Growth, linkage, and termination processes of a 10-km-long strike-slip fault in jointed granite: the Gemini fault zone, Sierra Nevada, California

Pachell, Matthew A.; Evans, James P.

doi:10.1016/s0191-8141(02)00027-5

Cited by 76 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…There is no clear break in the data in Figure 2 but a relative scatter of data at all scales. For instance, data based on the studies by STIRLING et al (1996), PACHELL andEVANS (2002), ROVIDA andTIBALDI (2005) or WALKER et al (2006) plot below the Valley of Fire data for similar strike-slip fault offsets. Second, the trend fitting the data of STIRLING et al (1996) has an exponent that is closer to the one in the Valley of Fire data than to the one in the data of WESNOUSKY (1988), although STIRLING et al (1996) and WESNOUSKY (1988 both studied large-scale faults.…”

Section: Scale-and Resolution-related Biasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Segmentation along Strike-Slip Faults Revisited

Joussineau

Aydin

2009

Pure appl. geophys.

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Fault segmentation and fault steps and their evolution are relevant to the dynamics and size of earthquake ruptures, the distribution of fault damage zones and the capacity of fault seal. Furthermore, segment interactions and coalescence are the fundamental processes for fault growth. To contribute to this end, we investigated the architecture of strike-slip faults by combining field observations in the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, and the published data sets.First, we studied the trace complexity for 49 faults with offsets ranging from 12 m to 460 km. We established that the number of fault steps (hence fault segments) per unit length is correlated to the maximum fault offset by a negative power law. The faults have longer segments and fewer steps when their offsets increase, indicating the progressive growth, smoothening and simplification of the fault traces as a function of the offset, as proposed by previous investigators.Second, we studied the dimensions of the segments and steps composing *20 of the previous fault systems. The mean segment length, mean step length and mean step width are all correlated to the maximum fault offset by positive power laws over four orders of magnitude of the offset. In addition, the segment length distributions of four of the faults with offsets ranging from 80 m to 100 km are all lognormal, with most of the segment lengths falling in the range of one to five times the maximum offset of the faults. Finally, the fault steps have an approximately constant length-to-width ratio indicating that, regardless of their environment, strike-slip faults have a remarkable self-similar architecture probably due to the mechanical processes responsible for fault growth. Our data sets can be used as tools to better predict the geometrical attributes of strike-slip fault systems with important consequences for earthquake ruptures, the distribution and properties of fault damage zones, and fault sealing potential.

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Section: Scale-and Resolution-related Biasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Segmentation along Strike-Slip Faults Revisited

Joussineau

Aydin

2009

Pure appl. geophys.

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“…Isotopic dating of micas formed in fault gouge coupled with amphibole geobarometry suggests that some of the faults in the area were active near the base of the seismogenic zone [Pachell and Evans, 2002]. Faults in the Mount Abbot area nucleated on pre-existing cooling joints .…”

Section: Figure 2 Strike-slip Faults In Granites From Seismogenic Depthsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How thick is a fault? Fault displacement-thickness scaling revisited

Shipton¹,

Soden²,

Kirkpatrick³

et al. 2006

Geophysical Monograph Series

128

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Fault zone thickness is an important parameter for many seismological models. We present three new fault thickness datasets from different tectonic settings and host rock types. Individual fault zone components (i.e., principal slip zones, fault core, damage zone) display distinct displacement-thickness scaling relationships. Fault component thickness is dependent on the type of deformation elements (e.g., open fractures, gouge, breccia) that accommodate strain, the host lithology, and the geometry of pre-existing structures. A compilation of published fault displacement-thickness data shows a positive trend over seven orders of magnitude, but with three orders of magnitude scatter at a single displacement value. Rather than applying a single power-law scaling relationship to all fault thickness data, it is more appropriate and useful to seek separate scaling relationships for each fault zone component and to understand the controls on such scaling.

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“…As faults grow longer, they are able to interact with the neighboring faults at greater distances. Furthermore, it has been shown that faults extend their lengths by linkage and coalescence of smaller segments through fault steps in order to accommodate larger amount of slip (Segall and Pollard, 1983;Martel et al, 1988;Martel, 1990;Peacock, 1991;Peacock and Sanderson, 1995;Cartwright et al, 1995;Dawers and Anders, 1995;Pachell and Evans, 2002;Scholz, 2002;Myers and Aydin, 2004;de Joussineau and Aydin, 2009). It follows that the length-slip plots for faults which grew by linkage and coalescence is not actually continuous but rather have sharp "jumps"…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis of the growth of strike-slip faults using effective medium theory

Aydin

Berryman

2010

Journal of Structural Geology

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Increases in the dimensions of strike-slip faults including fault length and thickness of fault rock and the surrounding damage zone collectively provide quantitative definition of fault growth and are commonly measured in terms of slip. A vast amount of field data shows that fault dimensions increase in some fashion as the slip across faults increases though these relationships may not be simple. The field observations also indicate that a common mechanism for fault growth in the brittle upper crust is fault lengthening by linkage and coalescence of neighboring fault segments or strands. In addition, the mechanism of fault zone widening is spreading of fault rock via cataclastic deformation into highly fractured inner damage zone. The most important underlying mechanical reason in both cases is prior weakening of the rocks surrounding a fault's core and between neighboring fault segments by fault-related fractures. Using field observations together with effective medium models, this paper attempts to constrain the reduction in the effective elastic properties of rock in terms of the orientation and density of the fault-related brittle fractures. Calculated and extrapolated values of the Young's and shear moduli for idealized fractured rock masses at fault steps and inner damage zones provide insight into the degree of strength degradation as a function of the angle between fracture sets and fracture density and how increasing fracture density may eventually facilitate fault growth via cataclastic deformation of fractured rock masses.

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Growth, linkage, and termination processes of a 10-km-long strike-slip fault in jointed granite: the Gemini fault zone, Sierra Nevada, California

Cited by 76 publications

References 47 publications

Segmentation along Strike-Slip Faults Revisited

Segmentation along Strike-Slip Faults Revisited

How thick is a fault? Fault displacement-thickness scaling revisited

Analysis of the growth of strike-slip faults using effective medium theory

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