Mantle convection and the recent evolution of the Colorado Plateau and the Rio Grande Rift valley

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 2008 Mantle convection and the recent evolution of the Colorado Plateau and the Rio Grande Rift valley Robert Moucha; Robert Moucha 1GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alessandro M. Forte; Alessandro M. Forte 1GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David B. Rowley; David B. Rowley 2Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jerry X. Mitrovica; Jerry X. Mitrovica 3Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A7, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nathan A. Simmons; Nathan A. Simmons 4Jackson School of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA *Current Address: Atmospheric, Earth & Energy Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen P. Grand Stephen P. Grand 4Jackson School of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Robert Moucha 1GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada Alessandro M. Forte 1GEOTOP, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada David B. Rowley 2Department of the Geophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA Jerry X. Mitrovica 3Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A7, Canada Nathan A. Simmons *Current Address: Atmospheric, Earth & Energy Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA. 4Jackson School of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Stephen P. Grand 4Jackson School of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 10 Nov 2007 Revision Received: 31 Jan 2008 Accepted: 13 Feb 2008 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2008 Geological Society of America Geology (2008) 36 (6): 439–442. https://doi.org/10.1130/G24577A.1 Article history Received: 10 Nov 2007 Revision Received: 31 Jan 2008 Accepted: 13 Feb 2008 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Robert Moucha, Alessandro M. Forte, David B. Rowley, Jerry X. Mitrovica, Nathan A. Simmons, Stephen P. Grand; Mantle convection and the recent evolution of the Colorado Plateau and the Rio Grande Rift valley. Geology 2008;; 36 (6): 439–442. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G24577A.1 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 The Colorado Plateau contains Late Cretaceous marine strata that are at a mean elevation of ~2 km. The timing and amount of uplift since the Cretaceous has generated considerable debate. With the exception of a few studies, topography supported by vertical stresses generated by viscous flow in the mantle has not been explicitly considered to contribute to the elevation of this region. Herein we compute the viscous flow beneath North America that is driven by density anomalies inferred from joint seismic-geodynamic modeling. We find that the Colorado Plateau overlies a strong mantle upwelling that is coupled to the sinking Farallon slab, currently beneath the eastern United States. Consequently, the Colorado Plateau is currently a focused dynamic topography high within the western U.S. Cordillera. Moreover, this strong upwelling impacts the base of the lithosphere at an oblique angle east of the plateau directly below the Rio Grande Rift. We attribute this flow as being responsible for some of the recent magmatic activity along the Jemez lineament as well as contributing to the recent rifting process in the Rio Grande Rift valley. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

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