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Magnetic, gravity, geothermal, seismic and tomographic data from the lithosphere were first jointly examined. A multidisciplinary interpretation has resulted in a new and consistent model for lithospheric density, magnetic, thermal and velocity heterogeneities. Faults of different orders for the crystalline crust have been mapped in details. Large deep fault zones were recognized. Among them is the most prominent Odessa-Sinop-Ordu (OSO) fault zone, which played a key role in the opening and development of the Black Sea Depression. A fundamental difference was revealed between the crustal and mantle structure and geophysical parameters of the Western Black Sea Basin (WBSB) and Eastern Black Sea Basin (EBSB). These dissimilarities are in the size of «non-granitic» crust, pattern and intensity of heat flow, topography of the lower boundary of the thermal lithosphere, mantle seismic velocity and structure of magnetic and residual gravity anomalies. Based on new information it was demonstrated that the WBSB and EBSB were diachronously formed on two large distinct continental blocks with independent post-rift development of the sub-basins. The rifting of the western sub-basin commenced earlier than that of the eastern one. The EBSB is characterized by younger thermal activity than the WBSB and consequently it was stabilized later. The Mid Black Sea High (MBSH) is not a single tectonic unit but is formed by two ridges of various crystalline crustal structure and age shifted relative to each other by the faults of the OSO zone.

The publication presents stress determinations from geological and kinematical indicators of tectonic stress fields, varying in ranks, for the Kola Peninsula. The objective is to determine possible mechanisms of formation of recent structures in the eastern segment of the Baltic shield and to forecast seismogenic and technogenic hazard of fracturing. The study is focused on the Kovdor and Khibin Paleozoic alkaline-ultrabasic blocks. Tectonic stresses are reconstructed by M.V. Gzovsky’s method [1954; 1975] based on identification of conjugated shear systems. Neotectonic stresses are studied by the kinematic method [Gushchenko, 1979] on the basis of measurements of tectonic displacment vectors from slickensides (Figure 2). Local stress data processed by the method for determination of general stress fields provide for reconstruction of main normal stresses which are arbitrarily considered as regional stresses [Sim, 1980; 2000]. This study uses the method of bandpattern distribution of fracturing in fault zones [Danilovich, 1961] which determines the main displacement line on the fault plane. The study of the Zhelezny mining site (Kovdor block, Figures 3 and 4) revealed that elements of fractures of two different ages (centroclinal fractures of the prototectonic genesis and fractures of later tectonic activation) are spatially overlapping due to rock collapse and lacking stability of benches. Numerous inversions and changes of kinematics of relative displacements were reviewed. It was observed that the southeastern wall of the quarry collapsed due to local extension (Fig. 6B and Photos 1 and 2), and a large fault, i.e. a prototectonic fracture, was dipping towards the quarry. Based on the analyses of local stresses at various points of the quarry (Table 1), two ‘regional’ stress fields can be revealed (Figures 7 and 8). The first paleostess field was associated with reverse faults of the WNW subhorizontal axis of compression and the steeply dipping axis of extension. The second field was related to shear faults; its axis of compression maintained the WNW orientation, while the extension axis was reoriented, and the axis of extension attained submeridional position and a less steep dip. The second field is younger as suggested by traces of two displacements identified on several planes, the youngest of which are shears. From the analysis of measurements taken at 273 planes with striations, it is evident that striations are distributed in a bandshape pattern. The band of fractures is coincident with the plane of the transition axis of the young ‘regional field (Figure 9); main maximums of density of the planes with striations are symmetrically scattered in a fanlike pattern from the axis of compression and extension of this field. Generally, the striations reflect traces of younger displacements, and their consistency with the axes of the young field supports our conclusions on age relationships between the two ‘regional’ fields. Four major stages of deformation of the Kovdor block under study are distinguished by analyses of the tectonic stresses (Figure 10). Within the limits of the Khibin block, 14 local states of stresses are reconstructed for three mining sites (Table 2, Figure 11). At the Central mining site, reindexation of local axis of compression and extension in the fault wings give evidence of the fault activity during the neotectonic stage (Figure 13). The ‘regional’ stress field of the Khibin block is associated with a reserve fault with lowangle NNW orientation of the axis of compression (Figure 14). The tectonophysical studies conducted at the mining sites of the Kola Peninsula give grounds to conclude that activity of faults, which positions are different at the mining sites, is variable, depending on orientations of the faults against the youngest ‘regional’ main stress. From sets of indicators, a relative age of the revealed ‘regional’ fields of stresses is accepted as neotectonic and recent. For the segments of the Kovdor block under study, four phases of deformation are distinguished, including two early phases revealed by structural indicators, and two last phases revealed from orientations of the axes of the main stresses in the reconstructed ‘regional’ fields. The reverse field of stresses of Deformation Phase 3 (which is a more ancient ‘regional’ field according to reconstructed tectonic stresses) at the Kovdor block and the reversefault field at the mining sites of the Khibin block may reflect a phase of brittle deformation of the rocks after the blocks were exposed to the day surface. Since then the deformation mechanisms might have been determined by two factors which controlled subhorizontal compression: residual gravity stresses in considerably eroded magmatic bodies as ‘recollections’ of being subject to constraint environment at depth [Rebetsky, 2008], and the impact of rifting in the Northern Atlantics. The fact that the neotectonic ‘regional’ stress field of the Kovdor block is fully similar to that of the Central Karelia (Figure 1) give grounds to conclude that the mechanism of deformation of the block under study might have been controlled by both factors. The Khibin block has a lopolithic shape which gradually converts into a centraltype conic structure with depth. It should thus be squeezed upward by the impact of horizontal compression of any genesis, as evidenced by the subvertical extension axis of the general field of the Khibin area and the recent topography as the highest mountains of the Kola Peninsula are located in the block under study.

SUMMARY The major bends of the San Andreas fault in California are associated with significant variations in the along-fault topography. The topography-induced perturbations in the intermediate principal stress may result in the rotation of the fault with respect to the maximum compression axis provided that the fault is non-vertical, and the slip is horizontal. The progressive fault rotation may produce additional topography via thrust faulting in the adjacent crust, resulting in a positive feedback. The observed rotation of the fault plane due to the along-fault variations in topography is used to infer the magnitude of the in situ differential stress. Our results suggest that the average differential stress in the upper crust around the San Andreas fault is of the order of 50 MPa, implying that the effective fault strength is about a factor of two lower than predictions based on Byerlee’s law and the assumption of hydrostatic pore pressure.

International audience; The M L 5.3 Epagny earthquake that occurred on 1996 July 15 in the vicinity of Annecy (French Alps) was the strongest event to shake southeastern France in the last 34 years. Moderate to serious damage in the Annecy area is consistent with MSK intensities of VII-VIII. This earthquake occurred on the Vuache Fault, a geologically well-known, morphologically clear, NW-SE-trending strike-slip fault that links the southern Jura Mountains with the northern Subalpine chains. The hypocentre was located in Mesozoic limestones at shallow depths (1-3 km). The focal mechanism indicates left-lateral strike-slip motion on a N136°E-striking plane dipping 70° to the NE. Abundant field evidence was gathered in the days following the main shock. Several hundred aftershocks were recorded thanks to the rapid installation of a 16-station seismic network. All aftershocks occurred along the southernmost segment of the Vuache Fault, defining a 5-km-long, 3.5-km-deep, N130°E-striking rupture zone dipping 73° to the NE. The fault plane solutions of 60 aftershocks were found to be consistent with left-lateral slip on NW-SE-striking planes. At the SE tip of the aftershock zone we found ground cracks parallel to the fault close to the Annecy-Meythet airport runway; at the NW tip, near Bromines, we observed left-lateral displacement of concrete walls in a building. We also noticed flow changes in two springs close to that locality. Geodetic levelling across the fault revealed about 1 cm of uplift for the region north of the fault. The recording of aftershocks with a six-station accelerometric network showed that lacustrine deposits locally amplified the ground motion up to eight times, which explains how this moderate-magnitude shock could cause such heavy damage. Historical records draw attention to the central segment of the Vuache Fault, which has been locked for at least 200 years. Situated NW of the 1996 aftershock zone, between the Mandallaz and Vuache mountains, this segment forms a 12-km-long potential seismic gap where other M5 events or one single M6 event might occur.