Stress dynamics associated with the Nyasa / Malawi rift: Implication for the present-day East African Rift System dynamics.

ABSTRACT: The Nyasa/Malawi rift (NMR), known for its poor magma and notable seismic activity, has sparked a debate regarding its stress kinematics. It is on one hand viewed as a transform fault, while on other hand as a rift structure characterized by normal faulting. In order to address this controversy, we conducted paleostress analysis that involved collecting fault slip data along the central to southern region of the rift. We integrated our findings with published kinematic data on focal mechanisms in the rift. Our results reveal that the central part of the rift experiences radial or sub-radial extension, while the southern half is subject to oblique NNE-SSW transtensive tectonic forces. The minimum horizontal principal stress axis aligns with an orientation of 020°. As we move further south,

SUBMITTER: Macheyeki AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10558337 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature