Helen L. Foster

Mid-Cretaceous extensional tectonics of the Yukon-Tanana terrane, trans-Alaska crustal transect (TACT), east-central Alaska

Mid-Cretaceous crustal extension played a fundamental role in the structural evolution of the Yukon-Tanana terrane (YTT) in the northern Cordilleran interior. In the central portion of the YTT northwest of Delta Junction, Alaska, a mylonitic shear zone juxtaposes greenschist facies rocks in the upper plate against middle to upper amphibolite facies metamorphic rocks in the lower plate, a juxtaposition suggesting elimination of as much as 10 km of crustal section. The mylonites form a partial sheath enveloping a domal footwall structure and kinematic analysis of the mylonite zone yields a uniform transport direction of hanging wall to ESE. These relations suggest analogies to the metamorphic core complexes of the southern Cordillera. However, the YTT structures are entirely ductile, suggesting either a relatively deep erosional level or relatively high geothermal gradients during extension. In the study area remnants of an older preextensional thrusting event are preserved at the highest structural levels at the base of the Seventymile terrane and the leading edge of YTT in the Wickersham terrane. However, most areas display a regional, subhorizontal fabric that is superimposed on older fabrics, and in the study area this latest fabric is subparallel to the mylonitic sheath of the apparent extensional structure. Thus the conventional viewpoint that this latest fabric is related to thrusting needs to be reevaluated and this fabric may be entirely extensional in origin. Further evidence for extension is provided by clear similarities between YTT and characteristic features of other extensional terranes. Thus we suggest that the YTT is a deeply eroded view of highly extended continental crust. The tectonic mechanism for the extensional event and the magnitude of the extension is uncertain because of complications in regional timing relationships and in alternative interpretations of the reconstruction of the crustal section. Three end-member models based on analogies with Neogene extensional systems are presented as working models to accommodate the alternative interpretations: (1) a Jurassic collision and Cretaceous extension model based on comparisons with the Neogene history of the Mediterranean region; (2) an Early to mid-Cretaceous syncollisional model analogous to the Carpathian Mountains of eastern Europe; and (3) a syncollisional plateau uplift model with extension driven by gravity spreading.

Geochronology of augen gneiss and related rocks, Yukon-Tanana terrane, east-central Alaska

Using several isotopic techniques, we have determined the ages of selected metamorphic rocks in the Yukon-Tanana terrane (YTT) of east-central Alaska. U-Pb zircon data from an augen gneiss body in the Big Delta quadrangle indicate that the granitoid protolith of the gneiss was intruded 341 ± 3 m.y. ago (lower intercept age). An upper intercept age of 2,136 ± 31 m.y. indicates an inherited early Proterozoic component in these zircons. This inheritance age is substantiated by a Sm-Nd whole-rock model age of 2.09 ± 0.08 b.y. from the Big Delta augen gneiss body. Detrital zircons from quartzitic wall rocks to this body were also derived from an early Proterozoic (∼2.1 to 2.3 b.y. old) crustal source(s). Zircons from three other augen gneisses occurring in an east-west belt which extends into the southern Yukon Territory, Canada, have similar Mississippian and early Proterozoic intercept ages. A Rb-Sr whole-rock isochron from widely separated bodies of augen gneiss has an age of 333 ± 26 m.y. and an initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio of 0.728 ± 0.002, confirming the Mississippian intrusive age for the protolith. The high initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio further indicates an old crustal component in these rocks. A Rb-Sr mineral isochron (115 ± 4 m.y.), K-Ar data from hornblende and micas (128 to 107 m.y.), and U-Pb data from sphene (134. m.y.) from augen gneiss and related rocks are similar to many K-Ar ages in this region and confirm the occurrence of an early Cretaceous thermal event. U-Pb ages of zircons from three metavolcanic units in the YTT suggest that extrusion of the protoliths of these rocks occurred 360–380 m.y. ago. Scatter in the data is caused by ubiquitous inheritance and multiple lead-loss events. Significant Devonian-Mississippian igneous activity (380-340 m.y.) took place in the YTT, followed by one, or possibly two, metamorphic episodes (Mississippian? and Cretaceous). As yet, no early Proterozoic source rocks for the Paleozoic magmas have been identified in the YTT, but rocks of similar early Proterozoic ages occur to the east and south in the Northwest Territories and British Columbia, Canada.

Proterozoic zircon from augen gneiss, Yukon-Tanana Upland, east-central Alaska

U-Th-Pb analyses of zircons from an ortho-augen gneiss body in the Yukon-Tanana Upland of east-central Alaska yield strong evidence for the presence of early Proterozoic material in this area. U-Pb data define a chord that intersects concordia at about 2,300 and 345 m.y. We consider two interpretations: (1) the protolith was intruded during the Proterozoic and was subsequently metamorphosed in the Paleozoic or, more likely, (2) the protolith was intruded in the Paleozoic and incorporated material of Proterozoic age. An Sm-Nd model age of about 1,900 m.y. on a whole-rock sample of augen gneiss is additional evidence for the presence of Proterozoic material in the gneiss. K-Ar and U-Th-Pb dating of mica and sphene, respectively, reveal that younger thermal events occurred at least as recently as 110 m.y. ago.

Extruded Mudflow Hills of Nirasaki, Japan

The Nirasaki mudflow extends from the slopes of volcano Yatsuga-dake southward approximately 23 km. to the town of Nirasaki, Japan. The mudflow consists of andesite blocks and smaller fragments in a matrix of volcanic ash and dust. The mudflow is broad on the open lower slopes of the volcano, but the lower length of 9 km. is confined within a valley leading from the volcano and averages 2 km. in width. Numerous isolated hills rise above the general surface of the mudflow, particularly in this lower length, where some 25 conical or curvilinear hills range from 10 to 60 m. in height, 75 to 400 m. in width and 100 to 600 m. in length. The origin of the hills has been attributed variously to glacial deposition and to stream erosion. The authors propose that under hydrostatic pressure of that part of the mudflow stream on the volcanos slope, material of relatively low viscosity from the interior of the mudflow was extruded through fractures in the drying, hardened crust. Where the mudflow and one of these hills are together exposed in section, flow layers curve from horizontal in the mudflow mass to vertical where they extend upward into the overlying hill.

1950 AND 1951 ERUPTIONS OF MIHARA YAMA, O SHIMA VOLCANO, JAPAN

Mihara Yama is the active central cone of O Shima Volcano on the island of O Shima, Tokyo Prefecture, Japan. The outer slopes of O Shima Volcano compose most of the island. Their crest is a somma, about 600 km in altitude and 3 km in diameter, which encloses a caldera. Mihara Yama rises from the southern part of the caldera to an altitude of 755m. It is a truncated cone with a crater 800 m in diameter. Before the eruption in 1950 the crater contained an inner pit approximately 300 m in diameter and 165 m deep. Mihara Yama erupted on July 16, 1950, after 10 years of quiescence. Activity continued until September 24. Eruption resumed on February 4, 1951, and continued until April 2, after which activity was intermittent until the eruption ceased on June 28. In 1950 molten basalt was ejected explosively accompanied at times by flows. Two successive cinder cones formed from the accumulation of ejecta, some of which were hurled as high as 500 m. Lava filled the inner pit and crater, and a small amount overflowed into the caldera. About 52,000,000 metric tons of material was erupted. In 1951 six successive small cones developed. Beginning February 21 the principal cone formed. Lava overflowing the crater rim solidified mostly as aa and covered nearly 2 square km of the caldera floor. The intermittent activity during the final 3 months consisted of nine brief periods of eruption, a few of which were relatively violent. Between eruptions and especially after the final eruption the crater floor subsided. In 1951 about 20,000,000 metric tons of material was erupted.

Growth of a Talus Cone in the Western Chugach Mountains, Alaska

A significant increase in the size of a talus cone near the terminus of Eklutna Glacier during the 6 yrs following the 1964 Alaska earthquake is shown by comparison of photographs taken in 1964 and 1970. Calculations from approximate measurements indicate that about 1.7 million cu yds of rock has been added to the cone since 1964. This growth has been the result of intermittent rockfalls which began after the 1964 earthquake and were continuing in 1970. Rockfalls in other places in the same area were initiated by the earthquake, but did not continue at a rate sufficient to produce measurable change in the talus. Observations on the ridge above the active talus cone suggest that the configuration of the cliff, fracturing and loosening of the rock at the time of the earthquake, and possible land movements resulted in a uniquely unstable area. The instability may be sufficient to account for the continuation of an unusually large number of rockfalls.