LARAMIDE Meaning and
Definition
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Laramide is an adjective that pertains to a major North American geologic orogeny known as the Laramide orogeny, which occurred during the Late Cretaceous and early Paleogene periods, approximately 70 to 40 million years ago. The term specifically refers to the tectonic processes and associated geological features related to this mountain-building event.
The Laramide orogeny was responsible for the creation of the Rocky Mountains and other mountain ranges and uplifts in Western North America. It was characterized by intense compression and deformation of the Earth's crust, resulting in the folding, faulting, and uplift of sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. As a result, many broad, linear mountain belts and associated basins were formed.
The term "laramide" is used to describe various geological features and phenomena related to this orogeny, such as Laramide basins, which are elongated, sediment-filled regions formed between adjacent mountain ranges. Additionally, laramide structures are characterized by large, faulted and folded formations, and laramide thrust faults refer to specific fault systems associated with the Laramide orogeny.
In summary, "laramide" is an adjective used to describe the geologic processes, structures, and features associated with the Laramide orogeny, a significant mountain-building event that shaped the landscape of Western North America millions of years ago.
Etymology of LARAMIDE
The word "Laramide" comes from the Laramie Range in Wyoming, United States. It is derived from the Laramie River, named after Jacques La Ramée, a French-Canadian fur trapper who lived in the area in the early 19th century. The Laramie Range was later chosen as the eponym for the Laramide orogeny, a mountain-building event that occurred between 70 and 40 million years ago in western North America. The term "Laramide" was originally coined in the early 20th century to describe the tectonic forces and resulting geological structures associated with this orogeny.
