Constraints on temporal clustering of earthquakes, Eastern California Shear Zone
Department of Geological Sciences Research
Charlie Rubin, Scott LIndvall, Tom Rockwell
We are currently focusing on the strike-slip faults of the sastern California shear zone (ECSZ). It is an ideal natural l
aboratory because of its recent seismicity, accessibility, excellent geologic exposure and availability of high quality
seismic and geodetic data. Our goals are to characterize the temporal and spatial record of earthquake occurrence
along major faults of the ECSZ. Our research is aimed at collecting paleoseismic data that will (1) enable us to better
understand the apparent earthquake clustering observed in the ECSZ from our earlier research, (2) evaluate the
repeatability of earthquake ruptures and segmentation within the ECFZ, and (3) assess the discrepancy between geodetic
and geologic deformation rates using slip rates inferred from recurrence intervals determined from paleoseismic studies.
Addition
Information on our Emerson fault studies.
Images from October field trip
Pinto Mountain fault
| Looking southeast along the Pinto Mountain fault
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| Looking east along the Pinto Mountain fault,
Scott and Ana for scale
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| Looking east along the Pinto Mountain fault
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| Potential paleoseismic site
View to the south, eastern site
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| Pinto Mountain fault scarp
View to the south,
Ana for scale
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| Potential paleoseismic site
View to the south, western site
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| Pinto Mountain fault
Palms trees along fault zone
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Blackwater fault
| Folded Pleistocene basalt flow along the Blackwater fault
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| Folded and faulted Neogene sandstone along the Blackwater fault
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Lenwood fault
| Looking southeast along the Lenwood scarp
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| Lenwood fault scarp, Scott and Charlie in discussion
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| Looking south
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Planning and Schedule
Geologic Mapping
Day 1: Within the next few weeks, Ana with assitance from Lettis & Associates (Scott, Chris or John) and Chris Madden will
make a detailed topograhic and Quaternary geologic map along the Pinto Mountain fault. Charlie will provide the total station.
The Pinto Mountain fault survey will take one day. They will also discuss our excavation plans with Jane Smith, 29 Palms Inn.
Day 2, The survey team will make a detailed topographic and Quaternary geologic map along the Lenwood fault, southern alluvial fan site.
This survey will take one day.
Day 3, The survey team will make a detailed topographic and Quaternary geologic map along the Lenwood fault, central playa site.
This survey will take one day.
In addition, during the survey, we will meet with the BLM anthropologist and biologist at the Lenwood site.
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