Neotectonics of North America

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Neotectonics of North America NEOTECTONICS OF NORTH AMERICA To Accompany the Neotectonic Maps, Part of the Continent-Scale Maps of North America Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Decade Map Volume To Accompany the Neotectonic Maps, Part of the Continent-Scale Maps of North America Neotectonics of North America Edited by D. Burton Slemmons P.O. Box 81050 Las Vegas, Nevada 89180-0695 E. R. Engdahl National Earthquake Information Center U.S. Geological Survey MS 967, Box 25046, Denver Federal Center Denver, Colorado 80225 Mark D. Zoback Department of Geophysics Stanford University Stanford, California 94305 David D. Blackwell Department of Geological Sciences Southern Methodist University Dallas, Texas 75275 Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Acknowledgment Publication of this volume, one of the synthesis volumes of The Decade of North American Geology Project series, has been made possible by members and friends of the Geological Society of America, corporations, and government agencies through contributions to the Decade of North American Geology fund of the Geological Society of America Foundation. Following is a list of individuals, corporations, and government agencies giving and/or pledging more than $50,000 in support of the DNAG Project: Amoco Production Company Pennzoil Exploration and ARCO Exploration Company Production Company Chevron Corporation Phillips Petroleum Company Cities Service Oil and Gas Company Shell Oil Company Diamond Shamrock Exploration Caswell Silver Corporation Standard Oil Production Company Exxon Production Research Company Oryx Energy Company (formerly Getty Oil Company Sun Exploration and Production Gulf Oil Exploration and Production Company) Company Superior Oil Company Paul V. Hoovler Tenneco Oil Company Kennecott Minerals Company Texaco, Inc. Kerr McGee Corporation Union Oil Company of California Marathon Oil Company Union Pacific Corporation and Maxus Energy Corporation its operating companies: McMoRan Oil and Gas Company Union Pacific Resources Company Mobil Oil Corporation Union Pacific Railroad Company Occidental Petroleum Corporation Upland Industries Corporation U.S. Department of Energy © 1991 by The Geological Society of America, Inc. This book does not list Cataloging-in-Publication data because it is an ac- All rights reserved. companying volume to the Neotectonic Maps, part of the Continent-Scale Maps of North America, and the Library of Congress does not issue CIP data for map All materials subject to this copyright and included sets. Therefore, libraries should shelve this volume under "neotectonics" and cross in this volume may be photocopied for the noncommercial reference it under "seismology, heat flow, or crustal stress of North America." purpose of scientific or educational advancement. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by government employees within the scope of their employment. Published by The Geological Society of America, Inc. 3300 Penrose Place, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, Colorado 80301 Printed in U.S.A. Cover Photo: Pleasant Valley, central Nevada, showing 4- to 6-m high Pearce fault scarp from the M = 7.5 to 7.8 earthquake of 1915. 10 987654321 ii Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Contents Preface vii Foreword ix 1. Introduction 1 D. B. Slemmons SEISMICITY 2. Seismicity Map of North America Project 21 E. R. Engdahl and W. A. Rinehart 3. Seismicity of the Aleutian Arc 29 J. J. Taber, S. Billington, and E. R. Engdahl 4. Seismicity of continental Alaska 47 R. A. Page, N. N. Biswas, J. C. Lahr, and H. Pulpan 5. An overview of western Canadian seismicity 69 G. C. Rogers and R. B. Horner 6. Seismicity of Washington and Oregon 77 R. S. Ludwin, C. S. Weaver, and R. S. Crosson 7. Northern California seismicity 99 R. A. Uhrhammer 8. The seismotectonic fabric of central Calif brnia 107 D. P. Hill, J. P. Eaton, W. L. Ellsworth, R. S. Cockerham, F. W. Lester, and E. J. Corbett 9. Seismotectonics of southern California 133 L. K. Hutton, L. M. Jones, E. Hauksson, and D. D. Given iii Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 iv Contents 10. The seismicity of Nevada and some adjacent parts of the Great Basin 153 A. M. Rogers, S. C. Harmsen, E. J. Corbett, K. Priestley, and D. dePolo 11. Seismicity of the Intermountain Seismic Belt 185 R. B. Smith and W. J. Arabasz 12. Seismicity of the Rio Grande rift in New Mexico 229 A. R. Sanford, L. H. Jaksha, D. J. Cash 13. Seismotectonics of the central United States 245 B. J. Mitchell, O. W. Nuttli, R. B. Herrmann, and W. Stauder 14. The seismicity and seismotectonics of eastern Canada 261 J. Adams and P. Basham 15. Earthquake activity in the northeastern United States 277 J. E. Ebel and A. L. Kafka 16. Seismicity of the southeastern United States; 1698 to 1986 291 G. A. Bollinger, A. C. Johnston, P. Talwani, L. T. Long, K. M. Shedlock, M. S. Sibol, M. C. Chapman 17. Seismotectonics of Middle America 309 J. W. Dewey and G. Suarez 18. Tectonic implications of upper-crustal seismicity in Central America 323 R. A. White STRESS 19. Tectonic stress field of North America and relative plate motions 339 M. D. Zoback and M. L. Zoback 20. Crustal stresses in Canada 367 J. Adams and S. Bell 21. Stress indicators in Alaska 387 C. H. Estabrook and K. H. Jacob 22. State of stress and active deformation in Mexico and western Central America 401 M. Suter THERMAL ASPECTS 23. Heat-flow patterns of the North American continent; A discussion of the Geothermal Map of North America 423 D. D. Blackwell, J. L. Steele, and L. S. Carter 24. Terrestrial heat flow in Canada 437 A. M. Jessop 25. Heat flux in the Canadian Cordillera 445 T. Lewis Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Contents v 26. An overview of heat flow in southwestern United States and northern Chihuahua, Mexico 457 M. Reiter, M. W. Barroll, and J. Minier 27. Subsurface temperatures in the northern Great Plains 467 W. D. Gosnold, Jr. NEOTECTONICS 28. Late Quaternary glacial isostatic recovery of North America, Greenland, and Iceland; A neotectomcs perspective 473 J. T. Andrews Index 487 Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Preface The Geology of North America series has been prepared to mark the Centennial of The Geological Society of America. It represents the cooperative efforts of more than 1,000 individuals from academia, state and federal agencies of many countries, and industry to prepare syntheses that are as current and authoritative as possible about the geology of the North American continent and adjacent oceanic regions. This series is part of the Decade of North American Geology (DNAG) Project, which also includes seven wall maps at a scale of 1:5,000,000 that summarize the geology, tectonics, magnetic and gravity anomaly patterns, regional stress fields, thermal aspects, and seismicity of North America and its surroundings. Together, the synthesis volumes and maps are the first coordinated effort to integrate all available knowledge about the geology and geophysics of a crustal plate on a regional scale. The products of the DNAG Project present the state of knowledge of the geology and geophysics of North America through the 1980s, and they point the way toward work to be done in the decades ahead. A. R. Palmer General Editor for the volumes published by The Geological Society of America J. O. Wheeler General Editor for the volumes published by the Geological Survey of Canada vii Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Downloaded from http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/books/book/chapter-pdf/3733156/9780813754239_frontmatter.pdf by guest on 30 September 2021 Foreword This volume provides a nucleus of ideas, syntheses, and discussions to accompany the continent-scale maps of the Decade of North American Geology (DNAG) Project that relate to neotectonics. Initial plans in April 1986 included preparation of texts related to four maps that embraced the topics of seismicity, stress, thermal aspects, and neotectonics of North America. Three of the four maps have been completed. Texts related to these maps, plus two chapters dealing with regional neotectonics are included in this volume. The three completed maps each consist of four sheets covering North America at a scale of 1:5,000,000. Seismicity Map of North America, 1988, compiled by E. R. Engdahl, and prepared for publication by W. A. Rinehart, Geological Society of America CSM-004. Construction of the seismicity map was a team effort that began in 1984 at the Seismological Society of America meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, and culminated in publication of the final map with data contributed by more than 100 researchers. The 17 chapters that discuss the seismicity of North America by region were edited by E. R. Engdahl. Compilation of the map data base involved integration of earlier felt reports, dating back to 1534, with modern improved earthquake epicenters derived from data recorded by an increasing number of sophisticated seismographic programs. Thus the colorfully displayed map and the text provide the most thoroughly researched source material available for studying the historical seismicity of North America during the period 1534 to 1985.
Recommended publications
  • Field Guide to Neotectonics of the San Andreas Fault System, Santa Cruz Mountains, in Light of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake
    Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Field Guide to Neotectonics of the San Andreas Fault System, Santa Cruz Mountains, in Light of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake | Q|s | Landslides (Quaternary) I yv I Vaqueros Sandstone (Oligocene) r-= I San Lorenzo Fm., Rices Mudstone I TSr I member (Eocene-Oligocene) IT- I Butano Sandstone, ' Pnil mudstone member (Eocene) Coseismic surface fractures, ..... dashed where discontinuous, dotted where projected or obscured ___ _ _ Contact, dashed where approximately located >"«»"'"" « « Fault, dotted where concealed V. 43? Strike and dip Strike and dip of of bedding overturned bedding i Vector Scale / (Horizontal Component of Displacement) OPEN-FILE REPORT 90-274 This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U. S. Geological Survey editorial standards (or with the North American Stratigraphic Code). Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U. S. Government. Men to Park, California April 27, 1990 Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Field Guide to Neotectonics of the San Andreas Fault System, Santa Cruz Mountains, in Light of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake David P. Schwartz and Daniel J. Ponti, editors U. S. Geological Survey Menlo Park, CA 94025 with contributions by: Robert S. Anderson U.C. Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA William R. Cotton William Cotton and Associates, Los Gatos, CA Kevin J. Coppersmith Geomatrix Consultants, San Francisco, CA Steven D. Ellen U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA Edwin L. Harp U. S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA Ralph A.
    [Show full text]
  • Intrusive and Depositional Constraints on the Cretaceous Tectonic History of the Southern Blue Mountains, Eastern Oregon
    THEMED ISSUE: EarthScope IDOR project (Deformation and Magmatic Modification of a Steep Continental Margin, Western Idaho–Eastern Oregon) Intrusive and depositional constraints on the Cretaceous tectonic history of the southern Blue Mountains, eastern Oregon R.M. Gaschnig1,*, A.S. Macho2,*, A. Fayon3, M. Schmitz4, B.D. Ware4,*, J.D. Vervoort5, P. Kelso6, T.A. LaMaskin7, M.J. Kahn2, and B. Tikoff2 1SCHOOL OF EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, 311 FERST DRIVE, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30332, USA 2DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON, 1215 W DAYTON STREET, MADISON, WISCONSIN 53706, USA 3DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES, 310 PILLSBURY DRIVE SE, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55455, USA 4DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES, BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY, 1910 UNIVERSITY DRIVE, BOISE, IDAHO 83725, USA 5SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY, PO BOX 64281, PULLMAN, WASHINGTON 99164, USA 6DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY AND PHYSICS, LAKE SUPERIOR STATE UNIVERSITY, CRAWFORD HALL OF SCIENCE, SAULT STE. MARIE, MICHIGAN 49783, USA 7DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, DELOACH HALL, 601 SOUTH COLLEGE ROAD, WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA 28403, USA ABSTRACT We present an integrated study of the postcollisional (post–Late Jurassic) history of the Blue Mountains province (Oregon and Idaho, USA) using constraints from Cretaceous igneous and sedimentary rocks. The Blue Mountains province consists of the Wallowa and Olds Ferry arcs, separated by forearc accretionary material of the Baker terrane. Four plutons (Lookout Mountain, Pedro Mountain, Amelia, Tureman Ranch) intrude along or near the Connor Creek fault, which separates the Izee and Baker terranes. High-precision U-Pb zircon ages indicate 129.4–123.8 Ma crystallization ages and exhibit a north-northeast–younging trend of the magmatism.
    [Show full text]
  • Neotectonics of the Polish Carpathians in the Light of Geomorphic Studies: a State of the Art
    Acta Geodyn. Geomater., Vol. 6, No. 3 (155), 291-308, 2009 NEOTECTONICS OF THE POLISH CARPATHIANS IN THE LIGHT OF GEOMORPHIC STUDIES: A STATE OF THE ART Witold ZUCHIEWICZ Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland *Corresponding author‘s e-mail: [email protected] (Received January 2009, accepted March 2009) ABSTRACT Neotectonics of the Carpathians used to be studied extensively, particular attention being paid to the effects of large-scale domal uplifts and open folding above marginal zones of thrusts and imbricated map-scale folds, and rarely to the characteristics of young faulting. Neotectonic faults tend to be associated with the margins of the Orava-Nowy Targ Basin, superposed on the boundary between the Inner and Outer Western Carpathians, as well as with some regions within the Outer Carpathians. The size of Quaternary tilting of the Tatra Mts. on the sub-Tatric fault were estimated at 100 to 300 m, and recent vertical crustal movements of this area detected by repeated precise levelling are in the range of 0.4-1.0 mm/yr in rate. Minor vertical block movements of oscillatory character (0.5-1 mm/yr) were detected along faults cutting the Pieniny Klippen Belt owing to repeated geodetic measurements performed on the Pieniny geodynamic test area. In the western part of the Western Outer Carpathians, middle and late Pleistocene reactivation of early Neogene thrust surfaces was suggested. Differentiated mobility of reactivated as normal Miocene faults (oriented (N-S to NNW-SSE and NNE-SSW) in the medial portion of the Dunajec River drainage basin appears to be indicated by the results of long-profile analyses of deformed straths, usually of early and middle Pleistocene age.
    [Show full text]
  • The Appalachian-Ouachita Rifted Margin of Southeastern North America
    The Appalachian-Ouachita rifted margin of southeastern North America WILLIAM A. THOMAS* Department of Geology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487 ABSTRACT component of extension propagated north- rocks of Early and Middle Cambrian age along eastward to form the intracratonic fault the Southern Oklahoma fault system are over- Promontories and embayments along the systems northeast of the transform fault, but stepped by post-rift strata of Late Cambrian age late Precambrian-early Paleozoic Appala- most of the extension of the Ouachita rift was (Ham and others, 1964). The purposes of this chian-Ouachita continental margin of south- transformed along the Alabama-Oklahoma article are to synthesize available data into an eastern North America are framed by a transform fault to the Mid-Iapetus Ridge interpretation of the mechanisms controlling the northeast-striking rift system offset by outboard from the Blue Ridge passive shape of the rifted margin and to consider the northwest-striking transform faults. Inboard margin. implications of differences in age of rifting. from the continental margin, basement fault INTRODUCTION systems have two sets of orientation; one is RIFT-RELATED ROCKS AND northeast parallel with rift segments, and the Late Precambrian-early Paleozoic rifting and STRUCTURES other is northwest parallel with transform opening of the Iapetus (proto-Atlantic) Ocean faults. produced a North American continental margin Blue Ridge Late Precambrian clastic and volcanic syn- along which the late Paleozoic Appalachian- rift rocks overlie Precambrian basement Ouachita orogenic belt subsequently formed General Setting. The Blue Ridge is an elon- rocks along the Appalachian Blue Ridge. (Figs. 1, 2). Several interpretations have con- gate external basement massif (Fig.
    [Show full text]
  • Examination of Exhumed Faults in the Western San Bernardino Mountains, California: Implications for Fault Growth and Earthquake Rupture
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2005 Examination of Exhumed Faults in the Western San Bernardino Mountains, California: Implications for Fault Growth and Earthquake Rupture Joseph R. Jacobs Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Jacobs, Joseph R., "Examination of Exhumed Faults in the Western San Bernardino Mountains, California: Implications for Fault Growth and Earthquake Rupture" (2005). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 5246. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/5246 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EXAMINATION OF EXHUMED FAULTS IN THE WESTERN SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR FAULT GROWTH AND EARTHQUAKE RUPTURE by Joseph R. Jacobs A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Geology Approved: James P. Evans Susanne U. Janecke Major Professor Committee Member Peter T. Kolesar Laurens H. Smith, Jr. Committee Member Interim Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2005 ii ABSTRACT Examination of Exhumed Faults in the Western San Bernardino Mountains, California: Implications for Fault Growth and Earthquake Rupture by Joseph R. Jacobs, Master of Science Utah State University, 2005 Major Professor: Dr. James P. Evans Department: Geology The late Miocene Cedar Springs fault system is a high-angle transpressional system in the Silverwood Lake area, western San Bernardino Mountains, southern California.
    [Show full text]
  • Water-Mass Evolution in the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America and Equatorial Atlantic
    Clim. Past, 13, 855–878, 2017 https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-13-855-2017 © Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Water-mass evolution in the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway of North America and equatorial Atlantic James S. Eldrett1, Paul Dodsworth2, Steven C. Bergman3, Milly Wright4, and Daniel Minisini3 1Shell International Exploration & Production B.V, Kesslerpark 1, 2288 GS Rijswijk, the Netherlands 2StrataSolve Ltd, 42 Gaskell Street, Stockton Heath, Warrington, WA4 2UN, UK 3Shell International Exploration and Production Inc, 200 N. Dairy Ashford, Houston, TX 77079, USA 4Chemostrat Inc., 3760 Westchase Drive, Houston, Texas, TX 77042, USA Correspondence to: James S. Eldrett ([email protected]) Received: 1 November 2016 – Discussion started: 25 November 2016 Revised: 4 May 2017 – Accepted: 29 May 2017 – Published: 14 July 2017 Abstract. The Late Cretaceous Epoch was characterized by tion event related to open water-mass exchange and may have major global perturbations in the carbon cycle, the most been complicated by variable contribution of organic matter prominent occurring near the Cenomanian–Turonian (CT) from different sources (e.g. refractory/terrigenous material), transition marked by Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE-2) requiring further investigation. at 94.9–93.7 Ma. The Cretaceous Western Interior Sea- way (KWIS) was one of several epicontinental seas in which a complex water-mass evolution was recorded in widespread sedimentary successions. This contribution integrates new 1 Introduction data on the main components of organic matter, geochem- istry, and stable isotopes along a north–south transect from The Late Cretaceous Epoch was characterized by sus- the KWIS to the equatorial western Atlantic and Southern tained global warming, emplacement of several large igneous Ocean.
    [Show full text]
  • Curriculum Vitae
    Curriculum vitae RNDr. Petra Štěpančíková, Ph.D. Born 1976 in Valašské Meziříčí, Czech Republic Academic history: 2001 MSc. graduated in Physical Geography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 2005 RNDr. degree in Physical Geography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague 2007 PhD. degree in Physical Geography, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague Professional employment: 2000 - Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, Czech Acad.Sci., Prague 2000-2014 Department of Engineering Geology, 2015- Head of Department of Neotectonics and Thermochronology Research interests: tectonic geomorphology, active tectonics, paleoseismology (study areas in Czech Republic, Spain, Mexico, USA), long-term morphotectonic relief evolution, geomorphological mapping Selected significant project participation: Manifestations of Late Quaternary tectonics within the Sudetic Marginal Fault zone 2008- 2010; postdoc project, Czech Science Foundation, GA ČR 205/08/P521, principal investigator Hydrogeological effects of seismicity in the Hronov-Poříčí fault zone area, 2005-2008; doctoral project, Czech Science Foundation GA ČR 3D monitoring of micro-movements in within the zone of expression of African – Euroasian colision, 2006-2008; Czech Science Foundation GA ČR Paleoseismological assessment of fault structures in the vicinity of Temelín nuclear power plant, 2009-2010; State Office for Nuclear Safety, team researcher Identification and characterization of seismogenic faults in Central Mexican Volcanic belt: implications for seismic
    [Show full text]
  • Fault Segmentation and Controls of Rupture Initiation and Termination
    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROCEEDINGS OF CONFERENCE XLV Fault Segmentation and Controls of Rupture Initiation and Termination Palm Springs, California Sponsored by U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE-HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM Editors and Convenors David P. Schwartz Richard H. Sibson U.S. Geological Survey Department of Geological Sciences Menlo Park, California 94025 University of California Santa Barbara, California 93106 Organizing Committee John Boatwright, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California Hiroo Kanamori, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California Chris H. Scholz, Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory, Palisades, New York Open-File Report 89-315 This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards or with the North American Stratigraphic Code. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 1989 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction and Acknowledgments i David P. Schwartz and Richard H. Sibson List of Participants v Geometric features of a fault zone related to the 1 nucleation and termination of an earthquake rupture Keitti Aki Segmentation and recent rupture history 10 of the Xianshuihe fault, southwestern China Clarence R. Alien, Luo Zhuoli, Qian Hong, Wen Xueze, Zhou Huawei, and Huang Weishi Mechanics of fault junctions 31 D J. Andrews The effect of fault interaction on the stability 47 of echelon strike-slip faults Atilla Ay din and Richard A. Schultz Effects of restraining stepovers on earthquake rupture 67 A. Aykut Barka and Katharine Kadinsky-Cade Slip distribution and oblique segments of the 80 San Andreas fault, California: observations and theory Roger Bilham and Geoffrey King Structural geology of the Ocotillo badlands 94 antidilational fault jog, southern California Norman N.
    [Show full text]
  • A Simple Synthesis of Caribbean Geology
    Transactions of the 16th Caribbean Geological Conference, Barbados. Caribbean Journal of Earth Science, 39 (2005), 69-82. © Geological Society of Jamaica. A simple synthesis of Caribbean geology KEITH H. JAMES Consultant Geologist, Plaza de la Cebada, 3, 09346 Covarrubias (Burgos), Spain, and Honorary Departmental Fellow, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth, Wales, UK. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT. The complex area between the continental masses of North and South America is a collage of many continental, stretched continental, island arc and oceanic elements described by numerous works. Some areas are poorly exposed and not well known. Others are intensely explored and well documented. Syntheses of this geology popularly derive the Caribbean Plate from the Pacific and require major rotation of island arc elements and continental blocks along with major changes in plate migration direction. These models are complex and geometrically unlikely. This paper suggests a simple, in situ evolution from a Pangean configuration principally via regional (North - South America), Jurassic-Late Cretaceous, WNW oriented sinistral transtension, followed by a Palaeocene–Middle Eocene compressional event and Oligocene-Recent, E-W strike-slip between the Caribbean and American Plates. 1. INTRODUCTION southern Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador. Extended continental crust forms the The Middle America area of this paper lies northern part of the Gulf of Mexico, the eastern between the continental masses of North and margin of Mexico, the eastern and western South America (Fig. 1). The present-day margins of the Florida Platform, the eastern Caribbean Plate interacts with Atlantic plates to Bahamas Platform and the Nicaragua the north, south and east and with the Nazca and Rise/Jamaica and the Guyana Platform.
    [Show full text]
  • Fault Geometry and Kinematics Within the Terror Rift, Antarctica THESIS
    Fault Geometry and Kinematics within the Terror Rift, Antarctica THESIS Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By William B. Blocher Graduate Program in Earth Sciences The Ohio State University 2017 Master's Examination Committee: Dr. Terry Wilson, Advisor Dr. Thomas Darrah Dr. Derek Sawyer Copyrighted by William B. Blocher 2017 Abstract The Terror Rift is the youngest expression of the intraplate West Antarctic Rift System that divides the Antarctic continent. Previous studies of the Terror Rift have ascribed a variety of interpretations to its structure, and especially to the regional anticline known as the Lee Arch, which has been explained as a transtensional flower structure, a rollover anticline, and as the result of magmatic inflation. Fault mapping and the documentation of stratal dips in this study have revealed a Terror Rift structure characterized by north-south folds and a complex distribution of faults. Nearly all faults have normal sense dip separation. A continuous zone of west-dipping faults with relatively high-magnitude normal separation are interpreted to be the border fault system defining the eastern margin of Terror Rift. Reconstruction of listric ramp-flat geometry of this border fault system explains intrarift fold and fault patterns well. Zonation of structures indicates that the listric rift detachment faults are segmented along the rift axis. This new model for rift structure indicates orthogonal rift extension in the ENE- WSW direction, with low strains of <10% calculated from bed-length balancing. i Acknowledgments To my advisor, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Neotectonics of Arc-Continent Collision
    3. The process of vertically detaching slabs or “slab breakoff” and torn slabs shown by areas of strong slab dip change Penrose is common to many areas of arc-continent collision and shallow subduction, yet the tectonic mechanisms and timing of this process are not well understood. How have Conference recent advances in seismology, tomography, and geodynamic modeling improved our imaging and Report understanding of slab subduction and breakoff, and how do these observed breakoffs affect the pattern of observed earthquakes and slab-related volcanism? Neotectonics of 4. Is coupling of the subducted slab and arc in arc-collision zones any greater than that observed along non- arc-continent collision collisional subduction boundaries and therefore linked to higher levels of larger and more destructive earthquakes? Manizales, Colombia • 17–21 January 2011 How can this improved level of academic understanding of arc collision and shallow subduction at all levels in the crust and upper mantle help improve maps of seismic CONVENERS hazard and be communicated to the public living in broad plate boundary zones? Paul Mann, Institute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 5. How can this tectonic and geologic data be used to better 78758-4445 USA; [email protected] inform policy makers and planners about the potential seismic, volcanic, and landslide hazards of those Carlos Vargas, Depto. de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional inhabitants living in arc-continental collisional zones? de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia; [email protected] Caroline Whitehill, Dept. of Geological Sciences, Central VENUE Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington 98926, USA The Cordillera Central of Colombia, 130 km to the west of Bogotá, was chosen as the meeting venue because it is the setting for many of the tectonic, volcanic, and sedimentary INTRODUCTION processes related to arc-continent collision discussed at the Collisions of arcs with continents are some of the most sig- meeting.
    [Show full text]
  • Azuero Peninsula, Panama)
    Geologica Acta, Vol.9, N o s 3-4, September - December 2011, 481-498 DOI: 10.1344/105.000001742 Available online at www.geologica-acta.com Geology of the Cerro Quema Au-Cu deposit (Azuero Peninsula, Panama) 1 1 1 1 2 3 1 I. CORRAL A. GRIERA D. GÓMEZ-GRAS M. CORBELLA À. CANALS M. PINEDA-FALCONETT E. CARDELLACH 1 Departament de Geologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) 08193 Barcelona, Spain. Corral E-mail: [email protected] Griera E-mail: [email protected] Gómez-Gras E-mail: [email protected] Corbella E-mail: [email protected] Cardellach E-mail: [email protected] 2 Facultat de Geologia, Universitat de Barcelona (UAB) 08028 Barcelona, Spain. Canals E-mail: [email protected] 3 Departamento de Geografía, Universidad de Panamá 082304747, Chitré, Panamá. Pineda-Falconett E-mail: [email protected] ABS TRACT The Cerro Quema district, located on the Azuero Peninsula, Panama, is part of a large regional hydrothermal system controlled by regional faults striking broadly E-W, developed within the Río Quema Formation. This formation is composed of volcanic, sedimentary and volcano-sedimentary rocks indicating a submarine depositional environment, corresponding to the fore-arc basin of a Cretaceous–Paleogene volcanic arc. The structures observed in the area and their tectono-stratigraphic relationship with the surrounding formations suggest a compressive and/or transpressive tectonic regime, at least during Late Cretaceous–Oligocene times. The igneous rocks of the Río Quema Formation plot within the calc-alkaline field with trace and rare earth element (REE) patterns of volcanic arc affinity.
    [Show full text]