Abstract

The San Francisco earthquake of 1960 attracted attention to strike-slip faulting. Later work indicates the possibility of accumulative right lateral-slip of at least 350 miles on the San Andreas. There are many other examples of faults on which geologic evidence shows similar displacements of great magnitude. Seismic solutions show a preponderance of strike-slip in causing large earthquakes. Correlation of magnetic surveys has suggested many miles of strike-slip on oceanic faults. Paleomagnetic pole positions might (?) be explained by strike-slip faulting. Accelerated progress in geotectonics requires a revamping of fault classifications.