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Neotectonics and volcanism at Yucca Mountain and vicinity, Nevada

Journal Article · · Radioactive Waste Management and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
OSTI ID:138225
 [1];  [2]
  1. Geological Survey, Denver, CO (United States)
  2. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Basaltic volcanic rocks were erupted in Crater Flat, west of Yucca Mountain, 3.7 Ma and 1.2 Ma, and at the southern end of Yucca Mountain after 0.25 Ma. The youngest volcanic rocks include one cone believed to be of late Pleistocene or Holocene age. Although seismically quiescent, Yucca Mountain is cut by five or more north-trending, west dipping faults that moved during the Quaternary. These faults may merge at depth with a postulated low-angle, west-dipping detachment fault, forming a system which distributes crustal pull-apart originating below Crater Flat eastward to Yucca Mountain. Ash present in fissures in fault zones indicates that at times, faulting and nearby basaltic volcanism were approximately coeval. The pattern of regional faults indicates that extension below Crater Flat is associated with northwest translation of areas to the west (west of the Pahrump-Furnace Creek fault trend) and southwest translation of areas to the east (southeast of the Rock Valley fault). Quaternary extension and associated fault dilation at Yucca Mountain are episodic, with an average period of 75,000 years or less.
DOE Contract Number:
AI08-78ET44802
OSTI ID:
138225
Journal Information:
Radioactive Waste Management and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Journal Name: Radioactive Waste Management and the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Journal Issue: 1-4 Vol. 13; ISSN 0739-5876; ISSN RWMCD4
Country of Publication:
Switzerland
Language:
English