Dynamics of the Salton block: Absolute fault strength and crust-mantle coupling in Southern California

Research Article| April 01, 2006 Dynamics of the Salton block: Absolute fault strength and crust-mantle coupling in Southern California Noah Fay; Noah Fay 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eugene Humphreys Eugene Humphreys 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2006) 34 (4): 261–264. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22172.1 Article history received: 15 Aug 2005 rev-recd: 23 Nov 2005 accepted: 07 Dec 2005 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Noah Fay, Eugene Humphreys; Dynamics of the Salton block: Absolute fault strength and crust-mantle coupling in Southern California. Geology 2006;; 34 (4): 261–264. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22172.1 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 Analysis of force and torque balance on the Salton block, Southern California, yields estimates of time-averaged shear stress acting on the bounding faults and the base of the crust. Averaged over a depth of 30 km, the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults sustain time-averaged shear stress of ∼21–35 and 24–43 MPa, respectively. This implies that tectonic shear stress at seismogenic depths is greater than a typical 1–10 MPa earthquake stress drop and, with a corresponding effective friction coefficient of 0.10–0.21, lower than that predicted by laboratory experiments. Basal stress of 3–14 MPa also is required to drive the Salton block into the Transverse Ranges. Thus, the forces driving mountain building, basin formation, and the generation of earthquakes south of the Transverse Ranges in Southern California stem from stresses transmitted laterally across weak faults and from below. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.