Quaternary flake tectonics of the California Transverse Ranges

Research Article| January 01, 1981 Quaternary flake tectonics of the California Transverse Ranges Robert S. Yeats Robert S. Yeats 1Department of Geology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1981) 9 (1): 16–20. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1981)9<16:QFTOTC>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Robert S. Yeats; Quaternary flake tectonics of the California Transverse Ranges. Geology 1981;; 9 (1): 16–20. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1981)9<16:QFTOTC>2.0.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 P-residual studies suggest that the Pacific-American plate boundary in the upper mantle lies in the central Mojave Desert, northeast of its crustal position at the San Andreas fault. Focal mechanisms of some relatively deep microearthquakes suggest a flattening with depth of north-dipping thrust faults, resulting in a mid-crustal detachment in which the central Transverse Ranges move south relative to the mantle. This makes sense geologically if the central Transverse Ranges and western Mojave Desert are considered as tectonic flakes of brittle crystalline rocks underlain by ductile Pelona Schist or Catalina Schist, which makes up the zone of decollement. Such ductile schists would occur today at depths comparable to those at which they were metamorphosed. The detachment breaks through to the surface at the Point Dume–Malibu Coast fault zone and the Red Mountain–San Cayetano–Santa Susana–Sierra Madre–Cucamonga fault zone, the latter coinciding with the southern edge of the Palmdale bulge. The Transverse Ranges flake now moves west-northwest relative to the western Mojave flake, south-southwest relative to the Pacific plate, and northwest relative to the Great Valley–Sierra Nevada. The mantle boundary may rejoin the San Andreas fault north of a southwest-trending zone of high seismicity in the Tehachapi Mountains which may be produced by convergence. The age of the present tectonic system may be the same as the age of the break-through thrust faults; these are probably no older than 2 m.y. and may be even younger. 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.