Variable crustal structure of strike-slip fault zones as observed on deep seismic reflection profiles

Research Article| May 01, 1988 Variable crustal structure of strike-slip fault zones as observed on deep seismic reflection profiles P. J. LEMISZKI; P. J. LEMISZKI 1Department of Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L. D. BROWN L. D. BROWN 1Department of Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information P. J. LEMISZKI 1Department of Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 L. D. BROWN 1Department of Geological Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1988) 100 (5): 665–676. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1988)100<0665:VCSOSS>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation P. J. LEMISZKI, L. D. BROWN; Variable crustal structure of strike-slip fault zones as observed on deep seismic reflection profiles. GSA Bulletin 1988;; 100 (5): 665–676. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1988)100<0665:VCSOSS>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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Seismic reflection profiling across strike-slip faults has revealed a distinct variation in deep crustal structure. Profiles across the San Andreas, Great Glen, and Bray faults depict a near-vertical, reflection-free zone that appears to truncate and in some cases offset reflections interpreted to have originated from the base of the crust. A near-vertical, crustal-penetrating fault zone is suggested for these continental transform faults. In contrast, reflection profiles across intra-plate strike-slip fault systems such as the northern Walker Lane and Garlock faults suggest that they are decoupled in the middle crust by subhorizontal detachments. These detachments are inferred from reflections that are traceable below the surface faults without disruption. Such detachments in the middle crust may act to ease the rotation of upper-crustal blocks adjacent to strike-slip fault zones, as observed in paleomagnetic studies. Furthermore, moderately dipping reflections, interpreted to be from the fault zone, project to the surface traces of the northern Walker Lane faults and the frontal faults of the Wichita Uplift, indicating that these strike-slip faults with large components of dip-slip displacement are not vertical but dip moderately into the mid-crust. Although the available data sets are still few, they suggest that there is a primary variation in fault geometry that is related to the different behavior of transform versus intra-plate strike-slip fault systems. 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.