Continental Tectonics -- Copyright -- Studies in Geophysics -- PREFACE -- Contents -- OVERVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS -- THE PLATE-TECTONIC FRAMEWORK -- THE CONTINENTS AND PLATE TECTONICS -- CURRENT CAPABILITIES -- CONTINENTAL TECTONICS IN PROPOSED GEOSCIENCE PROGRAMS -- RECOMMENDATION -- BIBLIOGRAPHY -- I SUMMARY -- 1 Plate Tectonics and the Continents: A Review -- INTRODUCTION -- PLATE BOUNDARIES -- Divergent Boundary Systems -- Transform Boundary Systems -- Convergent Boundary Systems -- Noncollisional Convergent Systems -- Collisional Convergent Boundary Systems -- NON-PLATE-BOUNDARY SYSTEMS -- Intraplate Magmatic Activity -- Intraplate Vertical Movements -- Intraplate Deformation -- CONCLUSIONS -- References -- 2 Problems of Pre-Mesozoic Continental Evolution -- INTRODUCTION -- TIME CALIBRATION OF THE TECTONIC RECORD -- CONTINENTAL TECTONICS FROM THE PRE-ARCHEAN THROUGH THE PALEOZOIC -- The Interplanetary Connection -- The Archean Need not be Arcane -- Proterozoic Perimeters in Space and Time -- ARE PALEOZOIC PLATES MORE PALATABLE THAN PRECAMBRIAN? -- Reference -- II PLATE-BOUNDARY TECTONICS -- 3 Complexities of Modern and Ancient Subduction Systems -- INTRODUCTION -- ACTIVE CONTINENTAL MARGINS -- BEHAVIOR OF MODERN ISLAND ARCS -- MECHANISM OF SUBDUCTION -- PRE-CRETACEOUS ISLAND-ARC AND MÉLANGE ASSEMBLAGES OF THE WESTERN UNITED STATES -- CRETACEOUS AND CENOZOIC CALIFORNIA -- Subduction Configuration -- Late Cenozoic Disruption -- References -- 4 Intracontinental Rifts and Aulacogens -- INTRODUCTION -- RIFTS IN THE WILSON CYCLE -- RIFTS AT CONTINENTAL BREAKUP -- CONVERGENT BOUNDARY RIFTS -- COLLISIONAL RIFTS -- Aulacogens -- Impactogens -- NORTH AMERICAN INTRACONTINENTAL RIFTS AND AULACOGENS -- Active Rifts -- Reactivated Rifts -- Failed Rifts at Atlantic-Type Margins -- Aulacogens -- CONCLUSIONS -- References.

5 Evolution of Outer Highs on Divergent Continental Margins -- INTRODUCTION -- STRUCTURAL-STRATIGRAPHIC RELATIONS AT DIVERGENT CONTINENTAL-OCEANIC CRUSTAL BOUNDARIES -- Geological Observations -- Geophysical Evidence for Outer Highs -- SUMMARY OF EVOLUTION OF DIVERGENT (PASSIVE) CONTINENTAL MARGINS -- TECTONIC-SEDIMENTARY MODEL FOR THE EVOLUTION OF OUTER HIGHS ON DIVERGENT MARGINS -- PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS -- SUMMARY -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- References -- III INTRAPLATE TECTONICS -- 6 Tectonics of Noncollisional Regimes -- INTRODUCTION -- SEISMIC EVIDENCE FOR INTRAPLATE COMPRESSION -- GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR INTRAPLATE DEFORMATION RELATED TO NONCOLLISIONAL PLATE CONVERGENCE -- Western Terrane -- Central or Magmatic-Arc Terrane -- Eastern Terrane -- Colorado-Wyoming Rocky Mountain Terrane -- PROBLEMS -- References -- 7 Models for Midcontinent Tectonism -- INTRODUCTION -- GEOLOGICAL HISTORY -- CONTEMPORARY GEODYNAMICS -- Seismicity -- Stress Distribution -- Cenozoic Faulting -- Recent Vertical Movements -- TECTONIC MODELS -- Resurgent Tectonics -- Crustal Rifting -- Zones of Weakness and Crustal Boundaries -- Local Basement Inhomogeneities -- Thermal Expansion and Contraction -- Isostatic Warping -- CONCLUSIONS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- References -- 8 Problems of Intraplate Extensional Tectonics, Western United States -- INTRODUCTION -- EARLY TERTIARY EXTENSION IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST -- MIOCENE EXTENSION IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES -- Dike Swarms, Columbia River Basalt -- Great Basin Extensional Tectonics -- Geometry of Range-Front Faults in the Great Basin -- Amount of Great Basin Extension -- Relations Between Extension and Strike-Slip Faulting -- Mechanisms of Crustal Extension at Depth -- LOW-ANGLE DETACHMENT FAULTS -- Colorado River Trough South of Lake Mead.

PLATE-TECTONIC SPECULATIONS ON THE CAUSE(S) OF LATE CENOZOIC EXTENSION IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES -- PERSPECTIVES -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- References -- 9 Geophysical and Geological Characteristics of the Crust of the Basin and Range Province -- INTRODUCTION -- PRESENT AND PAST CRUSTAL EXTENSION -- THE THERMAL REGIME -- CRUSTAL MAGMAS -- HYDROTHERMAL CONVECTION -- THE DISTRIBUTION OF EARTHQUAKES -- NORMAL FAULTING AND BASAL SLIDING -- GEOPHYSICALLY ANOMALOUS LAYERS IN THE SHALLOW CRUST -- CRUSTAL MODEL FOR THE BASIN AND RANGE PROVINCE: A SUMMARY AND INTERPRETATION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- References -- IV CHARACTERIZATION OF CONTINENTAL CRUST -- 10 Seismic Exploration of the Continental Basement: Trends for the 1980's -- INTRODUCTION -- SPECTRUM OF SEISMIC WAVELENGTHS -- NATURAL SEISMIC SOURCES -- ARTIFICIAL SEISMIC SOURCES -- CONCLUSION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- References -- 11 Exploration of the Continental Crust Using Aeromagnetic Data -- INTRODUCTION -- WESTERN UNITED STATES -- MIDWESTERN UNITED STATES -- EASTERN UNITED STATES -- CONCLUSIONS -- References -- 12 Chemistry of the Lower Crust: Inferences from Magmas And Xenoliths -- INTRODUCTION -- CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK -- CONTINENTAL MAGMATIC STUDIES -- CONSEQUENCES OF CRUSTAL MELTING: TWO TYPES OF LOWER CRUST -- Residual Crust -- Solidified Basic Melts -- EXPOSED LOWER CRUSTAL SECTIONS -- XENOLITH STUDIES -- Xenoliths Associated with Convergent Plate Boundaries -- Xenoliths Associated with Rift Valley Environments and Intraplate Volcanic Areas -- Rio Grande Rift -- Midcontinent Rift -- Massif Central, France -- Intraplate Volcanic Areas -- Xenoliths from Polymetamorphosed Precambrian Lower Crust -- Southern Africa -- Colorado Plateau -- OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS -- What is the Origin of the Rock Suites at Sites of Continental Crustal Formation?.

What are the Age Relationships Within Vertical as Well as Horizontal Crustal Sections? -- What is the Temperature-Strain History of Lower Crustal Regions? -- SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- References -- 13 Geochemical Evolution of the Continental Crust -- INTRODUCTION -- RADIOGENIC ISOTOPES -- PETROGENESIS OF IGNEOUS ROCKS -- CHEMISTRY OF THE LOWER CRUST -- MANTLE-CRUST INTERACTION -- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -- References -- V CONTINENTAL EVOLUTION -- 14 Cenozoic Volcanism in the Western United States: Implications for Continental Tectonics -- INTRODUCTION -- SUBVOLCANIC INTRUSIONS -- COMPOSITIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE -- STRUCTURAL DISCONTINUITIES IN THE CONTINENTAL LITHOSPHERE -- PLATE-TECTONIC INTERACTIONS -- PERSPECTIVES -- References -- 15 The Shape of North America during the Precambrian -- INTRODUCTION -- ARCHEAN -- EARLY PROTEROZOIC -- LATE PROTEROZOIC -- SUMMARY -- References -- 16 An Outline of the Tectonic Characteristics of China -- INTRODUCTION -- TECTIONIC UNITS OF CHINA -- Sino-Korean Paraplatform -- Yangtze Paraplatform -- TARIM PLATFORM -- Tienshan-Khingan Geosynclinal Fold System and Argun Fold System -- Kunlun-Nanshan-Tsinling Geosynclinal Fold System and Tibet-Yunnan Geosynclinal System -- Himalayan Geosynclinal Fold System -- South China Geosynclinal Fold System -- Natanhata Eugeosynclinal Fold Belt and Upper Heilungkiang Miogeosynclinal Fold Belt -- DEEP-SEATED STRUCTURES AND DEPTH FRACTURES IN CHINA -- Deep-Seated Structure -- Depth Fractures of China -- THE TECTONIC DEVELOPMENT OF CHINA -- THE POLYCYCLIC TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF CHINA -- PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON PLATE TECTONICS IN CHINA -- Tsangpo Depth Fracture Zone -- Nanshan-Tsinling Region -- Chinshakiang-Red River Depth-Fracture Zone -- References.