Publication Date
10-28-2022
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
49
Issue
20
DOI
10.1029/2022GL100799
Abstract
The Eastern Transverse Ranges (ETR) province of California contains a system of E-W-trending left-lateral faults accommodating clockwise block rotation between the San Andreas Fault (SAF) system in the Coachella Valley and the Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ) in the Mojave Desert. Building upon established geometric relationships, we estimate that this rotation across the ETR may transfer right-lateral strain from the SAF to the ECSZ at a time-averaged rate of ∼4.3–7.7 mm/yr. Through geomorphic mapping and the analysis of 38 10Be surface exposure samples, we derive a long-term slip rate of 1.26 ± 0.50 (2σ) mm/yr over the late Pleistocene, yet analysis of the displacement record indicates a rate decrease ∼71 kya. While a rate change on this fault could have implications for possible plate boundary reorganization in this area, we argue that this slip rate variability more likely reflects routine fluctuation about a steady lifetime slip rate.
Funding Number
1848547
Funding Sponsor
National Science Foundation
Keywords
block rotation, Eastern California Shear Zone, fault slip rate variability, San Andreas Fault
Department
Geology
Recommended Citation
K. A. Guns, R. Bennett, K. Blisniuk, A. Walker, A. Hidy, and A. Heimsath. "Steady Long-Term Slip Rate on the Blue Cut Fault: Implications for Strain Transfer Between the San Andreas Fault and Eastern California Shear Zone" Geophysical Research Letters (2022). https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100799
Comments
This article originally appeared in Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 49, Issue 20, [Year]. The article can also be found online at: https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100799.