Evidence of Failure on Low-Angle Normal Faults from Thermochronology and Paleomagnetism: A Case Study from South Mountains Metamorphic Core Complex, Arizona
Abstract
The South Mountains metamorphic core complex records progressive extension and exhumation of Miocene granodiorite. Early mylonites are cut by younger brittle faults, including locally abundant, shallowly dipping, pseudotachylyte-lined slip surfaces. These frictional melt generation veins can be grouped based on mesoscopic character of both pseudotachylyte and host granodiorite mylonite. All vein types are subparallel to biotite-lined, host rock C-surfaces. Thin (<2mm), foliated type 1 veins define networks either confined to, or located at margins of C-surface dominated ultramylonite. Type 2 veins are thicker (2-4mm) with abundant host rock survivor clasts. Though largely parallel C-surfaces, these veins possess S-surface-parallel segments up to several cms long, and cut host rock with a strong S-C fabric. Type 3 veins lack mesoscopic foliation and cut host rock ranging from protomylonite to ultramylonite. They are similar in thickness to type 2 veins, but include fewer survivor clasts. Previous 40Ar/39Ar dates on pseudotachylyte veins (16.24 ± 0.23 Ma and 17.44 ± 0.20 Ma) show pseudotachylyte-producing seismicity occurred over at least 1 million years. Multi- diffusion-domain analysis of host rock K-feldspar demonstrates cooling below 150°C by 21.8 Ma. Assuming a geothermal gradient between 25°C and 50°C/km, pseudotachylyte veins were generated at a maximum depth of 2.5-5 km. Fabric intensity of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) corresponds to vein types. Paleomagnetic analyses yield 3 clusters of characteristic remanent magnetizations (ChRMs) that correlate to AMS/vein types. ChRMs of nonfoliated type 3 veins are close to the Miocene pole. By contrast, ChRMs for type 1 and 2 veins are deflected close to the foliation due to strong anisotropy of their magnetic mineral assemblages. Normal faults dipping <30° are poorly oriented for slip according to Andersonian fault mechanics. Previous workers therefore have suggested they failed at steeper dips, then rotated to current orientations. The uniformity of South Mountains generation vein orientations records no rotation between formation of the oldest and youngest veins. The proximity of the ChRMs of type 3 veins to the Miocene pole similarly indicates no rotation. Slip may have been facilitated by low friction of biotite-lined C-surfaces.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015AGUFM.T51A2840H
- Keywords:
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- 7230 Seismicity and tectonics;
- SEISMOLOGY;
- 8118 Dynamics and mechanics of faulting;
- TECTONOPHYSICS;
- 8163 Rheology and friction of fault zones;
- TECTONOPHYSICS;
- 8180 Tomography;
- TECTONOPHYSICS