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Mechanics of Distributed Fault and Block Rotation

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Paleomagnetic Rotations and Continental Deformation

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 254))

Abstract

Most of the earth’s crust is broken by dense sets of subparallel faults which are organized in domains. Joint analysis of structural and paleomagnetic data (Ron et al., 1984) demonstrate that these domains when subject to tectonic deform by distributed fault slip and block rotations, rather than by uniform straining. Many such domains have been recognized in the Western U.S., and in California and Nevada in particular. Precise mechanical considerations of stress at failure, strength and friction by Nur et al. (1986) reveal under what conditions new fault sets must form when these rotations are sufficiently large (25°–45°) leading to domains of multiple sets. Several domains of multiple fault sets have by now been recognized in California and Nevada.

Many past studies of rotations were limited to either structural or paleomagnetic data. However by combining paleomagnetic data, structural geology, and rock mechanics we are able to explore the validity of the block rotation concept and its significance in much greater detail than ever before. Our analysis is based on data from (1) Northern Israel, where fault slip and spacing is used to predict block rotation; (2) the Mojave Desert, with well-documented strike-slip fault sets, organized in at least three major domains. A new set of faults trending N-S may be in the process of formation here; and (3) the Lake Mead, Nevada, fault system with well-defined sets of strike-slip faults, which, in contrast with the Mojave region, are surrounded with domains of normal faults; and (4) the San Gabriel Mountains domain with a multiple set of strike-slip faults.

Block rotations can have profound influence on the interpretation of geodetic measurements and the inversion of geodetic data, especially the type collected in GPS surveys. Furthermore, block rotations and domain boundaries may be involved in creating the heterogeneities along active fault systems which may be responsible for the initiation and termination of earthquake rupture.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Stanford Rock Physics Laboratory Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305, USA

    A. Nur & O. Scotti

  2. Institute for Petroleum Research and Geophysics, P.O. Box 2286, Holon, Israel

    H. Ron

Authors
  1. A. Nur
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  2. H. Ron
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  3. O. Scotti
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre des Faibles Radioactivités, Laboratoire mixte CNRS/CEA, Gif-sur-Yvette, France

    Catherine Kissel  & Carlo Laj  & 

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© 1989 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Nur, A., Ron, H., Scotti, O. (1989). Mechanics of Distributed Fault and Block Rotation. In: Kissel, C., Laj, C. (eds) Paleomagnetic Rotations and Continental Deformation. NATO ASI Series, vol 254. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0869-7_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0869-7_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6878-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0869-7

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