EFFECT OF MECHANICAL INTERACTION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRIKE-SLIP FAULTS WITH ECHELON PATTERNS

The overlapping geometry of echelon strike-slip faults is well-known. We have quantified this observation by measuring the amount of overlap and separation, and plotting them against each other for over 120 examples. Although there is large scatter, the data show a linear trend suggesting that the overlap increases proportionally with separation, up to a limiting value. We have analyzed this conspicuous relationship in terms of fault interaction by using a numerical model based on displacement discontinuity. The results show that fault interaction is, in fact, an important factor in contributing to the overlapping geometry of echelon strike-slip faults. © 1990.