Kekerengu Fault, New Zealand: Timing and Size of Late Holocene Surface Ruptures

Three‐Dimensional Surface Deformation in the 2016 MW7.8 Kaikōura, New Zealand, Earthquake From Optical Image Correlation: Implications for Strain Localization and Long‐Term Evolution of the Pacific‐Australian Plate Boundary

“…In the northeastern portion of the rupture, the Kekerengu fault exhibited primarily right‐lateral slip with a component of northwest up reverse motion (Figures and ). These kinematics are consistent with the long‐term history of the fault, which is characterized by primarily dextral shear with a subordinate NW side up reverse component, as shown by the ~300‐m right‐lateral offset of the Pleistocene Winterholme gravels and the Kekerengu River, and uplift of the northeastern Seaward Kaikōura mountain range (Kearse et al, ; Little et al, ).To the southwest, near its junction with the Papatea and Fidget faults, the Kekerengu fault transfers slip onto the Jordan Thrust (Figure ). The Jordan Thrust is part of the same fault system as the Kekerengu fault and typically helps drive uplift of the Seaward Kaikōura Range by accommodating NW side up dextral‐reverse motion (Figure ; Van Dissen & Yeats, ).…”

“…We also note the rupture of the Manakau, Upper Kowhai, and Snowflake Spur faults, as well as potential future activity along other faults in the SKR, may represent at attempt by the plate boundary fault network to geometrically simplify the transition between the Hope fault and Jordan Thrust‐Kekerengu fault system. Specifically, ~23 mm/year of relative plate motion is transferred from the Hope fault onto the Jordan Thrust‐Kekerengu fault system (Langrdige et al, ; Little et al, ; Van Dissen & Yeats, ). The Hope and Jordan Thrust faults intersect at a high angle (~43°), forming a mechanically unfavorable kink across which strain is transferred (Figure ).…”

The Timing and Style of Oblique Deformation Within New Zealand's Kaikōura Ranges and Marlborough Fault System Based on Low‐Temperature Thermochronology

“…The Clarence and Elliot Faults (the latter a splay of the Clarence Fault) bound the eastern IKR, and the Hope Fault, Jordan Thrust, and Kekerengu Fault bound the eastern SKR (Figure ). Quaternary and Holocene offset markers and geodetic studies show horizontal fault slip rates of ~3–7 mm/year for the Wairau, Awatere, and Clarence Faults (Benson et al, ; Cowan, ; Little et al, ; Little & Roberts, ; Mason et al, ; McCalpin, ; Nicol & Van Dissen, ; Van Dissen & Yeats, ; Wallace et al, ) and faster slip rates of ~20–25 mm/year for the Hope Fault (Knuepfer, , ; Langridge et al, , ), whose displacement is thought to transfer northeastward onto the Jordan‐Kekerengu system (Little et al, ; Van Dissen & Yeats, ).…”

The Role of Near‐Fault Relief Elements in Creating and Maintaining a Strike‐Slip Landscape

“…At present, we lack studies that specifically address why classic strike-slip features, such as long stream offsets or occurrences of stream capture, exist in some places but not in others. (Zachariasen et al, 2006), Awatere (Little et al, 1998), Clarence (Knuepfer, 1992), Hope (Van Dissen & Yeats, 1991), and Kekerengu (Little et al, 2018). (c) Example of offset streams along the Clarence Fault.…”

“…Black boxes in main map show analyzed sections of strike‐slip faults. Fault slip rates from Wairau (Zachariasen et al, ), Awatere (Little et al, ), Clarence (Knuepfer, ), Hope (Van Dissen & Yeats, ), and Kekerengu (Little et al, ). (c) Example of offset streams along the Clarence Fault.…”