ISBN: 3-540-66197-2
TITLE: The Cordilleran Miogeosyncline in North America
AUTHOR: Lyatsky, Henry V.; Lyatsky, Vadim B.
TOC:

1 - INTRODUCTION
Region of study 1
Scope and main topics of the study 15
Objectives and overall approach 17
2 - GOVERNING PRINCIPLES IN REGIONAL TECTONIC EVOLUTION
Basic issues in determining the tectonic evolution of orogenic regions
Four aspects of rock-based tectonic analysis 20
Hierarchy of continental lateral tectonic units 22
Interaction of internal and external forces in the evolution of mobile megabelts and their constituent tectonic zones 22
Some basic tectonic definitions 29
3 - ROCK UNITS IN REGIONAL TECTONIC ANALYSIS
Lateral and vertical crustal units: general classification 33
Structural-formational tages, thrust sheets, and metamorphic-rheologic panels as fundamental tectonic units of the crust 35
Methodologies of tectonic analysis based on physical models of lithospheric plates 38
Some rheological complexities in the Earth's crust and upper mantle 41
Assessment of geological information from oceanic-crust magnetic anomalies 43
4 - CONCEPTUAL FUNDAMENTALS OF REGIONAL TECTONIC ANALYSIS ON CONTINENTS
Continental and oceanic lithospheric masses as lateral tectonic units 49
Recognition of lateral tectonic units within mobile megabelts 51
Vertical tectonic units within crustal blocks 64
Continuing development of the theory of mobile megabelts 67
5 - VIEW OF THE CORDILLERAN MOBILE MEGABELT'S EVOLUTION FROM THE CRATON
Choice of perspective for undistorted visualization of mobile-megabelt evolution 69
Demarcation of the boundary between craton and mobile megabelt 72
Prejudices in existing interpretations of geophysical data 78
6 - OMINECA OROGENIC BELT AS TECTONOTYPE OF THE EASTERN CORDILLERAN MIOGEOSYNCLINE
Definition of orogenic grain 101
Need for correct distinction of regional tectonic tages and stages based on formalized criteria and proper procedures of examining the rock record 102
Definition of fundamental lateral and vertical tectonic units in the Canadian Cordillera from results of geologic mapping 105
Framework of main structural-formational tages making up the post-basement orogenic grain in the eastern Cordilleran miogeosyncline 106
Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the southern Omineca orogenic zone
Some new and non-traditional information 110
New geologic facts at odds with previous hypotheses about the southern Omineca Belt 120
Need for caution in balancing cross-sections in orogenic zones 127
Basing conclusions on observable geological facts as a sound alternative to fitting data to pre-conceived models 130
Tectonic interpretation of geochemical and isotopic data, constrained by regional geology 133
Further reviews of Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic manifestations in rocks in the southern Omineca miogeosyncline and adjacent areas 139
Geologically grounded interpretation of Lithoprobe seismic data 149
Tectonics of the eastern Cordillera from combined analysis of geological and geophysical data 156
Gravity and magnetic lineaments 168
Further improvements in the knowledge of regional tectonics by integrating geological, geophysical and geochemical data 170
7 - BROAD LOOK AT GEODYNAMICAL MECHANISMS OF CRUSTAL RESTRUCTURING IN THE CORDILLERAN OROGENS AND MEDIAN MASSIFS
Low-angle normal and thrust structures in mobile-megabelt interiors 175
Dangers of fashionable prejudices 181
Median massifs: semi-reworked remnants of ancient craton(s) within the Cordilleran mobile megabelt, with emphasis on the northern Cordillera
The median massifs' Precambrian basement 187
Genetic links between assumed terranes 194
Mediterranean seas and local subduction 208
Tectonic position of the Bowser Basin 212
Causes of Cenozoic tectonism 214
Insights into deep crustal structure of the Intermontane median-massif belt from potential-field and seismic data - a critical look 217
Insights into geologic history of the Intermontane median massif(s) from analysis of its post-basement structural-formational tages 245
8 - LESSONS FROM CORDILLERAN GEOLOGY FOR THE METHODOLOGY OF REGIONAL TECTONIC ANALYSIS OF MOBILE MEGABELTS
Hypotheses, models and rock reality 260
Application of the guiding principles of tectonics in regional analysis 266
Shaky foundations of terrane-tectonic speculations 269
Real pre-existing continental-crust structures vs. preconceived assumptions in regional tectonic analysis of mobile megabelts
A lesson from Eurasia 274
False certainties in regional tectonic analysis 279
Expressions of Cordilleran tectonic zones in the metallogenic zonation 281
9 - PRACTICAL UTILITY OF ROCK EVIDENCE AND GEOPHYSICAL STUDIES IN RESTORING REGIONAL TECTONIC HISTORY IN MOBILE MEGABELTS
Diversity of crustal deformation types in the Cordilleran mobile megabelt 292
Benefits of compiling and critically reviewing geological and geophysical data to provide rational constraints on combined interpretations 299
Types of crustal movements in the Cordilleran mobile megabelt and adjacent cratonic regions: further overview studies 306
Rock-based tectonic history of continental masses as a reliable basis for reconstructing the global tectonic evolution: examples from Eurasia and North America 314
Principal role of rock evidence in tectonic analysis 326
REFERENCES 328
END
