OXYGEN ISOTOPE EVIDENCE OF THE PRECAMBRIAN CONTINENTAL MARGIN IN THE NORTHERN GREAT BASIN OF UTAH AND NEVADA
Values of d18O(Zrc) vary systematically in the Great Basin with crustal structure as determined by radiogenic isotopic ratios. Plutons emplaced east of the 87Sr/86Sr(initial)=0.706 isopleth have higher d18O(Zrc) than plutons intruded west of the 0.706 line. Average d18O(Zrc) values east and west of the 0.706 line are bimodal. Cretaceous and Jurassic plutons intruded east of the 0.706 line have, on average, d18O(Zrc) values that are 2 higher than plutons west of the 0.706 line. Analyses of d18O(Qtz) and d18O(WR) do not show the bimodal distinction across the 0.706 line.
The difference in d18O across the 0.706 line reflects the involvement of high d18O sedimentary rocks derived from the Precambrian craton in magmas intruded east of the 0.706 line while magmas west of the 0.706 line are dominated by lower d18O rocks derived from volcanic arcs. These data demonstrate the importance of analyzing refractory phases, such as zircon, for regional studies of oxygen isotope ratios investigating the structure of the crust. The correspondence of stable and radiogenic isotopic discontinuities in the Great Basin indicates that the 0.706 line is both a geochronologic and lithologic crustal boundary.