The Geological History of British Columbia

1
The Geological History of British Columbia
2
Geology of Canada
3
Tectonic belts of British Columbia and Yukon
4
Terrane boundaries
5
Possible locations of various Cordilleran
terranes during the Permian (ie. prior to 250
m.y.)
6
Geological history of British Columbia
A passive ocean-continent margin existed from
around 700 m.y to around 200 m.y.
7
Geological history of British Columbia
Subduction of oceanic plate beneath North
America. Approach of micro-continents from the
southwest.
8
Geological history of British Columbia
Accretion of the Intermontane Super-Terrane and
consequent thrusting and folding of existing
sedimentary rocks into the Rocky Mountains.
Approach of more micro-continents. Subduction
related volcanism and intrusive bodies.
9
Rocky Mountains

• Frank Slide

10
Rocky Mountains

• Burgess Shale

11
Rocky Mountains

• Takkakaw Falls

12
Geological history of British Columbia
Formation of the Coast Range Plutonic Complex.
Accretion of the Insular Super Terrane. Ongoing
subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate beneath
B.C., Washington and Oregon. Further uplift of
the Rocky Mountains.
13
Coast Range Plutonic Complex
14
(No Transcript)
15
(No Transcript)
16
Extent of ice cover at the height of the last
glacial advance (ca. 14,500 years b.p.)
17
Glacial till exposed at Malaspina University
College
18
Glacio-fluvial deposits in Cedar
Glacial striae
19
Present-day plate distribution along the western
coast of the US and Canada
20
Volcanism in BC