Geophysical investigations of the northern Sierra Nevada-Basin and Range boundary, west-central Nevada and east-central California

Online access for this thesis was created in part with support from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) administered by the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). To obtain a high quality image or document please contact the DeLaMare Library at https://unr.libanswers.com/ or call: 775-784-6945.The seismicity, heat flow, and crustal thickness of the Sierra Nevada-Basin and Range transition were examined in the Reno-Carson City-Lake Tahoe region. From seismic reflection and refraction data the crustal structure exhibits crustal thinning from the Sierra Nevada (40 km) to the Basin and Range (29 to 33 km). Heat flow values in the Tahoe Basin are transitional between the high values of the Basin and Range province and the low values of the Sierra Nevada. The seismicity of the area for the years 1980-1987 was examined. The main result from the seismicity study is that the hypocentral depths shallow from the Sierra Nevada into the Basin and Range which is consistent with the changes in heat flow and crustal thickness. A significant transitional zone, 20 to 30 km wide exists in the crustal properties between these two provinces