Mapping and Kinematic Structural Analysis of the Deep Creek Fault Zone, South Flank of the Uinta Mountains, Near Vernal, Utah

The geology along the southern flank of the Uinta Mountains, located north of Vernal, Utah, has been mapped at the 7.5' scale within two quadrangles: the Dry Fork and Steinaker Reservoir Quadrangles. Ambiguities dealing with stratigraphy, structural geology, and geohazards are currently being addressed as a result of this and other mapping projects in the vicinity. The geologic units in the area range in age from Mississippian to Late Cretaceous and include Uinta-sourced Tertiary units. Brief unit descriptions are provided for each of the units exposed in the map area. The main structural influence on the rocks within the area is that of the Uinta Uplift and its southern bounding fault, the Uinta Basin Boundary thrust. Locally, the Deep Creek fault zone overprints and dissects the southernmost flank of the broad Uinta Anticline. Other smaller structurally complex areas and folds exist east of the Deep Creek fault zone. The Deep Creek fault zone is made up of a series of NW-SE trending faults, likely related to the South Flank fault zone. Many authors have inferred dip-slip movement along the South Flank fault zone, but have not supported these claims using kinematic data. Detailed mapping and kinematic data collected within the study area has produced a better understanding of the deformation history along the fault zones in question. The faults within the Deep Creek fault zone have steep, linear traces upon which both vertical dip-slip and very nearly strike-slip (left-lateral oblique-slip, mainly) movement has occurred. The faults of the Deep Creek fault zone are likely Paleocene in age. The data suggest a bimodal history of deformation which the principal stress field does not seem to be influenced by typical east-northeast-west-southwest Laramide orogenic far-field stresses. The creation and early history of these faults may have been due to localized stress fields related to activity of the underlying Uinta Basin Boundary thrust, or a later period of uplift, a possible accommodation zone between the western and eastern domes of the Uinta Mountain Range, a transfer zone between the Uinta Basin Boundary thrust and the Asphalt Ridge fault, or a combination of these.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Grantor dc:publisher

Brigham Young University - Provo

Author dc:creator

• Haddox, David A.

• Deep Creek fault zone
• South Flank fault zone
• Uinta Mountains
• Vernal
• northeastern Utah
• Dry Fork
• Steinaker Reservoir
• Geology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/571

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsarchive.byu.edu:etd-1570