Active steady-state creep on a nontectonic normal fault in southeast Utah: Implications for strain release in a rapidly deforming salt system
Geophysical Research Letters
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Abstract
Characterizing short-term temporal variations of fault creep provides insight into the evolution, mechanics, and strength of fault systems. Using spirit leveling and an extensome- ter, we measured surface displacement of a fault southwest of the Needles District, Canyon- lands National Park, Utah, where extension is driven by differential unloading of a subsur- face salt layer due to incision of the Colorado River. Results show continuous creep at max- imum rates of 0.7±0.2 mm/yr without large temporal variations typical of episodic creep events. Occasional, minor transient events in fault slip velocity coincided with water infil- tration; however, we found no significant relationship between precipitation and transient events. Detailed mapping of regionally widespread, fault-parallel sinkholes provide evidence for dilation of faults at shallow depth, a process that lowers fault strength. We propose con- tinuous slip is related to low fault strength and differential unloading, as opposed to other salt systems where dissolution has been linked to episodic slip.
Suggested Citation
Kravitz, K., Mueller, K., Bilham, R., Walton, M.A., 2020, Active steady-state creep on a nontectonic normal fault in southeast Utah: Implications for strain release in a rapidly deforming salt system: Geophysical Research Letters, v. 47, no. 11, e2020GL087081, 10 p., https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087081.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Active steady-state creep on a nontectonic normal fault in southeast Utah: Implications for strain release in a rapidly deforming salt system |
| Series title | Geophysical Research Letters |
| DOI | 10.1029/2020GL087081 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 11 |
| Year Published | 2020 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Geophysical Union |
| Contributing office(s) | Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center |
| Description | e2020GL087081, 10 p. |
| Country | United States |
| Other Geospatial | Southeastern Utah |