| Between 10 MYA and recent time, rifts have
continued to open in the Gulf of California. Baja California
has moved northwest about 500 km, bending the Sierra Nevada's
southern tail westward. Baja California's northern tip has
fractured and sheared toward the west, forming the San Gabriel
mountains. Fragments of Baja California have traveled north
along the San Andreas fault as exotic blocks such as the
Salinian Block. Pushed northwest by Baja California, the
Sierra Nevada block has distorted the Klamath block, and
opened a gap between the Sierra Nevada and Klamath mountains
at the Central Valley's northern end. |
