Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

New Geochemical And Isotopic Approaches To Shallow Crust Landform Evolution, David Decker

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Many researchers have studied the Guadalupe Mountains in detail and starting with King (1948), many of them have speculated about the timing of the uplift of the Guadalupe block. There are several competing hypotheses including Laramide, Basin and Range, and Rio Grande Rifting uplift scenarios. Using uranium-lead dating of scalenohedral spar found in small vug caves throughout the study area, I have dated the episodes of spar formation to two major phases, 36 to 33 Ma and 30 to 27 Ma. These two episodes of spar formation are in good agreement with the time frame of the ignimbrite flare up …