Abstract
This paper presents evidence that the Elsinore fault, a prominent member of the San Andreas system, has, contrary to most views, undergone little or no strike slip. Field reconnaissance of the Elsinore, Earthquake Valley, and San Felipe faults, guided by orbital photographs, demonstrates that lithology and major steeply-dipping structures in Cretaceous plutonic rocks are continuous across these faults at critical points. This indicates that they are not through-going strike-slip faults with major lateral displacement. Strike slip of a few kilometers along the northern Elsinore fault may be compensated by down-faulting in the Perris basin, Warner Valley, and in other valleys along the fault. It is concluded that the regional Cenozoic fault pattern of California south of the Transverse Ranges is a composite resulting from transection of north-trending Basin and Range faults by strike-slip faults of the San Andreas system, probably during the late Miocene.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call