Open AccessSeismotectonics of Jamaica
Author(s) -
WigginsGrandison Margaret D.,
Atakan Kuvvet
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geophysical journal international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.302
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1365-246X
pISSN - 0956-540X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-246x.2004.02471.x
Subject(s) - seismotectonics , geology , seismology , fault plane , thrust fault , homogeneous , crust , fault (geology) , slip (aerodynamics) , strike slip tectonics , structural geology , induced seismicity , geophysics , physics , thermodynamics
SUMMARY This is the first seismological investigation of the stress regime in the Jamaican crust. The fault plane solutions of 32 well‐recorded local earthquakes were determined and used as inputs for determining stress directions. The results consistently show that a strike‐slip fault regime ( S H > S v > S h ) exists in three homogeneous crustal areas, namely the Blue Mountain—Wagwater restraining bend of eastern Jamaica, the Rio Minho—Crawle River (RMCR) fault of central Jamaica and the Montpelier–Newmarket belt (MNB) of western Jamaica. However, for the island as a whole, a thrust‐faulting regime ( S H > S h > S v ) was found, but inhomogeneity is implied by the higher level of misfit obtained. These results are in keeping with results of other recent studies in the Jamaica–Cuba region and with the strike‐slip regime of the Gonave microplate boundaries.