**2. Strike-slip faults**

Much research has been published regarding the classification and terminology of strike-slip faults [e.g., 8–12]. Here, I use three tectonic settings as a basis for classifying strike-slip faults along convergent plate margins: subduction, continental collision, and plate-boundary transform zones.

**Figure 1.** Tectonic settings of strike-slip faults and related strike-slip basins

#### **2.1. Subduction zone**

Subduction zones, where oceanic plates obliquely subduct underneath continental or island arc crusts, are sometimes accompanied by strike-slip faults separating elongate forearc slivers from continental margins or island arcs. This type of strike-slip fault is referred to as a trenchlinked [9] or trench-parallel [13] strike-slip fault (Figure 1).

Trench-linked strike-slip faults lie parallel to the trench in the accommodating part of the trench-parallel component of oblique convergence of subducting plates [14–16]. The basic principle is considered to be that a trench-linked strike-slip fault is able to concentrate shear in a much more efficient way than distributing shear across the much larger and more gently dipping interface of the subducting plate. Therefore, the low dip angles and high friction

coefficients of subduction zones favor slip on vertical strike-slip faults rather than on gently dipping slabs [9].

and filling processes were not simple but variable. In this paper, I try to review some of representative strike-slip basins along convergent margins, especially focusing on basin formation and filling processes, as the first step for comprehensive understandings of the

28 Mechanism of Sedimentary Basin Formation - Multidisciplinary Approach on Active Plate Margins

Much research has been published regarding the classification and terminology of strike-slip faults [e.g., 8–12]. Here, I use three tectonic settings as a basis for classifying strike-slip faults along convergent plate margins: subduction, continental collision, and plate-boundary

Subduction zones, where oceanic plates obliquely subduct underneath continental or island arc crusts, are sometimes accompanied by strike-slip faults separating elongate forearc slivers from continental margins or island arcs. This type of strike-slip fault is referred to as a trench-

Trench-linked strike-slip faults lie parallel to the trench in the accommodating part of the trench-parallel component of oblique convergence of subducting plates [14–16]. The basic principle is considered to be that a trench-linked strike-slip fault is able to concentrate shear in a much more efficient way than distributing shear across the much larger and more gently dipping interface of the subducting plate. Therefore, the low dip angles and high friction

tectono-sedimentary evolution in strike-slip basins.

**Figure 1.** Tectonic settings of strike-slip faults and related strike-slip basins

linked [9] or trench-parallel [13] strike-slip fault (Figure 1).

**2. Strike-slip faults**

transform zones.

**2.1. Subduction zone**

**Figure 2.** Modern examples of trench-linked strike-slip faults. (A) The Median Tectonic Line (MTL) active fault system in southwestern Japan, related to oblique subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate (PS) along the Nankai Trough (NT). (B) The Great Sumatra Fault system (GSF) along the Java–Sumatra Trench (JST). (C) Strike-slip faults in Alaska. Fault names: DF, Denali; BRF, Boarder Ranges; CSEF, Chugach St. Elias; FF, Fairweather; TF, Transition. (D) The Philippine Fault system (PF). Abbreviations: SSF, Sibuyan Sea Fault; MT, Manila Trench; PT, Philippine Trench; ELT, East Luzon Trough. Plate names: AM, Amur; OK, Okhotsk; PS, Philippine Sea; AU, Australian; SU, Sundaland; NA, North American; PA, Pacific; YMC, Yukutat microcontinent. Black and purple lines are subduction zones and trench-linked strike-slip faults, respectively. All maps were drawn using SRTM and GEBCO with plate boundary data [30]. Blue arrows indicate the direction and velocity of relative plate motion (mm yr-1) based on [31].

These strike-slip faults sometimes separate a narrow sliver plate from the remainder of the over-riding forearc plate. Modern examples include the Median Tectonic Line in Japan, the Sumatra Fault in Indonesia, the Denali Fault in Alaska and the Philippine Fault in Philippine (Figure 2). An ancient example can be observed in the Bering Sea [17]. The strike-slip faults in these settings are typically long (hundreds of kilometers) but occasionally segmented [9].

**2.2. Continental collision zones**

strike-slip faults (Figure 1) [9].

tion (mm yr-1) based on [31]

Continental collision can cause crustal shortening and thickening by thrusting and escape or by extruding crustal blocks along conjugate strike-slip faults within the plate. These types of collision-related strike-slip faults between continental blocks are classified as indent-linked

Strike-Slip Basin – Its Configuration and Sedimentary Facies

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/56593

31

Modern examples include several strike-slip faults in Turkey where the Arabian Plate is converging with the Eurasian Plate, and in southern China where the Indian Plate is colliding with the Eurasian Plate (Figure 3). In the latter example, the collision originally formed the left-lateral Red River Fault associated with the southeastward extrusion of the Indochina Block [32]. After the propagation of the indent, the South China Block was extruded along the pre-

**Figure 4.** Plate-boundary transform fault systems. (A) Alpine Fault (AF) in New Zealand. Abbreviations: HF, Hope Fault; WF, Wairau Fault; NIDFB, North Island Dextral Fault Belt; HT, Hikurangi Trough; PT, Puysegur Trench. Faults are from [34] and [35]. (B) San Andreas Fault systems (SAF) in North America. Abbreviations: DV, Death Valley; RB, Ridge Basin; ST, Salton Trough; GC, Gulf of California; BC, Baja California Peninsula. (C) Dead Sea Fault systems. Abbreviations: DS, Dead Sea; GA, Gulf of Aqaba; LR, Lebanon Range; ALR, Anti-Lebanon Range. Plate names: PA, Pacific; AU, Australian; NA, North American; JF, Juan de Fuca; AR, Arabian; NU, Nubian (African). All maps were drawn by using SRTM and GEBCO with plate boundary data [30]. Black, red, and purple lines are subduction zones, oceanic spreading ridges, and plate-boundary transform faults, respectively. Blue arrows indicate the direction and velocity of relative plate mo‐

existing Red River Fault as a block boundary with right-lateral movement.

The Median Tectonic Line (MTL) active fault system is the longest and most active arc-parallel, right-lateral strike-slip fault system in Japan [e.g.18, 19]. The MTL extends over a distance of 500 km and accommodates the trench-parallel component of oblique subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate (Figure 2A).

The Great Sumatra Fault is a right-lateral strike-slip fault more than 1900 km in length (Figure 2B). It is related to the northward subduction of the Australian Plate beneath the Sundaland Plate along the Java–Sumatra Trench (Figure 2B) [20–22].

Strike-slip faulting in Alaska has involved several widely spaced major faults, with an overall seaward migration of activity: the Denali Fault was initiated in the Late Cretaceous or Paleocene and the Fairweather Fault in the Pleistocene (Figure 2C) [23, 24]. These right-lateral strike-slip faults are associated with the Alaskan subduction zone where the Pacific Plate subducts northwestward. Although current strike-slip movement takes place predominantly on the Fairweather Fault, the Denali Fault also shows some Holocene movement.

The Philippine Fault is a left-lateral strike-slip fault sandwiched between the Manila and Philippine trenches [25–27]. It completely traverses the Philippine archipelago and extends for more than 1000 km (Figure 2D). Several strike-slip basins are developed along releasing bends or overstepped faults in this fault zone [28, 29].

**Figure 3.** Indent-linked strike-slip fault systems. (A) North Anatolian Fault (NAF) caused by the collision of the Arabian Plate (AR) with the Eurasian Plate (EU). Abbreviations: EAF, East Anatolian Fault; NEAF, Northeast Anatolian Fault; CF, Chalderan Fault; TF, Tabriz Fault; DSF, Dead Sea Fault; BZFTB, Bitlis–Zagros Fold and Thrust Belt; BS, Black Sea; MTS, Med‐ iterranean Sea; MS, Marmara Sea; AS, Aegean Sea. (B) The Red River Fault (RRF) zone, caused by the collision of the Indi‐ an Plate (IP) with the Eurasian Plate. Abbreviations: SCB, South China Block; SB, Songpan Block; CB, Chuandian Block; ICB, Indochina Block; SF, Sagaing Fault; JF, Jiali Fault; XXF, Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang Fault; LSF, Longmen Shan Fault. Faults and blocks are based on [33]. Plate names: EU, Eurasian; AR, Arabian; NU, Nubia (Africa); AT, Anatolian; SU, Sundaland; BU, Burma; YZ, Yangtze. Maps were drawn using SRTM and GEBCO with plate boundary data [30]. Black, red, and pur‐ ple lines are plate convergent margins, plate-boundary transform faults, and indent-linked strike-slip faults, respective‐ ly. Blue arrows indicate the direction and velocity of plate motion (mm yr-1) relative to the Eurasian Plate based on [31]
