Evolution of monolithological breccia deposits in supradetachment basins, Whipple Mountains, California

Extensive sheets of monolithological breccia (megabreccia) within detachment-fault systems of the North American Cordillera have been identified as large landslides. Although the origin of the megabreccia deposits is controversial, their spatial and temporal association with detachment-fault systems implies a causal relationship between the initiation of such landslides and motion along detachment faults. Emplacement may have been catastrophic following seismic activity, or slow, as the result of gravity gliding. Nevertheless, comprehensive analysis of these deposits provides important constraints on the evolution of supradetachment basins by detailing the unroofing history, palaeotopography and palaeoseismicity of detachment-fault systems. An extensive Miocene landslide deposit, the War Eagle landslide, in the north-eastern Whipple Mountains, provides an opportunity for such an endeavour to elucidate: (1) the cause and timing of its initiation; (2) mechanism for its emplacement; (3) nature of the apparent association of the landslide with detachment-fault development; and (4) role of the megabreccia in the development of supradetachment basins. Cross-sections were drawn through the deposit to determine the geometry and kinematic development of the landslide. Additionally, a simple mechanical model based on limit equilibrium force balance was designed to explore physical mechanisms that controlled its creation. The results of this model combined with field relationships suggest that the Whipple detachment fault was active at an angle of less than 30° with displacement most likely accompanied by the release of seismic energy. Continued extensional evolution of the Whipple detachment fault caused tilting of the upper-plate strata and the formation of numerous half and full grabens as well as roll-over structures. Rocks from the lower plate were brought to the surface during the later stages of detachment-fault activity thereby producing sufficient topographic relief for large landslides to be seismically activated. Increased pore-fluid pressure in the footwall subjacent to the Whipple detachment fault probably aided landslide initiation. The landslide was emplaced onto the upper plate of the detachment fault, providing a significant amount of material into the evolving supradetachment basin. Although the rate of emplacement of the megabreccia remains uncertain, penetrative fracturing throughout the breccia sheet is evidence that emplacement occurred catastrophically. The results of this study indicate that Tertiary megabreccias were emplaced during continued detachment-fault evolution, implying oversteepened topography and seismicity of these low-angle systems.