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The thickness of subduction plate boundary faults from the seafloor into the seismogenic zone

2013; Geological Society of America; Volume: 41; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/g34556.1

1943-2682

C. D. Rowe, J. Casey Moore, Francesca Remitti,

Geology and Paleoclimatology Research

Research Article| September 01, 2013 The thickness of subduction plate boundary faults from the seafloor into the seismogenic zone Christie D. Rowe; Christie D. Rowe * 1Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montréal, Québec H2A 0E8, Canada *E-mail: christie.rowe@mcgill.ca. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J. Casey Moore; J. Casey Moore 2Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, University of California, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Francesca Remitti; Francesca Remitti 3Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, largo S. Eufemia, 19 - 41125 Modena, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar the IODP Expedition 343/343T Scientists the IODP Expedition 343/343T Scientists Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2013) 41 (9): 991–994. https://doi.org/10.1130/G34556.1 Article history received: 10 Mar 2013 rev-recd: 01 May 2013 accepted: 02 May 2013 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Christie D. Rowe, J. Casey Moore, Francesca Remitti, the IODP Expedition 343/343T Scientists; The thickness of subduction plate boundary faults from the seafloor into the seismogenic zone. Geology 2013;; 41 (9): 991–994. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G34556.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The thickness of an active plate boundary fault is an important parameter for understanding the strength and spatial heterogeneity of fault behavior. We have compiled direct measurements of the thickness of subduction thrust faults from active and ancient examples observed by ocean drilling and field studies in accretionary wedges. We describe a general geometric model for subduction thrust décollements, which includes multiple simultaneously active, anastomosing fault strands tens of meters thick. The total thickness encompassing all simultaneously active strands increases to ∼100–350 m at ∼1–2 km below seafloor, and this thickness is maintained down to a depth of ∼15 km. Thin sharp faults representing earthquake slip surfaces or other discrete slip events are found within and along the edges of the tens-of-meters-thick fault strands. Although flattening, primary inherited chaotic fabrics, and fault migration through subducting sediments or the frontal prism may build mélange sections that are much thicker (to several kilometers), this thickness does not describe the active fault at any depth. These observations suggest that models should treat the subduction thrust plate boundary fault as <1–20 cm thick during earthquakes, with a concentration of postseismic and interseismic creep in single to several strands 5–35 m thick, with lesser distributed interseismic deformation in stratally disrupted rocks surrounding the fault strands. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.