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<DIV>Since Lynn's latest article about the Hebgen Lake earthquake (Sput 22-6,
December 2008) mentions the formation of Death Valley, I submit the
following:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Yes, the valley has, in part, formed by "dropping" along a fault (the Black
Mountain Fault, aka Central Death Valley Fault). However, it is more due to
regional extension that has opened a series of basin, of which Badwater Basin is
just one. See the two small attachment figures (one is a tif but both are small
in size).</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On the pull-apart diagram, the area of Badwater Basin is indicated by the
pale orange arrows. Unfortunately, this diagram does not indicate other
pull-apart basins, such as Mesquite Basin, Cottonball Basin, etc. this diagram
also omits a number of faults that are important to the whole, highly-complex
story.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The W - E line on the pull apart diagram shows the approximate line of the
cross section. Notice that rather than being "straight" normal faults, the
dip-slip faults in the Death Valley region flatten with depth (sometimes called
listric faults). Also, note that the greater part of regional fault movement has
been strike-slip on the Southern and Northern DV Fault Zones, where the fault
motion might be as great as 50 miles. And yes, it is active.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I must also correct the fact that neither Badwater nor anyplace in DV is
the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. That used to be the belief but there
is a Lago del Carbon in Argentina that is (I think, by recollection) at -344
feet. (Badwater is about 279 feet below sea level; North America's low points of
282 b.s.l are about 2 miles to the west of Badwater [and some people (but not
the NPS) claim those spots to actually be at -289].)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Finally and related to this -- I have had three people tell me their
opinions that the car I had posted a few days ago is a Dodge, probably 1926.
Thanks!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Scott Bryan</DIV></FONT><BR><BR><BR><DIV CLASS="aol_ad_footer" ID="b0786b02595ef0abac2ca776ce4494bc"><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px">Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and favorite sites in one place. <a href="http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010">Try it now</a>.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>