Deep River Basin

Deep River Basin
Stratigraphic range:
The location of Mesozoic rift basins in North Carolina
TypeRift Valley
Unit ofNewark Supergroup
Sub-unitsChatham Group
(Sanford Formation, Cumnock Formation, Pekin Formation)
Area1,440 square miles (3,730 km2)
Thicknessup to 7,100 feet (2,160 m)
Lithology
PrimarySiltstone, Sandstone, Conglomerate, Mudstone
OtherDiabase, Basalt
Location
LocationEastern Piedmont of North Carolina
Coordinates35°48′57″N 78°54′07″W / 35.8157°N 78.902°W / 35.8157; -78.902
RegionSoutheastern United States
CountryUnited States
Extent150 miles (240 km)
Type section
Named forDeep River
Deep River Basin
Location of the Deep River Basin

The Deep River Basin is an ancient rift basin in the Piedmont of North Carolina. It formed in the Late Triassic during the initial breakup of the supercontinent Pangea. The formation of the basin preceded a much larger volcanic event known as the Central Atlantic magmatic province (CAMP), one of the largest eruptions in Earth's history. The Deep River Basin is one of a series of Late Triassic–Early Jurassic rift basins along the east coast of North America; collectively they are called the Newark Supergroup.