RUI--Collaborative Research: Extent, Style and Tectonic Significance of Pennsylvanian Deformation in the Great Basin: A Test of Late Paleozoic Tectonic Models for the Western U.S

9903006 Snyder The Pennsylvanian of the Western Great Basin is generally thought to be a time of relative tectonic quiescence between the Devonian Antler and the Permo-Triassic Sonoma Orogenies. However, recent evidence for tight folding and thrusting to middle Pennsylvanian age in several mountain ranges of North - Central Nevada has cast doubt on this interpretation. This project will attempt to determine the extent of this deformation and to evaluate several of the existing models for this time period in the light of these new data. Results are expected to increase knowledge of the number of tectonic pulses and their timing during the late Paleozoic of the Western United States.