The Laramide orogeny was a compressional event that took place from approximately 80-40Ma and coincided with rapid convergence of the North American and Farallon plates. Basement-cored uplifts dominate the structures that define the Laramide orogen throughout western North America. Although compression is what caused these uplifts, the ultimate cause, direction, and consequences of the Laramide orogeny have been debated.
For detailed discussion on
the Laramide orogeny, check out these articles:
Bird, P., 1998, Kinematic history of the Laramide orogeny in latitudes 35 degrees-49 degrees N, western United States: Tectonics, v. 17, n. 5, p. 780-801.
Craddock, J. P., and Relle, M., 2003, Fold axis-parallel rotation within the Laramide Derby Dome Fold, Wind River Basin, Wyoming, USA: Journal of Structural Geology, v. 25, p. 1959-1972.
Erslev, E. A., 2001, Multistage, multidirectional
Tertiary shortening and compression in north-central New Mexico: GSA Bulletin,
v. 113, p. 63-74.
Livaccari, R.F., and Perry, F.V., 1993, Isotopic evidence for preservation of Cordilleran lithospheric mantle during the Sevier-Laramide Orogeny, Western United States: Geology, v. 21, n.8, p. 719-722.
Varga, R. J., 1993, Rocky Mountain foreland uplifts: Products of a rotating stress field or strain partitioning?: Geology, v. 21, n. 12, p. 1115-1118.