Observations on normal-fault scarp morphology and fault system evolution of the Bishop Tuff in the Volcanic Tableland, Owens Valley, California, U.S.A.

Ferrill, David A.; Morris, Alan P.; McGinnis, Ronald N.; Smart, Kevin J.; Watson-Morris, Morgan J; Wigginton, Sarah S.

doi:10.1130/l476.1

Cited by 32 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 91 publications

(156 reference statements)

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“…Intrabasin faults of the eastern domain (Deseret, Clear Lake, Pavant, and Tabernacle faults) are spatially coincident with Plio-Pleistocene volcanic edifices. Surface deformation is expressed as a combination of basalt escarpments, monoclines, tension cracks, and fault scarps similar to morphologies observed the Volcanic Tableland of California (Ferrill et al, 2016). Individual fault zones are ~5 km wide; however, the zones together comprise a broader trend of surface deformation that is 15-20 km wide (Fig.…”

Section: Eastern Domainmentioning

confidence: 86%

Paleoseismic patterns of Quaternary tectonic and magmatic surface deformation in the eastern Basin and Range, USA

et al. 2019

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The competing contributions of tectonic and magmatic processes in accommodating continental extension are commonly obscured by a lack of on-fault paleoseismic information. This is especially true of the Sevier Desert, located at the eastern margin of the Basin and Range in central Utah (USA), where surface-rupturing faults are spatially associated with both regional detachment faults and Quaternary volcanism. Here, we use high-resolution topographic surveys (terrestrial lidar scans and real-time kinematic GPS), terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (10Be and 3He) exposure dating, 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, and new neotectonic mapping to distinguish between modes of faulting and extension in a transect across the Sevier Desert. In the western Sevier Desert, the House Range and Cricket Mountains faults each have evidence of a single surface-rupturing earthquake in the last 20–30 k.y. and have time-integrated slip and extension rates of <0.1 and ∼0.05 mm yr−1, respectively, since ca. 15–30 ka. These rates are similar to near-negligible modern geodetic extension estimates. Despite relatively low geologic, paleoseismic, and modern extension rates, both faults show evidence of contributing to the long-term growth of topographic relief and the structural development of the region. In the eastern Sevier Desert, the intrabasin Tabernacle, Pavant, and Deseret fault systems show markedly different surface expressions and behavior from the range-bounding normal faults farther west. Pleistocene to Holocene extension rates on faults in the eastern Sevier Desert are >10× higher than those on their western counterparts. Faults here are co-located with Late Pleistocene to Holocene volcanic centers, have events temporally clustered around the timing of Pleistocene volcanism in at least one instance, and have accommodated extension ∼2×–10× above geodetic and long-term geologic rates. We propose a model whereby Pliocene to recent extension in the Sevier Desert is spatially partitioned into an eastern magma-assisted rifting domain, characterized by transient episodes of higher extension rates during volcanism, and a western tectonic-dominated domain, characterized by slower-paced faulting in the Cricket Mountains and House Range and more typical of the “Basin and Range style” that continues westward into Nevada. The Sevier Desert, with near-complete exposure and the opportunity to utilize a range of geophysical instrumentation, provides a globally significant laboratory for understanding the different modes of faulting in regions of continental extension.

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Section: Eastern Domainmentioning

confidence: 86%

Paleoseismic patterns of Quaternary tectonic and magmatic surface deformation in the eastern Basin and Range, USA

et al. 2019

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“…Secondary, horizontal fracturing segments the columns into blocks (e.g., Yang & Wu, 2006), which are then weathered physically and chemically to produce smaller fragments and round the blocks (e.g., Moon & Jayawardane, 2004). In the case of Bishop Tuff, this set of blocks is exposed now (typical diameters as much as 1-2 m) on the tops of the scarps, and from there blocks are further fractured and transported (see figure 3 in Ferrill et al, 2016; Figures 1 and 2).…”

Section: Rocky Fault Scarpsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying and analysing rock trait distributions of rocky fault scarps using deep learning

Chen

Scott

Keating

et al. 2023

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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We apply a deep learning model to segment and identify rock characteristics based on a Structure‐from‐Motion orthomap and digital elevation model of a rocky fault scarp in the Volcanic Tablelands, Eastern California, USA. By post‐processing the deep learning results, we build a semantic rock map and analyse the rock trait distributions. The resulting semantic map contains nearly 230 000 rocks with effective diameters ranging from 2 to 250 cm. Rock trait distributions provide a new perspective on rocky fault scarp development and extend past research on scarp geometry including slope, height and length. Heatmaps indicate rock size spatial distributions on the fault scarp and surrounding topographic flats. Median grain size changes perpendicular to the fault scarp trace, with the largest rocks on the downslope proximal to the scarp footwall. Correlation analyses illustrate the relationship between rock trait statistics and fault scarp geomorphology. Local fault scarp height correlates with median grain size ( R2 = 0.6), the mean grain size of the largest rocks ( R2 = 0.8) and the ratio of the number of small to large rocks ( R2 = 0.4). The positive correlation ( R2 = 0.8) between local fault scarp height and standard deviation of grain size suggests that rocks on a higher fault scarp are less well sorted. The correlation analysis between fault scarp height and rock orientation statistics supports a particle transportation model in which locally higher fault scarps have relatively more rocks with long axes parallel to fault scarp trace because rocks have a larger distance to roll and orient the long axes. Our work demonstrates a data‐driven approach to geomorphology based on rock trait distributions, promising a greater understanding of fault scarp formation and tectonic activity, as well as many other applications for which granulometry is an indicator of process.

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“…We resampled the manual fault maps to a 1 m scale. The fault has large breached relay ramps (Figures 1(d) and 3(a)), and the majority of the hanging wall forms a low relief surface covered by welded tuff [33]. The test zone spans 5 km along-strike and contains primary and secondary faults.…”

Section: Manual Mapping and Test Zone Descriptionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Long Valley volcanic system, located 70 km to the NNW of the Volcanic Tablelands, erupted and produced the Bishop tuff in 758:9 ± 1:8 ka [31,32]. In the Tablelands, the Bishop tuff is 150 m thick and consists of moderately welded ignimbrites with polygonal cooling joints located stratigraphically above poorly welded ignimbrite [33,34]. The tuff buried the preexisting topography with densely spaced normal faults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Semiautomatic Algorithm to Map Tectonic Faults and Measure Scarp Height from Topography Applied to the Volcanic Tablelands and the Hurricane Fault, Western US

et al. 2022

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Observations of fault geometry and cumulative slip distribution serve as critical constraints on fault behavior over temporal scales ranging from a single earthquake to a fault’s complete history. The increasing availability of high-resolution topography (at least one observation per square meter) from air- and spaceborne platforms facilitates measuring geometric properties along faults over a range of spatial scales. However, manually mapping faults and measuring slip or scarp height is time-intensive, limiting the use of rich topography datasets. To substantially decrease the time required to analyze fault systems, we developed a novel approach for systematically mapping dip-slip faults and measuring scarp height. Our MATLAB algorithm detects fault scarps from topography by identifying regions of steep relief given length and slope parameters calibrated from a manually drawn fault map. We applied our algorithm to well-preserved normal faults in the Volcanic Tablelands of eastern California using four datasets: (1) structure-from-motion topography from a small uncrewed aerial system (sUAS; 20 cm resolution), (2) airborne laser scanning (25 cm), (3) Pléiades stereosatellite imagery (50 cm), and SRTM (30 m) topography. The algorithm and manually mapped fault trace architectures are consistent for primary faults, although can differ for secondary faults. On average, the scarp height profiles are asymmetric, suggesting fault lateral propagation and along-strike variations in the fault’s mechanical properties. We applied our algorithm to Arizona and Utah with a specific focus on the normal Hurricane fault where the algorithm mapped faults and other prominent topographic features well. This analysis demonstrates that the algorithm can be applied in a variety of geomorphic and tectonic settings.

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Observations on normal-fault scarp morphology and fault system evolution of the Bishop Tuff in the Volcanic Tableland, Owens Valley, California, U.S.A.

Cited by 32 publications

References 91 publications

Paleoseismic patterns of Quaternary tectonic and magmatic surface deformation in the eastern Basin and Range, USA

Paleoseismic patterns of Quaternary tectonic and magmatic surface deformation in the eastern Basin and Range, USA

Quantifying and analysing rock trait distributions of rocky fault scarps using deep learning

Semiautomatic Algorithm to Map Tectonic Faults and Measure Scarp Height from Topography Applied to the Volcanic Tablelands and the Hurricane Fault, Western US

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