Microplate Tectonic Development of Southern California

很明显，微板块是在中生代和第三纪的不同时期被增生到美国西部大陆边缘的。最近，有人提出，南加州半岛山脉直到45亿年之后的某个时候才开始增生，尽管邻近的圣卢西亚/Orocopia地块在55亿年之前就已经形成了。这种模式要求在变质核杂岩和滑脱断裂时期的大陆具有非常不同的形状。该项目将收集来自这些地体和稳定的北美的古地磁数据，以评估和测试吸积模型。研究结果对加利福尼亚南部的第三纪构造特征具有重要意义。

It has become apparent that microplates have been accreted to the western continental margin of the United States at various times during the Mesozoic and Tertiary. Recently, it has been proposed that the Peninsular Ranges terrane of southern California did not accrete until sometime after 45 mybp, although the adjacent Santa Lucia/Orocopia terrane was in place by 55 mybp. This model requires a very different shape for the continent during the time of metamorphic core complex and detachment faulting. This project will collect paleomagnetic data from these terranes and stable North America to evaluate and test the model for accretion. Results are important to a number of Tertiary tectonic features of southern California.