The Colorado Plateau

Mark GorencDina Freedman9.13.11GEOG 6950

Geography

• Image of the CP like this or similar

• 130,000 square kmroughly equal to Alabama

• Bound by the Uintas, Rockies, Wasatch Range, Rio Grand Rift, the Mogollon Rim and Basin and Range Province

• Known for stunning geologic features and national parks

Physical & Geological Characteristics

• Elevations range from 1 to 4.2 km and average is 1.6 km

• Landscape is relatively undeformed

• Precambrian igneous basement with a thick sedimentary cover

• Known for distinct structural and erosional features

Crust and Lithosphere Properties

• Compression by Farallon Plate Subduction

• Farallon Plate sinking Initiates buffer free upwelling

• Asthenosphere invasion into lithosphere

• Generally controversial topic

Modified from Humphreys et al. 2003

Chronology• Faulting in Basement Rocks• Sedimentary Basin Fill• Farallon Plate Subduction

and compression• Sinking of Farallon and

extension

•Upwelling of magmatic intrusions•Lithoshere-Asthenosphere interaction•Incision of Rivers to create today’s features

Modified from Plummer 2005