The transition from large-magnitude extension to distributed dextral faulting in the Buckskin-Rawhide metamorphic core complex, west-central Arizona

Abstract

Brittle fault data from the Buckskin-Rawhide metamorphic core complex, west-central Arizona, document the Miocene transition from large-magnitude, NE directed extension to distributed E-W extension and dextral faulting. The Buckskin-Rawhide detachment fault locally records a clockwise rotation of the slip direction from dominant top-NE directed slip to ENE and E directed slip during the last stages of activity. Postmylonitic brittle deformation is dominated by normal and dextral slip along moderately to steeply NE dipping faults. Relative timing relationships indicate that most postmylonitic normal faulting was coeval with middle Miocene detachment fault slip, whereas dextral and oblique dextral faulting postdates detachment fault slip (post ~11 Ma). Based on the persistent SW dip of lower plate fabrics and NE dip of abundant normal faults, the amount of NE-SW brittle extension across the mylonitic lower plate is estimated to be 20–30% in several areas. The end of detachment faulting in the Buckskin-Rawhide metamorphic core complex was marked by a transition to dominantly E-W extension and associated dextral-normal faulting. At least 10 NE dipping postdetachment faults record ~0.1–1 km dextral or oblique dextral displacement. The cumulative amount of dextral shear across the core complex is probably 7–9 km, which is the amount needed to restore the topographic trend of lower plate corrugations into alignment with the dominant extension direction. Postdetachment dextral/transtensional faulting across the core complex reflects the increasing influence of the diffuse Pacific-North America transform plate boundary toward the end of the middle Miocene.