Baza: ES686

Identification - compilation

Identification

Identification code :

ES686

Fault name :

Baza

Identification method :

Geological/Geomorphological field mapping and geophysical methods

Geological and geographical set :

Betic Range (Granada)

Compilation

Name/s of the compiler/s :

Alfaro, P., García-Tortosa, F.J., Martín-Rojas, I., Medina-Cascales, I.

Filiation/s :

Universidad de Alicante, Universidad de Jaén

E-mail :

Pedro.Alfaro@ua.es

Latest update :

2021-12-03

Location

Geometry and kinematics

Conventions

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Average strike (º) :

341

Variability/Error:

310-370

Source:

Brief comment:

Calculated from the tips of the main fault trace, which varies its orientation from the S part to the N part. Some branches are very long. Alfaro et al. (2008); Sanz de Galdeano et al. (2012); Castro et al. (2018); Medina et a 2020; Medina-Cascales, 2021.

Dip (º) :

Variability/Error:

45-65

Source:

Brief comment:

Average dip as observed at surface. Deep geometry is listric, as observed in seismic sections. Alfaro et al. (2008); Sanz de Galdeano et al. (2012), Haberland et al. (2017); Castro et al. (2018)

Rake (º) :

-90

Variability/Error:

-75 to -95

Source:

Brief comment:

Sanz de Galdeano et al. (2012); Medina-Cascales et al. (2020)

Sense of movement :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

The striations visible on different surfaces indicate purely normal movements (Sanz de Galdeano et al., 2012).

Length (km) :

Variability/Error:

33-38

Source:

Brief comment:

Lenght of the fault trace as observed in the field. The width of the fault zone varies from ca. 0.2 km in the N, with one main strand, to ca. 7 km in the S, with more than 13 strands (Castro et al., 2018). Medina-Cascales et al 2020; Medina-Cascales, 2021

Min depth (km) :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Outcrops at the surface (Alfaro et al., 2008; Sanz de Galdeano et al., 2012; Castro et al., 2018).

Max depth (km) :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

The estimated depth from geologic features, gravimetric studies and seismic exploration is deeper than 5 km. Value is the depth of the seismogenic crust in the region: 11 km (García-Mayordomo, 2005).

Width (km) :

12.137

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Area (km²) :

485.486

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Quaternary activity Strength: A+

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Quaternary activity evidence :

It generates a mountain front of more than 25 km long developed in Plio-Quaternary sediments of the basin infill. Secondary branches generate conspicuous topographic scarps, which can be continued laterally for several hundreds of meters and even for kms.

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Considering its associated seismicity and the obtained GPS short-slip rates, the Baza Fault seems to be more active in its northern part (García-Tortosa et al., 2011; Sanz de Galdeano et al., 2012; Castro et al., 2018; Alfaro et al., 2021).

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

ca 1000 AD

Variability/Error:

865-1125 cal. yr AD

Source:

Brief comment:

Paleoseismological data from Castro et al (2018)

Slip rate Accuracy: A

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Vertical Slip Rate VSR (m/ky) :

0.33

Variability/Error:

0.17-0.49

Source:

Brief comment:

Preferred value is the mean considering geological and geomorphological markers (glacis surface) from the Middle Pleistocene. Variability considers the age of a calcrete dated 200 to 600 ka (García-Tortosa et al., 2011). Discussion in Castro et al (2018)

Horizontal Slip Rate HSR (m/ky) :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

HSR=0, assumed pure dip-slip faulting.

Net Slip Rate NSR (m/ky) :

0.45

Variability/Error:

0.20-0.69

Source:

Brief comment:

Castro et al. (2018) from García-Tortosa et al. (2011) data. Geodetic short-term slip rates (Alfaro et al., 2021) estimate 1.3 ± 0.4 and 0.3 ± 0.3 mm/yr for the northern and southern sector, respectively.

Paleoearthquakes

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Net slip per event at the Surface (m) :

0.4

Variability/Error:

0.8-0.3

Source:

Brief comment:

Paleoseismological data from Castro et al (2018) (Altichuelas and Carrizal trenches)

Number of Seismic Events :

Variability/Error:

8-10

Source:

Brief comment:

Paleoseismological data from Castro et al (2018) (Altichuelas and Carrizal trenches). 8-10 events since 45000 BC.

Evidence of aseismic creep? :

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

Unknown

Seismic parameters

Variability/Error

Source

Brief comment

Maximum magnitude (Mw) :
Reliability: A

6.8

Variability/Error:

6.6-7.1

Source:

Brief comment:

Castro et al (2018) evidences surface rupturing events (Mw>5.9). Value shown is average from different empirical relationships (see Medina-Cascales et al., 2020; Medina-Cascales, 2021).

Recurrence interval (years) :
Reliability: A

4950

Variability/Error:

4750-5150

Source:

Brief comment:

Paleoseismological data from Castro et al (2018). Recurrence based on empirical estimations of Mw provide values around 2100 years (see Medina-Cascales et al., 2020)

Date of last major earthquake (years) :

1531 AD

Variability/Error:

Source:

Brief comment:

The Baza 1531 AD event (Mw 6.0) is very likely related to the Baza fault (Sanz de Galdeano et al., 2012).

Associated seismicity

Terremoto de Baza de 1531

Name of the event :

Terremoto de Baza de 1531

Date :

30/09/1531

Location :

-2.5333, 37.5333

Intensity and/or magnitude :

VIII-IX, 6.0+-0.6 macroseismic

Source of seismic data :

I.G.N.

Basis for association :

Geographic proximity

Brief comment or references :

Possible associated seismicity

Extended data and references

Explanation :

ES682-ES699.rar

References :

Alfaro, P., Delgado, J., Sanz de Galdeano, C., Galindo Zaldívar, J., García Tortosa, F.J., López Garrido, A.C., López Casado, C., Marín, C., Gil, A., and Borque, M.J. (2008). The Baza Fault: a major active extensional fault in the Central Betic Cordillera (South Spain). Int. J. Earth Sci. 97, 1353-1365.

Alfaro, P., Gibert, L., Moretti, M., García-Tortosa, F.J., Sanz de Galdeano, C., Galindo-Zaldívar, J. y López Garrido, A.C.( 2010). Giant seismites in the Plio-Pleistocene Baza paleolake (S Spain). Terra Nova 22, 172-179.

Alfaro, P., Sánchez-Alzola, A., Martin-Rojas, I., García-Tortosa, F.J., Galindo-Zaldívar, J., Avilés, M., López-Garrido, A.C., Sanz de Galdeano, C., Ruano, P., Martínez, F., Pedrera, A., Lacy, M.C., Borque, M.J., Medina-Cascales, I., Gil, A.J. (2021) Geodetic fault slip-rates on active faults in the Baza sub-Basin (SE Spain): insights for Seismic Hazard Assessment. Journal of Geodynamics, 144, 101815. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jog.2021.101815

Castro, J., Martin-Rojas, I., Medina-Cascales, I., García-Tortosa, F.J., Alfaro, P. and Insua-Arévalo, J.M. (2018). Active faulting in the central Betic Cordillera (Spain): Palaeoseismological constraint of the surface-rupturing history of the Baza Fault (Central Betic Cordillera, Iberian Peninsula). Tectonophysics 736, 15-30.

García Tortosa, F.J., Sanz de Galdeano, C., Alfaro, P. y Ureña, M. (2007). El glacis de la cuenca de Guadix-Baza. Una superficie de referencia para el análisis tectónico y la evolución geomorfológica de la cuenca, en La cuenca de Guadix-Baza. Estructura, tectónica activa, sismicidad, geomorfología y dataciones existentes (Sanz de Galdeano, C., y Peláez, J.A., eds.), Granada, 111-126

García Tortosa, F.J., Sanz de Galdeano, C., Alfaro, P., Galindo Zaldívar, J., y Peláez, J.A. (2007). La falla y los pliegues de Galera, en La cuenca de Guadix-Baza. Estructura, tectónica activa, sismicidad, geomorfología y dataciones existentes (Sanz de Galdeano, C., y Peláez, J.A., eds.), Granada, 141-153.

García-Tortosa, F.J., Sanz de Galdeano, C., Alfaro, P., Galindo-Zaldívar, J. (2008). Deformación reciente de la Cuenca de Guadix-Baza. GeoTemas 10, 1007-1010.

García Tortosa, F.J., Alfaro, P., Galindo Zaldívar, J., Gibert, L., López Garrido, A.C., Sanz de Galdeano, C., and Ureña, M. (2008). Geomorphologic evidence of the active Baza Fault (Betic Cordillera, South Spain). Geomorphology 97, 374-391.

García-Tortosa, F.J., Alfaro, P., Sanz de Galdeano, C. y Galindo-Zaldívar, J. (2011). Glacis geometry as a geomorphic marker of recent tectonics: The Guadix-Baza Basin (South Spain). Geomorphology, doi.: 10.1016/j.geomorph.2010.10.021.

Haberland, C., Gibert, L., Jurado, M.J., Stiller, M., Baumann-Wilke, M., Scott, G., Mertz, D.F. (2017). Architecture and tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the intramontane Baza Basin (Bétics, SE-Spain): constraints from seismic imaging. Tectonophysics 709, 69–84.

Medina-Cascales, I., Martin-Rojas, I., García-Tortosa, F., Peláez, J.A., Alfaro, P. (2020) Geometry and kinematics of the Baza Fault (central Betic Cordillera, S Spain): insights into its seismic potential. Geologica Acta 18: 1-25. DOI: 10.1344/GeologicaActa2020.18.11

Medina-Cascales, I. (2021) Geometry, kinematics and palaeoseismology of the Baza and Galera fault zones (Guadix-Baza Basin, Betic Cordillera). Tesis doctoral. Universidad de Alicante 380 pp. ISBN: 978-84-09-33095-9

Peláez, J.A., Sanz de Galdeano, C., y López Casado, C. (2007). Determinación preliminar del potencial sísmico de la Cuenca de Guadix-Baza (Granada). 3er Congreso Nacional de Ingeniería Sísmica. Girona (España).

Peláez, J.A., Sanz de Galdeano, C., y López Casado, C. (2007). Peligrosidad sísmica en la Cuenca de Guadix-Baza a partir de datos de fallas activa, en La Cuenca de Guadix-Baza. Estructura, Tectónica activa, sismicidad, Geomorfología y dataciones existentes (C. Sanz de Galdeano & J.A. Peláez, eds.). Granada. 301-310.

Pérez-Peña, J.V., Azañón, J.M., Azor, A., Tuccimei, P., Della Seta, M., Soligo, M. (2009b). Quaternary landscape evolution and erosion rates for an intramontane Neogene basin (Guadix-Baza basin, SE Spain). Geomorphology 106, 206-218.

Sanz de Galdeano, C., Peláez, J.A., y López Casado, C. (2007). Fallas activas y potencial sísmico de la cuenca de Guadix-Baza, en La cuenca de Guadix-Baza. Estructura, tectónica activa, sismicidad, geomorfología y dataciones existentes (Sanz de Galdeano, C., y Peláez, J.A., eds.), Granada, 283-299.

Sanz de Galdeano, C., J.A. Peláez, C. López Casado, P. Alfaro, F.J. García Tortosa, J. Galindo Zaldívar y A.C. López Garrido (2010). Tectónica activa en las cuencas de Granada y Guadix‐Baza (Cordillera Bética, sur de España). En: Contribución de la Geología al Análisis de la Peligrosidad Sísmica (J.M. Insua y F. Martín‐González, eds.), pp. 2‐5. Sigüenza (Guadalajara, España).

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