Episodic continental arc volcanism, tectonism and erosion recorded in stratigraphy and detrital zircon geochronology

Abstract:

Stratigraphic studies and detrital zircon geochronology of metamorphic host rock pendants of the Mesozoic Sierra Nevada arc in California show temporal correlations with episodic arc volcanism and tectonism, and have implications for our understanding of sources and sinks of recycled volcanic and sedimentary materials, as well as the paleo-geography and erosion history of an ancient continental arc. The Middle Triassic to Early Cretaceous stratigraphy of the metamorphic pendants shows alternating volcanic and sedimentary beds. The latter varies from rocks formed in high-energy terrestrial to low-energy shallow marine environments. Sedimentary textures also vary from poorly sorted volcanic-clast/breccia-rich to well-sorted fine-grained rocks and carbonates. We interpret these variations in stratigraphic records to reflect the waning and waxing of arc volcanism and tectonism, which controls erosion of source rocks, as well as elevation changes through isostastic balance. These in turn control the paleo-geography and depositional environments. Detrital zircon geochronology confirms our hypothesis. Detrital zircon ages of sedimentary rocks closely track the ages of volcanic/plutonic rocks formed immediately earlier and also include age signals of older igneous rocks and pre-arc basement, suggesting the erosion of igneous rocks of higher elevation during the magmatic flare-ups and deposition of these clasts afterwards. We conclude that episodic arc volcanism and tectonism play important roles on processes of surface erosion and sedimentation.