The Garlock and Death Valley fault zones in SE California are two active strike-slip faults coming together on the east side of the Avawatz Mtns. The kinematics of this intersection, and the possible continuation of either fault zone, are being investigated using a combination of field mapping, and processing and interpretation of remotely sensed image data. Regional and local relationships are derivable from Thematic Mapper data (30 m resolution), including discrimination and relative age dating of alluvial fans, bedrock mapping, and fault mapping. Aircraft data provide higher spatial resolution over more limited areas. Hypotheses being considered are: (1) the Garlock fault extends east of the intersection; (2) the Garlock fault terminates at the intersection and the Death Valley fault continues southeastward; and (3) the Garlock fault has been offset right laterally by the Death Valley fault which continues to the southeast. Preliminary work indicates that the first hypothesis is invalid. From kinematic considerations, image analysis, and field work the third hypothesis is favored. The projected continuation of the Death Valley zone defines the boundary between the Mojave crustal block and the Basin and Range block

Abrams, Michael

Brady, Roland

Finnerty, Tony

Verosub, Ken

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

KINEMATICS AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE GARLOCK AND DEATH VALLEY 
FAULT ZONES, CALIFORNIA: INTEGRATION OF TM DATA AND FIELD STUDIES 
LANDSAT TM INVESTIGATION PROPOSAL TM-019 
PROGRESS REPORT: JANUARY, 1986 TO JANUARY 1987 
P.I.: MICHAEL ABRAMS 
PASADENA, CA 91109 
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY 
CO-INVESTIGATORS: KEN VEROSUB 7 
TONY FINNERTY 
UC DAVIS 
DAVIS, CA 
ROLAND BRADY 
FRESNO STATE UNIVERSITY 
FRESNO, CA 
JANUARY 15, 1987 
(hASA-CH-1801S2) KLhEFATICS $9 I k E  N87-le256 
1”XEhSECIICN GF ItE GJELCCK A B C  L E A f I B  V A L L L Y  
EAUL‘I  Z C l i E S ,  C A L I E C E N l A :  l B I E C E Q 1 1 L b  OE TM 
L A T A  A N C  E l k L C  S T U D I E S  F t G S r € Z S  Report, Unclbs 
Jan,  7986 - J a n ,  1587 {Jet E r c r u l s i o s l  Lak,) 63/46 4 3 3 5 0  
1 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19870008823 2020-03-20T11:27:34+00:00Z
Overview --_----_ 
Work during the past year has concentrated on several areas: 
literature work, data acquisition, field work, data processing and 
analysis. Each of these topics are described in more detail below. 
Work to date has allowed us to eliminate one of the original 
geologic hypotheses we proposed to test for the kinematics of the 
fault intersection. On-going activities are concentrating on 
acquiring the necessary information to test the other geologic 
hypotheses using the TM data, TIMS data, and field mapping and 
observations. Work is progressing satisfactorily; due to delays in 
implementing the UC Davis contract, a no-cost extension o f  6 to 9 
months may be requested to complete the project. 
Literature work ------_--- ---- 
A thorough search was done of the geologic literature for 
studies on the kinematics of intersecting faults. The appropriate 
references were ordered .(where necessary) and a synthesis is being 
assembled of theories and models pertinent to this study. This 
part of the project provides the theoretical basis for testing our 
interpretations and hypotheses on the Garlock/Death Valley fault 
intersection. Conflicting models for rotation of the Mojave Block 
by Garfinkel and Bird (the former proposes counterclockwise 
rotation, the latter proposes clockwise rotation) are testable 
based on our data interpretation. 
Data acquisition - - - - - - - -
Thematic Mapper data for the test areas have been received 
from the TM science office. One frame of T M - 4  data had severe 
_-__ 
striping in three bands, presumably due to either improper sensor 
decalibration or malfunctioning detectors. These data were 
2 
u n u s a b l e  a s  t h e  s t r i p i n g  i s  n o  l o n g e r  a l o n g  a s i n g l e  l i n e  d u e  t o  
t h e  g e o m e t r i c  r e c t i f i c a t i o n  a n d  r e s a m p l i n g  o f  t h e  d a t a  d o n e  by  
Goddard  t o  c o n v e r t  t h e  raw d a t a  t o  P f o r m a t .  The p rob lem was t a k e n  
c a r e  o f  by M a r i a  Mackey a t  t h e  L a n d s a t  S c i e n c e  O f f i c e  by  p r o v i d i n g  
s u b s t i t u t e  f r a m e s .  
T h e r m a l  i n f r a r e d  m u l t i s p e c t r a l  s c a n n e r  d a t a  (TIMS) a r r i v e d  
f r o m  A M E S  R e s e a r c h  C e n t e r .  The d a t a  a r e  o f  e x c e l l e n t  q u a l i t y .  The 
t w o  f l i g h t  l i n e s  c o v e r  a l o n g  e a s t - w e s t  s w a t h  a l o n g  t h e  G a r l o c k  
f a u l t  e a s t w a r d  t o  p a s t  t h e  i n t e r s e c t i o n  w i t h  t h e  D e a t h  V a l l e y  
f a u l t  e a s t  o f  t h e  Avawatz Mtns . ,  and  a n o r t h - s o u t h  l i n e  a l o n g  t h e  
e a s t  s i d e  o f  t h e  Avawatz Mtns.  
F i e l d  work ----_ ____ 
T h r e e  f i e l d  t r i p s  h a v e  b e e n  c o m p l e t e d  t o  v a r i o u s  t e s t  s i t e s  
i n  t h e  s t u d y  a r e a .  M a p p i n g  i s  u n d e r w a y  i n  t h e  S o d a  M t n s .  a s  p a r t  
o f  a g r a d u a t e  s t u d e n t ' s  t h e s i s .  T h i s  a r e a  is o n e  o f  t h e  c o n t r o l  
a r e a s  f o r  t h e  p r o j e c t ,  a n d  f u r t h e r  d e t a i l  o n  a c t i v e  f a u l t i n g  a n d  
a l l u v i a l  f a n  l i t h o l o g y  i s  b e i n g  i n v e s t i g a t e d .  E x a m i n a t i o n  o f  t h e  
E a s t  B r i s t o l  M t n s .  s o u t h e a s t  o f  t h e  S o d a  M t n s .  i n d i c a t e s  t h e  
p r e s e n c e  o f  Q u a t e r n a r y  f a u l t i n g  d i r e c t l y  on s t r i k e  w i t h  t h e  Mule 
S p r i n g s  f a u l t  z o n e .  The  e x t e n t  o f  t h i s  z o n e  i s  b e i n g  d e t e r m i n e d  
w i t h  t h e  a i d  o f  t h e  TM d a t a  t o  d e t e r m i n e  i f  i t  f o r m s  p a r t  o f  a 
m o r e  e x t e n s i v e  t h r o u g h - g o i n g  t e c t o n i c  f e a t u r e .  Work i n  t h e  
H a l l o r a n  H i l l s  and  Shadow Mtns.  e a s t  o f  t h e  i n t e r s e c t i o n  r e v e a l e d  
t h e  p r e s e n c e  o f  a n  e x t e n s i v e  s e c t i o n  o f  T e r t i a r y  c o n t i n e n t a l  
s e d i m e n t s  i n  a p e c u l i a r  t e c t o n i c  s e t t i n g .  The  s e d i m e n t s  a r e  
u p t u r n e d  v e r t i c a l l y  and  a p p e a r  t o  l i e  i n  a g r a b e n .  Nea rby ,  t h r u s t  
o r  g r a v i t y  f a u l t i n g  w a s  s e e n  t o  b r i n g  P r e c a m b r i a n  r o c k s  o v e r  
3 
Tertiary sediments. The implications and areal extent of these 
features is being evaluated. Two field trips to acquire ground 
spectral reflectance measurements had to be cancelled due to a 
freak snow storm, and an unexpected meeting in Washington. 
Data processing ---- _------- 
Image processing of the TM data is well underway. All scenes 
have been examined and evaluated for data quality and usefulness. 
Photographic products have been produced for the Halloran 
Hills/Shadow Mtns. area, a digital mosaic for the Soda Mtns. area, 
the A v a w a t z  Mtns. and the immediate area o f  the fault 
intersection, mosaics of two entire TM scenes for regional 
analysis. For each area, several products were created: high-pass 
filtered images were generated to extract and enhance the spatial 
information in the data. Data processing to enhance lithologic 
variations for rock type mapping was done using decorrelation 
stretching and band ratioing. Various color composites were 
generated for interpretation at scales of 1:62,500 and 1:250,000. 
The TIMS data were logged and calibrated to convert the data 
values to thermal radiance. The data were digitally registered to 
the T M  data t o  h a v e  the same geometry and for statistical 
analysis. Color photographic products were-produced to display 
emissivity differences of the surface materials. 
All image products were duplicated and distributed to the co- 
investigators for analysis. 
Results -_----- 
Results from image interpretation and field work confirms our 
belief that the proposed methodology is indeed the appropriate 
one. Specific results and conclusions are: 
4 
1) F i e l d  work ,  image  a n a l y s i s ,  and l i t e r a t u r e  s u r v e y s  l e a d  u s  
t o  c o n c l u d e  t h a t  t h e  G a r l o c k  F a u l t  d o e s  --- n o t  e x t e n d  e a s t w a r d  
t h r o u g h  K i n g s t o n  Wash. The  e v i d e n c e  f r o m  t h e  i m a g e s  s h o w s  n o  
o f f s e t s  o f  b e d r o c k  on e i t h e r  s i d e  o f  t h e  wash;  f i e l d  work c o n f i r m s  
t h i s  i n t e r p r e t a t i o n ;  l i t e r a t u r e  r e p o r t s  o f  s e i s m i c  p r o f i l e s ,  and 
r e e x a m i n a t i o n  o f  t h e s e  p r o f i l e s  by  u s  s h o w s  no e v i d e n c e  o f  a b r e a k  
i n  t h e  b e d r o c k  wh ich  would  i n d i c a t e  t h e  p r e s e n c e  o f  a m a j o r  f a u l t .  
T h i s  i s  o n e  o f t h e  f o u r  h y p o t h e s e s  we p r o p o s e d t o  e v a l u a t e ,  a n d  we 
h a v e  c o m p l e t e d  t h i s  p a r t  o f  t h e  work.  
2 )  E x a m i n a t i o n  o f  a p o s s i b l e  s o u t h e a s t w a r d  o f f s e t  o f  t h e  
G a r l o c k  f a u l t  a l o n g  t h e  p r o j e c t i o n  o f  t h e  Death  V a l l e y  f a u l t  ( a r e a  
4 i n  F i g u r e  1 )  h a s  l e d  u s  t o  c o n s i d e r  a f a u l t  i n  I v a n p a h  V a l l e y ,  
w i t h  m a p p a b l e  l e f t - l a t e r a l  d i s p l a c e m e n t ,  as a c a n d i d a t e .  The TM 
iamge f o r  t h i s  a r e a  ( F i g u r e  2 )  a n d  a s k e t c h  i n t e r p r e t a t i o n  ( F i g u r e  
3 )  i n d i c a t e s  t h e  t e c t o p i c  r e l a t i o n s h i p s  p r o p o s e d .  F i e l d  
e x a m i n a t i o n  o f  t h e  a r e a s  w h e r e  t h i s  f a u l t  w o u l d  c r o s s  b e d r o c k ,  
p a r t i c u l a r l y  i n  t h e  N e w  Y o r k  M t n s . ,  w i l l  h e l p  u s  d e c i d e  w h e t h e r  
t h i s  h y p o t h e s i s  i s  c o r r e c t .  The TM d a t a  s t r o n g l y  i n d i c a t e  t h a t  
t h i s  f a u l t  e x i s t s .  
3 )  M a p p i n g  f r o m  t h e  TM i m a g e s  a n d  f i e l d  w o r k  i n  t h e  Shadow 
M t n s .  w h i c h  s h o w s  t h e  p r e s e n c e  o f  t h r u s t  o r  d e t a c h m e - n t  f a u l t s  
p l a c i n g  P r e c a m b r i a n  r o c k s  on top  o f  T e r t i a r y  s e d i m e n t s  i n d i c a t e s  a 
l a t e  T e r t i a r y  e p i s o d e  o f  c o m p r e s s i o n  o r  e x t e n s i o n  i n  t h i s  r e g i o n  
j u s t  e a s t  o f  t h e  f a u l t  j u n c t i o n .  D a t i n g  o f  t h i s  e p i s o d e  a n d  
c a r e f u l  f i e l d  mapping of g e o l o g i c  r e l a t i o n s  i n  r e g i o n s  i d e n t i f i e d  
on  t h e  TM d a t a  w i l l  a i d  i n  u n d e r s t a n d i n g  t h e  o v e r a l l  t e c t o n i c  
d e f o r m  a t  i o n  h i s t o r y .  
5 
i 
. .  . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . .  .......... . .  
. . .  . . .  ............ ......... . . . . . . .  
. . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . .  .  . . . . . . .  
. . . .  ..... ...:..*... ........... < 

\ 
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/ 
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4) Comparison and analysis of processed TM and TIMS data for 
the Avawatz Mtns. area has allowed us to better calibrate the 
image derived characteristics of Quaternary and Tertiary fans 
based on textural and lithologic differences. At least four 
different ages of fans are differentiable, versus only three o n  
published maps. This information will provide further constraints 
on vertical tectonics on the reverse faults on the east side of 
the Avawatz. This work will be extended to other areas further 
southeast by extrapolating the techniques and relative age 
determinations. 
5) Left-lateral displacement of alluvial fans from their 
sources was discovered on TIMS data for three areas along the 
central part of the Garlock fault near the Owlshead Mtns. Field 
verification, and attempts to find datable materials will put 
constraints on the tectonic history of the Garlock fault. 
6 )  An abstract was submitted for a poster session or oral 
presentation at the American Association of Petroleum Geologists 
meeting in Idaho in September to present the results of this 
project. A copy of the abstract is attached. 
6 
Typeabstract (250 wordsor less), using this form for first pagcarid blank papr  lor rhc 2nd page. ~ t t h  t e IBM Sclccrric in I-etter Gothic, Courier, 
or I’restige Elite for computer scanning. Please double-space with only m e  space after periods. Manuscripts printed by word proceisors should nor 
be justified. Any editorial marks mast be made in red. Indicate speaker with an asterisk if not first author. 
SubmittcdFor: El Oral 0 Poster a Either Speaker\ Name: Michae 1 Abrams 1 
. -, . _. *. a. I . 2.  ....A .* . -* I . , . 1 ” + .  .,-- “I c 
TopicArea: Local and regional neology/ CompanyS NamcJet Propulsion Laboratory 
(1) I4.s this or I similar paper been prcscntcd bcfore? Ci Yes Ixi No 
Remote sensing Address: 4800 Oak Grove Dr. 
city, zip: Pasadena, CA 9 1109 
(2) HnsthiroraJimihrpPprbanpubliPhcd hlo(llwabstru9 f a ?  0 Yes &No 
If yes k ehskcd in d t k  (1) or (2). pk.sl mmpktc the following: 
OfficeTelephonc: (Area Code) (818) 354-093 7 
Home Telephone: (Area Code) (818) 883-7441 
Where: When: 
How does this p a p  differ from previous ones? 
A-S):- Frpano State ~ ~ Y . E s x & ~ - E = ~ :  K V * r o d u m d  
M i :  A. Finnerty, University California Davis. Davia, CA 
city, state, tip: 
ri i  KINEMATICS AT m N  - 
The Garlock and Death Valley fault zones in southeast California a 
two active strike-slip faults that come together on the east side of the 
Avawatz Mtns. The kinematics of this intersection, and the possible 
continuation of either fault zones, is being investigated using a combi- 
nation of detailed field mapping, and processing and interpretation of 
remotely sensed image data from satellite and aircraft platforms. I 
I 
Regional and local relationships are derivable from the Thematic Mapper 
data (30 m resolution), including discrimination and relative age dating 
of alluvial fans, bedrock mapping, and fault mappng. Aircraft data pro- 
vide higher spatial resolution data over more limited areas. Hypotheses 
that are being considered are: 1) the Garlock fault extends east of the 
intersection; 2) the Garlock fault terminates at the intersection and the 
Death Valley fault continues southeastward; 3) the Garlock fault has been 
offset right laterally by the Death Valley fault which continues to the 
southeast. Preliminary work indicates that the first hypothesis is 
invalid. From kinematic considerations, image analysis, and field work 
the third hypothesis is favored. The projected continuation of the Death 
Valley zone defines the boundary betweenethe Mojave crustal block and the 
Basin and Range block. 
c 
Mail ahriract to: 
1987 KMS AAPC Mming Technical *sion Coordinator, Claude Spinosa, Depr. of Geology and Geophysics, b i s e  State University. Boise. Idaho 83725 
Ikndlinc: March 1, 1987 
- 


Kinematics at the intersection of the Garlock and Death Valley fault zones, California: Integration of TM data and field studies

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