Geology topics
Publications and source records attributed to S.M. Marks.
Numerous small earthquakes occur each day in the Coast Ranges of central California. The detailed study of these earthquakes provides a tool for gaining insight into the tectonic and physical processes responsible for the generation of damaging earthquakes
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The P delays across the San Andreas fault zone in central California have been determined from travel-time differences at station pairs spanning the fault, using off-fault local earthquake or quarry blast sources. Systematic delays as large as 0.4 sec have been observed for paths crossing the fault at depths of 5-10 km. These delays can account for the apparent deviation of epicenters from the mapped fault trace. The largest delays occur along the San Andreas fault between San Juan Bautista and Bear Valley and Between Bitterwater Valley and Parkfield. Spatial variations in fault behavior correlate with the magnitude of the fault-crossing P delay. The delay decreases to the northwest of San Juan Bautista across the "locked" section of the San Andreas fault and also decreases to the southeast approaching Parkfield. Where the delay is large, seismicity is relatively high and the fault is creeping.
No abstract available.
Two distinct clusters of microearthquakes have been identified at The Geysers, possibly relating to two independent pressure sinks resulting from steam production described by Lipman, and others (1977). Unlike earthquakes in the Maacama-Rodgers Creek fault zone to the south and west, earthquakes at The Geysers are confined to depths of less than 5 km. The present level of seismicity at The Geysers appears to be higher than the preproduction level and is higher and more continuous than the seismicity in the surrounding region. Earthquakes in the steam production zone at The Geysers resemble earthquakes in the surrounding region with regard to focal plane solutions, source characteristics and magnitude distribution (b slope). Subtle differences in earthquake characteristics may be resolved by analysis of more extensive data now being gathered in the region.