Continental-Crust Structures on the Continental Margin of Western North America [Paperback]

The NE Pacific Ocean is considered the birthplace of many fundamental ideas for modern plate tectonics theory. In this book the orogenic belts of this region are discussed in a single, internally consistent tectonic concept. Geological information is considered the most reliable. Geophysical models are tested for compatibility with observable geological data. The new concept avoids force-fitting interpretations to preconceived assumptions regarding accreted far-traveled terranes in the Cordillera and continental-oceanic plate interactions in the entire region.Outstanding issues in studies of continental margins.- Evaluation of the data base.- Pre-cenozoic geologic framework of western Cordillera.- Tertiary stratigraphic framework of coastal provinces in Washington and British Columbia.- Significance of the trans-cordilleran olympic-wallowa zone in geologic evolution of the Washington and British Columbia coastal regions.- Continental marging off Southeastern Alaska, the Queen Charlotte Islands, and Northern Vancouver Island.- Crustal blocks under Vancouver Island and the exterior shelf.- Structure of continental slope off Vancouver Island.- Interlocking of continental and oceanic crustal blocks along the continental margin and non-rigid behavior of Northern Juan de Fuca Plate.- Concluding remarks.Springer Book ArchivesDE