Widening of fault zones by erosion of asperities formed by bed-parallel slip.



J. Watterson, C. Childs & J. J. Walsh

Abstract - Faulting imposes strains on wall-rock volumes. In suitably bedded sequences, wall-rock strains are partly accommodated by bed-parallel slip. Bed-parallel slip may displace fault zone margins, giving rise to fault-surface asperities that are sheared-off during subsequent fault slip. The removal of asperities formed by bed-parallel slip can make a significant contribution to fault zone thickness.


Geology 26, 71-74, 1998.