Collaborative Research: Paleomagnetic Investigation of Miocene Sediments in the Gale Hills, Southern Nevada- Tectonics of Vertical Axis Rotations

在主要走滑断层附近，已经确定了岩石块的垂直轴旋转（相对于原始方向或区域方向）。已经提出了这些旋转的运动学模型，它们需要了解刚性块的大小以及旋转的空间和时间分布。然而，现有数据不允许在不同模型之间进行测试。该项目将研究拉斯维加斯山谷剪切带和米德湖断层系统附近的古地磁确定的旋转。岩石产生稳定的主要方向，并显示出较大的旋转。密集采样将限制块的大小及其相对于断层的分布。结果将有助于解决垂直轴旋转的竞争运动学模型，并允许发展描述地壳变形基本过程的物理模型。

Vertical axis rotations (with respect to original or regional orientations) of blocks of rock have been defined adjacent to major strike-slip faults. Kinematic models for these rotations have been proposed, and they require knowledge of the size of the blocks that behave rigidly and the spatial and temporal distributions of rotations. However available data do not allow testing between the various models. This project will examine paleomagnetically determined rotations adjacent to the Las Vegas Valley Shear Zone and the Lake Mead Fault System. The rocks yield stable primary directions and show large rotations. Dense sampling will constrain the size of blocks and their distribution with respect to the faults. Results should help resolve competing kinematic models for vertical axis rotations and permit the development of physical models describing fundamental processes during crustal deformation.