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S.A. Minor

Publications and source records attributed to S.A. Minor.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Superposed local and regional paleostresses: fault-slip analysis of Neogene extensional faulting near coeval caldera complexes, Yucca Flat, Nevada

Numerous reduced stress tensors are computed by multiple inversions of 906 temporally and spatially partitioned fault-slip data from the Yucca Flat region in the southwest Nevada volcanic field to constrain the Neogene paleostress and faulting history and to investigate how the regional tectonic stress field was affected by local caldera magmatism. Perturbed, shallow (<400 m), pre-11 Ma paleostress configurations, determined west and northwest of present (post-11 Ma) Yucca Flat basin, existed during mild extensional faulting and are attributed to superposition of transient caldera-magmatic stresses on the regional stress field. Northwest of Yucca Flat a progressive shift in least principal stress (σ 3 ) directions near known calderas located 5–15 km to the west occurred under a normal-slip stress state during caldera development between about 15 and 13 Ma. A brief (∼0.5 m.y.) change to a strike-slip stress state occurred at about 13 Ma and was accompanied by small-offset, quasi-conjugate strike-slip faulting. This stress state was most distinct, relative to a normal-slip state, near calderas where stress solutions and fault relations indicate closer affinities to a reverse-slip state. Inferred 11.6–11.45 Ma paleostress tensors indicate radial tension associated with either initial caldera collapse or local post-collapse topographic modification of the stress field. Post-11 Ma normal-slip stress tensors are associated with normal- and oblique-slip faults that accommodated subsidence and eastward extension of Yucca Flat basin away from the caldera complexes. These tensors do not indicate stress modifications due to residual caldera-related effects and thus were used to infer post-11 Ma regional stress changes. The stress field has rotated as much as 65° clockwise since 11 Ma during extensional development of Yucca Flat basin, with most of the rotation and extension occurring before about 8.5 Ma. Results suggest that shallow magmatism and caldera development can strongly alter extensional tectonic stress fields, fault patterns, and slip directions in the uppermost crust out to distances of roughly two magma chamber radii away from a magma body.

Journal of Geophysical Research↗

Structural and geochemical characteristics of faulted sediments and inferences on the role of water in deformatiion, Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico

The San Ysidro fault is a spectacularly exposed normal fault located in the northwestern Albuquerque Basin of the Rio Grande Rift. This intrabasin fault is representative of many faults that formed in poorly lithified sediments throughout the rift. The fault is exposed over nearly 10 km and accommodates nearly 700 m of dip slip in subhorizontal, siliciclastic sediments. The extent of the exposure facilitates study of along-strike variations in deformation mechanisms, archi tecture, geochemistry, and permeability. The fault is composed of structural and hydrogeologic components that include a clay-rich fault core, a calcite-cemented mixed zone, and a poorly developed damage zone primarily consisting of deformation bands. Structural textures suggest that initial deformation in the fault occurred at low temperature and pressure, was within the paleosaturated zone of the evolving Rio Grande Rift, and was dominated by particulate flow. Little geochemical change is apparent across the fault zone other than due to secondary processes. The lack of fault-related geochemical change is interpreted to reflect the fundamental nature of water-saturated, particulate fl ow. Early mechanical entrainment of low-permeability clays into the fault core likely caused damming of groundwater flow on the up-gradient, footwall side of the fault. This may have caused a pressure gradient and flow of calcite-saturated waters in higher-permeability, fault-entrained siliciclastic sediments, ultimately promoting their cementation by sparry calcite. Once developed, the cemented and clay-rich fault has likely been, and continues to be, a partial barrier to cross-fault groundwater flow, as suggested by petrophysical measurements. Aeromagnetic data indicate that there may be many more unmapped faults with similar lengths to the San Ysidro fault buried within Rio Grande basins. If these buried faults formed by the same processes that formed the San Ysidro fault and have persistent low-permeability cores and cemented mixed zones, they could compartmentalize the basin-fill aquifers more than is currently realized, particularly if pumping stresses continue to increase in response to population growth. ?? 2009 Geological Society of America.

Geological Society of America Bulletin↗

Rock magnetic characterization of faulted sediments with associated magnetic anomalies in the Albuquerque Basin, Rio Grande rift, New Mexico

Variations in rock magnetic properties are responsible for the many linear, short-wavelength, low-amplitude magnetic anomalies that are spatially associated with faults that cut Neogene basin sediments in the Rio Grande rift, including the San Ysidro normal fault, which is well exposed in the northern part of the Albuquerque Basin. Magnetic-susceptibility measurements from 310 sites distributed through a 1200-m-thick composite section of rift-filling sediments of the Santa Fe Group and prerift Eocene and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks document large variations of magnetic properties juxtaposed by the San Ysidro fault. Mean volume magnetic susceptibilities generally increase upsection through eight map units: from 1.7 to 2.2E-4 in the prerift Eocene and Cretaceous rocks to 9.9E-4-1.2E-3 in three members of the Miocene Zia Formation of the Santa Fe Group to 1.5E-3-3.5E-3 in three members of the Miocene-Pleistocene Arroyo Ojito Formation of the Santa Fe Group. Rock magnetic measurements and petrography indicate that the amount of detrital magnetite and its variable oxidation to maghemite and hematite within the Santa Fe Group sediments are the predominant controls of their magnetic property variations. Magnetic susceptibility increases progressively with sediment grain size within the members of the Arroyo Ojito Formation (deposited in fluvial environments) but within members of the Zia Formation (deposited in mostly eolian environments) reaches highest values in fine to medium sands. Partial oxidation of detrital magnetite is spatially associated with calcite cementation in the Santa Fe Group. Both oxidation and cementation probably reflect past flow of groundwater through permeable zones. Magnetic models for geologic cross sections that incorporate mean magnetic susceptibilities for the different stratigraphic units mimic the aeromagnetic profiles across the San Ysidro fault and demonstrate that the stratigraphic level of dominant magnetic contrast changes with different exposure levels into the fault. These data indicate that tectonic juxtaposition of primary variations of magnetic properties of strata across the fault is the source of the associated magnetic anomaly. This study indicates that magnetic anomalies over faults and folds can be generated by sediments (1) deposited within tectonic basins having volcanic or basement source areas rich in magnetite, (2) having depositional environments with sufficient but varying energy to transport dense magnetic minerals and cause stratigraphic changes of magnetic properties, and (3) having magnetic minerals preserved owing to their youth or nonreactive geochemical environments. ?? 2007 Geological Society of America.

Geological Society of America Bulletin↗

Late Quaternary alluviation and offset along the eastern Big Pine fault, southern California

Determining late Quaternary offset rates on specific faults within active mountain belts is not only a key component of seismic hazard analysis, but sheds light on regional tectonic development over geologic timescales. Here we report an estimate of dip-slip rate on the eastern Big Pine oblique-reverse fault in the upper Cuyama Valley within the western Transverse Ranges of southern California, and its relation to local landscape development. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of sandy beds within coarse-grained alluvial deposits indicates that deposition of alluvium shed from the Pine Mountain massif occurred near the southern margin of the Cuyama structural basin at the elevation of the Cuyama River between 25 and 14??ka. This alluvial deposit has been offset ??? 10??m vertically by the eastern Big Pine fault, providing a latest Quaternary dip-slip rate estimate of ??? 0.9??m/ky based on a 50?? fault dip. Incision of the adjacent Cuyama River has exposed a section of older Cuyama River sediments beneath the Pine Mountain alluvium that accumulated between 45 and 30??ka on the down-thrown footwall block of the eastern Big Pine fault. Corroborative evidence for Holocene reverse-slip on the eastern Big Pine fault is ??? 1??m of incised bedrock that is characteristically exposed beneath 2-3.5??ka fill terraces in tributaries south of the fault. The eastern Big Pine fault in the Cuyama Valley area has no confirmed record of historic rupture; however, based on our results, we suggest the likelihood of multiple reverse-slip rupture events since 14??ka. ?? 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Geomorphology↗

Taking apart the Big Pine fault: Redefining a major structural feature in southern California

New mapping along the Big Pine fault trend in southern California indicates that this structural alignment is actually three separate faults, which exhibit different geometries, slip histories, and senses of offset since Miocene time. The easternmost fault, along the north side of Lockwood Valley, exhibits left-lateral reverse Quaternary displacement but was a north dipping normal fault in late Oligocene to early Miocene time. The eastern Big Pine fault that bounds the southern edge of the Cuyama Badlands is a south dipping reverse fault that is continuous with the San Guillermo fault. The western segment of the Big Pine fault trend is a north dipping thrust fault continuous with the Pine Mountain fault and delineates the northern boundary of the rotated western Transverse Ranges terrane. This redefinition of the Big Pine fault differs greatly from the previous interpretation and significantly alters regional tectonic models and seismic risk estimates. The outcome of this study also demonstrates that basic geologic mapping is still needed to support the development of geologic models. Copyright 2005 by the American Geophysical Union.

Tectonics↗

Pliocene transpressional modification of depositional basins by convergent thrusting adjacent to the "Big Bend" of the San Andreas fault: An example from Lockwood Valley, southern California

The "Big Bend" of the San Andreas fault in the western Transverse Ranges of southern California is a left stepping flexure in the dextral fault system and has long been recognized as a zone of relatively high transpression compared to adjacent regions. The Lockwood Valley region, just south of the Big Bend, underwent a profound change in early Pliocene time (???5 Ma) from basin deposition to contraction, accompanied by widespread folding and thrusting. This change followed the recently determined initiation of opening of the northern Gulf of California and movement along the southern San Andreas fault at about 6.1 Ma, with the concomitant formation of the Big Bend. Lockwood Valley occupies a 6-km-wide, fault-bounded structural basin in which converging blocks of Paleoproterozoic and Cretaceous crystalline basement and upper Oligocene and lower Miocene sedimentary rocks (Plush Ranch Formation) were thrust over Miocene and Pliocene basin-fill sedimentary rocks (in ascending order, Caliente Formation, Lockwood Clay, and Quatal Formation). All the pre-Quatal sedimentary rocks and most of the Pliocene Quatal Formation were deposited during a mid-Tertiary period of regional transtension in a crustal block that underwent little clockwise vertical-axis rotation as compared to crustal blocks to the south. Ensuing Pliocene and Quaternary transpression in the Big Bend region began during deposition of the poorly dated Quatal Formation and was marked by four converging thrust systems, which decreased the areal extent of the sedimentary basin and formed the present Lockwood Valley structural basin. None of the thrusts appears presently active. Estimated shortening across the center of the basin was about 30 percent. The fortnerly defined eastern Big Pine fault, now interpreted to be two separate, oppositely directed, contractional reverse or thrust faults, marks the northwestern structural boundary of Lockwood Valley. The complex geometry of the Lockwood Valley basin is similar to other Tertiary structural basins in southern California, such those that underlie Cuyama Valley, the Ridge basin, and the east Ventura basin.

Tectonics↗

Geologic map of the Tetilla Peak Quadrangle, Santa Fe and Sandoval counties, New Mexico

This digital geologic map summarizes all available geologic information for the Tetilla Peak quadrangle located immediately southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The geologic map consists of new polygon (geologic map units) and line (contact, fault, fold axis, dike, flow contact, hachure) data, as well as point data (locations for structural measurements, geochemical and geochronologic data, geophysical soundings, and water wells). The map database has been generated at 1:24,000 scale, and provides significant new geologic information for an area of the southern Cerros del Rio volcanic field, which sits astride the boundary of the Espanola and Santo Domingo basins of the Rio Grande rift. The quadrangle includes the west part of the village of La Cienega along its eastern border and includes the southeasternmost part of the Cochiti Pueblo reservation along its northwest side. The central part of the quadrangle consists of Santa Fe National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands, and parts of several Spanish-era land grants. Interstate 25 cuts through the southern half of the quadrangle between Santa Fe and Santo Domingo Pueblo. Canada de Santa Fe, a major river tributary to the Rio Grande, cuts through the quadrangle, but there is no dirt or paved road along the canyon bottom. A small abandoned uranium mine (the La Bajada mine) is found in the bottom of the Canada de Santa Fe about 3 km east of the La Bajada fault zone; it has been partially reclaimed. The surface geology of the Tetilla Peak quadrangle consists predominantly of a thin (1-2 m generally, locally as thick as 10? m) layer of windblown surficial deposits that has been reworked colluvially. Locally, landslide, fluvial, and pediment deposits are also important. These colluvial deposits mantle the principal bedrocks units, which are (from most to least common): (1) basalts, basanites, andesite, and trachyte of the Pliocene (2.7-2.2 Ma) Cerros del Rio volcanic field; (2) unconsolidated deposits of the Santa Fe Group, mainly along the western border, in the hanging wall of the La Bajada fault zone, but locally extending 2-3 km east under the Cerros del Rio volcanic field; (3) older Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rocks (Abiquiu?, Espinaso, and Galisteo Formations); (4) intrusive rocks of the Cerrillos intrusive center that are roughly coeval with the Espinaso volcanic rocks; and (5) Mesozoic sedimentary rocks ranging in age from the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation to the Upper Cretaceous Mancos Shale.

New Mexico↗

Aeromagnetic expression of faults that offset basin fill, Albuquerque basin, New Mexico

High-resolution aeromagnetic data acquired over the Albuquerque basin show widespread expression of faults that offset basin fill and demonstrate that the aeromagnetic method can be an important hydrogeologic and surficial mapping tool in sediment-filled basins. Aeromagnetic expression of faults is recognized by the common correspondence of linear anomalies to surficial evidence of faulting across the area. In map view, linear anomalies show patterns typical of extensional faulting, such as anastomosing and en echelon segments. Depths to the tops of faulted magnetic layers showing the most prominent aeromagnetic expression range from 0 to 100 m. Sources related to subtler fault expressions range in depths from 200 to 500 m. We estimate that sources of the magnetic expressions of the near-surface faults likely reside within the upper 500-600 m of the subsurface. The linear anomalies in profile form show a range of shapes, but all of them can be explained by the juxta-position of layers having different magnetic properties. One typical anomaly differs from the expected symmetric fault anomaly by exhibiting an apparent low over the fault zone and more than one inflection point. Although the apparent low could easily be misinterpreted as representing multiple faults or an anomalous fault zone, geophysical analysis, magnetic-property measurements, and geologic considerations lead instead to a "thin-thick model" in which magnetic layers of different thickness are juxtaposed. The general geometry of this model is a thin magnetic layer on the upthrown block and a thick magnetic layer on the downthrown block. The thin-thick model can be represented geologically by growth faulting and syntectonic sedimentation, where relatively coarse-grained sediment (which is more magnetic than fine-grained material) has accumulated in the hanging wall. This implies that the aeromagnetic data have potential for mapping growth faults and locating concentrations of coarse-grained material that may have high hydraulic transmissivity. Although cementation along fault zones is common in portions of the area, we found no evidence that this secondary process results in measurable aeromagnetic anomalies. This observation differs from the findings in other sedimentary basins suggesting that magnetic anomalies arise from secondary magnetization along fault planes.

New Mexico↗

Preliminary geologic map of the San Guillermo Mountain Quadrangle, Ventura County, California

New 1:24,000-scale geologic mapping in the Cuyama 30' x 60' quadrangle, in support of the USGS Southern California Areal Mapping Project (SCAMP), is contributing to a more complete understanding of the stratigraphy, structure, and tectonic evolution of the complex junction area between the NW-striking Coast Ranges and EW-striking western Transverse Ranges. The 1:24,000-scale geologic map of the San Guillermo Mountain quadrangle is one of six contiguous 7 1/2' quadrangle geologic maps in the eastern part of the Cuyama map area being compiled for a more detailed portrayal and reevaluation of geologic structures and rock units shown on previous geologic maps of the area (e.g., Dibblee, 1979). The following observations and interpretations are based on the new San Guillermo Mountain geologic compilation: (1) The new geologic mapping in the northern part of the San Guillermo Mountain quadrangle allows for reinterpretation of fault architecture that bears on potential seismic hazards of the region. Previous mapping had depicted the eastern Big Pine fault (BPF) as a northeast-striking, sinistral strike-slip fault that extends for 30 km northeast of the Cuyama River to its intersection with the San Andreas fault (SAF). In contrast the new mapping indicates that the eastern BPF is a thrust fault that curves from a northeast strike to an east strike, where it is continuous with the San Guillermo thrust fault, and dies out further east about 15 km south of the SAF. This redefined segment of the BPF is a south-dipping, north-directed thrust, with dominantly dip slip components (rakes > 60 deg.), that places Middle Eocene marine rocks (Juncal and Matilija Formations) over Miocene through Pliocene(?) nonmarine rocks (Caliente, Quatal, and Morales Formations). Although a broad northeast-striking fault zone, exhibiting predominantly sinistral components of slip (rakes < 45 deg.), extends to the SAF as previously mapped, the fault zone does not connect to the southwest with the BPF but instead curves into a southwest-directed thrust fault system a short distance north of the BPF. Oligocene to Pliocene(?) nonmarine sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Plush Ranch, Caliente, and Morales(?) Formations are folded on both sides of this fault zone (informally named the Lockwood Valley fault zone [LVFZ] on the map). South-southeast of the LVFZ overturned folds have southward vergence. Several moderate-displacement (< 50 m), mainly northwest-dipping thrust and reverse faults, exhibiting mostly sinistral-oblique slip, flank and strike parallel to the overturned folds. The fold vergence and thrust direction associated with the LVFZ is opposite to that of the redefined BPF, providing further evidence that the two faults are distinct structures. These revised fault interpretations bring into question earlier estimates of net sinistral strike-slip displacement of as much as 13 km along the originally defined eastern BPF, which assumed structural connection with the LVFZ. Also, despite sparse evidence for repeated Quaternary movement on the LVFZ (e.g., Dibblee, 1982), the potential for a large earthquake involving coseismic slip on both the LVFZ and the central BPF to the southwest may not be as great as once believed. (2) Several generations of Pleistocene and younger dissected alluvial terrace and fan deposits sit at various levels above modern stream channels throughout the quadrangle. These deposits give testimony to the recent uplift and related fault deformation that has occurred in the area. (3) A vast terrane of Eocene marine sedimentary rocks (Juncal and Matilija Formations and Cozy Dell Shale) exposed south of the Big Pine fault forms the southern two-thirds of the San Guillermo Mountain quadrangle. Benthic foraminifers collected from various shale intervals within the Juncal Formation indicate a Middle Eocene age (Ulatisian) for the entire formation (K. McDougall, unpub. data, 1998) and deposition at paleodepths as great as 2,000 m (i.e., lowe

California↗

Digital geologic map of the Thirsty Canyon NW quadrangle, Nye County, Nevada

This digital geologic map compilation presents new polygon (i.e., geologic map unit contacts), line (i.e., fault, fold axis, dike, and caldera wall), and point (i.e., structural attitude) vector data for the Thirsty Canyon NW 7 1/2' quadrangle in southern Nevada. The map database, which is at 1:24,000-scale resolution, provides geologic coverage of an area of current hydrogeologic and tectonic interest. The Thirsty Canyon NW quadrangle is located in southern Nye County about 20 km west of the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and 30 km north of the town of Beatty. The map area is underlain by extensive layers of Neogene (about 14 to 4.5 million years old [Ma]) mafic and silicic volcanic rocks that are temporally and spatially associated with transtensional tectonic deformation. Mapped volcanic features include part of a late Miocene (about 9.2 Ma) collapse caldera, a Pliocene (about 4.5 Ma) shield volcano, and two Pleistocene (about 0.3 Ma) cinder cones. Also documented are numerous normal, oblique-slip, and strike-slip faults that reflect regional transtensional deformation along the southern part of the Walker Lane belt. The Thirsty Canyon NW map provides new geologic information for modeling groundwater flow paths that may enter the map area from underground nuclear testing areas located in the NTS about 25 km to the east. The geologic map database comprises six component ArcINFO map coverages that can be accessed after decompressing and unbundling the data archive file (tcnw.tar.gz). These six coverages (tcnwpoly, tcnwflt, tcnwfold, tcnwdike, tcnwcald, and tcnwatt) are formatted here in ArcINFO EXPORT format. Bundled with this database are two PDF files for readily viewing and printing the map, accessory graphics, and a description of map units and compilation methods.

Nevada↗

Digital geologic map database of the Nevada Test Site area, Nevada

Forty years of geologic investigations at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) have been digitized. These data include all geologic information that: (1) has been collected, and (2) can be represented on a map within the map borders at the map scale is included in the map digital coverages. The following coverages are included with this dataset: Coverage Type Description geolpoly Polygon Geologic outcrops geolflts line Fault traces geolatts Point Bedding attitudes, etc. geolcald line Caldera boundaries geollins line Interpreted lineaments geolmeta line Metamorphic gradients The above coverages are attributed with numeric values and interpreted information. The entity files documented below show the data associated with each coverage.

Nevada↗

Age and character of basaltic rocks of the Yucca Mountain region, southern Nevada

Volcanism in the Yucca Mountain region of southern Nevada in the last 5 m.y. is restricted to moderate-to-small volumes of subalkaline basaltic magmas, produced during at least 6 intervals, and spanning an age range from 4.6 Ma to about 125 ka. Where paleomagnetic evidence is available, the period of volcanism at individual eruptive centers apparently was geologically short-lived, even where multiple eruptions involved different magma types. K-Ar studies are consistent with most other geochronologic information, such as the minimum ages of exposure-dating techniques, and show no evidence of renewed volcanism after a significant quiescence at any of the centers in the Yucca Mountain region. A volcanic recurrence interval of 860 ± 350 kyr is computed from a large K-Ar data set and an evaluation of their uncertainties. Monte Carlo error propagations demonstrate the validity of uncertainties obtained for weighted-mean ages when modified using the goodness of fit parameter, MSWD. Elevated 87 Sr/ 86 Sr initial ratios (Sr i ) in the basalts, nearly constant at 0.707, combined with low SiO 2 and Rb/Sr ratios indicate a subcontinental, lithospheric mantle source, previously enriched in radiogenic Sr and depleted in Rb. Beginning with eruptions of the most voluminous eruptive center, the newly dated Pliocene Thirsty Mountain volcano, basaltic magmas have decreased in eruptive volume, plagioclase-phenocryst content, various trace element ratios, and TiO 2 , while increasing in light rare earth elements, U, Th, P 2 O 5 , and light REE/heavy REE ratios. These time-correlated changes are consistent with either increasing depths of melting or a decreasing thermal gradient in the Yucca Mountain region during the last 5 m.y.

Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth↗

Faults, lineaments, and earthquake epicenters digital map of the Pahute Mesa 30' x 60' quadrangle, Nevada

This map database, identified as Faults, lineaments, and earthquake epicenters digital map of the Pahute Mesa 30' X 60' quadrangle, Nevada, has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use. This digital map compilation incorporates fault, air photo lineament, and earthquake epicenter data from within the Pahute Mesa 30' by 60' quadrangle, southern Nye County, Nevada (fig. 1). The compilation contributes to the U.S. Department of Energy's Yucca Mountain Project, established to determine whether or not the Yucca Mountain site is suitable for the disposal of high-level nuclear waste. Studies of local and regional faulting and earthquake activity, including the features depicted in this compilation, are carried out to help characterize seismic hazards and tectonic processes that may be relevant to the future stability of Yucca Mountain. The Yucca Mountain site is located in the central part of the Beatty 30' by 60' quadrangle approximately 15 km south of the south edge of the Pahute Mesa quadrangle (fig. 1). The U.S. Geological Survey participates in studies of the Yucca Mountain site under Interagency Agreement DE-AI08-78ET44802. The map compilation is only available on line as a digital database in ARC/INFO ASCII (Generate) and export formats. The database can be downloaded via 'anonymous ftp' from a USGS system named greenwood.cr.usgs.gov (136.177.48.5). The files are located in a directory named /pub/open-file-reports/ofr-96-0262. This directory contains a text document named 'README.1 ST' that contains database technical and explanatory documentation, including instructions for uncompressing the bundled (tar) file. In displaying the compilation it is important to note that the map data set is considered accurate when depicted at a scale of about 1:100,000; displaying the compilation at scales significantly larger than this may result in distortions and (or) mislocations of the data.

Nevada↗