Rapid localization of Pacific–North America plate motion in the Gulf of California

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2001 Rapid localization of Pacific–North America plate motion in the Gulf of California Michael Oskin; Michael Oskin 1Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Joann Stock; Joann Stock 1Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Arturo Martín-Barajas Arturo Martín-Barajas 2Centro de Investigación Científica y Educación Superior de Ensenada, Km 107 Carretera Tijuana- Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2001) 29 (5): 459–462. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0459:RLOPNA>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 17 Aug 2000 rev-recd: 22 Jan 2001 accepted: 29 Jan 2001 first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Michael Oskin, Joann Stock, Arturo Martín-Barajas; Rapid localization of Pacific–North America plate motion in the Gulf of California. Geology 2001;; 29 (5): 459–462. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0459:RLOPNA>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 Correlation of late Miocene volcaniclastic strata across the northern Gulf of California shows that the Pacific–North America plate boundary localized east of the Baja California peninsula ca. 6 Ma. Dextral offset of the 12.6 Ma Tuff of San Felipe and a pair of overlying ca. 6.3 Ma pyroclastic flows indicate at least 255 ± 10 km of displacement along an azimuth of 310°. Isopach and facies trends of the Tuff of San Felipe support no more than a few tens of kilometers of additional dextral displacement between 12.6 and 6.3 Ma. These constraints indicate that nearly all of the dextral displacement between the Pacific and North American plates prior to 6.3 Ma was accommodated outside of the gulf region, and by 4.7 Ma, the plate boundary motion was localized in the Gulf of California. Although continental extension has accounted for a component of plate boundary motion in northwestern Mexico since cessation of subduction offshore of southern Baja California at 12.5 Ma, transfer of Baja California to the Pacific plate was delayed by at least 6–7 m.y. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.