New perspectives on quaternary faulting in the southern Walker Lane, Nevada and California

Abstract

A preliminary survey of aerial photographs of the southern Walker Lane began in late 1986. The purpose of this survey is to determine the nature and scope of future studies required to ascertain whether the apparent concentration of Quaternary faults in and near the Nevada Test Site is real or is simply a result of the greater effort invested in mapping Quaternary deposits in that area, and determine whether faults in the southern Walker Lane are active and could produce significant earthquakes. The survey is focused on the area extending south from Lone Mountain to Pahrump Valley and east from the Furnace Creek fault zone to an irregular line passing through the Cactus Range and Pahute Mesa. Lineaments and scraps were identified on stereopairs of black-and-white aerial photographs at scales of 1:80,000 or 1:60,000. The lineaments and and scarps were plotted on 1:24,000- and 1:62,500-scale topographic maps using a PG-2 plotter, and were color-coded according to distinctness and occurrence in Quaternary or Tertiary deposits (age assignments based on appearance in aerial photographs and on existing geologic maps). Additional lineaments identified on the topographic maps were also plotted. Areas of particular interest were selected for more detailed study using larger-scale aerial photographs. Most of the lineaments and scraps identified in the survey, although referred to as faults in this paper, have not been checked in the field. 11 refs., 1 fig