spontaneously, owing to negative buoyancy, or may have been triggered by extension between the Sierra Nevada and Death Valley. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.