Experimental Analysis of Gulf Coast Fracture Patterns

Abstract

Gulf Coast faults are normal faults with the exception of those around fault domes. The accumulation of all horizontal components of these faults in the Gulf Coast embayment makes considerable horizontal displacement of the sedimentary blanket necessary. The regional Gulf Coast fault pattern and its many local variations are therefore thought to be caused by regional gravity creep of the sedimentary blanket into the basin. As creep takes place the sliding sediments break away from the stationary ones forming a marginal graben, and, nearer the coast, asymmetrical down-to-basin faults with reverse drag, and antithetic faults.