Tofiño-Xauen Bank Northern Flank: ME014 (Debated fault)

Identification - compilation

Identification

Identification code :

ME014

Fault name :

Tofiño-Xauen Bank Northern Flank

Identification method :

Marine Geophysical methods (MCS)

Geological and geographical set :

Alboran Sea (Offshore Africa)

Compilation

Name/s of the compiler/s :

García-Mayordomo, J., Canora, C. and Perea, H.

Filiation/s :

IGME, UAM, UCM

E-mail :

julian.garcia@igme.es

Latest update :

2019-10-30

Location

Geometry and kinematics

Conventions

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Average strike (º) :

Variability/Error:

± 5

Source:

Brief comment:

Based on Gràcia et al. (2019) faults map.

Dip (º) :

Variability/Error:

± 20

Source:

Brief comment:

Álvarez-Gómez et al. (2011) for tsunamigenic source modelling

Rake (º) :

Variability/Error:

+ 15 / - 20

Source:

Brief comment:

Álvarez-Gómez et al. (2011) for tsunamigenic source modelling

Sense of movement :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Álvarez-Gómez et al. (2011) for tsunamigenic source modelling

Length (km) :

Variability/Error:

± 5

Source:

Brief comment:

Based on Gràcia et al. (2019) faults map.

Min depth (km) :

Variability/Error:

± 52

Source:

Brief comment:

From observations on MCS lines from Gómez de la Peña (2017) fault seems sealed by Upper Pliocene to Q deposits. Álvarez-Gómez et al. (2011) considered 0 km for tsunamigenic source modelling

Max depth (km) :

Variability/Error:

+ 5 / - 2

Source:

Brief comment:

Álvarez-Gómez et al. (2011). Lower depth of the instrumental seismicity according to IGN online seismic data base is 11 km.

Width (km) :

12.728

Variability/Error:

12.137/37.8

Source:

Brief comment:

Area (km²) :

852.771

Variability/Error:

534/2044

Source:

Brief comment:

Quaternary activity Strength: Not rated

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Quaternary activity evidence :

No apparent deformation of Quaternary reflectors are observed on the north flank (Chalouan etal1997; Gómez 2017). However, thinning of Plio-Quaternary reflectors on the south flank may be related to tectonic uplift of the Tofiño bank (Calvert etal 1997).

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

MSC on the northern flank shows no compelling evidence of Quaternary activity (Chalouan et al., 1997; Gómez de la Peña, 2017). Chalouan etal 1997, M-G etal 2017 show evidence of Quaternary folding a tilting on the southern flank of the Tofiño-Xauen banks.

Age of the youngest deposits or landforms affected by the fault :

Plio-Quaternary

Variability/Error:

Pliocene

Source:

Brief comment:

Activity on the north flank may have diminished or stopped during Quaternary (Gómez de la Peña, 2017). Chalouan et al. (1997) evidences Quaternary activity on the south flank, related to a different fault (Jebha offshore).

Slip rate Accuracy: Not rated

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Vertical Slip Rate VSR (m/ky) :

0.6

Variability/Error:

<0.6

Source:

Brief comment:

Chalouan et al. (1997) from a rough uplift estimation of the fold crest since Late Tortonian. This value must be regarded as an overestimation as provides around 4 km uplift while more active Alboran Rigde North fault provides 1-2 km (Gómez, 2017).

Horizontal Slip Rate HSR (m/ky) :

0.227

Variability/Error:

<0.227

Source:

Brief comment:

From NSR and assumed rake. This value must be regarded as an overestimation.

Net Slip Rate NSR (m/ky) :

0.878

Variability/Error:

<0.878

Source:

Brief comment:

From VSR, dip and assumed rake. This value must be regarded as an overestimation and more likely attributed to the southern flank fault rather than the northern one.

Paleoearthquakes

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Net slip per event at the Surface (m) :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Unknown

Number of Seismic Events :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Unknown

Evidence of aseismic creep? :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Unknown

Seismic parameters

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Maximum magnitude (Mw) :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Unstated

Recurrence interval (years) :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Unstated

Date of last major earthquake (years) :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Unknow

Extended data and references

References :

Álvarez-Gómez, J. A., Aniel-Quiroga, Í., González, M., Olabarrieta, M., Carreño, E., 2011. Scenarios for earthquake-generated tsunamis on the Alboran Sea, Western Mediterranean. Marine Geology, 284:55-73.

Calvert, A., Gomez, F., Seber, D., Barazangi, M., Jabour, N., Ibenbrahim, A., & Demnati, A. (1997). An integrated geophysical investigation of recent seismicity in the Al-Hoceima region of North Morocco. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 87(3), 637-651.

Chalouan, A., Saji, R., Michard, A., & Bally, A. W. (1997). Neogene tectonic evolution of the southwestern Alboran Basin as inferred from seismic data off Morocco. AAPG bulletin, 81(7), 1161-1184.

Gómez de la Peña, L. (2017) The origin and tectono-sedimentary structure of the Alboran Basin. Tesis doctoral, Universidad de Barcelona, 327 pp.

Gràcia, E., Grevemeyer, I., Bartolomé, R., Perea, H., Martínez-Loriente, S., Gómez de la Peña, L., Villaseñor, A., Klinger, Y., Lo Iacono, C., Diez, S., Calahorrano, A., Camafort, M., Costa, S., d'Acremont, E., Rabaute, A., Ranero, C. (2019). Earthquake crisis unveils the growth of an incipient continental fault system. Nature Communications, 10:3482.doi:10.1038/s41467-019-11064-5.

Martínez-García, P., Soto, J. I., & Comas, M. (2011). Recent structures in the Alboran Ridge and Yusuf fault zones based on swath bathymetry and sub-bottom profiling: evidence of active tectonics. Geo-Marine Letters, 31(1), 19-36.

Martínez-García, P., Comas, M., Lonergan, L., & Watts, A. B. (2017). From extension to shortening: Tectonic inversion distributed in time and space in the Alboran sea, western Mediterranean. Tectonics, 36, 2777–2805. doi:10.1002/2017TC004489

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