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 Canyonlands Grabens region of SE Utah are presented. 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-of-magnitude. This is comparable to that exhibited in other published single population datasets. This magnitude of scatter cannot be attributed either to measurement errors or to variation in mechanical properties. We propose that a scatter of this magnitude can be explained by a general model for fault growth by segment linkage, whereby large incremental increases of length attained as fault segments link temporarily exceed incremental increases in displacement. This results in deviations from an idealized growth path, and a step-like evolution expressed between D and L.