Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Microplate capture, rotation of the western Transverse Ranges, and initiation of the San Andreas transform as a low-angle fault system

1994; Geological Society of America; Volume: 22; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022 2.3.co;2

1943-2682

Craig Nicholson, Christopher C. Sorlien, Tanya Atwater, John C. Crowell, Bruce P. Luyendyk,

Geology and Paleoclimatology Research

Research Article| June 01, 1994 Microplate capture, rotation of the western Transverse Ranges, and initiation of the San Andreas transform as a low-angle fault system Craig Nicholson; Craig Nicholson 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christopher C. Sorlien; Christopher C. Sorlien 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Tanya Atwater; Tanya Atwater 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John C. Crowell; John C. Crowell 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bruce P. Luyendyk Bruce P. Luyendyk 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Craig Nicholson 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Christopher C. Sorlien 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Tanya Atwater 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 John C. Crowell 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Bruce P. Luyendyk 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1994) 22 (6): 491–495. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022 2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Craig Nicholson, Christopher C. Sorlien, Tanya Atwater, John C. Crowell, Bruce P. Luyendyk; Microplate capture, rotation of the western Transverse Ranges, and initiation of the San Andreas transform as a low-angle fault system. Geology 1994;; 22 (6): 491–495. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022 2.3.CO;2 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 Tectonic rotation of the western Transverse Ranges block is explained by capture of the partially subducted Monterey microplate by the Pacific plate at about anomaly 6 time (ca. 20 Ma). As Pacific-Monterey spreading slowed and eventually ceased, the slip vector along the gently northeast dipping subduction interface beneath the California margin changed from slightly oblique subduction to transtensional dextral transform motion. This change in slip vector and a shift of Pacific plate motion eastward along the already subducted Monterey plate interface imply that the San Andreas transform began as a system of low-angle faults that locally subjected the overriding continental margin to distributed basal shear and crustal extension. This basal shear produced the rotated western Transverse Ranges. This model helps explain the timing of initial rotation and basin formation, the sudden appearance of widely distributed transform motion well inland of the margin in early Miocene time, why the western Transverse Ranges uniquely rotated as a large coherent crustal block, and several fundamental structural characteristics of central and southern California. The model also provides major constraints on the amount of Pacific-North America strike-slip motion, the position through time of offshore oceanic plates relative to onshore geology, and a general explanation for what may happen as a spreading ridge approaches a trench and the subduction zone evolves into a transform system. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.