In this contribution, analogue modeling is used to provide new insights into the Nubia-Somalia kinematics responsible for development and evolution of the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER), at the northern termination of the East African Rift system. In particular, we performed new crustal-scale, brittle models to analyze the along-strike variations in fault architecture in the MER and their relations with the rift trend, plate motion and the resulting Miocene-recent kinematics of rifting. The models reproduced the overall geometry of the ∼600 km-long MER with its along-strike variation in orientation to test different hypothesis proposed to explain rift evolution. Analysis of model results in terms of statistics of fault length and orientation, as well as deformation architecture, and its comparison with the MER suggest that models of two-phase rifting (with a first phase of NW-SE extension followed by E-W rifting) or constant NW-SE extension, as well as models of constant ENE-WSW rifting are not able to reproduce the fault architecture observed in nature. Model results suggest instead that the rift has likely developed under a constant, post-11 Ma extension oriented roughly ESE-WNW (N97.5◦E), consistent with recent plate kinematics models.

Modeling along-axis variations in fault architecture in the Main Ethiopian Rift: Implications for Nubia-Somalia kinematics / Erbello, Asfaw; Corti, Giacomo; Agostini, Andrea; Sani, Federico; Kidane, Tesfaye; Buccianti, Antonella. - In: JOURNAL OF GEODYNAMICS. - ISSN 0264-3707. - ELETTRONICO. - 102:(2016), pp. 24-38. [10.1016/j.jog.2016.07.002]

Modeling along-axis variations in fault architecture in the Main Ethiopian Rift: Implications for Nubia-Somalia kinematics

SANI, FEDERICO;BUCCIANTI, ANTONELLA
2016

Abstract

In this contribution, analogue modeling is used to provide new insights into the Nubia-Somalia kinematics responsible for development and evolution of the Main Ethiopian Rift (MER), at the northern termination of the East African Rift system. In particular, we performed new crustal-scale, brittle models to analyze the along-strike variations in fault architecture in the MER and their relations with the rift trend, plate motion and the resulting Miocene-recent kinematics of rifting. The models reproduced the overall geometry of the ∼600 km-long MER with its along-strike variation in orientation to test different hypothesis proposed to explain rift evolution. Analysis of model results in terms of statistics of fault length and orientation, as well as deformation architecture, and its comparison with the MER suggest that models of two-phase rifting (with a first phase of NW-SE extension followed by E-W rifting) or constant NW-SE extension, as well as models of constant ENE-WSW rifting are not able to reproduce the fault architecture observed in nature. Model results suggest instead that the rift has likely developed under a constant, post-11 Ma extension oriented roughly ESE-WNW (N97.5◦E), consistent with recent plate kinematics models.
2016
102
24
38
Erbello, Asfaw; Corti, Giacomo; Agostini, Andrea; Sani, Federico; Kidane, Tesfaye; Buccianti, Antonella
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Erbello et al 2016 JGeodyn.pdf

Accesso chiuso

Tipologia: Pdf editoriale (Version of record)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati
Dimensione 6.67 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
6.67 MB Adobe PDF   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in FLORE sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificatore per citare o creare un link a questa risorsa: https://hdl.handle.net/2158/1048831
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 11
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 10
social impact