Articles | Volume 6, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-839-2015
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-839-2015
Research article
 | 
21 Jul 2015
Research article |  | 21 Jul 2015

Evolution of a highly dilatant fault zone in the grabens of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA – integrating fieldwork, ground-penetrating radar and airborne imagery analysis

M. Kettermann, C. Grützner, H. W. van Gent, J. L. Urai, K. Reicherter, and J. Mertens

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Cited articles

Abe, S., van Gent, H., and Urai, J. L.: DEM simulation of normal faults in cohesive materials, Tectonophysics, 512, 12–21, 2011.
Abrahamson, J.: Determining the thickness of sediments using seismic refraction, Cyclone Canyon Graben, Canyonlands National Park, Utah, in: 18th Annual Keck Research Symposium in Geology 2005, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, 7–10, 2005
Angelier, J., Bergerat, F., Dauteuil, O., and Villemin, T.: Effective tension-shear relationships in extensional fissure swarms, axial rift zone of northeastern Iceland, J. Struct. Geol., 19, 673–685, 1997
Baker, A. A.: Geology and oil possibilities of the Moab district, Grand and San Juan Counties, Utah, US Geological Survey Bulletin 841, Washington, D.C., 1993.
Balsamo, F., Storti, F., Piovano, B., Salvini, F., Cifelli, F., and Lima, C.: Time dependent structural architecture of subsidiary fracturing and stress pattern in the tip region of an extensional growth fault system, Tarquinia basin, Italy, Tectonophysics, 454, 54–69, 2008.
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Short summary
This paper combines fieldwork, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and remote sensing in the jointed and faulted grabens area of Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA. GPR profiles show that graben floors are subject to faulting, although the surface shows no scarps. We enhance evidence for the effect of preexisting joints on the formation of dilatant faults and provide a conceptual model for graben evolution. Correlating paleosols from outcrops and GPR adds to estimates of the age of the grabens.