Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the White Mountains, California and Nevada

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2003 Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the White Mountains, California and Nevada Daniel F. Stockli; Daniel F. Stockli 1Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA, and Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Trevor A. Dumitru; Trevor A. Dumitru 2Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Michael O. McWilliams; Michael O. McWilliams 2Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kenneth A. Farley Kenneth A. Farley 3Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, MS 170-25, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Daniel F. Stockli 1Department of Geology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, USA, and Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Trevor A. Dumitru 2Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Michael O. McWilliams 2Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Kenneth A. Farley 3Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, MS 170-25, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 25 Apr 2002 Revision Received: 11 Dec 2002 Accepted: 17 Dec 2002 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2003) 115 (7): 788–816. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2003)115<0788:CTEOTW>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 25 Apr 2002 Revision Received: 11 Dec 2002 Accepted: 17 Dec 2002 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Daniel F. Stockli, Trevor A. Dumitru, Michael O. McWilliams, Kenneth A. Farley; Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the White Mountains, California and Nevada. GSA Bulletin 2003;; 115 (7): 788–816. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2003)115<0788:CTEOTW>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 The White Mountains represent the westernmost range of the central northern Basin and Range province. They are situated to the east of the unextended Sierra Nevada and represent a crustal block that is bounded along its western flank by the high-angle White Mountains fault zone. The fault zone accommodates up to ∼8 km of total dip-slip displacement. Investigation of the structural and thermal history of the White Mountains indicates a two-stage Cenozoic tectonic evolution. Preextensional Miocene volcanic rocks preserved along the eastern side of the range unconformably overlie Mesozoic granitic basement and currently dip up to 25° to the east, recording the total Cenozoic tilt of the crustal block. Apatite fission-track and (U-Th/He) thermochronological data indicate that the White Mountains underwent rapid exhumation and eastward tilting in the middle Miocene, starting at ca. 12 Ma. Geologic mapping (1:10,000), fault kinematic analysis, and dating of younger volcanic sequences show that following middle Miocene east-west extension, the White Mountains have been dominated by right-lateral transtensional deformation related to the Walker Lane belt. The eruption of late Miocene and Pliocene volcanic sequences in the eastern White Mountains postdates the majority of the uplift of the range, as evidenced by infilling of paleodrainages and the presence of east-directed flow fabrics. Fault kinematic indicators from the White Mountains fault zone are characterized by apparent overprinting of dip-slip fault-motion indicators by right-lateral slickenfibers and fault striations, demonstrating that the range-bounding fault system along the western side of the White Mountains was reactivated as a dextral strike-slip fault system. At the northern and southern ends of the range, Pliocene right-lateral transtension along this northwest–southeast-trending fault systems resulted in the formation of northeast-trending pull-apart basins that truncate the mountain range and transfer strike-slip displacement eastward from the Owens Valley fault zone to the Fish Lake Valley fault zone. The inception of strike-slip faulting in Fish Lake Valley occurred at ca. 6 Ma as constrained by late Miocene volcanic units. Right-lateral faulting on the western side of the White Mountains occurred at ca. 3 Ma and is distinctly younger than the faulting in the Fish Lake Valley area, indicating a westward migration of transcurrent deformation through time. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.