Active fault geometry and kinematics in Parnitha Mountain, Attica, Greece

Abstract

The Parnitha mountain range lies between two Quaternary rift systems in central Greece: the Gulf of Corinth Rift and the Gulf of Evia rift. We suggest that the range was formed by footwall uplift on active normal faults striking WNW–ESE and NE–SW. We investigated the scarp appearance, geometry and slip rates of three normal faults bounding this mountain range by field mapping at 1:5000 scale. Active faults studied include the 8.5 km long Fili Fault, the 4.7 km long Maliza Fault and the 4 km long Thrakomakedones Fault. We calculated comparable mean slip rates for all mapped faults (Fili: 0.18 mm/yr, Avlon: 0.2 mm/yr, Thrakomakedones: 0.24 mm/yr); however, we suggest that the WNW–ESE structures are more active during the Late Quaternary because of abundant field evidence of recent movements along slip surfaces (fresh basal stripes and slickenlines). In addition, stress axes analysis shows a N7°E–N25°E (NNE–SSW) oriented, extensional stress field, which is compatible with the focal mechanism of the Athens 1999 earthquake. The fault-slip data from the Parnitha faults show orientations similar to other low-strain areas in central Greece, such as the Gulf of Evia Rift to the north. Our slip rate estimates may explain the low recurrence of large earthquakes in Attica as opposed to high slip rate areas in central Greece such as the neighbouring Gulf of Corinth

The Corini Active Fault in Southwestern Viotia Region, Central Greece: Segmentation, Stress Analysis and Extensional Strain Patterns

“…This amount is similar to basal stripes found along other normal faults in neighbouring rifts ( Fig. 1; Lemeille 1977, Ganas et al 1998, Ganas et al 2004). …”

“…This result implies that -303-fault kinematics is similar on either side of the Gulf of Corinth. On the contrary fault slip data from Ganas et al (2004) and Roberts and Ganas (2000) show that immediately to the north-east, east and south-east of the Conni Fault area the sigma 3 orientation changes to N7°-N14°E. In addition, the transect analysis method shows that the spatial variation of fault slip vector is constant for segment CF2 but not for segment CF1 (Fig.…”

NOAfaults: a digital database for active faults in Greece

“…Papanikolaou et al, 1998;Morewood and Roberts, 1999, 2001Ganas et al, 2004). For Greece, the 1:50000 maps carry an accuracy of 15 m in the horizontal and 5 m on the vertical.…”

Geological, Geomorphological and Tectonic Structure of Ne Attica and Seismic Hazard Implications for the Northern Edge of the Athens Plain

“…The southern Evoikos gulf is a shallow basin less than 250 m deep and the main fault of the Gulf has a throw of 250 m (Papanikolaou et al 1988a), implying that the Oropos-Kalamos zone as a whole is a relatively small structure and of similar importance as the other across strike faults; 2) the ~10 km long Milesi fault, which produces a characteristic bedrock scarp on the Mesozoic limestones that form the footwall and the continental Neogene sediments resting on the hangingwall; 3) the ~ 18 km long Avlona-Malakasa fault that borders the northern slopes of Parnitha Mt. (Papanikolaou et al 1988b, Ganas et al 2004); 4) the 14 km long Afidnai fault, which bounds the Afidnai plain to the south and the Athens Plain to the north (see also Ganas et al 2005).…”