Showing papers by "Richard H. Sibson published in 2001"

Normal faults, normal friction?

Abstract: Debate continues as to whether normal faults may be seismically active at very low dips (d , 308) in the upper continental crust. An updated compilation of dip estimates (n 5 25) has been prepared from focal mechanisms of shallow, intracontinental, normal-slip earthquakes (M . 5.5; slip vector raking 90 86 308 in the fault plane) where the rupture plane is unambiguously discriminated. The dip distribution for these moderate-to-large normal fault ruptures extends from 658 . d . 308, corresponding to a range, 258 , ur , 608, for the reactivation angle between the fault and inferred vertical s1. In a comparable data set previously obtained for reverse fault ruptures (n 5 33), the active dip distribution is 108 , d5u r , 608. For vertical and horizontal s1 trajectories within extensional and compressional tectonic regimes, respectively, dip-slip reactivation is thus restricted to faults oriented at ur # 608 to inferred s1. Apparent lockup at ur 608 in each dip distribution and a dominant 30 86 58 peak in the reverse fault dip distribution, are both consistent with a friction coefficient ms 0.6, toward the bottom of Byerlee’s experimental range, though localized fluid overpressuring may be needed for reactivation of less favorably oriented faults.

Extensional fault kinematics within the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand: Soft‐linked segmentation of a continental rift system

Abstract: The Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) is a young ( 60°). Systematic fracture sets occur in...