Examination of Exhumed Faults in the Western San Bernardino Mountains, California: Implications for Fault Growth and Earthquake Rupture

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

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. This thesis presents the study of oblique-slip faults with modest amounts of slip, which represent the early stages of fault development by using slip as a proxy for maturity. A structural and geochemical characterization is provided for six fault zones ranging from 39 m of slip to 3.5 km of offset in order to develop a model of fault zone geometry and composition. Basic geometric and kinematic results are provided for an additional 29 small-displacement (cm- to m-scale) faults. The main faults of this study can be divided into the fault core composed of sheared clay gouge and microbreccia, the primary damage zone made up of chemically altered rock with microstructural damage and grain-size reduction, and the secondary damage zone, which is characterized by an increased fracture density relative to the host rock. Although there appears to be a general increase in fault core thickness with increasing slip, the correlation is iii insignificant when analyzing all faults. Both the primary and secondary damage zones appear to thicken with increased slip on the main fault. Overall, the structure and composition of the faults studied here are similar to those of larger strike-slip and reverse faults. This indicates that the fault core develops early in a fault’s history. Subsequent slip appears to be focused along these narrow zones, with some deformation accumulating in the damage zone. Whole-rock geochemical analyses typically show a reduction in the abundance of Na, Al, K, and Ca in the fault core and primary damage zone relative to the host rock. This indicates enhanced fluid-rock interactions in these zones. Calculations of the energy consumed to produce the chemical alteration in the fault core indicate that a considerable amount of the total earthquake energy may be lost to alteration. This thesis concludes that fault processes are similar throughout the different stages of development, and the study of relatively small-displacement faults can therefore be used to understand fault evolution through time and the processes of larger faults in the brittle crust. (226 pages) iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank my advisor, Jim Evans, for the valuable support on this project. Jim has been an incredible resource of information and this thesis would not have possible without him. This work was funded through the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) Cooperative Agreement No. 02HQAG0008 issued by the US Geological Survey under CFDA No. 15.807 and I greatly appreciate their financial assistance and interest in the study of exhumed fault zones. I would like to thank Pete Kolesar for assistance with x-ray diffraction methods and interpretations. Pete also helped me immensely with calculating the energy associated with chemical alterations. Susanne Janecke has also been very helpful in improving previous drafts of this thesis and I appreciate her insightful reviews. Discussions with Judy Chester and Ron Biegel helped to gain understanding into fault zone processes. Additional gratitude is given to Tony Williams and Jason Kneedy for a weekend of field assistance. Last, but not least, I would like to acknowledge the many friendships (too many to mention here) that have made my stay here very enjoyable. Stefan Kirby and I started our work here at the same time and it was good to have a friend going through the same experiences as me. Alex Steely, Scott Friedman, and Ben Kessel have also been good friends that all helped to make getting this degree a little easier. Thanks to everyone. Joseph Jacobs v CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ................................................................................................. iv LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................1 1-1. Introduction .............................................................................1 1-2. Methodology ............................................................................4 1-3. Seismicity and Los Angeles Basin Analog ..............................7 1-4. Summary of Work ...................................................................8 References ..............................................................................10 2. STRUCTURAL AND GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MULTIPLE REVERSE FAULTS IN THE WESTERN SAN BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ................16 Abstract ................................................................................16 2-1. Introduction ...........................................................................17 2-2. Mesoscopic Analysis .............................................................27 2-3. Microstructure .......................................................................36 2-4. Mineralogy and Geochemistry ..............................................40 2-5. Earthquake Energy Budget ....................................................47 2-6. Discussion ..............................................................................51 2-7. Conclusions ...........................................................................59 References ..............................................................................62 3. THE CEDAR SPRINGS FAULT SYSTEM: ANALYSIS OF MICRO- SEISMICITY AND COMPARISON TO THE PUENTE HILLS BLIND- THRUST SYSTEM .................................................................................118 Abstract ..............................................................................118 3-1. Introduction .........................................................................119 3-2. Microseismicity ...................................................................120 3-3. Eastwood Fault and Puente Hills Blind-Thrust Analog ......122 vi 3-4. Conclusions .........................................................................126 References ............................................................................128 4. CONCLUSIONS .....................................................................................139 References ............................................................................144 APPENDICES .....................................................................................................147 APPENDIX A: Slip calculations for constrained faults ..........................148 APPENDIX B: Thin section descriptions ................................................167 APPENDIX C: X-ray diffraction patterns ...............................................170 APPENDIX D: Whole-rock geochemistry raw data ...............................202 APPENDIX E: Principal component analysis .........................................204 vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2-1 List of all faults where true slip is constrained ......................................................71 2-2 Summary of XRD results for all samples ..............................................................72 2-3 Summary of geochemical trends of all oxides in the Grass Valley fault zone ......74 2-4 Summary of geochemical trends of trace elements and LOI in the Grass Valley fault zone ................................................................................................................74 2-5 Summary of geochemical trends of oxides in the Eastwood fault zone ................75
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]
  • Resources Abello, A., Montalvo, C. & Goin, F. 2002
    Resources Abello, A., Montalvo, C. & Goin, F. 2002, Marsupiales del Mioceno Superior de Caleufu (La Pampa, Argentina), Ameghiniana 39(4) Agusti, J. & Anton, M. 2002, Mammoths, Sabertooths & Hominids:65 Million Years of Mammalian Evolution in Europe, Columbia University Press, NY Alroy, J. 2002-2003, North American Fossil Mammal Systematics Database-iNet: <http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/~alroy/nafmsd.html> American Museum of Natural History, 2001-2003, Fossil Database, <http://paleo.amnh.org/fossil/seek.html> American Museum of Natural History, 1994, Mammals & Their Extinct Relatives, American Museum of Natural History, NY Archibald, J. & Averianov, A. 2003, The Late Cretaceous Placental Mammal Kulbeckia, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology vol 23 #2 Archibald, J. & Averianov, A. 2001,Paranyctoides and allies from the Late Cretaceous of North America and Asia, Acta Palaeontologica Polonica vol 46 #4 Arduini, P. & Teruzzi, G. 1986,Simon & Schusters Guide to Fossils, Simon & Schuster Inc, NY Argot, C. 2004, Evolution of South American mammalian predators (Borhyaenoidea): anatomical & palaeobiological implications, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society Vol 140 Issue 4 April Argot, C. 2003, Functional adaptations of the Postcranial Skeleton of two Miocene Borhyaenoids (Mammalia, Metatheria), Borhyaena & Prothylacinus, from South America, Palaeontology Vol 46 part 6 Asher, R., McKenna, M., Emry, R., Tabrum, A. & Kron, D. 2002, Morphology & Relationships of Apternodus & other Extinct, Zalambdodont, Placental Mammals, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History #273 Astruc, J., Hugueney, M., Escarguel, G., Legendre, S., Rage, J-C., Simon-Coincon, R., Sudre, J. & Sige, B. 2003, Puycelci, a new vertebrate-bearing locality in the Aquitaine molassic basin. Density & continuity of the Paleogene biochronologic record in the Quercy & peripheral basins area, Geobios Vol 36 #6 November-December Averianov, A., Archibald, J.
    [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]
  • Southern Exposures
    Searching for the Pliocene: Southern Exposures Robert E. Reynolds, editor California State University Desert Studies Center The 2012 Desert Research Symposium April 2012 Table of contents Searching for the Pliocene: Field trip guide to the southern exposures Field trip day 1 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5 Robert E. Reynolds, editor Field trip day 2 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 19 George T. Jefferson, David Lynch, L. K. Murray, and R. E. Reynolds Basin thickness variations at the junction of the Eastern California Shear Zone and the San Bernardino Mountains, California: how thick could the Pliocene section be? ��������������������������������������������������������������� 31 Victoria Langenheim, Tammy L. Surko, Phillip A. Armstrong, Jonathan C. Matti The morphology and anatomy of a Miocene long-runout landslide, Old Dad Mountain, California: implications for rock avalanche mechanics �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38 Kim M. Bishop The discovery of the California Blue Mine ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 44 Rick Kennedy Geomorphic evolution of the Morongo Valley, California ���������������������������������������������������������������������������� 45 Frank Jordan, Jr. New records
    [Show full text]
  • Summary Expert Report Phase 3 – Basin Yield and Overdraft
    Summary Expert Report Phase 3 – Basin Yield and Overdraft Antelope Valley Area of Adjudication prepared by: Robert Beeby, Timothy Durbin, William Leever, Peter Leffler, Joseph C. Scalmanini, Mark Wildermuth July, 2010 Table of Contents Page I. Introduction ...................................................................................................... I-1 1.1 Scope and Preparation of Summary Report......................................................... I-1 1.2 Organization of Summary Report........................................................................ I-2 II. Antelope Valley................................................................................................ II-1 2.1 Physical Setting................................................................................................... II-1 2.2 Area of Adjudication........................................................................................... II-2 III. Geology and the Occurrence of Groundwater............................................. III-1 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................III-1 3.2 Methodology ......................................................................................................III-1 3.3 Older Regional Geologic Units..........................................................................III-3 3.3.1 Pre-Cenozoic Crystalline Rocks......................................................III-3 3.3.1.1 Granitic Rocks .................................................................III-3
    [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]
  • International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 371 Preliminary Report Tasman Frontier Subduction Initiation and Paleogene Climate
    International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 371 Preliminary Report Tasman Frontier Subduction Initiation and Paleogene Climate 27 July–26 September 2017 Rupert Sutherland, Gerald R. Dickens, Peter Blum, and the Expedition 371 Scientists Publisher’s notes Core samples and the wider set of data from the science program covered in this report are under moratorium and accessible only to Science Party members until 2 February 2019. This publication was prepared by the JOIDES Resolution Science Operator (JRSO) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) as an account of work performed under the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). Funding for IODP is provided by the following international partners: National Science Foundation (NSF), United States Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), People’s Republic of China Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) Australia-New Zealand IODP Consortium (ANZIC) Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), India Coordination for Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), Brazil Portions of this work may have been published in whole or in part in other IODP documents or publications. Disclaimer Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the participating agencies, TAMU, or Texas A&M Research Foundation. Copyright Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/). Unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction are permitted, provided the original author and source are credited.
    [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]
  • Geologic Map of Washington - Northwest Quadrant
    GEOLOGIC MAP OF WASHINGTON - NORTHWEST QUADRANT by JOE D. DRAGOVICH, ROBERT L. LOGAN, HENRY W. SCHASSE, TIMOTHY J. WALSH, WILLIAM S. LINGLEY, JR., DAVID K . NORMAN, WENDY J. GERSTEL, THOMAS J. LAPEN, J. ERIC SCHUSTER, AND KAREN D. MEYERS WASHINGTON DIVISION Of GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES GEOLOGIC MAP GM-50 2002 •• WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENTOF 4 r Natural Resources Doug Sutherland· Commissioner of Pubhc Lands Division ol Geology and Earth Resources Ron Telssera, Slate Geologist WASHINGTON DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES Ron Teissere, State Geologist David K. Norman, Assistant State Geologist GEOLOGIC MAP OF WASHINGTON­ NORTHWEST QUADRANT by Joe D. Dragovich, Robert L. Logan, Henry W. Schasse, Timothy J. Walsh, William S. Lingley, Jr., David K. Norman, Wendy J. Gerstel, Thomas J. Lapen, J. Eric Schuster, and Karen D. Meyers This publication is dedicated to Rowland W. Tabor, U.S. Geological Survey, retired, in recognition and appreciation of his fundamental contributions to geologic mapping and geologic understanding in the Cascade Range and Olympic Mountains. WASHINGTON DIVISION OF GEOLOGY AND EARTH RESOURCES GEOLOGIC MAP GM-50 2002 Envelope photo: View to the northeast from Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic Mountains across the eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca to the northern Cascade Range. The Dungeness River lowland, capped by late Pleistocene glacial sedi­ ments, is in the center foreground. Holocene Dungeness Spit is in the lower left foreground. Fidalgo Island and Mount Erie, composed of Jurassic intrusive and Jurassic to Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Fidalgo Complex, are visible as the first high point of land directly across the strait from Dungeness Spit.
    [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]
  • Neotectonics and Quaternary Geology of the Hunter Mountain Fault Zone and Saline Valley Region, Southeastern California
    Geomorphology 42 (2002) 255–278 www.elsevier.com/locate/geomorph Neotectonics and Quaternary geology of the Hunter Mountain fault zone and Saline Valley region, southeastern California John A. Oswald *, Steven G. Wesnousky Center for Neotectonic Studies, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA Received 14 May 1999; received in revised form 11 May 2001; accepted 14 May 2001 Abstract The Hunter Mountain fault zone strikes northwesterly, is right-lateral strike-slip, and kinematically links the northern Panamint Valley fault zone to the southern Saline Valley fault zone. The most recent displacement of the fault is recorded in the offset of Holocene deposits along the entire length of the fault zone. Right-lateral offsets of drainage channels within Grapevine Canyon reach up to 50 to 60 m. Initial incision of the offset channels is interpreted on the basis of geomorphic and climatic considerations to have occurred approximately 15 ka. The 50 to 60 m of offset during 15 ka corresponds to a right-lateral fault slip rate of 3.3–4.0 mm/year within Grapevine Canyon. Further to the north along the Nelson Range front, the fault is composed of two sub-parallel fault strands and the fault begins to show an increased normal component of motion. A channel margin that is incised into a Holocene surface that is between 10 and 128 ka in age is offset 16–20 m, which yields a broad minimum bound on the lateral slip rate of 0.125–2.0 mm/year. The best preserved single-event displacements recorded in Holocene deposits range from 1.5 to 2.5 m.
    [Show full text]