Origin of superimposed and curved slickenlines in San Miguelito range, Central México

Abstract

Interactions between intersecting faults cause local perturbations of the stress field in the vicinity of their intersections. Fault intersections are places of stress accumulation, stress relief and refraction of the stress trajectories; the slip vectors near these intersections are deviated from the maximum shear stress resolved by the far-field stress. In an intersecting fault system, superimposed, arc-shaped and zigzag slickenlines can be formed due to interaction between intersecting faults. We propose some mechanisms in which it is possible to recognize that the superimposed and curved slickenlines are produced from curvilinear translational fault motion. The geometrical models presented in this contribution are consistent with the slickenlines distribution observed in the vicinity of intersection lines, measured in the San Miguelito range, Mesa Central, México. Two tectonic phases have been inferred from our slip vector models near the intersection lines, which is consistent with observations of previously published work.