Appalachian suspect terranes 论文

摘要

Since the advent of plate tectonics, the widely accepted model for the development of the Appalachian orogen has involved the opening and closing of a late Precambrian-Paleozoic Iapetus Ocean. Only a few of a growing number of geologically distinctive terranes are easily explained by this model. Vestiges of Iapetus are nowhere coupled to the ancient North American margin. Furthermore, it cannot be demonstrated that any of the extensive Appalachian terranes, now east of the Iapetus tract or its suture, were once connected to the North American miogeocline. All are therefore suspect.