Principles of Practical Tectonic Analysis of Cratonic Regions: With Particular Reference to Western North America

Description

Steep crystalline-basement faults, commonly indicated by potential-field anomalies, played a crucial role in evolution of continental cratonic platforms. In the Phanerozoic Western Canada Sedimentary Province, history of crustal block movements and warps is reconstructed from the distribution of depocenters, lithofacies and structures in structural-formational étages in sedimentary cover. Each étage is a rock succession formed during a particular tectonic stage; regional tectonic restructuring closes each stage, and the next stage represents a new tectonic regime. Practical tectonic analysis, based on observation of rocks and geophysical data, is a reliable guide for deciphering a region's geologic history and for resource exploration. Basic notions and definitions....Pages 1-31 Structural-formational, tectonic étages as fundamental units of regional tectonic analysis....Pages 32-56 Regional tectonic analysis of the Western Canada sedimentary province in Alberta, Saskatchewan and adjacent parts of the U.S.....Pages 57-135 Methodological reasons for using structural-formational étages in regional tectonic analysis....Pages 136-158 Reconstruction of structural history of a craton by using structural-formational étages in its cover and pre-cover volcano-sedimentary basins....Pages 159-237 Finding an adequate regional tecnotic interpretation constrained by mappable properties of rocks....Pages 238-258 Place of neotectonic and current crustal movements in regional tectonic studies....Pages 259-289 Conclusions: Advantages of practical tectonics....Pages 290-312