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Re-orientation of the extension direction and pure extensional faulting at oblique rift margins: comparison between the Main Ethiopian Rift and laboratory experiments

Re-orientation of the extension direction and pure extensional faulting at oblique rift margins: comparison between the Main Ethiopian Rift and laboratory experiments
Re-orientation of the extension direction and pure extensional faulting at oblique rift margins: comparison between the Main Ethiopian Rift and laboratory experiments
In this study, we draw on a unique combination of well-resolved fault-slip data and earthquake focal mechanisms to constrain spatial variations in style of faulting in the obliquely extending Main Ethiopian Rift, East Africa. These data show that both boundary and internal faults – oblique and orthogonal to the plate divergence (PD) respectively – exhibit almost pure dip-slip motion, and indicate significant local deflection in orientation of the extension direction at rift margins. Scaled analogue models closely replicate the multidisciplinary observations from the rift and suggest that the process is controlled by the presence of a deep-seated, pre-existing weakness – oblique to the direction of PD – that is able to cause a local rotation in the orientation of the extension direction at rift margins. Minor counterclockwise block rotations are required to accommodate the difference in slip direction along the different fault systems, as supported by existing and new palaeomagnetic data from the rift.
396-404
Corti, Giacomo
dce88b12-5b7a-43b1-8a58-5bd1bc13634c
Philippon, Melody
359e8d3b-b4f0-40d2-91ec-ba5a52e883fc
Sani, Federico
6c59b4c4-ecca-4ecc-ba2c-66efa5e5e3df
Keir, Derek
5616f81f-bf1b-4678-a167-3160b5647c65
Kidane, Tesfaye
57285951-0004-4d5f-92ce-c4690c7ae813
Corti, Giacomo
dce88b12-5b7a-43b1-8a58-5bd1bc13634c
Philippon, Melody
359e8d3b-b4f0-40d2-91ec-ba5a52e883fc
Sani, Federico
6c59b4c4-ecca-4ecc-ba2c-66efa5e5e3df
Keir, Derek
5616f81f-bf1b-4678-a167-3160b5647c65
Kidane, Tesfaye
57285951-0004-4d5f-92ce-c4690c7ae813

Corti, Giacomo, Philippon, Melody, Sani, Federico, Keir, Derek and Kidane, Tesfaye (2013) Re-orientation of the extension direction and pure extensional faulting at oblique rift margins: comparison between the Main Ethiopian Rift and laboratory experiments. Terra Nova, 25 (5), 396-404. (doi:10.1111/ter.12049).

Record type: Article

Abstract

In this study, we draw on a unique combination of well-resolved fault-slip data and earthquake focal mechanisms to constrain spatial variations in style of faulting in the obliquely extending Main Ethiopian Rift, East Africa. These data show that both boundary and internal faults – oblique and orthogonal to the plate divergence (PD) respectively – exhibit almost pure dip-slip motion, and indicate significant local deflection in orientation of the extension direction at rift margins. Scaled analogue models closely replicate the multidisciplinary observations from the rift and suggest that the process is controlled by the presence of a deep-seated, pre-existing weakness – oblique to the direction of PD – that is able to cause a local rotation in the orientation of the extension direction at rift margins. Minor counterclockwise block rotations are required to accommodate the difference in slip direction along the different fault systems, as supported by existing and new palaeomagnetic data from the rift.

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More information

Published date: October 2013
Organisations: Geology & Geophysics

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 360301
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/360301
PURE UUID: c557b9a1-d96a-4e8f-9cd9-aba0edc2e276
ORCID for Derek Keir: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-8787-8446

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 03 Dec 2013 13:52
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:38

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Contributors

Author: Giacomo Corti
Author: Melody Philippon
Author: Federico Sani
Author: Derek Keir ORCID iD
Author: Tesfaye Kidane

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