Recent crustal deformation and seismicity studies at Abu-Dabbab area, Red Sea, Egypt

The Abu-Dabbab area is characterized by high seismicity and complex tectonic setting; for these facts, a local geodetic network consisting of 11 geodetic benchmarks has been established. The crustal deformation data in this area are collected using the GPS techniques. Five campaigns of GPS measurements have been collected, processed, and adjusted to get the more accurate positions of the GPS stations. The horizontal velocity vectors, the dilatational, the maximum shear strains, and the principal strain rates were estimated. The horizontal velocity varies in average between 3 and 6 mm per year across the network. The results of the deformation analysis indicate a significant contraction and extension across the southern central part of the study area which is characterized by high seismic activity represented by the clustering shape of the microearthquakes that trending ENE. The north and northeastern parts are characterized by small strain rates. This study is an attempt to provide valuable information about the present state of the crustal deformation and its relationship to seismic activity and tectonic setting at the Abu-Dabbab area. The present study is the first work demonstrating crustal deformation monitoring at the Abu-Dabbab area. The time interval is relatively short. Actually, these results are preliminary results. So, the continuity of GPS measurements is needed for providing more information about the recent crustal deformation in that area.     

Structural mapping based on potential field and remote sensing data,South Rewa Gondwana Basin,India

Intracratonic South Rewa Gondwana Basin occupies the northern part of NW–SE trending Son–Mahanadi rift basin of India. The new gravity data acquired over the northern part of the basin depicts WNW–ESE and ENE–WSW anomaly trends in the southern and northern part of the study area respectively. 3D inversion of residual gravity anomalies has brought out undulations in the basement delineating two major depressions (i) near Tihki in the north and (ii) near Shahdol in the south, which divided into two sub-basins by an ENE–WSW trending basement ridge near Sidi. Maximum depth to the basement is about 5.5 km within the northern depression. The new magnetic data acquired over the basin has brought out ENE–WSW to E–W trending short wavelength magnetic anomalies which are attributed to volcanic dykes and intrusive having remanent magnetization corresponding to upper normal and reverse polarity (29N and 29R) of the Deccan basalt magnetostratigrahy. Analysis of remote sensing and geological data also reveals the predominance of ENE–WSW structural faults. Integration of remote sensing, geological and potential field data suggest reactivation of ENE–WSW trending basement faults during Deccan volcanism through emplacement of mafic dykes and sills. Therefore, it is suggested that South Rewa Gondwana basin has witnessed post rift tectonic event due to Deccan volcanism.     

The tectonic evolution of the Qiongdongnan Basin in the northern margin of the South China Sea

Qiongdongnan Basin is a Cenozoic rift basin located on the northern passive continental margin of the South China Sea. Due to a lack of geologic observations, its evolution was not clear in the past. However, recently acquired 2-D seismic reflection data provide an opportunity to investigate its tectonic evolution. It shows that the Qiongdongnan Basin comprises a main rift zone which is 50–100 km wide and more than 400 km long. The main rift zone is arcuate in map view and its orientation changes from ENE–WSW in the west to nearly E–W in the east. It can be divided into three major segments. The generally linear fault trace shown by many border faults in map view implies that the eastern and middle segments were controlled by faults reactivated from NE to ENE trending and nearly E–W trending pre-existing fabrics, respectively. The western segment was controlled by a left-lateral strike-slip fault. The fault patterns shown by the central and eastern segments indicate that the extension direction for the opening of the rift basin was dominantly NW–SE. A semi-quantitative analysis of the fault cut-offs identifies three stages of rifting evolution: (1) 40.4–33.9 Ma, sparsely distributed NE-trending faults formed mainly in the western and the central part of the study area; (2) 33.9–28.4 Ma, the main rift zone formed and the area influenced by faulting was extended into the eastern part of the study area and (3) 28.4–20.4 Ma, the subsidence area was further enlarged but mainly extended into the flanking area of the main rift zone. In addition, Estimates of extensional strain along NW–SE-trending seismic profiles, which cross the main rift zone, vary between 15 and 39 km, which are generally comparable to the sinistral displacement on the Red River Fault Zone offshore, implying that this fault zone, in terms of sinistral motion, terminated at a location near the southern end of the Yinggehai Basin. Finally, these observations let us to favour a hybrid model for the opening of the South China Sea and probably the Qiongdongnan Basin.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987112000849

New methods are presented for processing and interpretation of shallow marine differential magnetic data,including constructing maps of offshore total magnetic anomalies with an extremely high resolution of up to 1-2 nT,mapping weak anomalies of 5-10 nT caused by mineralization effects at the contacts of hydrocarbons with host rocks,estimating depths to upper and lower boundaries of anomalous magnetic sources,and estimating thickness of magnetic layers and boundaries of tectonic blocks. Horizontal dimensions of tectonic blocks in the so-called "seismic gap" region in the central Kuril Arc vary from 10 to 100 km,with typical dimensions of 25-30 km.The area of the "seismic gap" is a zone of intense tectonic activity and recent volcanism.Deep sources causing magnetic anomalies in the area are similar to the "magnetic belt" near Hokkaido. In the southern and central parts of Barents Sea,tectonic blocks with widths of 30-100 km,and upper and lower boundaries of magnetic layers ranging from depths of 10 to 5 km and 18 to 30 km are calculated.Models of the magnetic layer underlying the Mezen Basin in an inland part of the White Sea-Barents Sea paleorift indicate depths to the lower boundary of the layer of 12-30 km.Weak local magnetic anomalies of 2-5 nT in the northern and central Caspian Sea were identified using the new methods,and drilling confirms that the anomalies are related to concentrations of hydrocarbon.Two layers causing magnetic anomalies are identified in the northern Caspian Sea from magnetic anomaly spectra.The upper layer lies immediately beneath the sea bottom and the lower layer occurs at depths between 30-40 m and 150-200 m.     

Structural control of El Sela granites and associated uranium deposits, Southern Eastern Desert, Egypt

The El Sela area is a part of the basement complex of the Eastern Desert of Egypt and the Pan-African Shield. The area comprises outcrops of dismembered ophiolites thrust over arc volcano-sedimentary sequence and intruded by different syn- to post-tectonic granitoids. Structural analysis of the area enabled the separation and definition of four structural episodes: (E1) folding–thrusting episode associated with the cratonization of the arc/inter-arc rock association and the intrusion of the syntectonic (Older) granites. (E2) Upright folding episode associated with the compression and shortening to the ENE–WSW direction which is different from the NNW–SSE shortening direction during E1; at the end of E2, late tectonic granites were intruded. (E3) Post-tectonic granitic intrusion episode: two mica granite and granitic dikes were intruded during this episode. (E4) Fracturing, faulting, and post-granitic dike extrusion episodes caused different faults that took place after cratonization until the present. There are three generations of folds during ductile deformation (E1 and E2). The F2 folds are nearly coaxial (along ENE–WSW trend) with the F1 folds. The F3 folding is displayed by folds generally trending NNW–SSE. Therefore, the ENE–WSW and NNW–SSE trends can considered as preexisting discontinuities and mechanical anisotropy of the crust in the following structure episodes. Brittle deformation (E3 and E4) reveals the importance of those trends which control the multi-injections and many alteration features in the study area. During reactivation, a simple shear parallel to the inherited ductile fabrics was responsible for the development of mineralized structures along the ENE–WSW and NNW–SSE trends. So they can be considered as paleochannel trends for deep-seated structures and can act as a good trap for uranium and/or other mineral resources. Most of the uranium anomalies are delineated along ENE–WSW and NNW–SSE shear zones where quartz-bearing veins bounded the lamprophyre dike and microgranites and dissected them in relation to the successive fracturation and brecciation corresponding to the repeated rejuvenation of the structures. Therefore, the structural controls of the uranium mineralizations in the El Sela area appear to be related to the interaction between inherited ductile fabrics and overprinting brittle structures.     

Earthquakes associated with the Clark Hill reservoir, South Carolina — A case of induced seismicity

Following the McCormick County, South Carolina, local magnitude 4.3 earthquake on August 2, 1974, continuous seismic activity has been observed in the area. The epicenters are located within 3 km from the Clark Hill reservoir. The shallow seismic activity appears to be related to water level fluctuations in the reservoir, and follows them by about two days. The frequency of earthquakes is related to the rate of change of water level, while the energy release is seen to depend on the water level itself. Pore pressure fluctuations at focal depths in a regime of high tectonic stresses is the suggested cause for the triggering of earthquakes.     

The active Kalabsha Fault Zone in Southern Egypt: detecting faulting activity using field-structural data and EMR-technique,and implications for seismic hazard assessment

Since November 14, 1981 earthquake (ML 5.6), about 60 km southwest of Aswan High Dam, the seismic hazard raised and the Aswan Local Seismic Network (ALSN) has recorded and precisely monitored the seismic activity in the vicinity of the High Dam. The major source of seismic activity in this region is the active Kalabsha Fault Zone (KFZ). The focal mechanism solutions indicate that two nodal planes strike E to ENE, with subordinate right-lateral strike-slip component and N to NNW, with left-lateral movement. The directions of tectonic extension (T) and compression (P) are NNE-SSW and NNW-SSE, respectively. Structural investigations and application of the Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) technique reveal ongoing activity on the KFZ. Kinematic evolution of the KFZ implies faulting events with a strong movement intervened with periods of severe crushing, grinding, and even pulverization. Such tectonic processes have resulted in fault-breccia and fault-gouge. Results obtained from the present study indicate that the KFZ is not a single transcurrent wrench fault with dextral sense of movement but, instead, it represents a major dextral transtensional shear or fault zone deforming southern Egypt and plays a significant role in the structural shaping of the area to the west of Nasser Lake. Furthermore, the activity on the KFZ is most probably controlling the seismic cycle in the area. Topographic expression of KFZ is evidently realized at Sinn El-Kaddab scarp, as well as at Gebel Marawa. Frequent surface rupturing and newly recorded strong seismic activity advocate faulting reactivation supported by the EMR data, which suggest an active fault system oriented ENE-WSW and NNW-SSE affecting the KFZ, with a maximum horizontal stress (σ1) perturbing between ENE and NNW directions.     

Geomorphological characteristics identification from remote sensing along with surface temperature anomaly and SAR interferometry–related studies and their correlation with earthquake occurrences in Gujarat

Geological, geomorphological and tectonic element studies of the Kachchh region have been carried out and correlation between them with the seismic data has been attempted. Study and analysis of Bhuj region using various remote sensing techniques including surface temperature changes, InSAR studies and GPS have also been attempted to identify earthquake precursors on different scales and the areas susceptible to damage or disaster on different degrees. The Kachchh region is located in Mesozoic rift environment that was earlier characterized by tensional stresses, but present-day compressive stress regime suggests that this region is undergoing a stage of inversion tectonics. The present work aims at the application of remote sensing techniques in developing a long-term precursor in the form of landscape changes, before the occurrence of a major earthquake as a result of crustal stress accumulation. It is, therefore, necessary to find out with the help of other precursors whether or not the area is accumulating stress. A minute observation of all the acquired multi-temporal imageries could demarcate minute geomorphological changes in this region, for example, shifting of drainage patterns since the development of paleochannels, slow upliftment/depressions, etc. Moreover, a distinct change in temperature (~5 to 6 °C) could be observed on April 6, 2006, and again on April 10, 2006, in the Kachchh region before the occurrence of tremor, particularly along the Kachchh Mainland Fault, indicating that such tremor generates sufficient stress before the earthquake particularly along the fault line. b values study over the region during last 50 years has also clearly indicated the drastic stress changes particularly before the occurrence of a big earthquake. GPS observations have also indicated a major thrust region lying along ENE–WSW with stress alignment along ENE–WSW. The region on the west of the Kachchh Mainland Fault and the South Wagad Fault can be called as seismic gap region as very few major earthquakes have taken place in this region.     

渤海中部郯庐断裂带的近期活动与渤海新近纪新生断裂

渤海中部的郯庐断裂带在平面上表现为不连续的几条北北东走向断层,地震反射剖面和钻探资料显示断层两侧沉积厚度的巨大差异,表明新近纪以来它们是在沉降运动背景下活动的具有大幅度倾滑位移的正断层,构成渤海盆地内凹陷与凸起的边界。这些断层在剖面上有一定弯曲和倾斜,向下延伸深度不超过10~12km。在此深度以上的地壳浅部,没有水平方向位移以及其它直接变形证据表明郯庐断裂带有走滑运动分量。从地震机制解得到的走滑断层运动反映渤海地区地壳深部的变形及相应的构造应力状态,与浅部残留的伸展构造应力同时存在。根据断裂力学分析,认为中新世末以来渤海浅层新近系内出现的大量近东西向小断裂可能是现代构造应力场作用的结果,与郯庐断裂带或其它基底老断裂没有继承性或派生的成因关系。     

Seismotectonics of strike–slip earthquakes within the deep crust of southern Italy: Geometry, kinematics, stress field and crustal rheology of the Potenza 1990–1991 seismic sequences (Mmax 5.7)

We present a revision and a seismotectonic interpretation of deep crust strike–slip earthquake sequences that occurred in 1990–1991 in the Southern Apennines (Potenza area). The revision is motivated by: i) the striking similarity to a seismic sequence that occurred in 2002  140 km NNW, in an analogous tectonic context (Molise area), suggesting a common seismotectonic environment of regional importance; ii) the close proximity of such deep strike–slip seismicity with shallow extensional seismicity (Apennine area); and iii) the lack of knowledge about the mechanical properties of the crust that might justify the observed crustal seismicity. A comparison between the revised 1990–1991 earthquakes and the 2002 earthquakes, as well as the integration of seismological data with a rheological analysis offer new constraints on the regional seismotectonic context of crustal seismicity in the Southern Apennines. The seismological revision consists of a relocation of the aftershock sequences based on newly constrained velocity models. New focal mechanisms of the aftershocks are computed and the active state of stress is constrained via the use of a stress inversion technique. The relationships among the observed seismicity, the crustal structure of the Southern Apennines, and the rheological layering are analysed along a crustal section crossing southern Italy, by computing geotherms and two-mechanism (brittle frictional vs. ductile plastic strength) rheological profiles. The 1990–1991 seismicity is concentrated in a well-defined depth range (mostly between 15 and 23 km depths). This depth range corresponds to the upper pat of the middle crust underlying the Apulian sedimentary cover, in the footwall of the easternmost Apennine thrust system. The 3D distribution of the aftershocks, the fault kinematics, and the stress inversion indicate the activation of a right-lateral strike–slip fault striking N100°E under a stress field characterized by a sub-horizontal N142°-trending σ1 and a sub-horizontal N232°-trending σ3, very similar to the known stress field of the Gargano seismic zone in the Apulian foreland. The apparent anomalous depths of the earthquakes (> 15 km) and the confinement within a relatively narrow depth range are explained by the crustal rheology, which consists of a strong brittle layer at mid crustal depths sandwiched between two plastic horizons. This articulated rheological stratification is typical of the central part of the Southern Apennine crust, where the Apulian crust is overthrusted by Apennine units. Both the Potenza 1990–1991 and the Molise 2002 seismic sequences can be interpreted to be due to crustal E–W fault zones within the Apulian crust inherited from previous tectonic phases and overthrusted by Apennine units during the Late Pliocene–Middle Pleistocene. The present strike–slip tectonic regime reactivated these fault zones and caused them to move with an uneven mechanical behaviour; brittle seismogenic faulting is confined to the strong brittle part of the middle crust. This strong brittle layer might also act as a stress guide able to laterally transmit the deviatoric stresses responsible for the strike–slip regime in the Apulian crust and may explain the close proximity (nearly overlapping) of the strike–slip and normal faulting regimes in the Southern Apennines. From a methodological point of view, it seems that rather simple two-mechanism rheological profiles, though affected by uncertainties, are still a useful tool for estimating the rheological properties and likely seismogenic behaviour of the crust.     

Rheological behaviour of the crust in Southern Apennine (Italy): results from a thermal and seismological study

To add information on the brittle/ductile transition of the Southern Apennine, we investigated a rheological profile of the crust along a WSW–ENE‐oriented cross‐section running from Neapolitan Volcanic Zone to Apulia foreland. The rheological model was obtained computing a thermal modelling and constrained by a relocalization of earthquakes of the area. Results show that the area is characterized by horizontal rheological variations, with two horizons interlayered with ductile horizons, that are quite predominant with respect to vertical ones. The horizontal stratification of lithospheric rheology has important geodynamic consequence and could provide new insights to better understand the tectonic processes which have played a major role to construct the Southern Apennine belt. Results of this study suggested that well‐constrained rheological models, built integrating information from both relocated earthquakes and thermal state, could give important hints on the mechanical behaviour of the crust and its related tectonic processes.     

Source parameters of earthquakes in the reservoir-triggered seismic (RTS) zone of Koyna–Warna, Western India

New empirical relations are derived for source parameters of the Koyna–Warna reservoir-triggered seismic zone in Western India using spectral analysis of 38 local earthquakes in the magnitude range M _L 3.5–5.2. The data come from a seismic network operated by the CSIR-National Geophysical Research Institute, India, during March 2005 to April 2012 in this region. The source parameters viz. seismic moment, source radius, corner frequency and stress drop for the various events lie in the range of 10¹³–10¹⁶ Nm, 0.1–0.4 km, 2.9–9.4 Hz and 3–26 MPa, respectively. Linear relationships are obtained among the seismic moment (M ₀), local magnitude (M _L), moment magnitude (M _w), corner frequency (fc) and stress drop (?σ). The stress drops in the Koyna–Warna region are found to increase with magnitude as well as focal depths of earthquakes. Interestingly, accurate depths derived from moment tensor inversion of earthquake waveforms show a strong correlation with the stress drops, seemingly characteristic of the Koyna–Warna region.     

Tectonic indentation in the central Alboran Sea (westernmost Mediterranean)

The Alboran Sea constitutes a Neogene–Quaternary basin of the Betic–Rif Cordillera, which has been deformed since the Late Miocene during the collision between the Eurasian and African plates in the westernmost Mediterranean. NNE–SSW sinistral and WNW–ESE dextral conjugate fault sets forming a 75° angle surround a rigid basement spur of the African plate, and are the origin of most of the shallow seismicity of the central Alboran Sea. Northward, the faults decrease their transcurrent slip, becoming normal close to the tip point, while NNW–SSE normal and sparse ENE–WSW reverse to transcurrent faults are developed. The uplifting of the Alboran Ridge ENE–WSW antiform above a detachment level was favoured by the crustal layering. Despite the recent anticlockwise rotation of the Eurasian–African convergence trend in the westernmost Mediterranean, these recent deformations—consistent with indenter tectonics characterised by a N164°E trend of maximum compression—entail the highest seismic hazard of the Alboran Sea.     

阿尔金断裂带东段地区深浅部构造综合分析

阿尔金断裂带东段地区的地质构造特征及其动力学机制一直是地学工作者关注的焦点。近年来小震资料越来越多应用到活动断裂空间展布、深浅构造分析及动力学机制研究领域。本文应用双差定位法获得研究区域2008～2017年间6013次地震事件的精确定位数据,通过多条小震深度剖面清晰刻画出断裂系统的空间展布形态。综合石油地震剖面、人工地震宽角反射/折射剖面、人工地震深反射剖面,充分利用小震精确定位信息以及浅表活动构造研究成果,建立研究区断裂系统的深浅部构造模型。研究区莫霍面由北往南逐渐加深,存在三处断错,呈阶梯状展布,地壳内存在一条厚约10km的低速层,在该层以上为地震多发区,断裂系统总体呈"Y"字型,上部为一系列叠瓦状逆冲断裂,造成祁连山的隆升,向下并入一条主干断层。最后探讨了青藏高原东北缘地区构造运动的动力学机制,亚洲板块俯冲至祁连山前,上地壳以逆冲推覆构造模式造成上地壳增厚现象,而中下地壳主要为亚洲岩石圈地幔下插,上地幔的拖曳作用下发生流动引起地壳增厚,上下地壳整体增厚。     

青藏高原板内地震震源深度分布规律及其成因

青藏高原板内地震以浅源地震为主, 下地壳基本上没有地震, 地震震源多集中在15~40 km的深度范围, 主要在中地壳内, 呈似层状弥散分布.其中30~33 km深度是一个优势层, 与壳内分层有关.总体上青藏高原南、北部的震源面略呈相向倾斜特征.70~100 km深度区间出现了比较集中的震级较小的地震, 可能与壳幔过渡带的拆离作用有关.高原内部的正断层系与板内地震密切相关, 是板内浅源地震的主控构造.总之, 青藏高原地震震源沿着活动的上地壳脆性层与软弱层之间的脆-韧性过渡带分布.这些板内地震活动属于大陆动力学过程, 与板块碰撞和板块俯冲无关.初步认为青藏高原浅层到深层多震层的成因分别是韧性基底与脆性盖层、韧性下地壳与脆性上地壳、韧性下地壳与脆性上地幔的韧-脆性转换、拆离和解耦的产物.      

Exploring the association between the occurrence of earthquakes and the geologic-tectonic variables in the Red Sea using logistic regression and GIS

Al-Ahmadi et al. (Arab J Geosci doi:10.1007/s12517-013-0974-6, 2013) applied spatial pattern analysis techniques to a seismic data catalogue of earthquakes beneath the Red Sea in order to explore and detect global and local spatial patterns in the occurrence of earthquakes over the years from 1900 to 2009 using a geographical information system (GIS). They found that the techniques of spatial pattern analysis that they applied could detect global and local clusters and broader spatial patterns in the occurrence of earthquakes and concluded that earthquakes with higher magnitudes were notably concentrated beneath the central and southern areas of the Red Sea, while earthquakes with low and moderate magnitudes were concentrated beneath the northern area of the Red Sea. The aim of this paper is to report on the application of logistic regression models to explore the associations between the likelihood of the occurrence of an earthquake beneath the Red Sea and four selected variables, namely: (1) proximity to the boundary of the African–Arabian plates, (2) proximity to transform faults, (3) proximity to the mid-Red Sea ridge and (4) the stage of rift evolution. The study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of logistic regression modelling for research exploring potential associations between earthquakes and geological and tectonic variables. The results revealed that none of the assumptions underpinning the logistic regression models had been violated for the three logistic regression models that were used in this research. The authors inferred that the occurrence of the earthquakes beneath the Red Sea was statistically significantly associated with the proximity to the African–Arabian plate boundary. We concluded that earthquakes of moderate magnitudes occurred in the zone which represents the late evolutionary stage of the Red Sea rift, including the transition zone beneath the central area and the late-stage continental rift zone beneath the northern area of the Red Sea. In contrast, earthquakes with high magnitudes tended to occur in close proximity to the mid-ridges of the Red Sea.     

Joints,faults and palaeostress evolution in the Campo de Dalias (Betic Cordilleras,southeastern Spain)

The Campo de Dal??as, located between the central and eastern Betic Cordilleras, shows an evolution determined by the overprinting of two main stress fields since Pliocene times. The first of these develops hybrid and tensional joint sets up to Pleistocene (100 000 yr) and is characterized by NNW–SSE horizontal trend of compression and an ENE–WSW horizontal extension. The second stress field has prolate to triaxial extensional ellipsoids, also with ENE–WSW horizontal extension, and continues to be active today. The most recent stresses produce the reactivation of previous joints as faults whose trends are comprised mainly from N120°E to N170°E and have a normal and transtensional regime, with dextral or sinistral components. The palaeostress evolution of this region is similar to that undergone by other basins of the Eastern Betic Cordilleras, although the Pliocene–Pleistocene transcurrent deformations in the Campo de Dal??as only develop joints and not strike-slip faults.     

Jointly determined focal parameters along a fault in California's northern coast range

The authors recently determined seismic parameters of earthquakes located along a lineation of microearthquakes in the Coast Range Province of northern California (Dehlinger and Bolt, 1984). The lineation closely follows the mapped Bartlett Springs fault zone, which is considered to be the source of seismic activity. This fault strikes N40°W for about 40 km and the mapped fault zone consists of a 2–3 km-wide belt of melange. Earthquake hypocenters indicate that this belt dips steeply to the northeast, with shocks occurring along multiple dislocation planes that together extend downward to depths of about 12 km.Focal mechanisms and associated stress fields were determined for 22 of the best recorded recent shocks along the earthquake lineation. Analyses of these shocks provided a comparison between individually and jointly determined focal mechanisms and of the directions of the corresponding stress axes, for identical shocks along the entire fault length. Thirteen of the shocks exhibited right-lateral, San Andreas type of source motions. Average values of these 13 individually determined focal parameters are within the standard deviation of the same set of jointly determined values. It is thus verified that the probability model algorithm for joint parameters determinations developed by Brillinger et al. (1980) yields reliable values of focal parameters. Moreover, the jointly determined parameters appear to be more reliable than the average-determined ones. The focal mechanisms and associated stress fields along the entire length of the Bartlett Springs fault zone are consistent with shearing motions between the North American and Pacific lithospheric plates that produce displacements along the San Andreas transform fault.     

Seismogenic Tectonics and Dynamics of the 2011 Ms5.9 Yingjiang Earthquake in Yunnan,China

In the southern South–North Seismic Zone, China, seismic activity in the Yingjiang area of western Yunnan increased from December 2010, and eventually a destructive earthquake of Ms5.9 occurred near Yingjiang town on 10 March 2011. The focal mechanism and hypocenter location of the mainshock suggest that the Dayingjiang Fault was the site of the mainshock rupture. However, most of foreshocks and all aftershocks recorded by a portable seismic array located close to the mainshock occurred along the N–S-striking Sudian Fault, indicating that this fault had an important influence on these shocks. Coulomb stress calculations show that three strong(magnitude ≥5.0) earthquakes that occurred in the study region in 2008 increased the coulomb stress along the plane parallel to the Dayingjiang Fault. This supports the Dayingjiang Fault, and not the Sudian Fault, as the seismogenic fault of the 2011 Ms5.9 Yingjiang earthquake. The strong earthquakes in 2008 also increased the Coulomb stress at depths of ≤5 km along the entire Sudian Fault, and by doing so increased the shallow seismic activity along the fault. This explains why the foreshocks and aftershocks of the 2011 Yingjiang earthquake were located mostly on the Sudian Fault where it cuts the shallow crust. The earthquakes at the intersection of the Sudian and Dayingjiang faults are distributed mainly along a belt that dips to the southeast at ~40°, suggesting that the Dayingjiang Fault in the mainshock area also dips to the southeast at ~40°.     

Wrench structural deformation in Ras Al Hilal-Al Athrun area, NE Libya: a new contribution in Northern Al Jabal Al Akhdar Belt

Al Jabal Al Akhdar is a NE/SW- to ENE/WSW-trending mobile part in Northern Cyrenaica province and is considered a large sedimentary belt in northeast Libya. Ras Al Hilal-Al Athrun area is situated in the northern part of this belt and is covered by Upper Cretaceous–Tertiary sedimentary successions with small outcrops of Quaternary deposits. Unmappable and very restricted thin layers of Palaeocene rocks are also encountered, but still under debate whether they are formed in situ or represent allochthonous remnants of Palaeocene age. The Upper Cretaceous rocks form low-lying to unmappable exposures and occupy the core of a major WSW-plunging anticline. To the west, south, and southeast, they are flanked by high-relief Eocene, Oligocene, and Lower Miocene rocks. Detailed structural analyses indicated structural inversion during Late Cretaceous–Miocene times in response to a right lateral compressional shear. The structural pattern is themed by the development of an E–W major shear zone that confines inside a system of wrench tectonics proceeded elsewhere by transpression. The deformation within this system revealed three phases of consistent ductile and brittle structures (D₁, D₂, and D₃) conformable with three main tectonic stages during Late Cretaceous, Eocene, and Oligocene–Early Miocene times. Quaternary deposits, however, showed at a local scale some of brittle structures accommodated with such deformation and thus reflect the continuity of wrenching post-the Miocene. D₁ deformation is manifested, in Late Cretaceous, via pure wrenching to convergent wrenching and formation of common E- to ENE-plunging folds. These folds are minor, tight, overturned, upright, and recumbent. They are accompanied with WNW–ESE to E–W dextral and N–S sinistral strike-slip faults, reverse to thrust faults and pop-up or flower structures. D₂ deformation initiated at the end of Lutetian (Middle Eocene) by wrenching and elsewhere transpression then enhanced by the development of minor ENE–WSW to E–W asymmetric, close, and, rarely, recumbent folds as well as rejuvenation of the Late Cretaceous strike-slip faults and formation of minor NNW–SSE normal faults. At the end of Eocene, D₂ led to localization of the movement within E–W major shear zone, formation of the early stage of the WSW-plunging Ras Al Hilal major anticline, preservation of the contemporaneity (at a major scale) between the synthetic WNW–ESE to E–W and ENE–WSW strike-slip faults and antithetic N–S strike-slip faults, and continuity of the NW–SE normal faults. D₃ deformation is continued, during the Oligocene-Early Miocene, with the appearance of a spectacular feature of the major anticline and reactivation along the E–W shear zone and the preexisting faults. Estimating stress directions assumed an acted principal horizontal stress from the NNW (N33°W) direction.