Active tectonics at Wheeler Ridge, southern San Joaquin Valley, California

Research Article| March 01, 1998 Active tectonics at Wheeler Ridge, southern San Joaquin Valley, California E. A. Keller; E. A. Keller 1Environmental Studies Program and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. L. Zepeda; R. L. Zepeda 21342 Grove Street, Alameda, California 94501 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar T. K. Rockwell; T. K. Rockwell 3Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 91282 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar T. L. Ku; T. L. Ku 4Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0740 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar W. S. Dinklage W. S. Dinklage 5Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information E. A. Keller 1Environmental Studies Program and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 R. L. Zepeda 21342 Grove Street, Alameda, California 94501 T. K. Rockwell 3Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 91282 T. L. Ku 4Department of Earth Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0740 W. S. Dinklage 5Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1998) 110 (3): 298–310. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1998)110<0298:ATAWRS>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 E. A. Keller, R. L. Zepeda, T. K. Rockwell, T. L. Ku, W. S. Dinklage; Active tectonics at Wheeler Ridge, southern San Joaquin Valley, California. GSA Bulletin 1998;; 110 (3): 298–310. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1998)110<0298:ATAWRS>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 Wheeler Ridge is an east-west–trending anticline that is actively deforming on the upper plate of the Pleito–Wheeler Ridge thrust-fault system. Holocene and late Pleistocene deformation is demonstrated at the eastern end of the anticline where Salt Creek crosses the anticlinal axis. Uplift, tilting, and faulting, associated with the eastward growth of the anticline, are documented by geomorphic surfaces that are higher and older to the west.Faulting and associated folding is propagating eastward, as indicated by increases in both the degree of surface dissection and the degree of soil development from east to west. Distinct topographic areas having distinct degrees of surface dissection, bounded by tear faults, suggest that faulting and folding have propagated eastward in discrete segments.Numerical dates indicate (1) the anticline is propagating eastward at a rate of about 30 mm/yr (about 10 times the rate of uplift); (2) folding was initiated about 400 ka; (3) a prominent wind gap was formed during Q3 time (about 60 ka) when an antecedent stream was defeated, forcing the stream east around the nose of the fold; today drainage through the ridge is by way of two antecedent streams (water gaps) east of the wind gap; and (4) the rate of uplift at the easternmost and youngest (past 1 k.y.) part of the fold is at least 3 mm/yr.Investigations of the tectonic geomorphology of Wheeler Ridge support the hypothesis that climatic perturbations are primarily responsible for producing geomorphic surfaces such as alluvial fan segments and river terraces—tectonic perturbations deform the surfaces. 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.