Deformed Streams Reveal Growth and Linkage of a Normal Fault Array in the Canyonlands Graben, Utah

We use the deformation of streams by the growth of active normal faults within the Canyonlands graben of southeastern Utah to constrain the displacement evolution of a fault array during segment interaction and linkage. Coupling fault displacement data with geomorphic analysis of present-day streams and paleostreams permits sequential reconstruction of a three-segment fault array from initial component segments to its final displacement geometry. Our results show that although segment interaction causes enhanced displacement addition at overlap zones, postlinkage displacement accumulation is significant and permits array equilibration to a displacement-length ratio characteristic of a single fault. Evidence of stream disequilibrium indicates that this postlinkage displacement addition was rapid compared to that during the fault interaction phase