The Manyas fault zone (southern Marmara region,NW Turkey): active tectonics and paleoseismology

The Manyas fault zone (MFZ) is a splay fault of the Yenice Gönen Fault, which is located on the southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault System. The MFZ is a 38 km long, WNW–ESE-trending and normal fault zone comprised of three en-echelon segments. On 6 October 1964, an earthquake (Ms = 6.9) occurred on the Salur segment. In this study, paleoseismic trench studies were performed along the Salur segment. Based on these paleoseismic trench studies, at least three earthquakes resulting in a surface rupture within the last 4000 years, including the 1964 earthquake have been identified and dated. The penultimate event can be correlated with the AD 1323 earthquake. There is no archaeological and/or historical record that can be associated with the oldest earthquake dated between BP 3800 ± 600 and BP 2300 ± 200 years. Additionally, the trench study performed to the north of the Salur segment demonstrates paleoliquefaction structures crossing each other. The surface deformation that occurred during the 1964 earthquake is determined primarily to be the consequence of liquefaction. According to the fault plane slip data, the MFZ is a purely normal fault demonstrating a listric geometry with a dip of 64°–74° to the NNE.     

Active faulting in the western Pyrénées (France): Paleoseismic evidence for late Holocene ruptures

We have identified a 50-km-long active fault scarp, called herewith the Lourdes Fault, between the city of Lourdes and Arette village in the French Pyrénées. This region was affected by large and moderate earthquakes in 1660 (Io = VIII–IX, MSK 64,), in 1750 (Io = VIII, MSK 64) and in 1967 (M_d = 5.3, Io = VIII, MSK 64). Most earthquakes in this area are shallow and the few available focal mechanism solutions do not indicate a consistent pattern of active deformation. Field investigations in active tectonics indicate an East–West trending and up to 50-m-high fault scarp, in average, made of 3 contiguous linear fault sub-segments. To the north, the fault controls Quaternary basins and shows uplifted and tilted alluvial terraces. Deviated and abandoned stream channels of the southern block are likely due to the successive uplift of the northern block of the fault. Paleoseismic investigations coupled with geomorphic studies, georadar prospecting and trenching along the fault scarp illustrate the cumulative fault movements during the late Holocene. Trenches exhibit shear contacts with flexural slip faulting and thrust ruptures showing deformed alluvial units in buried channels. ¹⁴C dating of alluvial and colluvial units indicates a consistent age bracket from two different trenches and shows that the most recent fault movements occurred between 4221 BC and 2918 BC. Fault parameters and paleoseismic results imply that the Lourdes Fault and related sub-segments may produce a M_W 6.5 to 7.1 earthquake. Fault parameters imply that the Lourdes Fault segment corresponds to a major seismic source in the western Pyrénées that may generate earthquakes possibly larger than the 1660 historical event.     

Historical earthquake activity of the northern part of the Dead Sea Fault Zone, southern Turkey

The northern part of the Dead Sea Fault Zone is one of the major active neotectonic structures of Turkey. The main trace of the fault zone (called Hacıpaşa fault) is mapped in detail in Turkey on the basis of morphological and geological evidence such as offset creeks, fault surfaces, shutter ridges and linear escarpments. Three trenches were opened on the investigated part of the fault zone. Trench studies provided evidence for 3 historical earthquakes and comparing trench data with historical earthquake records showed that these earthquakes occurred in 859 AD, 1408 and 1872. Field evidence, palaeoseismological studies and historical earthquake records indicate that the Hacıpaşa fault takes the significant amount of slip in the northern part of the Dead Sea Fault Zone in Turkey. On the basis of palaeoseismological evidence, it is suggested that the recurrence interval for surface faulting event is 506 ± 42 years on the Hacıpaşa fault.     

琼北老城剖面记录的马袅—铺前断裂西段晚更新世活动历史

马袅-铺前断裂为1605年海南琼山7.5级大地震的发震断裂之一,其活动历史研究对琼北地区地壳稳定性评价、防震减灾以及琼州海峡跨海大桥等重大工程建设有重要意义。地质地貌调查结果表明,马袅-铺前断裂西段由三条近东西向平行展布的北倾阶梯状正断层组成,并构成南北宽约2.5 km的断裂带。老城人工开挖南北宽达70 m的断裂带剖面揭露了该断裂晚更新世活动历史,道堂组光释光(OSL)年代学测试结果表明断裂在距今16~31 ka期间经历了两期活动:第一期表现为南、北相向倾斜的正断活动,累计垂直位移3.3 m;第二期为南倾的正断活动,活动强度较大。马袅-铺前断裂错断不同时代地层的位移量表明该断裂自上新世以来开始活动,第四纪活动强烈,现今仍是琼北控制地震活动的重要断裂。     

龙首山南麓新发现的地震地表破裂带——兼论1954年山丹MS 7?地震发震构造

基于详细的遥感解译和野外调查,发现龙首山南缘断裂发育有较新的地震地表破裂遗迹,包括断层坎、地震鼓包、河道的系统位错等断层地貌标志,破裂带总长度超过20 km,沿断裂走向其垂向位移介于0.35~4 m,水平位移介于0.3~1.9 m,龙首山南缘断裂主体表现为逆冲性质,仅在西端表现为局部左旋走滑的性质。通过剖面和探槽揭示,龙首山南麓地区全新世以来发生多次断层活动,最新的一次在约3.96 ka以来。经过与区域内的强震记录比对,认为此次新发现的地震地表破裂带可能是1954年山丹M_S 7?地震所致。1954年山丹M_S 7?地震在浅表沿两条断裂同时发生了地表破裂,表现为正花状构造的变形样式。这种同震位移分配现象以往多发现于走滑型地震中,此次在逆冲型地震中发现。龙首山南缘断裂地表破裂带的发现为揭示1954年山丹地震的震源过程和破裂样式提供了新的证据和思路。      

元谋断裂晚第四纪活动特征及其构造应力分析

利用冲沟、山脊等断错构造地貌的卫星遥感图像解析,结合野外构造地貌观测以及断层露头剖面的研究,详细分析了元谋断裂一平浪-江边段的晚第四纪活动特征。研究结果表明,元谋断裂一平浪-江边段在晚更新世末期-全新世以左旋走滑活动为主,兼有一定正断层分量,其晚第四纪走滑速率大致为 0.45～2.60mm/a,其中一平浪-大龙潭一带,水平滑动速率约2.00mm/a,垂直滑动速率为0.07mm/a;   木莲旧-秧田井一带,水平滑动速率接近0.53mm/a,垂直滑动速率为0.06mm/a;   乐胜古-江边一带,水平滑动速率接近1.42mm/a,垂直滑动速率为0.04mm/a。同时表明,断裂表现出至少两期明显活动的分段性特征：  较早期活动时间大致为 50.87±4.32～53.23±5.89kaB.P.,为一平浪-秧田井段的最新活动时间,且一平浪-江边整段均活动;   在秧田井-江边段,断裂最新活动时间应晚于17.92±1.52kaB.P.。2008年8月30日的攀枝花61级地震的震源机制解也显示出与元谋断裂晚第四纪左旋走滑的活动特征一致。     

Review of paleoseismological and active fault studies in Taiwan in the light of the Chichi earthquake of September 21, 1999

This paper reviews the research on active and earthquake faults in Taiwan conducted prior and after the 1999 Chichi earthquake. The Chichi earthquake plays as a turning point of the relevant studies, since the 1999 coseismic surface rupture exactly follows preexisting fault scarps, created in turn by previous seismic events along the Chelungpu Fault. This fact indicates that the precise mapping on the other active faults is fundamental to predict the location of surface rupture caused by large future earthquakes. Since 1999, many trenching studies have been carried out along the Chichi earthquake fault. A few of them demonstrates that the penultimate event is as young as probably only 200–430 years old; however, some others show a rather old age of several hundreds years or even older for the last faulting event before 1999. More trenching studies are necessary for such a long fault in order to understand the possible segmentation features and the correlation of the paleoseismic events identified along the entire fault length. In addition, we further discuss the offshore faulting associated with seismic event along the eastern coast of Taiwan, where the multiple Holocene terraces are well known.     

Paleoseismological evidence for non-characteristic behavior of surface rupture associated with the 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture earthquake, central Japan

The 2004 Mid-Niigata Prefecture earthquake sequence (mainshock magnitude, M_JMA 6.8), which occurred in an active fold-and-thrust belt in northern central Japan, generated a small thrust surface rupture (< 20 cm of vertical displacement) along a previously unmapped northern extension of the active Muikamachi–Bonchi–Seien fault zone, on the eastern margin of the epicentral region. To better understand past seismic behavior of the rupture, we conducted a paleoseismic trenching study across the 10-cm-high west-side-up surface rupture at the foot of a pre-existing 1.8-m-high east-facing scarp, which probably resulted from past earthquake(s). A well-defined west-dipping thrust fault zone accompanied by drag folding and displacing the upper Pliocene to lower Pleistocene strata and the unconformably overlying upper Pleistocene (?) to Holocene strata was exposed. The principal fault zone is connected directly to the 2004 surface rupture. From the deformational characteristics of the strata and radiocarbon dating, we inferred that two large paleoseismic events occurred during the past 9000 years prior to the 2004 event. These two pre-2004 events have a nearly identical fault slip (at minimum, 1.5 m), which is ≥ 15 times that of the 2004 event (∼ 10 cm). These paleoseismic data, coupled with the geological and geomorphological features, suggest that the 2004 event represented non-characteristic behavior of the fault, which can potentially generate a more destructive earthquake accompanied by meter-scale surface displacement. This study provides insight into the interpretation of past faulting events and increases our understanding of rupture behavior.     

Surface faulting in Norcia (central Italy): a “paleoseismological perspective”

We carried out paleoseismological analyses in Norcia, one of the oldest town of central Italy. Four trenches were dug in late Pleistocene–Holocene deposits, across an unmapped, antithetic splay of the Norcia Fault System. The investigated fault runs through the recent settlement of the town, brushing against the middle-age city walls. We found evidence of repeated surface ruptures in the past 20 ky, the last one dated to a period fitting with the 1703 AD, catastrophic earthquake (M = 6.8). Our data (i) show definitively the late Pleistocene–Holocene activity of the Norcia Fault System, (ii) strengthen the historical accounts describing surface ruptures during the 1703 event in Norcia, (iii) cast light on the seismogenic behavior of the 70-km-long fault system between L'Aquila and Norcia (central Italy) and (iv) predict the occurrence of normal surface faulting inside the municipality of Norcia during future M ≥ 6 earthquakes.     

海原断裂干盐池探槽揭示非特征性古地震序列

海原断裂是青藏高原东北缘一条重要的陆内活动左旋走滑断裂,于1920年发生过里氏8?级特大地震,形成约230km的地表破裂带和高达10.2m的同震左旋位移。该断裂的大地震复发行为特征一直是地震地质学家关注的重点,然而现有的认识需要更多以精细沉积地层约束的古地震数据的验证。基于此,在海原断裂中段干盐池盆地成功开挖了数个大型三维探槽,揭露了清晰的韵律性、面状展布地层和丰富的古地震事件证据。在探槽上部2.5m厚的最新细粒沉积层序记录了AD 1500以来的3次地震事件。基于地层中~(14)C样品的结果和历史地震史料的考证,限定这3次地震事件分别对应于AD 1920年、AD 1760年(或1709年)和AD 1638年的地震,但其震级差别很大。除了最新一次地震,即1920年海原大地震的震级为8?级,其他2次地震事件的震级较小,均小于7级,说明海原断裂上伴生有地表破裂的地震不全是特征型地震事件。结果表明,古地震探槽中揭示的地震强度不一定相同,而且中等震级地震也可以产生地表破裂,其地层证据在合适的条件下,如无沉积间断、沉积速率大等环境能在地层中得到保存。     

基于低空遥感地貌观测的逆断层陡坎研究:以张流沟滩断层陡坎为例

活动断层相关地貌特征的定量研究是揭示古地震和断裂属性的重要依据,其中陡坎地貌是断裂活动的重要地貌响应,是有效识别活动断裂的重要地貌标志。近年来,无人机低空遥感观测技术的不断进步,使得高分辨率地貌数据的快速获取成为现实。本研究利用无人机低空遥感地貌观测技术,对张流沟滩处的断层陡坎附近进行高分辨率数字地形数据的采集。断层陡坎位于张流沟滩河流Ⅱ级阶地上,影像采集范围为800 m×400 m的矩形区域。经过一系列的影像处理,最终获取了目标区地面分辨率为0.1 m的DEM(数字高程模型)数据。基于该DEM数据可以提取到正交于断层陡坎的高程、坡度剖面。利用高程剖面所展示的地形地貌信息,可以提取到陡坎高度为(2.81±0.05) m;利用坡度剖面所展示的坡度曲线特征,可以推断该陡坎至少经历过两次断错活动事件,并且陡坎存在向上“凸起样式”。通过探槽解译,确定该陡坎下伏断裂至少发生过两次活动事件,其中较早的地震事件接近(3.68±0.14) ka B.P.,最晚期的地震活动应为1927年古浪8级地震,两次断裂活动累计垂直位移为(2.80±0.2) m。将以上两种研究方法相比较可以发现,探槽结构分析与低空遥感获取的定量化地貌信息分析结果基本一致,均能够有效揭示古地震期次及累计的同震位移量。最终本研究将探槽揭示的地层单元的沉积、构造信息与陡坎坡度数据特征相结合,提出了基于断层传播褶皱模型的“陡坎凸起”地貌响应样式来解释陡坎存在的向上“凸起样式”。实践证明,利用无人机低空遥感地貌观测技术能够定量、半定量化揭示下伏断裂的活动信息,结合传统断裂研究手段,可以更全面解释活动断层的沉积、构造特征及地形、地貌现象。总的来说,无人机低空遥感地貌观测技术的应用可作为传统古地震研究的辅助手段,并有其独特的方法优势。     

东昆仑断裂带西大滩段全新世古地震研究*

对东昆仑断裂带西大滩段进行了断错地貌填图和古地震探槽揭露,共揭露出6次古地震事件,它们的年龄分别为10302±651aB.P. , 8650±500aB.P. , 7160±506aB.P. , 2830±170aB.P. , 1985±121aB.P.和1540±92aB.P. ;古地震重复间隔分别为1652±820a,1490±711a,4330±534a,845±209a和445±152a。研究发现,西大滩段全新世古地震活动具有丛集现象和重复间隔时间的分段性,第1丛集期在10300~7100aB.P.期间,平均重复间隔1571±543a,第2丛集期在2800~1500aB.P.期间,重复间隔400~800a左右,平均重复间隔645±129a,两个丛集期间隔4300a。西大滩段全新世地震活动规律对昆仑山地区未来地震危险性评估具有重要意义。     

Interplay between tectonic, fluvial and erosional processes along the Western Border Fault of the northern Upper Rhine Graben, Germany

The northern Upper Rhine Graben, situated in the central part of the European Cenozoic rift system, is currently characterized by low intra-plate seismicity. Historical earthquakes have not been large enough to produce surface rupturing. Moreover, the records of Quaternary surface processes and human modifications are presumably better preserved than the record of the relatively slow tectonic deformation.In order to gain information on the neotectonic activity and paleoseismicity in this setting, the geological and geomorphological records of fault movements along a segment of the Western Border Fault (WBF) were studied using an integration of techniques in paleoseismology, structural analysis and shallow geophysics. The WBF segment investigated follows a 20 km long linear scarp of unclear origin. A series of geophysical measurements were performed and the results suggested that near-surface deformation structures are present at the segments' southern end. Several trenches opened at this location revealed fault structures with consistent extensional style and a maximum vertical displacement of 0.5 m. In one trench, the deformation structures were dated between 19 and 8 ka. Assuming the deformation has been caused by an earthquake, a M_w 6.5 earthquake would be implied. Aseismic deformation would point to a fault creep rate ≥ 0.04 mm/yr.A reconstruction of the sequence of events at the trench site, from Middle Pleistocene to Present, demonstrates that the morphology at the base of the scarp is the result of interplay between tectonic activity and fluvial and erosional processes. At the regional scale, a mixed origin for the WBF scarp is proposed, combining the effects of fluvial dynamics, erosion, regional uplift and localized tectonic activity on the WBF.     

Kinematic analysis and palaeoseismology of the Edremit Fault Zone: evidence for past earthquakes in the southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault Zone,Biga Peninsula,NW Turkey

The Edremit Fault Zone (EFZ) forms one of the southern segments of the North Anatolian Fault Zone (NAFZ) at the northern margin of the Edremit Gulf (Biga Peninsula, South Marmara Region, Turkey). Stratigraphic, structural and kinematic results indicate that basinward younging of the fault zone, in terms of a rolling-hinge mechanism, has resulted in at least three discrete Miocene to Holocene deformational phases: the oldest one (Phase 1) directly related to the inactive Kazda? Detachment Fault, which was formed under N–S trending pure extension; Phase 2 is characterised by a strike-slip stress condition, probably related to the progression of the NAFZ towards the Edremit area in the Plio–Quaternary; and Phase 3 is represented by the high-angle normal faulting, which is directly interrelated with the last movement of the EFZ. Our palaeoseismic studies on the EFZ revealed the occurrence of three past surface rupture events; the first one occurred before 13178 BC, a penultimate event that may correspond to either the 160 AD or 253 AD historical earthquakes, and the youngest one can be associated with the 6 October 1944 earthquake (M_w = 6.8). These palaeoseismic data indicate that there is no systematic earthquake recurrence period on the EFZ.     

蠕滑断裂带岩石组成和构造特征分析:以龙门山灌县-安县断裂带为例

断裂蠕滑可以连续释放部分构造应力,但仍可能造成重大的地质灾害,甚至具有发生大地震的可能性。断层岩是断裂作用中的直接产物,其物质组成和内部构造可为揭示断裂带滑移机制提供关键信息。2008年M_w 7.9汶川地震中破裂的龙门山灌县-安县断裂带具有蠕滑性质,是探究大陆内部蠕滑断裂滑移机制的最佳案例。本文以龙门山灌县-安县断裂带地表探槽和深部钻孔的断层岩为研究对象,通过碎屑统计、X射线粉末衍射矿物分析、光学显微镜和扫描电镜观测,结果显示该断裂带断层泥碎屑含量和颗粒大小均小于断层角砾岩,其粘土矿物含量高达50%以上,且断层岩中普遍发育粘土-碎屑组构以及拖尾构造、似S-C组构等多种压溶构造。综合分析发现压溶作用、低摩擦系数物质以及颗粒滑移对灌县-安县断裂带的蠕滑变形都发挥着重要作用,并且三者相辅相成,因此认为灌县-安县断裂带的蠕滑过程主要是压溶作用和摩擦-颗粒滑移机制共同作用,该认识可更好地了解地震周期并为区域防震减灾提供科学依据。     

Shallow SH-wave seismic investigation of the Mt. Angel Fault, Northwest Oregon, USA

The Mt. Angel Fault is likely one of the most active faults near the Portland metropolitan area, and was probably associated with the 1993 Scotts Mills earthquake. SH-wave seismic techniques used to image the Mt. Angel Fault suggest that the fault offsets late Pleistocene gravel (22 to 34 ka) at several locations. Within the study area, displacement of the late Pleistocene gravel along the strike of the Mt. Angel Fault increases from no obvious displacement on the northwest to approximately 18 m on the southeast. This trend of increasing offset along the strike of the fault is paralleled by topographic and geomorphic trends. A reconnaissance geologic investigation at an anomalous bend in the Pudding River near the projected trace of the Mt. Angel Fault revealed potential tectonic deformation in sediments younger than the late Pleistocene gravel imaged by SH-wave data. The results of this study have contributed to the paleoseismic record of the Mt. Angel Fault, laid the groundwork for future geologic investigations along the Pudding River, and determined potential sites for future paleoseismic trenching investigations.     

Paleoseismic records of large earthquakes on the cross-basin fault in the Ganyanchi pull-apart basin,Haiyuan fault,northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Field observations and analog models show that cross-basin faults play a key role in the evolution of pull-apart basins and dominate the distribution of earthquake rupture in basin areas. We studied the long-term history of large earthquakes on a cross-basin fault to reveal its behavior in response to propagating earthquake rupture and gain insight into the evolution of the pull-apart basin. A number of pull-apart basins have developed along the Haiyuan fault in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, the largest being the Ganyanchi pull-apart basin. The surface rupture associated with the 1920 M 8.5 earthquake shows that a cross-basin fault developed in the basin and that the basin is now going through the late stage of its evolution. We excavated two trenches and drilled four cores across the cross-basin fault in the basin and found abundant evidence of paleoseismic events. Seven events were identified and ¹⁴C-dated. The two youngest events are associated with the historical records of 1092 AD and 1920 AD, respectively. The paleoseismic sequence shows the recurrence of earthquakes characterized by earthquake clusters alternating with a single event. Comparing these with previous paleoseismic results, all the major earthquake events seem to be associated with cascade events that ruptured multi-fault segments, suggesting that only an earthquake of this scale (likely M > 8) can produce obvious surface rupture along the cross-basin fault. We propose that the fault has a long tectonic history, with a series of cascade rupture events that could play an important part in the evolution of the pull-apart basin.     

Early development of strike-slip faulting: palaeoseismic study along the Petersen Mountain fault,northern Walker Lane,Nevada

Characterising youthful strike-slip fault systems within transtensional regimes is often complicated by the presence of tectonic geomorphic features produced by normal faulting associated with oblique extension. The Petersen Mountain fault in the northern Walker Lane tectonic province exhibits evidence of both normal and strike-slip faulting. We present the results of geologic and geomorphic mapping, and palaeoseismic trenching that characterise the fault's style and sense of deformation. The fault consists of two major traces. The western trace displaces colluvial, landslide, and middle to late Pleistocene alluvial fans and is associated with aligned range front saddles, linear drainages, and oversteepened range front slopes. The eastern trace is associated with a low linear bedrock ridge, a narrow graben, right deflected stream channels, and scarps in late Pleistocene alluvial fan deposits. A trench on the eastern trace of the fault exposed a clear juxtaposition of disintegrated granodiorite bedrock against sand and boulder alluvial fan deposits across a steeply east-dipping fault. The stratigraphic evidence supports the occurrence of at least one late Pleistocene earthquake with a component of lateral displacement. As such, the Petersen Mountain fault accommodates part of the ~7 mm/yr of dextral shear distributed across the northern Walker Lane.     

西藏安多最新史前大地震的地质证据及其年龄

在西藏安多地区进行活动断裂研究过程中,进行地表调查和探槽开挖,证实错那－安多地堑北缘主边界断裂上的最新地表断层陡坎实际是该区史前大地震的地表遗迹。根据地表观察和实地测量结果可知,该区最新古地震断坎的延伸范围可达 26～36km,平均垂直位移量达 1.0～1.4m。相关地层－地貌体的年代学测试结果和古地震破裂参数表明,最新的古地震发生在距今约 10.0～8.1ka期间,估计当时的古地震震级介于 6.9～7.3级之间,当时的极震区烈度可能≥Ⅸ度。此古地震破裂的发现表明,青藏高原中部正断层型大地震之后的沉寂时间可以长达近万年,明显长于藏南裂谷带上的正断层型古地震活动间隔。由于安多地区最新大地震之后的离逝时间已足以积累类似强度的大地震,因此,该区未来的大地震危险性较高。     

The North Maladeta Fault (Spanish Central Pyrenees) as the Vielha 1923 earthquake seismic source: Recent activity revealed by geomorphological and geophysical research

The Spanish Central Pyrenees have been the scenario of at least two damaging earthquakes in the last 800 years. Analysis of macroseismic data of the most recent one, the Vielha earthquake (19 November 1923), has led to the identification of the North Maladeta Fault (NMF) as the seismic source of the event. This E–W trending fault defines the northern boundary of the Maladeta Batholith and corresponds to a segment of the Alpine Gavarnie thrust fault. Our study shows that the NMF offsets a reference Neogene peneplain. The maximum observed vertical displacement is  730 m, with the northern downthrown sector slightly tilting towards the South. This offset provides evidence of normal faulting and together with the presence of tectonic faceted spurs allowed us to geomorphically identify a fault trace of 17.5 km. This length suggests that a maximum earthquake of M_w = 6.5 ± 0.66 could occur in the area. The geomorphological study was improved with a resistivity model obtained at Prüedo, where a unique detritic Late Miocene sequence crops out adjacent to the NMF. The section is made up of 13 audiomagnetotelluric soundings along a 1.5 km transect perpendicular to the fault trace at Prüedo and reveals the structure in depth, allowing us to interpret the Late Miocene deposits as tectonically trapped basin deposits associated with normal faulting of the NMF. The indirect age of these deposits has been constrained between 11.1 and 8.7 Ma, which represents a minimum age for the elevated Pyrenean peneplain in this part of the Pyrenees. Therefore, we propose the maximum vertical dip-slip rate for the NMF to be between 0.06 and 0.08 mm/a. Normal faulting in this area is attributed to the vertical lithospheric stress associated with the thickened Pyrenean crust.