Normal faulting in the forearc of the Hellenic subduction margin: Paleoearthquake history and kinematics of the Spili Fault, Crete, Greece

Vasiliki Mouslopoulou*, Daniel Moraetis, Lucilla Benedetti, Valery Guillou, Olivier Bellier, Dionisis Hristopulos

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The late-Cenozoic kinematic and late-Pleistocene paleoearthquake history of the Spili Fault is examined using slip-vector measurements and in situ cosmogenic (36Cl) dating, respectively. The Spili Fault appears to have undergone at least three successive but distinct phases of extension since Messinian (~7Ma), with the most recent faulting resulting in the exhumation of its carbonate plane for a fault-length of ~20km. Earthquake-slip and age data show that the lower 9m of the Spili Fault plane were exhumed during the last ~16,500 years through a minimum of five large-magnitude (Mw>6) earthquakes. The timing between successive paleoearthquakes varied by more than one order of magnitude (from 800 to 9000 years), suggesting a highly variable earthquake recurrence interval during late Pleistocene (CV=1). This variability resulted to significant fluctuations in the displacement rate of the Spili Fault, with the millennium rate (3.5mm/yr) being about six times faster than its late-Pleistocene rate (0.6mm/yr). The observed variability in the slip-size of the paleoearthquakes is, however, significantly smaller (CV=0.3). These data collectively suggest that the Spili Fault is one of the fastest moving faults in the forearc of the Hellenic subduction margin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)298-308
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Structural Geology
Volume66
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2014

Keywords

  • Cosmogenic dating
  • Crete
  • Limestone scarp
  • Normal fault
  • Paleoearthquakes
  • Spili fault

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Normal faulting in the forearc of the Hellenic subduction margin: Paleoearthquake history and kinematics of the Spili Fault, Crete, Greece'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this