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Identification of multiple generations of crosscutting “domino‐style” faults: Insights from seismic modeling
Author(s) -
Yarnold John C.,
Johnson Roy A.,
Sorenson Lowell S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
tectonics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.465
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1944-9194
pISSN - 0278-7407
DOI - 10.1029/92tc01969
Subject(s) - geology , seismology , fault (geology) , basement , reflection (computer programming) , terrain , intersection (aeronautics) , seismogram , synthetic seismogram , structural basin , paleontology , ecology , civil engineering , aerospace engineering , computer science , engineering , biology , programming language
Seismic modeling and geometric analysis provide clues for identification of multiple generations of cross‐cutting planar rotational faults in seismic reflection profiles. Many elements characteristic of this structural geometry are apparent, although contorted, at shallow levels in unmigrated and migrated synthetic seismograms. Structural features potentially signaling an earlier generation of rotational faulting within a tilt‐block terrain include first‐generation fault segments, intrablock terminations of horizons, steep dips of prefault strata, anomalously high fault‐strata intersection angles, “composite” basin geometry, truncations of early synextension sedimentary wedges, and anomalous crustal thinning. Evaluation of published profiles from the Bay of Biscay and Galicia Bank indicates that the crosscutting “domino” fault model probably is not applicable in these areas as previously suggested. While the model may be appropriate for the basement structure of Spring Valley, Nevada, seismic evidence is equivocal.