Exploring the Relationship between Geothermal Resources and Geodetically Inferred Faults Slip Rates in the Great Basin

Abstract

We present the results of GPS measurement and modeling of active crustal deformation and its spatial relationship to active geothermal systems in the northern Walker Lane. Using a block modeling method we use the GPS data to estimate the slip rate and style on faults in our study area. Our results show that there is a spatial correlation between zones of high dextral slip rate that also have a component of normal slip and the presence of geothermal systems. This is consistent with earlier work that showed a correlation between regional transtensional areal strain and the presence of geothermal systems, but goes further by combining the GPS data with structural data on fault surface trace geometries. Before block modeling we apply a correction for postseismic relaxation following the historic earthquakes of the Central Nevada Seismic Belt. We find that in a few localities the relaxation-corrected GPS velocity field is in conflict with geologic data, indicating that the MAGNET data are providing additional constraints that improve our understanding of the transient postseismic response, and will be incorporated in future models.