Late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of southwestern California

Geologic and geophysical data from southern California and adjoining areas are used to reconstruct the tectonic evolution of the southern Coast Ranges, western Transverse Ranges, and borderland regions since 30 Myr ago. Premises include specified relative plate motions for times prior to 10.5 Myr ago and after 3 Myr ago, a mid-Tertiary bight in the continental margin, midcrustal detachment faults, rotation of the western Transverse Ranges about an eastern pivot, and specified fault displacement histories. Prior to 18 Myr ago, about 90 percent of the tangential component of Pacific-North America relative motion was accommodated on an offshore dextral fault system near the toe of the continental slope. From 18 to 5.5 Myr ago, dextral slip was accommodated predominantly on the offshore system but also on a second, inboard system that included the San Andreas fault.