Neogene Development of the Northern Walker Lane, Western Nevada: An Evolving Transform Plate Boundary

Board Of Regents, Nshe, Obo University Of Nevada, Reno, Reno NV

Investigators

Abstract

Approximately 20% of the relative motion between the North American and Pacific plates is accommodated along a system of active right-lateral strike-slip faults which runs from southern California through western Nevada and into southern Oregon. This zone is known as the Eastern California Shear Zone and Walker Lane. The remaining 80% of relative offset occurs along the San Andreas fault. The northern portion of the Walker Lane, near Reno, Nevada, is especially poorly studied but is believed to be the youngest portion of the zone and, thus, may well be the best region within which to study the beginning stages of an intra-continental transform. This study will attempt to determine primarily the timing and amount of right-lateral offset across the fault zone by applying a variety of geologic and geochronologic techniques. The results will have significance for understanding the evolution of plate boundaries but will also be of considerable significance in evaluating the seismic risk for the Reno area.