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LARAMIDE OROGENY • Major tectonic event that formed the Rocky Mountains • Occurred 70-40 Mya • Occurred in the interior of a plate • Occurred 1,000 miles from nearest subduction zone • Can you explain the Laramide orogeny using the paradigm of plate tectonics? The Laramide orogeny refers to a phase of mountain building from approximately 80 million years ago to 40 million years ago Laramide uplifts are topographically high areas that were create during this period. Although the cause of these uplifts is still debated, the uplifts are almost certainly related to ongoing convergence and subduction of the oceanic Farallon plate and possibly other oceanic plate off the then-western margin of North America. Deformation occurred inland from the plate margin Crustal deformation resulting in uplift, arched domes, basins, and large anticlines Believed to be the result of subduction of the Farallon Plate beneath North America Subduction along entire west coast Subduction at an angle of ~50 degrees Volcanic activity 150-200 km from trench Angle of subduction decreased, resulting in Farallon Plate moving nearly horizontal beneath Plate cools enough to subduct in Colorado, forming the Rocky Mountains
