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Earthquake focal mechanism and oceanic thrust in Easter Microplate Analogy with Oman ophiolite
Author(s) -
Delouis B.,
Nicolas A.,
Ildefonse B.,
Philip H.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/98gl00984
Subject(s) - ophiolite , geology , seismology , obduction , oceanic crust , thrust fault , focal mechanism , plate tectonics , intraplate earthquake , interpretation (philosophy) , inversion (geology) , subduction , crust , thrust , geophysics , tectonics , physics , computer science , programming language , thermodynamics
Previous work has suggested compression and thrust faulting along the northern boundary of the Easter microplate due to its motion relative to the Nazca plate. Inversion of the P and SH seismic waves related to a recent M s =7.1 earthquake located along the northern boundary of the Easter microplate indicates a thin sliver of crust thrusting at a shallow angle towards the South, giving support to this interpretation. The Oman ophiolite where similar thrusts have been mapped has been recently interpreted as being derived from similar microplate environment [ Boudier et al., 1997]. This interpretation 1) provides possible tests to document the existence of oceanic thrusts near microplates, and 2) suggests a new solution to the problem of how many ophiolites could have obtained oceanic detachment faults which will favour obduction.