The state of paleostress along the siwaqa fault (central Jordan)‎ based on fault-slip data

Abstract EN

This study presents a structural analysis based on fault-slip data measured mainly along Siwaqa Fault.

Stress inversion of fault-slip data is performed using an improved version of the Right-Dihedron method, followed by rotational optimization (TENSOR program).

This determined the orientation of the principal stress axes (ᵟ1, ᵟ2 and ᵟ3), and the ratio of principal stress differences (R).

Results show that three stress states belong to two main paleostress fields have been distinguished in the study area.

The older paleostress field is characterized by E-W to ESE-WNW compression and N-S to NNW-SSE extension, which could be associated with the formation of the Syrian Arc fold belt that is started in the Turonian.

The younger stress field is characterized by N-S to NNW-SSE compression and E-W to ENE-WSW extension, which is compatible with that known in Middle Miocene-Recent and related to the sinistral movement along the Dead Sea Transform and the opening of the Red Sea.