Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cordilleran Benioff zones

  • Article
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

Ages of late Mesozoic–early Cainozoic igneous rocks in south-western North America indicate a magmatic arc initiated near the continental margin, swept over 1,000 km northeastward, then swept back, all in 110 Myr. The sweep in and return are interpreted as due to flattening of a Benioff zone to < 15° followed by rapid collapse.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McKenzie, D. P. & Parker, R. L. Nature 216, 1276–1280 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Isacks, B., Oliver, J. & Sykes, L. R. J. geophys. Res. 73, 5855–5899 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Dickinson, W. R. Rev. Geophys. 8, 813–860 (1970).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Karig, D. E. & Sharman, G. F., III Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 86, 377–389 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dickinson, W. R. J. geophys. Res. 78, 3376–3389 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hatherton, T. & Dickinson, W. R. J. geophys. Res. 74, 5301–5310 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Isacks, B. & Molnar, P. Rev. Geophys. Space Sci. 9, 103–174 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hamilton, W. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 80, 2409–2430 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Coney, P. J. Nature 233, 462–465 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Lipman, P. W., Prostka, J. H. & Christiansen, R. L. Science 174, 821–825 (1971).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Gilluly, J. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 82, 2383–2396 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lowell, J. D. Econ. Geol. 69, 601–617 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Woodward, L. A. Geology 2, 570 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Gastil, R. G., Phillips, R. P. & Allison, E. C. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 140, 170 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Lanphere, M. N. & Reed, B. L. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 84, 3773–3782 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Hayes, P. T., Simons, F. S. & Raup, R. B. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 1194-M, 9 (1965).

  17. Silver, L. T., Early, T. O. & Anderson, T. H. Geol. Soc. Am. Cordilleran Sec. Meet. 375–376 (1975).

  18. Gastil, R. G. & Krummenacher, D. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 88, 189–198 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Armstrong, R. L. & Suppe, J. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 84, 1375–1392 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Krummenacher, D., Gastil, R. G., Bushee, J. & Doupont, J. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 86, 760–768 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Anderson, T. H. & Silver, L. T. Geol. Soc. Am., Rocky Mountain Meet. 484 (1974).

  22. Damon, P. E. & Mauger, R. L. Trans. S.M.E. 235, 99–112 (1966).

  23. Eberly, L. D. & Stanley, T. B. Jr. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. (in the press).

  24. Luyendyk, B. P. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 81, 3411–3416 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Coney, P. J. in Implications of Continental Drift to the Earth Sciences (eds Tarling, D. H. & Runcorn, S. K.) 2, 713–727 (Academic, London, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kelleher, J. & McCann, W. J. geophys. Res. 81, 4885–4896 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Coney, P. J. New Mexico geol. Soc. Spec. Pub. 4, 5–10 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Coney, P. J. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. (in the press).

  29. Morgan, W. J. et al. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 132, 7–22 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Clague, D. A. & Jarrard, R. D. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 84, 1135–1154 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Burchfiel, B. C. & Davis, G. A. Nature 260, 693–694 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Armstrong, R. L. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 79, 429–458 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Heidrick, T. L. & Titley, S. R. 24th Int. Geol. Cong. 3, 740 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Damon, P. E. et al. A. Prog. Rep. A.E.C. COO- 689–42 (1964).

  35. Armstrong, R. L., Taubeneck, W. H. & Hales, P. O. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 88, 397–411 (1977).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Armstrong, R. L. Northwest Geol. 3, 1–15 (1974).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Stewart, J. H., Moore, W. J. & Zeitz, I. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 88, 67–77 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Armstrong, R. L. & Higgins, R. E. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 84, 1095–1100 (1973).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Noble, D. C. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 17, 142–150 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Stauder, W. J. J. geophys. Res. 80, 1053–1064 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Scholz, C. H., Barazangi, M. & Sbar, M. L. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 82, 2979–2990 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Atwater, T. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 81, 3513–3536 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Atwater, T. & Molnar, P. Stanford Univ. Publ. Geol. Sci. 13, 136–149 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Snyder, W. S., Dickinson, W. R. & Silberman, M. L. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 32, 91–106 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Elston, W. E. & Northrop, S. A. New Mexico Geol. Soc. Spec. Pub. 5, 151 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721

    Peter J. Coney & Stephen J. Reynolds

Authors
  1. Peter J. Coney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stephen J. Reynolds
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coney, P., Reynolds, S. Cordilleran Benioff zones. Nature 270, 403–406 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/270403a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/270403a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation