The Pitman Canyon paleoseismic record: A re-evaluation of southern San Andreas Fault segmentation

Abstract

Correlation of three well-resolved paleoseismic records, including the Pitman Canyon site with its emerging record, presents a new possibility to understand fault segmentation. To be a useful concept, fault segment boundaries must be relatively stationary over multiple seismic cycles and must appear frequently in limiting the rupture extent of earthquakes; thus, sites on the same segment should share more paleoseismic events than those on different segments. A conclusive event correlation between sites is difficult or impossible due to dating uncertainties. However, often the data are adequate to preclude correlation and thus provide firm limits on rupture extent for those events. Thus clear non-correlations provide more information about segmentation than do unprovable potential correlations. The southern end of the most recent rupture in 1857, between Wrightwood and Pitman Canyon, is often used to define a segment boundary. However, there is an absence of significant non-correlation between the previous five Pitman Canyon events and the Wrightwood events. While both Pallett Creek and Wrightwood ruptured in 1857, only two of the previous five Wrightwood events can correlate with Pallett Creek events, which may or may not indicate that they actually do. These paleoseismic records do not support the existence of a segment boundary between Wrightwood and Pitman Canyon as defined by the 1857 rupture extent, suggesting a reevaluation of southern San Andreas Fault segmentation, and using historic ruptures to define segments in general.