Strike-slip faults
Goals: 1) To understand strike-slip fault systems and the structures
associated with them. 2) To examine the tectonic setting of strike-slip
faulting
1. Features of strike-slip fault systems
 Flower structure: complex system of faults branching off of master
strike-slip fault that accommodates local shortening or extension
across the strike-slip fault system.
 Restraining bends and releasing bends: Bends in a strike slip fault
that put the fault trace at an angle to the overall movement direction,
resulting in local shortening and extension respectively
 Stepovers: Areas in a fault system where slip is transferred from one
fault strand to another. Similar to a restraining or releasing bend
without a through-going fault.
 Horse-tail structures: Systems of thrust faults and folds or normal
faults at the terminations of strike-slip faults.
2. Tectonic setting of strike-slip faults
 Transform plate boundaries: San Andreas fault is an example. Links
different types of plate boundaries.
 Ridge transforms: Link different segments of a mid-ocean ridge
spreading center. Slip theoretically only takes place between the
ridge segments.
 Transfer faults in normal fault or thrust fault systems. Lateral ramps
are an example.
3. Transpressional and transtensional fault systems: fault systems that
accommodate both strike-slip motion and shortening or extension.