Basin record of a Miocene lithosphere drip beneath the Colorado Plateau
Abstract The sinking of gravitationally unstable lithosphere beneath high-elevation plateaus is proposed to be a key driver of their uplift. Numerical geodynamic models predict that lithosphere removal can lead to transient, dynamic topographic changes that could be preserved in the surface record,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40147-7 |
| _version_ | 1797774106463043584 |
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| author | John J. Y. He Paul Kapp |
| author_facet | John J. Y. He Paul Kapp |
| author_sort | John J. Y. He |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The sinking of gravitationally unstable lithosphere beneath high-elevation plateaus is proposed to be a key driver of their uplift. Numerical geodynamic models predict that lithosphere removal can lead to transient, dynamic topographic changes that could be preserved in the surface record, particularly in sedimentary deposits of lakes or playas that are subsequently inverted. However, few such examples have been documented. Here we show that the Miocene Bidahochi Basin, which was partially and intermittently filled by the Hopi Paleolake, preserves a record of the quasi-elliptical surface response to a viscous drip of lithosphere >100 km beneath the Colorado Plateau. New detrital zircon U-Pb, Lu-Hf, and trace-element data reveal systematic isotopic, geochemical, temperature and fO2 transitions in magmatism proximal to the basin. Integration of geophysical, geochemical, and geological evidence supports a spatially and temporally varying record of subsidence and uplift that is consistent with models of progressive dripping beneath plateaus with thick lithosphere. We demonstrate that dynamic topography at the scale of individual lithosphere drips can be recognized on the Colorado Plateau, despite the strength of its lithosphere. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:16:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b8cb85220ad2491faa3d9eba10c07bc6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:16:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-b8cb85220ad2491faa3d9eba10c07bc62023-07-23T11:18:55ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-07-0114111210.1038/s41467-023-40147-7Basin record of a Miocene lithosphere drip beneath the Colorado PlateauJohn J. Y. He0Paul Kapp1Department of Geoscience, University of ArizonaDepartment of Geoscience, University of ArizonaAbstract The sinking of gravitationally unstable lithosphere beneath high-elevation plateaus is proposed to be a key driver of their uplift. Numerical geodynamic models predict that lithosphere removal can lead to transient, dynamic topographic changes that could be preserved in the surface record, particularly in sedimentary deposits of lakes or playas that are subsequently inverted. However, few such examples have been documented. Here we show that the Miocene Bidahochi Basin, which was partially and intermittently filled by the Hopi Paleolake, preserves a record of the quasi-elliptical surface response to a viscous drip of lithosphere >100 km beneath the Colorado Plateau. New detrital zircon U-Pb, Lu-Hf, and trace-element data reveal systematic isotopic, geochemical, temperature and fO2 transitions in magmatism proximal to the basin. Integration of geophysical, geochemical, and geological evidence supports a spatially and temporally varying record of subsidence and uplift that is consistent with models of progressive dripping beneath plateaus with thick lithosphere. We demonstrate that dynamic topography at the scale of individual lithosphere drips can be recognized on the Colorado Plateau, despite the strength of its lithosphere.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40147-7 |
| spellingShingle | John J. Y. He Paul Kapp Basin record of a Miocene lithosphere drip beneath the Colorado Plateau Nature Communications |
| title | Basin record of a Miocene lithosphere drip beneath the Colorado Plateau |
| title_full | Basin record of a Miocene lithosphere drip beneath the Colorado Plateau |
| title_fullStr | Basin record of a Miocene lithosphere drip beneath the Colorado Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Basin record of a Miocene lithosphere drip beneath the Colorado Plateau |
| title_short | Basin record of a Miocene lithosphere drip beneath the Colorado Plateau |
| title_sort | basin record of a miocene lithosphere drip beneath the colorado plateau |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40147-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnjyhe basinrecordofamiocenelithospheredripbeneaththecoloradoplateau AT paulkapp basinrecordofamiocenelithospheredripbeneaththecoloradoplateau |