First Advisor

Ashley Streig

Term of Graduation

Spring 2020

Date of Publication

7-20-2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.) in Geology

Department

Geology

Language

English

Subjects

Faults (Geology) -- California -- Shasta County, Structural geology -- California -- Shasta County -- Maps, Morphotectonics -- California -- Shasta County -- Maps

DOI

10.15760/etd.7425

Physical Description

1 online resource (viii, 83 pages)

Abstract

Distinct morphology, variable vertical separation, and unique structural geometries are observed along the Rocky Ledge fault (RLF), an east-dipping, oblique normal fault in the tectonically complex Hat Creek Graben, Shasta County, NE California. Situated in the southern Cascade arc, the RLF is located at the boundary of the Klamath Mountains, Basin and Range, and Walker Lane Seismic Belt. The primary goal of this project is to better understand Quaternary deformation along the RLF. I developed detailed maps of geologic units and structures along the ~15 km length of the RLF. Map data informs assessment of fault geometry, scarp morphology, and fault development processes. I define a step-by-step conceptual kinematic fault development model using area-balanced cross section restoration techniques that document the unique geologic structure and scarp deformation style. Offset initiates as a broad monoclinal fault propagation fold that breaks along the upper anticlinal axis as the scarp develops. The RLF has a sub-vertical (~85°) near-surface east dip that becomes less steep (40-60°) with depth. West-dipping antithetic faults with scarps that present as along-strike "furrows" or troughs, displace talus material and form uphill-facing benches and breaks in slope in the lower portion of the main RLF scarp. I developed a profile of stratigraphic separation along the RLF fault length from measurements of vertical stratigraphic separation. The RLF is divided into three en-echelon sections. The southern section is ~7 km long with ~74 m maximum vertical separation, the central section is ~3.5 km long with 40 m maximum vertical separation, and the northern section is ~3 km long with 28 m vertical separation. Sections are separated by relay ramps, which span ~175 - 550 m widths between overlapping fault tips. Future section linkage may occur with slip localizing at these overlapping tip zones. Cumulative vertical separation is considerably higher in the southern section than the central and northern sections. Along strike, vertical separation dramatically decreases over short fault lengths at the endpoints of each section, resulting in steep fault tip taper gradients (offset die-out). Global per-event average fault tip taper gradients range from 0.1 - 2.4 m/km, with 9 of 76 reported values (12%) exceeding 1 m/km (Thompson, 2017). At the RLF, 50% of average per-event displacement gradients exceed 1 m/km. Steep taper gradients suggest the RLF has significant cumulative vertical displacement relative to fault length. Frequent or large slip-per-event earthquakes are necessary to generate the observed cumulative vertical displacement at the RLF. Areas of significant future displacement (such as relay ramps) and the potential for anomalously large earthquakes are important considerations for evaluating fault hazards and associated risk assessment.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

This project was funded in part by a Geological Society of America Graduate Student Research Grant (2017), Portland State University Geology Departmental Student Research Grant (2017), and through funding from Dr. Streig and Dr. Weldon.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/33660

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