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The rocky cores of the mountain ranges are, in most places, formed of pieces of continental crust that are over one billion years old. In the south, an older mountain range was formed 300 million years ago, then eroded away. The rocks of that older range were reformed into the Rocky
Mountains.
180:. Both the anorthosite and granite transect the Cheyenne belt in the Laramide Mountains, and intrude crystalline rocks of the Wyoming province. These intrusions comprise the northernmost segment of a wide belt of 1.4 Ga granitic intrusions that occur throughout the Colorado orogen.
471:, moving the focus of melting and mountain building much farther inland than is normally expected. It is postulated that the shallow angle of the subducting plate greatly increased the friction and other interactions with the thick continental mass above it. Tremendous
494:
sedimentary remnants of the
Ancestral Rocky Mountains. Such sedimentary remnants were often tilted at steep angles along the flanks of the modern range; they are now visible in many places throughout the Rockies, and are prominently shown along the
843:
Foster, DA; Mueller, PA; Mogk, DW; Wooden, JL; Vogl, JJ (2006). "Proterozoic evolution of the western margin of the
Wyoming craton: implications for the tectonic and magmatic evolution of the northern Rocky Mountains".
436:
from between 80 and 55 Ma. For the
Canadian Rockies, the mountain building is analogous to a rug being pushed on a hardwood floor: the rug bunches up and forms wrinkles (mountains). In Canada, the subduction of the
385:
Sketch of an oceanic plate subducting beneath a continental plate at a collisional plate boundary. The oceanic plate typically sinks at a high angle (exaggerated here). A volcanic arc grows above the subducting
199:
are both examples of remnant
Precambrian rift basin sediments. The end of the Neoproterozoic is not known from the rock record, indicating a period of long-running terrestrial erosion which produced by the
76:, about 80–55 million years ago, was the last of the three episodes and was responsible for raising the Rocky Mountains. Subsequent erosion by glaciers has produced the current form of the mountains.
142:. As a result of the collision, older, Archean rocks of the Wyoming craton were intensely deformed and metamorphosed for at least 75 km inboard from the suture, which is marked today by the
448:
Farther south, the growth of the Rocky
Mountains in the United States is a geological puzzle. Mountain building is normally focused between 200 and 400 miles (300 and 600 km) inland from a
393:
generated above the subducting slab rose into the North
American continental crust about 200 to 300 miles (300 to 500 km) inland. Great arc-shaped volcanic mountain ranges, known as the
367:
sank beneath the continental edge. Slivers of continental crust, carried along by subducting ocean plates, were swept into the subduction zone and scraped onto North
America's western edge.
17:
738:
370:
These terranes represent a variety of tectonic environments. Some are ancient island arcs, similar to Japan, Indonesia and the
Aleutians; others are fragments of oceanic crust
558:
that probably remained at full glaciation until 15,000–20,000 years ago. Ninety percent of
Yellowstone National Park was covered by ice during the Pinedale Glaciation. The
452:
boundary. Geologists continue to gather evidence to explain the rise of the Rockies so much farther inland; the answer most likely lies with the unusual subduction of the
1251:
191:. These deep extensional basement faults filled with sediments, such as the Uinta rift basin and were reactivated more recently in Earth history by orogenies. The
581:
All of the geological processes, above, have left a complex set of rocks exposed at the surface. For example, in the Rockies of Colorado, there is extensive
776:
162:
1325:
252:
248:
1284:
1042:
1300:
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1075:
Jones, DL (1990). "Synopsis of late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic terrane accretion within the Cordillera of western North America".
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960:
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grows above the subducting plate. During the growth of the Rocky Mountains, the angle of the subducting plate may have been
297:
1005:
739:"Early Archean to Mesoproterozoic evolution of the Wyoming Province: Archean origins to modern lithospheric architecture"
123:. The granitoid rocks are mainly potassic granite and were derived principally from reworked older (3.1–2.8 Ga) gneiss.
150:, which extended across North America and probably to other continents that were joined to North America as part of the
589:
dating back to the Ancestral Rockies. In the central Canadian Rockies, the main ranges are composed of the Precambrian
515:
stripped away the high rocks, revealing the ancestral rocks beneath, and forming the current landscape of the Rockies.
1148:
Livaccari, RF; Burke, K; Sengor, AMC (1981). "Was the Laramide orogeny related to subduction of an oceanic plateau?".
1132:
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907:
176:
of the Laramie Anorthosite Complex and granite intrude into rocks of the Colorado orogen in the Laramie and adjacent
92:
The rocks in the Rocky Mountains were formed before the mountains were raised by tectonic forces. The oldest rock is
1203:
1037:
441:
and the terranes smashing into the continent are the feet pushing the rug, the ancestral rocks are the rug, and the
686:
1217:
1050:
652:
235:, the Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks were disturbed by mountain building approximately 300 Ma, during the
1315:
99:
that forms the core of the North American continent. The Wyoming Craton originated as a 100,000 km middle
629:
igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from 1.2 billion (e.g., Tetons) to more than 3.3 billion years (
1305:
694:
571:
475:
piled sheets of crust on top of each other, building the extraordinarily broad, high Rocky Mountain range.
880:
1320:
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511:: a high plateau, probably 6,000 metres (20,000 ft) above sea level. In the last 60 million years,
1077:
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A, Mathematical and Physical Sciences
161:
In the Paleoproterozoic, terranes also accumulated on the west side of the Wyoming Craton, forming the
562:
was a period of glacial advance that lasted a few centuries from about 1550 to 1860. For example, the
563:
155:
54:
1330:
499:, an early Cretaceous sandstone formation that runs along the eastern flank of the modern Rockies.
204:, from 1.1 billion to 510 million years ago. Twelve to 24 kilometers of basement rock eroded away.
84:
487:
352:
313:
236:
177:
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At a typical subduction zone, an oceanic plate typically sinks at a fairly steep angle, and a
416:
For 270 million years, the effects of plate collisions were focused very near the edge of the
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laid down in the shallow sea. The mountains eroded throughout the late Paleozoic and early
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8:
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216:, western North America lay underneath a shallow sea, which deposited many kilometers of
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143:
139:
1177:
797:"Preliminary Precambrian Basement Map Showing Geologic-Geophysical Domains, Wyoming"
103:
craton that was modified by late Archean volcanic magmatism and plate movements and
1239:. Washington, D.C: U.S. Geological Survey. pp. 1–90. Professional Paper 729-F.
1165:
1092:
928:
Ancient Denvers: Scenes from the Past 300 Million Years of the Colorado Front Range
861:
823:
758:
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supercontinent produced rifts between 900 million and 600 million years ago in the
131:
127:
73:
304:, 10,000 to 15,000 feet (3000 to 4500 m) of sediment accumulated in 15 recognized
293:
Mesozoic deposition in the Rockies occurred in a mix of marine, transitional, and
49:, a mountain system that stretches from Northern British Columbia through central
1237:
History and dynamics of glaciation in the northern Yellowstone National Park area
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boundary, far to the west of the Rocky Mountain region. It was not until 80
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359:. Western North America suffered the effects of repeated collision as the
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29:
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104:
93:
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The current southern Rockies were forced upwards through the layers of
438:
360:
340:
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232:
50:
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activity that resulted in much of the rugged landscape of the western
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614:
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transformed intermountain basins into a relatively flat terrain. The
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371:
294:
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244:
217:
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120:
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762:
980:(Fifth ed.). Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing. pp. 566–567.
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Chamberlain, Kevin R., Carol D. Frost, and B. Ronald Frost (2003).
618:
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and other north-central ranges contain folded and faulted rocks of
598:
590:
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324:
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111:. The Wyoming Craton mainly consists of two rock units: granitoid
45:
with distinct geological origins. Collectively these make up the
925:
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543:
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started to collide with the western edge of North America in the
308:. The most extensive non-marine formations were deposited in the
184:
173:
100:
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112:
930:. Fulcrum Publishing for Denver Museum of Nature and Science.
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Epoch (1.8 million–12,000 years ago), finally receding in the
507:
Immediately after the Laramide orogeny, the Rockies were like
378:
while others represent small isolated mid-oceanic islands.
508:
478:
410:
390:
812:"Tectonic model for the Proterozoic growth of North America"
526:
as shown here, have dramatically shaped the Rocky Mountains.
243:. The uplift formed two large mountainous islands, known to
53:
and which is part of the great mountain system known as the
976:
Harris, Ann G.; Tuttle, Esther; Tuttle, Sherwood D (1997).
799:. Open-File Report 01-199. United States Geological Survey.
574:
reached their most forward positions about 1860 during the
398:
108:
64:
The Rocky Mountains took shape during an intense period of
300:
as local relative sea levels changed. By the close of the
88:
Precambrian cratons and orogens in the Rocky Mountain area
421:
33:
Location of the Rocky Mountains in western North America
842:
605:
and in other areas. Millennia of severe erosion in the
1214:
Status and Trends in the Nation's Biological Resources
445:
in the middle of the continent is the hardwood floor.
687:"The Laramide Orogeny: What Were the Driving Forces?"
146:. The Colorado orogeny was likely part of the larger
1147:
138:, a 500-km-wide belt of Proterozoic rocks named for
18:
Geography of the United States Rocky Mountain System
530:Multiple periods of glaciation occurred during the
331:(approximately 350 million years ago), causing the
319:
975:
809:
542:left their mark on the Rockies, forming extensive
255:, located roughly in the current locations of the
227:In the southern Rocky Mountains, near present-day
685:English, Joseph M.; Johnston, Stephen T. (2004).
601:(66 million–1.8 million years ago) occurs in the
597:limestones and dolomites. Volcanic rock from the
1292:
794:
684:
432:The current Rocky Mountains were raised in the
424:that these effects began to reach the Rockies.
1287:- J.S. and S.W. Aber, Emporia State University
1252:"Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias"
810:Whitmeyer, Steven; Karlstrom, Karl E. (2007).
593:, while the front ranges are composed of the
926:Kirk R. Johnson; Robert G. Raynolds (2006).
775:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
482:Tilted slabs of sedimentary rock in Colorado
289:Western Interior Seaway 95 million years ago
207:
730:
554:that began about 150,000 years ago and the
456:, or possibly due to the subduction of an
999:
997:
827:
680:
678:
676:
674:
672:
538:Epoch (fewer than 11,000 years ago). The
134:accreted to the Wyoming Craton along the
130:, island-arc terrane associated with the
1228:
1118:
1116:
1114:
795:Sims, PK; Finn, CA; Rystrom, VL (2001).
546:landforms, such as U-shaped valleys and
517:
477:
380:
284:
83:
28:
1193:
1191:
1189:
1187:
1047:Geologic Provinces of the United States
1027:
1025:
1023:
1021:
1019:
950:
550:. Recent glacial episodes included the
409:. Beneath the surface, great masses of
14:
1293:
1234:
994:
878:
790:
788:
786:
669:
427:
270:, forced upward through layers of the
239:. This mountain building produced the
1326:Regional geology of the United States
1207:
1111:
1074:
955:. Mountain Press Publishing Company.
803:
413:were injected and hardened in place.
41:is that of a discontinuous series of
1249:
1243:
1184:
1122:
1016:
921:
919:
897:
891:
502:
312:period when the western part of the
1125:Canadian Rockies Geology Road Tours
783:
405:spewed out of dozens of individual
24:
1003:
846:Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
743:Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
25:
1342:
1278:
916:
1202: This article incorporates
1197:
1036: This article incorporates
1031:
1006:"Geologic History of Western US"
900:Handbook of the Canadian Rockies
320:Mesozoic terranes and subduction
278:, leaving extensive deposits of
1218:United States Geological Survey
1141:
1068:
1051:United States Geological Survey
969:
902:. Corax Press. pp. 76–93.
653:Geology of the Grand Teton area
1301:Geology of the Rocky Mountains
944:
872:
836:
335:. During the last half of the
79:
39:geology of the Rocky Mountains
13:
1:
663:
953:Roadside Geology of Colorado
879:Willis, Grant (2021-09-13).
695:International Geology Review
263:. They consisted largely of
7:
881:"Utah's Great Unconformity"
636:
10:
1347:
716:10.2747/0020-6814.46.9.833
621:age draped above cores of
168:Mesoproterozoic (~1.4 Ga)
978:Geology of National Parks
887:. Utah Geological Survey.
241:Ancestral Rocky Mountains
208:Ancestral Rocky Mountains
55:North American Cordillera
1285:Southern Rockies Geology
951:Chronic, Halka (1980).
469:significantly flattened
314:Western Interior Seaway
1235:Pierce, K. L. (1979).
1204:public domain material
1097:10.1098/rsta.1990.0084
1038:public domain material
527:
483:
387:
290:
178:Medicine Bow Mountains
89:
34:
1316:Geology of New Mexico
572:Glacier National Park
521:
481:
384:
288:
197:Uncompahgre Formation
87:
32:
552:Bull Lake Glaciation
418:North American Plate
316:covered the region.
1306:Geology of Colorado
1162:1981Natur.289..276L
1089:1990RSPTA.331..479J
858:2006CaJES..43.1601F
755:2003CaJES..40.1357C
708:2004IGRv...46..833E
631:Beartooth Mountains
556:Pinedale Glaciation
428:Raising the Rockies
183:The breakup of the
1321:Geology of Wyoming
1311:Geology of Montana
1250:Gadd, Ben (2008).
1123:Gadd, Ben (2008).
898:Gadd, Ben (1995).
829:10.1130/GES00055.1
603:San Juan Mountains
528:
522:Glaciers, such as
484:
388:
376:continental margin
339:, much of today's
291:
261:San Juan Mountains
202:Great Unconformity
115:(2.8–2.55 Ga) and
90:
35:
1210:"Rocky Mountains"
1156:(5795): 276–278.
1083:(1620): 479–486.
1043:"Rocky Mountains"
987:978-0-7872-5353-0
962:978-0-87842-105-3
852:(10): 1601–1619.
749:(10): 1357–1374.
503:Current landscape
329:Mississippian age
144:Laramie Mountains
140:Cheyenne, Wyoming
16:(Redirected from
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1257:. Archived from
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568:Jackson Glaciers
434:Laramide orogeny
345:British Columbia
280:sedimentary rock
268:metamorphic rock
132:Colorado orogeny
128:Paleoproterozoic
74:Laramide orogeny
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450:subduction zone
443:Canadian Shield
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365:Farallon Plates
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193:Uinta Formation
148:Yavapai orogeny
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43:mountain ranges
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333:Antler orogeny
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189:Neoproterozoic
163:Selway terrane
152:supercontinent
107:extension and
97:Wyoming craton
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167:
160:
125:
91:
63:
59:
38:
36:
26:
623:Proterozoic
532:Pleistocene
411:molten rock
395:Sierran Arc
295:continental
265:Precambrian
257:Front Range
249:Frontrangia
212:During the
170:anorthosite
126:During the
105:Proterozoic
94:Precambrian
80:Precambrian
1295:Categories
1268:2010-01-01
1061:2006-12-10
822:(4): 220.
664:References
439:Kula plate
397:, grew as
353:Washington
341:California
310:Cretaceous
306:formations
245:geologists
233:New Mexico
165:in Idaho.
51:New Mexico
1105:120813880
816:Geosphere
724:129901811
615:Paleozoic
595:Paleozoic
591:mudstones
407:volcanoes
374:onto the
272:limestone
218:limestone
214:Paleozoic
121:migmatite
1178:27153755
637:See also
619:Mesozoic
599:Cenozoic
540:ice ages
536:Holocene
372:obducted
325:Terranes
302:Mesozoic
276:Mesozoic
259:and the
229:Colorado
222:dolomite
174:syenites
156:Columbia
1158:Bibcode
1085:Bibcode
854:Bibcode
751:Bibcode
704:Bibcode
627:Archean
583:granite
564:Agassiz
548:cirques
544:glacial
513:erosion
492:Permian
473:thrusts
185:Rodinia
113:plutons
109:rifting
101:Archean
1176:
1150:Nature
1131:
1103:
984:
959:
934:
906:
722:
611:Tetons
587:gneiss
386:plate.
351:, and
349:Oregon
117:gneiss
72:. The
1262:(PDF)
1255:(PDF)
1206:from
1174:S2CID
1101:S2CID
1040:from
720:S2CID
690:(PDF)
509:Tibet
391:Magma
1129:ISBN
982:ISBN
957:ISBN
932:ISBN
904:ISBN
777:link
625:and
617:and
585:and
566:and
490:and
401:and
399:lava
363:and
361:Kula
251:and
231:and
220:and
195:and
172:and
119:and
37:The
1166:doi
1154:289
1093:doi
1081:331
862:doi
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759:doi
712:doi
633:).
570:in
403:ash
247:as
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