Evolution of a strike-slip fault network, Valley of Fire State Park, southern Nevada

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2004 Evolution of a strike-slip fault network, Valley of Fire State Park, southern Nevada Eric A. Flodin; Eric A. Flodin 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Room 118, Building 320, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Atilla Aydin Atilla Aydin 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Room 118, Building 320, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2004) 116 (1-2): 42–59. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25282.1 Article history received: 22 Oct 2002 rev-recd: 15 Jul 2003 accepted: 28 Jul 2003 first online: 02 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 Eric A. Flodin, Atilla Aydin; Evolution of a strike-slip fault network, Valley of Fire State Park, southern Nevada. GSA Bulletin 2004;; 116 (1-2): 42–59. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25282.1 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 In the Valley of Fire State Park of southern Nevada, the Jurassic Aztec Sandstone is deformed by two predominately strike-slip fault sets with opposite slip sense. One fault set is north-northeast oriented and shows maximum left-lateral separations that range between centimeters and kilometers. The other fault set is northwest oriented and shows maximum right-lateral separations that range between centimeters and hundreds of meters. At a regional scale, most of the right-lateral faults terminate against the larger-offset left-lateral faults and are found localized between en echelon and parallel left-lateral faults, and at the ends of the larger left-lateral faults. At a local scale, right- and left-lateral faults of smaller size show mutually abutting relationships. Furthermore, Mode I splay fractures related to fault slip are observed sharing the same orientation and abutting relationships as members of the left- and right-lateral fault sets. A conceptual model for the evolution of the strike-slip fault network in the Valley-of-Fire is presented whereby the fault network formed via progressive Mode I splay fracturing and subsequent shearing along the fractures. At the outcrop scale, at least five hierarchical generations of structures are identified. It is proposed that shearing of Mode I splay fractures is facilitated by material rotation near and between slipping faults and/or local stress rotation due to fault interaction. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.