Fault formation in porous sedimentary rocks at high strain rates: First results from the Upheaval Dome impact structure, Utah, USA

Research Article| May 01, 2011 Fault formation in porous sedimentary rocks at high strain rates: First results from the Upheaval Dome impact structure, Utah, USA Wendy R.O. Key; Wendy R.O. Key † 1Geomechanics–Rock Fracture Group, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, MS 172, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA2Now at AMEC Geomatrix, Rancho Cordova, California 95670, USA †E-mail: wendy.key@amec.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard A. Schultz Richard A. Schultz 1Geomechanics–Rock Fracture Group, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, MS 172, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Wendy R.O. Key † 1Geomechanics–Rock Fracture Group, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, MS 172, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA2Now at AMEC Geomatrix, Rancho Cordova, California 95670, USA Richard A. Schultz 1Geomechanics–Rock Fracture Group, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, MS 172, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA †E-mail: wendy.key@amec.com Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 15 May 2009 Revision Received: 05 Feb 2010 Accepted: 10 Feb 2010 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2011 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2011) 123 (5-6): 1161–1170. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30087.1 Article history Received: 15 May 2009 Revision Received: 05 Feb 2010 Accepted: 10 Feb 2010 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Wendy R.O. Key, Richard A. Schultz; Fault formation in porous sedimentary rocks at high strain rates: First results from the Upheaval Dome impact structure, Utah, USA. GSA Bulletin 2011;; 123 (5-6): 1161–1170. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30087.1 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Previous theoretical work has suggested that porous sedimentary rocks subjected to sufficiently high strain rates may not form deformation band damage zones (DBDZs). This hypothesis is evaluated by an examination of faults within the porous Navajo Sandstone at the Upheaval Dome impact structure in Canyonlands National Park, southeastern Utah, where high strain-rate conditions are known to have occurred. We found no evidence for DBDZ formation along the accessible fault planes at Upheaval Dome. Instead, a layer of pulverized quartz grains within the Navajo Sandstone occurs adjacent to the fault planes. Similar material has been observed in association with dynamic rupture in crystalline and sedimentary rocks along the San Andreas fault in southern California and in metamorphic rocks along the Bosman fault in South Africa. Measured grain sizes obtained from the pulverized material collected at Upheaval Dome are consistent with strain rates of ∼1–3 × 103 s−1. Pulverized sedimentary rocks along the San Andreas fault imply strain rates of ∼10−2 to 101 s−1. Strain rates along the faults at Upheaval Dome are well above the average values associated with intraplate tectonics but are consistent with, or faster than, seismic slip rates along faults such as the San Andreas fault. Our results support the hypothesized rate dependence of deformation in porous rocks. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.