Hurricane fault
The Hurricane fault is on of three major faults that marks the transition from the Colorado plateau to the Basin and Range geological province to the west. It is about 160 miles 250 km) long and has a vertical offset of nearly 8,000 feet (2400m) towards the Basin and Range Province.
It is an extensional (normal) fault that started with he extension of the Basin and Range province about 5 mio years ago.
Occasionally slickensides can be observed, where the heat generated by the friction of the nearly vertical drop melts the rock surface.
Permian dolostone with smooth, shining slickensides in the fault plane (foot wall, fault scarp).
Reddish lower triassic mudstone at right is part of the hanging wall.
Location is below SR 9 north of La Verkin, Utah
Hurricane fault
The Hurricane fault is on of three major faults that marks the transition from the Colorado plateau to the Basin and Range geological province to the west. It is about 160 miles 250 km) long and has a vertical offset of nearly 8,000 feet (2400m) towards the Basin and Range Province.
It is an extensional (normal) fault that started with he extension of the Basin and Range province about 5 mio years ago.
Occasionally slickensides can be observed, where the heat generated by the friction of the nearly vertical drop melts the rock surface.
Permian dolostone with smooth, shining slickensides in the fault plane (foot wall, fault scarp).
Reddish lower triassic mudstone at right is part of the hanging wall.
Location is below SR 9 north of La Verkin, Utah