A series of uniformly tilted fault-bounded blocks is a common feature
in actively extending regions such as the Basin and Range province. If
the tilted blocks were produced by rigid ''domino-style'' rotation, o
ne would predict large voids at either end of a series of these blocks
. Using tilt data and a simple flexural calculation, we suggest that m
uch of the apparent rigid behavior could also be produced by internal
block deformation. In our model of normal fault growth, isostatic/elas
tic uplift of the footwall is coupled with hanging wall downdrop withi
n the region between faults, resulting in the appearance of a tilted r
igid block. We present tilt data sampled at varying distances from sev
eral block-defining faults within the northeast Basin and Range provin
ce. Tilt measurements between a series of 30-km spaced block-defining
faults are found to be uniform, while tilts between more widely spaced
faults exhibit a pattern of tilt that diminishes to zero in less than
30 km. Using a simple flexural calculation for internal block deforma
tion, we show that for this region the patterns of tilt are consistent
with a flexural length scale of approximately 8-12 km and deflections
of 2-4 km. These estimates are compatible with both the lower limit t
o seismicity and basin depth determined from earthquake and seismic re
flection studies.