Structural similarity and variety at the tips in a wide range of strike–slip faults: a review

Abstract

Strike–slip faults are often accompanied by a variety of structures, particularly at their tips. The zones of additional fracturing are classified as tip‐damage zones. These zones can be subdivided into several different damage patterns based on the nature and orientation of faults and fractures developed. Damage zones at the ends of small strike–slip faults (mode II tips) develop wing cracks, horsetail splays, antithetic faults, synthetic branch faults and solution surfaces. Similar tip‐damage patterns are also commonly observed at larger (regional) scales, but with a dominance of faulting over tensile cracks and solution surfaces. Wing cracks and horsetail splays developed at small‐scale faults are replaced by normal faults in large‐scale faults. Antithetic faults and synthetic branch faults are observed at small and large scales. Thrust faults are developed at large scales, in a similar pattern to solution surfaces at a small scale. All these structures may show slightly different angular relationships to the master fault at small and large scale, but develop in response similar stress distribution and mechanics around the fault. Thus, mode II tip‐damage zones show similar patterns over a wide range of fault scales.

New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica

“…3b) The complex array of lineations with a dominant NE-SW trend in the NWMP lead us to propose alternative extensional or transtensional models for this region. The pattern of apparently diverging lineations is consistent with that of a 'horse tail' splay close to the end of a major strike slip fault system (Kim and Sanderson, 2006;Mouslopoulou et al, 2007). Regions where fault systems are of a similar scale to those we propose in the NWMP include, for example, the end of the Babahoyas Fault in the Ecuador forearc region (Kim and Sanderson, 2006), and the termination of the North Island Fault System in New…”

Experimental study on the formation of faults from en-echelon fractures in Carrara Marble

“…Some previous reviews on strike-slip faults suggested that the connection patterns of enechelon fractures are very complex, which are dependent on the fault geometry, stress field, material property, etc. (Crider and Peacock, 2004;Kim et al, 2004;Kim and Sanderson, 2006).…”

The M = 5.1 1980 Arudy earthquake sequence (western Pyrenees, France): a revisited multi-scale integrated seismologic, geomorphologic and tectonic investigation

“…Kim and Sanderson 2006); both developed in the dilational quadrant associated with slip along the right-lateral E-W fault. As pointed out by Kim and Sanderson (2006), distinction between these two tip-damage zones is not always clear. Commonly, fractures of a horsetail termination are sub-parallel to regional r 1 and form relatively low angles to the master strike-slip fault at its tips (usually \30°) (Segall and Pollard 1980;Granier 1985;Vermilye and Scholz 1999), whereas normal faults strike at a higher angle to the master fault (Kim and Sanderson 2006).…”

“…In the case of Arudy, the tip's damage zones can be related either to normal faults or a horsetail structure termination (e.g. Kim and Sanderson 2006); both developed in the dilational quadrant associated with slip along the right-lateral E-W fault. As pointed out by Kim and Sanderson (2006), distinction between these two tip-damage zones is not always clear.…”