How long do structures take to form in transpression zones? A cautionary tale from California

Research Article| December 01, 1999 How long do structures take to form in transpression zones? A cautionary tale from California Enrico Tavarnelli; Enrico Tavarnelli 1Centro di Geodinamica, Università della Basilicata, Via Anzio, 85100 Potenza, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert E. Holdsworth Robert E. Holdsworth 2Reactivation Research Group, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1999) 27 (12): 1063–1066. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<1063:HLDSTT>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Enrico Tavarnelli, Robert E. Holdsworth; How long do structures take to form in transpression zones? A cautionary tale from California. Geology 1999;; 27 (12): 1063–1066. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<1063:HLDSTT>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract It is generally assumed that individual sets of coplanar and colinear deformation structures form together during events that are of relatively short duration (1–5 m.y.). The record of deformation in a sequence of Late Cretaceous to Holocene sedimentary rocks from the northern Salinian block of California spans at least 30 m.y. and illustrates that this assumption is sometimes incorrect. At different localities, geometrically and kinematically identical contractional structures either predate or postdate local unconformities of varying age within the succession, so that it is possible to define at least four chronologically distinct, but otherwise indistinguishable, deformation episodes. In the absence of the unconformities, the punctuated nature of the deformation would not be apparent, therefore suggesting that subparallel structures may form during successive, distinct deformations spread out over long time periods. In the northern Salinian block, the inferred contractional strain field is approximately normal to the adjacent San Andreas fault and appears to have been consistently oriented in this direction during deformation events recorded over the past 30–45 m.y. The strain pattern is most easily explained by efficient partitioning of transpressional strains into fault-normal shortening and right-lateral faulting during episodic regional deformations. We propose that reactivation of preexisting structural anisotropies controls the observed partitioning of deformation in many transpression zones. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.