Snake Range, Nevada

Cretaceous to Miocene evolution of the northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex, Nevada

What:  This project will be a field-based study of the structural, tectonic, metamorphic and thermal history of the spectacular northern Snake Range in eastern Nevada. The Snake Range is a classic example of a metamorphic core complex where mid-crustal metamorphic rocks have been penetratively deformed and exhumed by tectonic extension along a major low-angle normal fault and shear zone.

When:  July 20-August 18

Where:

• Fieldwork portion (~2.5 weeks): The northern Snake Range (Mount Moriah Wilderness Area) in eastern Nevada. Ely, Nevada is the closest town (about 1.5 hours away).
• Sample preparation and analytical work (~1.5 weeks): UC Santa Barbara. Students will fly into Las Vegas, NV and fly out of Santa Barbara or Los Angeles, CA.

Who: Project Directors: Phil Gans (UC Santa Barbara) and Martin Wong (Colgate University),  Student Participants: 6 students

Project description and goals

The 2012 Snake Range project will investigate the tectonic evolution of the northern Snake Range metamorphic core complex in eastern Nevada. The Snake Range is one of the archetypical examples of a metamorphic core complex, where large-scale crustal extension associated with slip on a presently low-angle “detachment” fault (the northern Snake Range Decollement) has juxtaposed mid-crustal, highly strained and metamorphosed rocks in the footwall and imbricately normal faulted supracrustal rocks in the hanging wall. The Snake Range has played a central role in our understanding of extensional tectonics, and yet many fundamental questions about the tectonic and structural development of this feature remain controversial. This goal of this project is to provide new constraints on the structural and tectonic development of this core complex by combining structural field mapping, strain analyses, and microstructural studies together with thermobarometric studies and U-Pb geochronology and 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology. Our study will focus mainly on the lower plate of the core complex and examine in detail the spatial variations in the magnitude, timing, and kinematics of penetrative strain, metamorphism, and exhumation in the metasedimentary and plutonic rocks of the football. The project will spend approximately 2.5 weeks in the Snake Range, followed by 1.5 weeks at the University of California, Santa Barbara for sample preparation and geochronologic analyses.

Tentative Student projects

• 

  A view up Hendrys Creek on the eastern flank of the Snake Range

  Structural studies of the footwall mylonitic fabrics (3-4 students): Despite a number of previous studies, the timing, kinematics, and tectonic significance of the mylonitic fabrics in the footwall rock of the Snake Range remains enigmatic. Do these rocks record a single or multiple phases of penetrative strain? What is the relationship between the footwall mylonites and the overlying detachment fault? What were the P-T conditions of deformation? What was the partitioning between coaxial and non-coaxial deformation? Deformed rocks in the shear zone provides outstanding opportunities for a variety of structural studies on a variety of scales from map scale to the outcrop to hand sample to microscopic. All structural projects will involve a component of detailed geologic mapping and field measurements complemented by appropriate laboratory/analytical work. Specific projects could include finite strain studies using various strain markers (Formation and bedding thicknesses, stretched pebble conglomerates), petrographic observations of micro-structures and kinematic indicators, and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses of crystallographic preferred orientations (CPO) in mylonitic quartzite and granite. These studies will provide new information on the footwall strain history and temperature conditions during deformation.

• Footwall metamorphism and thermobarometry (1-2 students): Footwall schist units contain peak Cretaceous metamorphic assemblages of garnet + biotite + muscovite ± plagioclase ± staurolite ± kyanite. These units offer an excellent opportunity for traditional metamorphic petrology using petrographic and SEM observations. In addition, these and other assemblages are suitable for several thermobarometers such as GARB thermometry and GMBP and GASP barometers using an electron microprobe, depending on the proximity of the home institution to a microprobe and on-campus faculty expertise.
• U-Pb zircon and sphene geochronology (1-2 students):  A number of important footwall granite units that bear on the magmatic, metamorphic and strain history of the footwall remain undated. In addition, the precise timing and spatial variations in peak metamorphism remain only loosely constrained. Possible student projects would be to date a variety of footwall granites, dikes and sills that intrude the footwall. Another possible project is to conduct U-Pb geochronology on igneous and metamorphic sphene from footwall samples. The U-Pb sphene system is increasingly being employed as a thermochronometer sensitive to cooling through ~550°C, depending on grain size. Thus, U-Pb sphene dating can provide new insight into the high-temperature cooling history of the footwall shear zone. All U-Pb geochronology will be conducted at UC Santa Barbara Laser ablation ICPMS laboratory during the on-campus portion of the project.
• 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology (1 student):  The thermal history of the footwall can provide insights into the timing of metamorphism as well as the timing and geometry of tectonic exhumation during extensional events. A fairly large thermochronological data base (argon, fission track) already exisits for the Snake Range, but we will conduct much more detailed and targeted thermochronological transects aimed at understanding spatial variations in the burial and exhumation history. One student project may involve 40Ar/39Ar thermochronologic analyses of footwall muscovite, biotite and K-feldspar to further constrain the footwall thermal history. K-feldspar analyses will include multiple-diffusion domain (MDD) modeling of the 40Ar/39Ar results to assess a continuous cooling history from ~300-150°C. We anticipate that most of the mineral separation for 40Ar/39Ar analyses will be done during the on-campus portion of the project and all 40Ar/39Ar analyses will be done at UC Santa Barbara.

Working conditions

Most of the project will be conducted in the field. Topography in the Snake Range is relatively rugged and valley elevations are at ~5,000 feet and climb to over 11,000 feet in the highest peaks, although most of the work will be conducted in valleys. Typical temperatures in August during the day are in the high-70’s to low-90’s and nighttime temps are high-40’s to mid-50’s. Participants should be in good physical condition to be able to hike in rugged terrain off-trail. Wildlife (elk, deer, bighorn sheep) is abundant and some (rattlesnakes, mountain lions) pose a possible but unlikely danger. We will be camping in tents adjacent to a small stream during the field portion of the trip and will be without electricity or refrigeration. The project directors will provide tables, chairs, cook stoves, large water jugs, pots and pans, dishes, camp lanterns, and other “communal” equipment

 

Required Gear

• Sleeping bag (a reasonably warm at least ~30°F rated bag is best)
• Sleeping pad
• Personal tent (2-person size; we have some available for loan if you don’t have one)
• Rain gear (waterproof, jacket and pants if possible)
• Sturdy hiking boots
• Daypack
• Warm clothes for evenings
• Standard field clothing and gear (hiking pants, water bottles, etc)

Optional Gear

Please bring if you have it (we’ll have some to loan out as needed):

• Brunton compass (or similar)
• Hand lens
• Rock hammer
• Field notebook pouch
• GPS unit
• Map-board – preferably something about 12×15″ with a clear plexiglass cover

Course preparation/Prerequisites

Students should have taken courses in structural geology, a basic mineralogy and/or petrology course. Any field experience or field camp is a plus but not required.