A kinematic model for the Rinconada fault system in central California based on structural analysis of en echelon folds and paleomagnetism

We used the orientation and stretch of fold hinges to construct a transpressional kinematic model for distributed deformation. This modeling suggests a 20-50° angle of oblique convergence, 5 km of fault-parallel wrench deformation, and 2-4 km of fault-perpendicular shortening. Between 3° and 16° of clockwise rotation is also predicted by our model. This rotation is independently confirmed by a 14 ± 7° vertical axis rotation from regional paleomagnetic analyses. Integrating the regional discrete and distributed components of deformation suggests that the Rinconada fault system is 80% strike-slip partitioned.