Tectonophysics最新文献

{"title":"Does mantle melting due to lithospheric flexural deformation explain the rejuvenated volcanism at the Juan Fernández Ridge?","authors":"S. Olivares ,&nbsp;L.E. Lara ,&nbsp;J. Reyes ,&nbsp;A. Tassara","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230928","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230928","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Oceanic intraplate volcanic systems often experience a late-stage eruptive phase known as rejuvenated volcanism, characterized by small volumes of alkaline lavas with salient compositional differences from earlier shield-stage products, occurring after significant quiescence (ca. 0.5–2 Ma). Despite its ubiquity at oceanic islands, the underlying physical mechanisms driving this stage remain elusive. This study investigates the potential of lithospheric flexure to induce upward mantle advection and decompression melting as a mechanism driving the rejuvenated volcanism observed at Robinson Crusoe and Santa Clara islands (RC-SC), located along the Juan Fernández Ridge (JFR) in the SE Pacific. We applied a 2-D numerical model to simulate the flexural response of the Nazca Plate under volcanic loading during the shield stage that formed the Alejandro Selkirk Island (ca. 180 km westward), integrating geochemical constraints that reproduce mantle heterogeneity. Melting models examined two mantle end-member scenarios: (1) Primitive Mantle-dominated, and (2) Depleted Mantle-dominated, both incorporating minor contributions from pyroxenite. Our results indicate that the maximum flexural uplift and the resulting mantle decompression predict low crustal production rates that are insufficient to generate the observed magma volumes at RC-SC. Low plume potential temperatures (T_p) and the small volcanic load limit melt productivity, with pyroxenite dominating at low T_p although constrained under the modeled conditions. These findings underscore the limitation of flexural deformation alone as the primary driver for rejuvenated volcanism of JFR, calling for advanced modeling approaches that integrate time-dependent 3D lithospheric variability and plume-lithosphere interactions to better capture the complexity of intraplate plumbing systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"916 ","pages":"Article 230928"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223089","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying Miocene thin- and thick-skinned shortening in the Baous thrust system, SW French Alpine Front","authors":"Lorys Tigroudja,&nbsp;Nicolas Espurt,&nbsp;Bruno Scalabrino","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230930","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230930","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>At the southernmost front of the southwestern French Alps, the Baous thrust system is a key marker of Alpine deformation. Based on detailed surface data and a balanced, sequentially restored cross-section, this study shows that the SSW-verging Baous thrust is rooted in a deep-seated basement thrust, kinematically linked to shallower thrusts detached within Triassic evaporites. This basement thrust reactivates an inherited, north-dipping Jurassic extensional fault, which controls the development of the Saint-Barnabé anticline in the north. To the south, the Courmettes structures display fault-bend fold geometries and associated shortcut thrusts. Restoration constrains a total horizontal shortening of 5 km (31.4 %), partitioned between the sedimentary cover (43 %, ∼2.1 km) and the basement (57 %, ∼2.9 km), reflecting both thin- and thick-skinned tectonics. The Courmettes-Vence <em>syn</em>-tectonic basin, located in the footwall, provides key temporal constraints on thrust development. Six deformation stages, identified through sequential restoration between the Burdigalian and Messinian, highlight increasing shortening rates: 0.17 km/Myr (Burdigalian-Tortonian), 0.37 km/Myr (Tortonian), and 1.16 km/Myr (Messinian). Kinematic relationships indicate a primarily in-sequence deformation propagation toward the Alpine foreland: initial basement-involved thrusting was followed by activation of thin-skinned thrusts, then overprinted by out-of-sequence reactivation of the basement thrust. The proposed kinematic model is consistent with recent onshore and offshore seismic interpretations, supporting its robustness and relevance for understanding the tectonic evolution of the southwestern Alpine front. These results emphasize the role of inherited extensional structures (here Jurassic in age) in shaping fold-and-thrust belts and controlling thrust geometry, deformation style, and present-day distribution of seismicity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"916 ","pages":"Article 230930"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145223088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Along-strike variation in the activation timing of the Cona-Woka rift in Southeastern Tibet linked to complex slab deformation","authors":"Zhiquan Yu ,&nbsp;Junfeng Gong ,&nbsp;Shuang Bian ,&nbsp;Rong Yang ,&nbsp;Yuntao Tian ,&nbsp;Qingzhou Lai ,&nbsp;Meng Wang ,&nbsp;Hanlin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230926","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230926","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The geodynamic drivers behind the formation of the north-south trending rifts (NSTRs) in southern Tibet remain critical for understanding the Cenozoic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. The along-strike spatiotemporal characteristics of individual rift systems is one of the most debated topics. This study investigates the formation and geodynamics of the Cona-Woka rift, the easternmost rift in southern Tibet. To constrain the timing of its initiation, we present new thermochronological data, including apatite and zircon (U<img>Th)/He and biotite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages, from northern and central segments of the rift. Pecube modeling and thermal history analysis indicate that later phases of exhumation on both segments are associated with rift activation, revealing initiation timing of ∼6.68 for the northern segment and ∼7.4–5.0 Ma (most likely ∼5.6–5.0 Ma) for the central. Compiling previous constraints on the southern segment, the results indicate a southward-younging pattern from ∼6.68 to 2.3 Ma along the rift. Compiled constraints on NSTRs activation reveal contrasting initiation trends: near-synchronous initiation in the western rifts, northward younging in the Yadong-Gulu rift, and southward younging in the Cona-Woka rift. These patterns are linked to changes in slab dynamics during eastward detachment. Specifically, the northeastward shift of slab detachment beneath the Yadong-Gulu rift coincides with an observed abrupt slowdown in both rifting development and magmatism, while longitudinal slab tearing beneath the Cona-Woka rift may drive its southward younging trend. This study highlights the complexity of slab deformation, from northeastward to southward tearing beneath two easternmost rifts, in controlling the evolution of NSTRs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"915 ","pages":"Article 230926"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145222432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From back-arc extension to continental collision: A geophysical view of the Anatolian lithosphere","authors":"İlkin Özsöz,&nbsp;Ceyhan Ertan Toker","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230929","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230929","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates how large-scale tectonic blocks and inherited lithospheric boundaries across Türkiye can be resolved and characterized using integrated geophysical datasets. Despite numerous localized studies, a unified, crust-to-upper-mantle synthesis combining gravity, magnetic, seismicity, and P-wave velocity data has not yet been applied to understand the tectonic segmentation of the region. Three regional profiles (A–A', B–B′, and C–C′) were selected to traverse Western, Central, and Eastern Anatolia, capturing the geodynamic transition from extensional tectonics in the west to active continental collision in the east. The analysis integrates 3D gravity inversion, linear density contrast estimation, and P-wave tomography, supported by earthquake distribution statistics and magnetic anomaly interpretation. The results reveal distinct lithospheric domains: Western Anatolia is characterized by shallow Moho depths, low P-wave velocities, weak magnetic anomalies, and shallow seismicity, consistent with Miocene back-arc extension and core complex formation. Central Anatolia, particularly the Central Anatolian Crystalline Complex (CACC), exhibits elevated mid-crustal velocities and strong magnetic anomalies, indicating post-collisional magmatic stabilization. Eastern Anatolia shows pronounced gravity lows, broad low-velocity anomalies, and deeper seismicity beneath the East Anatolian Plateau, consistent with ongoing crustal thickening and lithospheric delamination. Integrated interpretations highlight the influence of inherited sutures and later tectonothermal overprinting on present-day geophysical patterns. A three-stage tectonic model is proposed—comprising late Mesozoic to Paleogene collision and suturing, Miocene back-arc extension, and Neogene to present-day collision and dynamic uplift. The study also introduces two new geodynamic perspectives: the reactivation and stabilization of Central Anatolia as a microplate core, and the classification of the East Anatolian Plateau as an actively evolving, post-collisional dynamic crustal system. These findings offer a new tectonic framework for Türkiye and contribute broadly to understanding lithospheric processes in continental collision zones.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"915 ","pages":"Article 230929"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isostatic and Dynamic Components of the Observed Topography in the Central Tethyan Realm","authors":"Vahid Teknik ,&nbsp;Christian Schiffer ,&nbsp;Tuna Eken ,&nbsp;Remziye Akdoğan ,&nbsp;Tuncay Taymaz","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230925","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230925","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The convergence of the Arabian and Eurasian plates formed the present-day elevation along the collision zone since the Late Cretaceous. Isolating the dynamic contribution of convecting mantle to the topography is complicated by various isostatic and non-isostatic components of elevation. An incremental approach is used to derive residual topography after removing isostatic and elastically supported components. Joint spectral analysis of elevation and Free-Air Gravity Anomaly (FAA) proves that the elastic strength of the lithosphere supports short wavelength (λ &lt; ∼200 km) elevation. Therefore, only long-wavelength (λ &gt; ∼200 km) elevation and FAA are used for later isostatic reductions. The FAA spatially correlates with trends of major tectonic features, implying that the major portion of the long-wavelength FAA is supported by horizontal tectonic forces. The thickness of the equivalent slab to long-wavelength FAA is reduced from long-wavelength elevation. We argue that the isostatic topography is equally affected by the crust-mantle discontinuity (Moho) and lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB). The Moho-reduced topography is calculated by subtracting the isostatic contribution of Moho. The residual or lithosphere-reduced topography is calculated by subtracting the main trend of the LAB variations from the Moho-reduced topography. The residual topography suggests that the majority of the elevation in Anatolia and the Arabian Plate is isostatically supported by LAB variations. In the Iranian Plateau, isostatic compensation at the Moho is dominant. The maximum residual topography along the Red Sea ranges from 1000 to 2000 m, indicating the non-isostatic heterogeneous lithosphere and asthenosphere contribution to the elevation. The negative residual topographies for certain regions of central Iran and southern Eurasia probably indicate a geodynamic subsidence mechanism. The estimated residual topography of ±800 m in the East Anatolian-Caucasus-Iranian Plateau is in the order of magnitude of the Moho and lithospheric uncertainties. Therefore, the available data is insufficient to confidently attribute the residual topography to the dynamic topography.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"915 ","pages":"Article 230925"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crustal velocity-resistivity structure of Shizhu earthquake zone, Southwest China: Revealing interaction with the Yangtze river using dense seismic and magnetotelluric data","authors":"Tianyang Li ,&nbsp;Tao Yu ,&nbsp;Nian Yu ,&nbsp;Chenguang Wang ,&nbsp;Rongzhi Lin ,&nbsp;Sheng Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230924","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230924","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The occurrence of the isolated 2013 Shizhu M_S4.3 earthquake in a historically seismically quiet region makes it important to understand its underlying mechanisms, including the role of geological and anthropogenic factors, especially for seismic risk assessment in future mineral resource extraction. This study investigates the upper-crustal geological structure across the Shizhu seismogenic zone within the Eastern Sichuan Fold-and-Thrust Belt (ESFB), as revealed by a co-located seismic and magnetotelluric array. The high-resolution velocity-electrical models demonstrate a strong spatial correlation between low-velocity and low-resistivity anomalies above 5 km along an NE-SW orientation, which aligns with the distribution of the Yangtze River and its tributaries. The widely distributed detachment layers further strengthen the hydrological pathways, potentially acting as preferential conduits for fluid infiltration, while deeper anomalies, extending to depths of approximately 15 km, are potentially linked to metamorphic processes. The M_S4.3 mainshock occurred near the intersection of high-and low-resistivity zones, at the intersection of distinct velocity gradient zones, suggesting that fluid dynamics and fault reactivation play a significant role in earthquake triggering. We also observe a prominent noise source in the low-frequency range, closely aligned with the path of the Yangtze River, further supporting that the dynamics of river flow and its interactions with riverbanks contribute to local seismic noise. The pronounced diurnal variations in noise levels, along with a noticeable reduction in seismicity during the holidays, highlight the anthropogenic origin of the high-frequency noise sources from the nearby quarries. The results can also enhance our understanding of the seismicity within the ESFB.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"915 ","pages":"Article 230924"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159893","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lithospheric electrical structural characteristics and implications for the Central–Northern part of the Songliao Basin and adjacent mountains","authors":"Fagen Pei ,&nbsp;Hongda Liang ,&nbsp;Hui Fang ,&nbsp;Du Xiao ,&nbsp;Xiaobo Zhang ,&nbsp;Meixing He ,&nbsp;Yaoyang Zhang ,&nbsp;Gang Wang ,&nbsp;Dawei Bai ,&nbsp;Dashuang He ,&nbsp;Qinyin Lü ,&nbsp;Yan Peng ,&nbsp;Hanqing Qiao","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230923","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230923","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Influenced by the superimposed transformation of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean tectonic domain, the Palaeo-Pacific Ocean tectonic domain and the Mongolia-Okhotsk Ocean tectonic domain, Northeast China experienced multiple periods of magmatic activity during the Meso-Cenozoic, forming a complex basin and ridge tectonic system and lithospheric structure; this area is important for geologists. In recent years, many studies have focused on the Cenozoic volcanic system, deep dynamic mechanism and deep structure, but the relationships of the contacts between the Songliao Basin and the mountains on both sides and the genesis of Songliao Basin dynamics are still controversial. A 3-D inversion of the 815-km magnetotelluric (MT) profile from Zhalantun, Inner Mongolia to Yanji, Jilin Province, reveals relatively low resistivities and vertical stratification of the central and northern Songliao Basin. The mountains on both sides exhibit high resistivities. The Harbin–Changchun and Nenjiang–Balihan fault zones are basin-controlling faults on the east and west sides of the Songliao Basin; they are both deep faults that cut the Moho. The Daqing and Harbin areas are considered potential areas for geothermal resource exploration and development, and the Jingpo Lake volcano is still at risk of volcanic activity. A deep dynamic genetic model of the study area is proposed based on the combined action of the subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific Plate and asthenospheric upwelling, which provides new geophysical constraints and a basis for studying the tectonic evolution and dynamic mechanism in Northeast China.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"915 ","pages":"Article 230923"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-proxy investigations into the active tectonics of the Bokkoya strike-slip fault, southern Alboran Sea","authors":"L. Vidil ,&nbsp;E. d'Acremont ,&nbsp;L. Emmanuel ,&nbsp;F. Caroir ,&nbsp;S. Lafuerza ,&nbsp;S. Leroy ,&nbsp;G. Ercilla ,&nbsp;A. Rabaute ,&nbsp;J. Galindo-Zaldivar ,&nbsp;E.M. Latni ,&nbsp;A. Guittet ,&nbsp;J.F. Brouillet ,&nbsp;the Albacore team","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230922","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230922","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the Alboran Sea, oblique convergence between African and Eurasian plates led to the formation of the active NNE-SSW Al Idrissi sinistral strike-slip fault system ∼1 Ma ago, generating several moderate-magnitude earthquakes (Mw &gt; 6). This study investigates the dynamics of this emerging plate boundary by analysing seismic events recorded in sedimentary sequences over the past 120 kyr. A multi-proxy approach combining sediment cores, piezocone tests, multibeam bathymetry, seismic reflection and sub-bottom profiles was applied for the first time to investigate and quantify tectonic activity along the Bokkoya fault. This NNE-SSW-oriented fault system segments the southern part of the Small Al Idrissi Volcano and locally forms a local transtensive basin. These proxies have allowed the identification and dating of faulted sedimentary sequences and major erosive events. An intense erosional period in the western contouritic drift between 90 and 60 kyr is responsible for the strong thickness asymmetry observed between the two blocks of the Bokkoya fault. The vertical displacement history of the north Bokkoya segment reveals a succession of four possible paleoearthquake events preserved since 120 kyr. These are the sum of coseismic events and potential post-seismic slips related to fault creeping or aseismic creep. The studied segment exhibits transtensional deformation and shows a cumulative vertical offset of 33 m, with distinct phases of vertical displacement: a higher rate (0.30 mm yr-1) between 90 and 40 kyr, followed by a general slowdown to 0.17 mm yr-1 since 40 kyr. From a detailed study at the core scale, at least three preserved paleoearthquake events are identified, dated at 42, 21.5, and 17.5 kyr. This study presents the seismic and aseismic behaviour of a segment from the Bokkoya strike-slip fault, providing insights into the mechanisms governing fault activity during the evolution of a nascent plate boundary.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"915 ","pages":"Article 230922"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145222431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phase equilibria modeling constraints on channel flow of metasedimentary crust beneath the southeastern Tibetan Plateau","authors":"Govind Joshi ,&nbsp;Gregory Dumond","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230921","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230921","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lower crust of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau includes 100 s of km²-scale zones of low resistivity at 20–40 km-depths indicating the presence of melt ± fluid ± graphite. These zones coincide with interconnected zones of low shear wave velocity. Data from central and southeastern Tibet support the occurrence of metasedimentary felsic granulites in the lower crust along a backarc-like geothermal gradient. Phase equilibria modeling of average metasedimentary pelite and greywacke bulk compositions constrained by these geophysical data explored the impact of partial melting on shear wave velocity for a range of fluid content. Low shear wave velocities beneath southeastern Tibet can be reproduced with melt volumes up to 8 vol%, consistent with incipient melt weakening across the melt connectivity transition at 25 km-depths. Observed shear wave velocities at 35 to 50 km-depths, however, are consistent with melt volumes below the threshold for melt weakening. The results are consistent with limited to no regional scale channel flow wherever metasedimentary rocks are present in the deep crust of southeastern Tibet.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"915 ","pages":"Article 230921"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145098439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structural development and seismogenesis in the Messina Straits revealed by stress/strain pattern above the edge of the Calabrian slab (Central Mediterranean)","authors":"Tiziana Sgroi ,&nbsp;Graziella Barberi ,&nbsp;Luca Gasperini ,&nbsp;Rob Govers ,&nbsp;Nicolai Nijholt ,&nbsp;Giuseppe Lo Mauro ,&nbsp;Marco Ligi ,&nbsp;Andrea Artoni ,&nbsp;Luigi Torelli ,&nbsp;Alina Polonia","doi":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230920","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230920","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Messina Straits is a narrow marine basin shaped by regional-scale uplift and localized subsidence driven by crustal faulting along the diffuse Africa-Eurasia convergent plate boundary. Catastrophic earthquakes have struck the region, most notably the 1908 M&lt;sub&gt;w&lt;/sub&gt; 7.1 Messina event. However, the causative fault(s) and the geodynamic drivers of this deformation remain unclear. In this study, we use seismological and marine geophysical data to investigate neotectonic activity within the broader central Mediterranean geodynamic framework. By analysing relocated hypocentres, principal stress conditions and deformation patterns, we explore the link between seismicity and tectonic features identified in seismic reflection profiles and morphobathymetric maps.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Our findings reveal a significant variation in seismogenic thickness and earthquake distribution across the Messina Straits suggesting spatially variable tectonic processes. Stress tensors show a composite deformation pattern, from predominantly extensional deformation between 6 and 20 km, to more heterogeneous deeper deformation (40–80 km) that includes compressional mechanisms.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;We interpret our fault structure data in the Messina Straits as reflecting the shallow crustal response to active tectonics occurring within a large deformation zone oriented along and above the Calabrian slab edge. This zone is characterized by several strike slip faults, including the Ionian fault in the Ionian Sea and the Capo Peloro fault in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, which together bound the extensional domain of the Messina Straits.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Based on our analysis, we propose that present-day subsidence and seismogenesis in the Messina Straits are strongly influenced by deformation along these strike-slip segments, primarily driven by the relative motion between Africa and Eurasia, in combination with tensile forces deriving from lateral variations in gravitational potential energy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Plain language summary&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Strait of Messina is a narrow stretch of sea between the island of Sicily and Calabria, in southern Italy. This region of the central Mediterranean is located along the African and Eurasian plate boundary, west of the Calabrian subduction zone where African lithosphere subducts underneath Calabria. Many earthquakes strike the area, including a moment magnitude 7.1 event in 1908. In this study, we examine seismological and marine geophysical data to better understand the processes that cause movement of the Earth's surface and deformation at depth, the direction of stresses in the Earth's crust, and the links between faults and earthquakes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Our analysis shows that the thickness of the crust capable of producing earthquakes varies significantly across the Strait of Messina. Seismic activity is mainly concentrated in two seismogenic layers; one layer is located at shallow depth (6 to 20 km below the sea floor) while the other is deeper ","PeriodicalId":22257,"journal":{"name":"Tectonophysics","volume":"915 ","pages":"Article 230920"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145120652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}