Kinematics at Death Valley-Garlock Fault Zone Junction

R. Brady Abrams, K. Verosub, A. Finnerty

The Garlock and Death Valley fault zones in southeast California are two active strike-slip faults that come together on the east side of the Avawatz Mountains. The kinematics of this intersection, and the possible continuation of either fault zone, is being investigated using a combination of detailed field mapping, and processing and interpretation of remotely sensed image data from satellite and aircraft platforms. Regional and local relationships are derivable from the Thematic Mapper data (30 m resolution), including discrimination and relative age dating of alluvial fans, bedrock mapping, and fault mapping. Aircraft data provide higher spatial resolution data over more limited areas. Hypotheses that are being considered are (1) the Garlock fault extends east of the ntersection; (2) the Garlock fault terminates at the intersection and the Death Valley fault continues southeastward; and (3) the Garlock fault has been offset right laterally by the Death Valley fault that continues to the southeast. Preliminary work indicates that the first hypothesis is invalid. Kinematic considerations, image analysis, and field work results favor the third hypothesis. The projected continuation of the Death Valley zone defines the boundary between the Mojave crustal block and the Basin and Range block.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91040©1987 AAPG Rocky Mountain Section Meeting, Boise, Idaho, September 13-16, 1987.