Title: Reelfoot Rift: Reactivated Precursor to the Mississippi Embayment
Abstract: Research Article| September 01, 1975 Reelfoot Rift: Reactivated Precursor to the Mississippi Embayment C. PATRICK ERVIN; C. PATRICK ERVIN 1Department of Geology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L. D. McGINNIS L. D. McGINNIS 1Department of Geology, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois 60115 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1975) 86 (9): 1287–1295. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1975)86<1287:RRRPTT>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation C. PATRICK ERVIN, L. D. McGINNIS; Reelfoot Rift: Reactivated Precursor to the Mississippi Embayment. GSA Bulletin 1975;; 86 (9): 1287–1295. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1975)86<1287:RRRPTT>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Tectonic elements involved in the formation of the Mississippi embayment, as inferred from geophysical and geological information, originated in late Precambrian time with continental rifting (the Reelfoot rift) and intrusion of high-density magma into the crust. Isostatic subsidence in early Paleozoic time formed the Reelfoot basin, approximately coincident with the modern embayment, in which several kilometers of sediment were deposited. Closing of the proto—Atlantic Ocean and subduction in the southern Appalachian Mountains in middle to late Paleozoic time were accompanied by uplift and widespread erosion in the midcontinent. A period of rift reactivation and intrusion in late Mesozoic time, in association with rapid subsidence in the Gulf of Mexico, prompted renewed isostatic subsidence within the embayment, forming the elongate depositional trough observed today. Continued seismicity and positive free-air gravity anomalies indicate that isostatic adjustment continues to the present time. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.
Publication Year: 1975
Publication Date: 1975-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 239
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