FAULT GROWTH BY SEGMENT LINKAGE - AN EXPLANATION FOR SCATTER IN MAXIMUM DISPLACEMENT AND TRACE LENGTH DATA FROM THE CANYONLANDS GRABENS OF SE UTAH

Maximum displacement (D) and trace length (L) data for a population of 97 normal faults from the CanyonIands Grabens region of SE Utah are p resented. Values of L range from 100 to 6500 m, and of D from 1.5-155 m. The data exhibit a scatter between D and L of about half an order-o f-magnitude. This is comparable to that exhibited in other published s ingle population datasets. This magnitude of scatter cannot be attribu ted either to measurement errors or to variation in mechanical propert ies. We propose that a scatter of this magnitude can be explained by a general model for fault growth by segment linkage, whereby large incr emental increases of length attained as fault segments link temporaril y exceed incremental increases in displacement. This results in deviat ions from an idealized growth path, and a step-like evolution expresse d between D and L.