Paleomagnetic results from the Shasta Bally Plutonic Belt in the Klamath Mountains Province, northern California

Edward A. Mankinen; William P. Irwin; C. Sherman Gromme

doi:10.1029/gl015i001p00056

Home/Archive/USGS

USGS · 70197161

Paleomagnetic results from the Shasta Bally Plutonic Belt in the Klamath Mountains Province, northern California

Edward A. Mankinen·William P. Irwin·C. Sherman Gromme

View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Available paleomagnetic data show approximately 100° of clockwise rotation for Permian and Triassic strata of the Eastern Klamath terrane. Jurassic strata of this terrane are rotated approximately 60° clockwise, which is comparable to rotations reported for Jurassic plutons that occur elsewhere in the Klamath Mountains province. Paleomagnetic data obtained during the present study from the Shasta Bally belt of Cretaceous plutons indicate 25.7° ± 13.6° of clockwise rotation for the province since Early Cretaceous time (≃ 136 Ma). The waning stages of rotation at the time of emplacement of the Shasta Bally belt plutons, which was closely followed by deposition of basal strata (Lower Cretaceous) of the Great Valley sequence, probably represents completion of accretion of the province to cratonic North America.

Explore related subjects

Geophysical Research Letters Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 40° to 42° latitude; -123.25° to -121.75° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeX RIS

Edward A. Mankinen, William P. Irwin, C. Sherman Gromme. 2012-12-07. Paleomagnetic results from the Shasta Bally Plutonic Belt in the Klamath Mountains Province, northern California. https://doi.org/10.1029/gl015i001p00056

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related USGS reports

USGS2026

First application of a coastal-dune model (AeoLiS) to simulate fluvial-aeolian morphodynamics

Quantifying aeolian processes is important to decision-making in river management and for optimizing strategies for ecosystem conservation, natural resource management, and recreation. We applied the AeoLiS aeolian transport model, originally developed for coastal environments, to a dryland river corridor to evaluate its ability to simulate sediment dynamics in a fluvial-aeolian system. The model reproduced spatial and temporal patterns of geomorphic change at a Grand Canyon sandbar, including aeolian dune formation, observed in field data. The model effectively captured trends in observed sediment movement in the spring and summer months. Thus, despite assuming a single grain-size, static vegetation, and not directly accounting for variable sediment supply from fluvial sources, the model performs well at capturing aeolian processes in a complex fluvial-aeolian system. AeoLiS demonstrates strong potential for dryland river applications and management, due to its flexibility and compatibility with coupled modeling frameworks.

Arizona↗

USGS2026

Emergent headwater types for watershed monitoring, research, and planning

Headwaters—that is headwater streams and the watersheds they drain—strongly influence water quality, ecosystem services, and hydrologic connectivity, yet remain poorly mapped, monitored, and understood at large spatial scales. Using available spatial data to classify headwater “types” could therefore enhance the utility of sparse monitoring data to advance research and watershed planning—and help update literature-based perceptual models of headwaters as steep, forested, and minimally disturbed watersheds. Here, we analyze headwaters across the contiguous United States to quantify how their attributes (climate, topography, land cover, soils) vary regionally and differ from their downstream watersheds. Our analysis (a) identified seven dominant headwater types with distinct combinations of biophysical and climatic attributes and (b) revealed systematic contrasts with downstream watersheds, with strongest differences in attributes representing potential flowpath depth. Our findings offer a transferable framework for classifying, modeling, and managing these critical yet understudied components of the hydrologic network.

conterminous United States↗

USGS2026

Corundum discovered by SuperCam and the Perseverance rover at Jezero crater, Mars

Mars is primarily composed of mafic mineral assemblages and their alteration products, but small, scattered rocks strewn across the landscape offer clues to greater petrological diversity. While traversing the Jezero crater rim, the Perseverance rover encountered several plagioclase-rich light-toned float rocks. SuperCam identified the distinctive signature of corundum (α-Al 2 O 3 ) in these rocks using time-resolved luminescence spectroscopy. Two strong peaks (692.7 and 694.1 nm) with millisecond lifetimes, and additional supporting lines, are consistent with Cr 3+ substitution for Al 3+ in corundum. Corundum forms in Al-rich, Si-depleted environments through magmatic or metamorphic processes. Given the rocks' small size, association with plagioclase, and location on the crater rim, we interpret the most plausible formation scenario to be impact induced metamorphism at the interface of a felsic and a mafic/ultramafic member with the likely action of fluids at some stage, although other possibilities are not excluded.

Geophysical Research Letters↗