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Two-phase Neogene extension in the northwestern basin and range recorded in a single thermochronology sample

January 1, 2008

We use a combination of apatite 4He/3He, (U-Th)/ He, and fission-track thermochronology to date slip on the Surprise Valley fault in northeastern California by analyzing a single sample from the Warner Range in the footwall of the fault. This sample, a granitic clast from a conglomerate, yielded a fission-track age of 11.6 ?? 2.8 Ma and a (U-Th)/He age of 3.02 ?? 0.52 Ma. Geologic relationships indicate that this sample was buried to a depth of ???3.3 km prior to exhumation during slip on the Surprise Valley fault. Fission-track age and length data indicate that the sample was fully reset (>120 ??C) prior to exhumation, which began sometime after 14 Ma. A single aliquot of nine apatite grains was step-heated for 4He/3He analysis; modeling of the resulting 4He distribution indicates that cooling from

Publication Year 2008
Title Two-phase Neogene extension in the northwestern basin and range recorded in a single thermochronology sample
DOI 10.1130/G24897A.1
Authors J.P. Colgan, D.L. Shuster, P.W. Reiners
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Geology
Index ID 70000124
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
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