Brittlely deforming material is commonly modeled as a homogeneous continuum. In fact, however, the material has a substructure, characterized by rigid blocks bounded by shear planes, and the effect of this substructure are not accounted for by classical continuum theory. This project will test and apply a new hypothesis that takes into account rigid block rotations on slickenline orientations and on seismic focal mechanism solutions. The work will compare the micropolar interpretation of seismic focal mechanism data from California against existing paleomagnetic and geodetic data and will also study slickenline patterns in other areas such as in sheared serpentines on the fault system in the northern California coast ranges. Results should permit a significant test of the theory, which has the potential of improving current understanding of brittle deformation.
