Abstract
Palaeomagnetic data and geological field evidence indicate that most of the western Canadian cordillera lay 1,500 km south of its present position in the early Cretaceous. We suggest that this region comprised a microcontinent, termed Cordilleria, which moved on the Kula plate and collided with the craton ˜100 Myr ago to form first the Mackenzie Mountains and then the Rockies.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Monger, J. W. H., Souther, J. G. & Gabrielse, H. Am. J. Sci. 272, 577–602 (1972).
Monger, J. W. H. & Price, R. A. Can. J. Earth Sci. 16, 770–791 (1979).
Davis, G. A., Monger, J. W. H. & Burchfiel, B. C. Pacif. coast Paleogeogr. Symp. 2, 1–32 (1978).
Dickinson, W. R. Can. J. Earth. Sci. 13, 1268–1287 (1976).
Coney, P. J., Jones, D. L. & Monger, J. W. H. Nature 288, 329–333 (1980).
Tozer, E. T. Geol. Surv. Can. econ. Rep. 1, 633–640 (1970).
Monger, J. W. H. & Ross, C. A. Can. J. Earth Sci. 8, 259–278 (1971).
Tipper, H. W. Can. J. Earth Sci. 18, 1788–1792 (1981).
Siberling, N. J. & Jones, D. L. Geol. Ass. Can. Abstr. 8, A62 (1983).
Tozer, E. T. Geol. Rdsch. 71, 1077–1104 (1982).
Packer, D. R. & Stone, D. B. Can. J. Earth. Sci. 11, 976–997 (1974).
Hillhouse, J. W. Can. J. Earth Sci. 14, 2578–2592 (1977).
Van der Voo, R., Jones, M., Gromme, C. S., Eberlein, G. D. & Churkin, M. J. geophys. Res. 85, 5281–5296 (1980).
Irving, E., Monger, J. W. H. & Yole, R. W. Geol. Ass. Can. spec. Pap. 20, 441–455 (1981).
Irving, E., Wynne, P. J. & Woodsworth, G. J. Geol. Ass. Can. Abstr. 8, A35 (1983).
Symons, D. T. A. Geol. Ass. Can. Abstr. 9, 109 (1984).
Monger, J. W. H., Price, R. A. & Tempelman-Kluit, D. J. Geology 10, 70–75 (1982).
Gabrielse, H. & Dodds, C. J. Geol. Ass. Can. Abstr. 2, 19 (1977).
Templeman-Kluit, D. J. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 77-1 A, 223–227 (1977).
Leech, G. B. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap 66-14, 307–329 (1966).
Murphy, D. C. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 84-1 A, 627–630 (1984).
Rogers, G. C., Ellis, R. M. & Hasegawa, H. S. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 70, 1771–1786 (1980).
McKenzie, D. & Jackson, J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 65, 182–202 (1983).
Campbell, R. B. Geol. Surv. Can. Map 15-1967 (1968).
Chamberlain, V. E., Lambert, R. St J., Baadsgaard, H. & Gale, N. H. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 79-1 B, 45–50 (1979).
Chamberlain, V. E., Lambert, R. St J. & Holland, J. G. Precamb. Res. 11, 1–9 (1980).
Chamberlain, V. E., Lambert, R. St J. & Holland, J. G. Precamb. Res. 11, 297–306 (1980).
Chamberlain, V. E. thesis, Univ. Alberta (1983).
Chamberlain, V. E., Lambert, R. St J. & Holland, J. G. Can. J. Earth Sci. (in the press).
Morrison, M. L. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 79-1 B, 407–410 (1979).
Oke, C. & Simony, P. S. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 81-1 A, 181–184 (1981).
McDonough, M. R. & Simony, P. S. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 84-1 A, 99–102 (1984).
Leonard, R. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 8411 A, 121–127 (1984).
Coney, P. J. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 153, 7–31 (1980).
Price, R. A. & Mountjoy, E. W. Geol. Ass. Can. Spec. Pap. 6, 7–25 (1970).
Ellis, R. M. & Chandra, B. Can. J. Earth Sci. 18, 1708–1716 (1981).
Mereu, R. F., Majumdar, S. C. & White, R. E. Can. J. Earth Sci. 14, 196–208 (1977).
Berry, M. J. & Forsyth, D. A. Can. J. Earth Sci. 8, 788–801 (1975).
Wickens, A. J. Can. J. Earth Sci. 14, 1100–1115 (1977).
Spence, G. D., Clowes, R. M. & Ellis, R. M. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 67, 543–546 (1977).
Wickens, A. J. & Pec, K. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 58, 1821–1831 (1968).
Haines, G. V., Hannaford, W. & Riddihough, R. P. Can. J. Earth Sci. 8, 387–391 (1971).
Dragert, H. & Clarke, G. K. C. J. Geophys. 42, 373–390 (1977).
Davis, E. E. & Lewis, T. J. Can. J. Earth Sci. 21, 715–726 (1984).
Gravity Map Ser. No. 74-1 (Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Canada, 1974).
Chandra, N. N. & Cumming, G. L. Can. J. Earth Sci. 9, 1099–1109 (1972).
Leggett, J. K., McKerrow, W. S. & Soper, N. J. Tectonics 2, 187–210 (1983).
Brown, R. L. & Murphy, D. C. Can. J. Earth Sci. 19, 456–465 (1982).
Templeman-Kluit, D. J. Geol. Surv. Can. Pap. 79-14, 27 (1979).
Csejty, B., Cos, D. P., Evarts, R. C., Stricker, G. D. & Foster, H. L. J. geophys. Res. 87, 3741–3754 (1982).
Stone, D. B., Panuska, B. C. & Packer, D. R. J. geophys. Res. 87, 3697–3707 (1982).
Spears, D. A. & Duff, P. J. Earth Sci. 21, 465–476 (1984).
Price, R. A. in Thrust and Nappe Tectonics Vol. 9 (eds MacClay, K. & Price, N. J. ) 427–448 (Geol. Soc. Lond. spec. Publ., 1981).
Anderson, R. G., Armstrong, R. L., Parrish, R. & Bowmam, J. R. Geol. Ass. Can. Abstr. 8, A2 (1983).
Anderson, R. G. Geol. Ass. Can. Abstr. 8, A2 (1983).
Thompson, R. I. in Thrust and Nappe Tectonics Vol. 9 (eds MacClay, K. & Price, N. J.) 449–462 (Geol. Soc. Lond. spec. Publ., 1981).
Armstrong, R. L., Taubeneck, W. H. & Hales, P. O. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 88, 397–411 (1977).
Parrish, R. & Ryan, B. Geol. Ass. Can. Abstr. 8, A53 (1983).
Briden, J. C., Hurley, A. M. & Smith, A. G. J. geophys. Res. 86, 11631–11656 (1981).
Atwater, T. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 81, 3513–3536 (1970).
Drummond, K. J., Nishiwaki, C., Corvalan, J., Doutch, H. F. & Craddocks, C. Am. Ass. Petrol Geol. Tectonic Map (1982).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chamberlain, V., Lambert, R. Cordilleria, a newly defined Canadian microcontinent. Nature 314, 707–713 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/314707a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/314707a0
This article is cited by
-
Western North America's jigsaw
Nature (2013)
-
Tectonics: Whence British Columbia?
Nature (1985)