COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Arc Construction, Deformation, and Metamorphism in the Foothills Terrane, Sierra Nevada

大陆边缘的增长是一个重要的因素 这一过程包含了各种鲜为人知的机制。 尽管研究得很好，但仍有一些重大问题没有解决。 关于加州的内华达州山脉的构造演化 这导致了电弧物质的堆积， 北美大陆。 先前的工作已经概述了一些 这一地区中生代活动方面的备选方案 包括变质作用的原因和时间， 入侵。 该项目是一个合作，综合研究， 山麓中部变形变质作用 地形，一个关键是包含许多贯穿断层 分离出明显不同的岩石组合 结果 预计将解决为 山麓地体为南北向提供了基础 的结构和变形的综合模型， 在这种构造背景下形成的弧形。

The growth of continents at their margins is an important process encompassing a variety of poorly understood mechanisms. Although well-studied, there remain major unresolved questions about the tectonic evolution of the Sierra Nevada in California that resulted in accretion of arc material and various terranes to the North American continent. Prior work has outlined a number of alternatives for aspects of the Mesozoic activity in this area including the cause and timing of metamorphism and igneous intrusion. This project is a collaborative, integrated study of deformation and metamorphism in the central part the Foothills Terrane, a key are containing a number of through-going faults separating significantly different assemblages of rock. Results are expected to resolve differences in conclusions drawn for the Foothills Terrane to the north and south and to provide the basis for an integrated model for the construction and deformation of arcs in this tectonic setting.