Displacement Transfer Zone
Controlling Structures

Faulds uses these terms (fault intersection and a subset classification - displacement transfer zone) as structural controls found in the Basin and Range province of the US.
Fault intersections between normal faults and transversely oriented strike-slip or oblique-slip faults account for 22% of the Basin & Range structures known to host geothermal systems as of 2011. Multiple minor faults in these areas create connections between major structures, allowing fluids to flow through highly fractured dilational quadrants.[1]
Displacement transfer zones represent a major subset of fault intersection types, hosting 5% of the known geothermal systems in the Basin & Range. Intersections between strike-slip faults in the Walker Lane and N- to NNE-striking normal faults commonly host geothermal systems, focused along the normal faults proximal to their dilational intersections with nearby dextral faults.[1]
Examples
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Geothermal Resource Area | Geothermal Region | Tectonic Setting | Host Rock Age | Host Rock Lithology | Mean Capacity | Mean Reservoir Temp |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amedee Geothermal Area | Walker-Lane Transition Zone | Extensional Tectonics | Mesozoic | granite; granodiorite | ||
Long Valley Caldera Geothermal Area | Walker-Lane Transition Zone | Extensional Tectonics | Quaternary | Bishop Tuff, Metamorphic Basement | 38 MW38,000 kW <br />38,000,000 W <br />38,000,000,000 mW <br />0.038 GW <br />3.8e-5 TW <br /> | 513.15 K240 °C <br />464 °F <br />923.67 °R <br /> |
North Brawley Geothermal Area | Gulf of California Rift Zone | Strike-Slip | Arkosic and quartz dominated sandstones | 50 MW50,000 kW <br />50,000,000 W <br />50,000,000,000 mW <br />0.05 GW <br />5.0e-5 TW <br /> | 539.15 K266 °C <br />510.8 °F <br />970.47 °R <br /> | |
Wendel Geothermal Area | Walker-Lane Transition Zone Geothermal Region | Extensional Tectonics | Mesozoic | Granite, Granodiorite | 3.8 MW3,800 kW <br />3,800,000 W <br />3,800,000,000 mW <br />0.0038 GW <br />3.8e-6 TW <br /> | 413.15 K140 °C <br />284 °F <br />743.67 °R <br /> |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 James E. Faulds,Nicholas H. Hinz,Mark F. Coolbaugh,Patricia H. Cashman,Christopher Kratt,Gregory Dering,Joel Edwards,Brett Mayhew,Holly McLachlan. 2011. Assessment of Favorable Structural Settings of Geothermal Systems in the Great Basin, Western USA. In: Transactions. GRC Anual Meeting; 2011/10/23; San Diego, CA. Davis, CA: Geothermal Resources Council; p. 777–783