Northward translation of mesozoic batholits, western North America: paleomagnetic evidence and tectonic significance

Abstract

Paleomagnetic measurements indicate that many, perhaps all, Mesozoic batholiths currently on the western edge of North America originated far south of their present locations. Two kinds of tectonic transport probably contributed to their general northward migration: (]) California-style transport, in which the batholith belt becomes detached from the continent along a zone of transfonn faulting; (2) Sunda-style transport, in which a sliver of continental lithosphere in-cluding the batholith belt moves along the edge of the continent in response to oblique subduc-tion. Interaction of North America with the Farallon and Kula plates can account for the crea-tion of the batholiths, as well as their northward transport.