Ballenas Fault

The Ballenas Fault is a transform fault located on the seabed of the Gulf of California, extending through the Canal de Ballenas which separates the Isla Ángel de la Guarda from the Baja California peninsula. The fault is an integral part of the East Pacific Rise, linking the Delfin Basin in the north with a smaller spreading center to the south. The fault is considered the northernmost member of a grouping of four transform faults called the Guaymas Transform Fault System.

Ballenas Fault
Location	Gulf of California
Characteristics
Part of	East Pacific Rise
Tectonics
Status	active
Earthquakes	2009 Gulf of California earthquake
Type	transform

The Ballenas Fault produced a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on August 3, 2009.

References

• Malservisi, R.; Plattner, C.; Hackl, M.; Gonzalez-Garcia, J. J.; Suarez Vidal, F.; Amelung, F.; Dixon, T. H. (2009). Earthquake cycle on the Ballenas Fault, Central Gulf of California, MX. American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2009. Bibcode:2009AGUFM.G23B0689M.