Continental Tectonics

activity ancient appears areas associated basaltic basement Basin Basin and Range belt beneath boundary Bull California Cenozoic central Chapter CHARACTERISTICS collision complex composition continental crust continental margins continents convergent crustal deformation depth distribution divergent dynamics early earth earthquakes east eastern et al evidence evolution example extension faults field Figure fold formation formed fracture Geol geological Geophys geophysical igneous important indicate interpreted island isotopic late lithosphere lower crust m.y. ago magmatic major mantle margins Mesozoic modem motion Mountains nature Nevada North America northern occur oceanic origin orogenic outer patterns plate plate boundary plate tectonics Precambrian present probably processes province recent record reflection region relative Research result rift rocks Sciences sedimentary sediments seismic southern stress structure studies subduction suggest surface tectonics terrane Tertiary types understanding upper volcanic western United xenoliths zone