Characterization of Major Fault Systems in the Kachchh Intraplate Region, Gujarat, India, by Focal Mechanism and Source Parameters

Abstract

Abstract The focal mechanism and source parameters of 41 local earthquakes (Mw 4.0–5.1) that occurred in the Kachchh rift basin, which is seismically one of India’s most active intraplate regions, are determined to characterize various active fault systems in that region. The tectonics in the rift basin are heterogeneous and complex. In the present study, it was found that one-third of the earthquakes exhibit reverse mechanism and three-fourth are either strike slip or have some components of strike slip. Thus, we conclude that transverse tectonics are currently dominant in the Kachchh rift. These transverse faults are preferably oriented in the northeast–southwest and northwest–southeast directions in the eastern and western parts of the rift, respectively. The movement is sinistral and dextral on faults that are oriented in the northeast–southwest and northwest–southeast directions, respectively. These transverse faults are almost vertical (dip>70°) and mostly blind with no surface expressions. Most of the significant faults that strike east–west dip toward the south and are listric. The stress drop of these 41 earthquakes ranges between 2.3 and 10.39 MPa. It was found that the stress drop of earthquakes may depend on the focal mechanism and is independent of focal depths. The average stress drop is found to be the highest (7.3 MPa) for the earthquakes that show a dominant normal mechanism accompanied by strike slip (5.4 MPa) and reverse (4.7 MPa). The average stress drop of the Kachchh intraplate region is 5.3 MPa, which is consistent with other intraplate regions of the world. A conceptual model of the fault system in the Kachchh region is proposed, based on the results obtained in the present study.