Flinders Ranges Earthquakes 3D VRML Model 2007


GEOCAT

GEOCAT catalogue information is available online at www.ga.gov.au/oracle/agsocat/.

Introduction

The Flinders Ranges region of South Australia is an area of high topographic relief and high seismicity. This combined with the fact that several faults identified in the Flinders and Mt. Lofty Ranges region have relatively high Quaternary slip rates indicates this is a region of pronounced neotectonic activity. However, we have a very poor understanding of what relationship exists, if any, between the earthquakes and faults. Similarly, because the tectonic stress field in this part of Australia is poorly determined, we do not have a clear understanding of the relationship between the stress field and active faults.

The Flinders Ranges region also exhibits high heat flow, which would suggest a shallow seismogenic crust, and yet earthquake hypocentres, albeit often highly uncertain, indicate that seismicity extends to lower crustal depths. Finally, this high heat flow and the unique crustal structure of the Adelaide Fold Belt may lead to propagation characteristics of earthquake waves that differ from other parts of Australia.

During the period September 2003 - June 2005, Geoscience Australia and Primary Industry and Resources, South Australia (PIRSA) collaborated in a temporary seismograph deployment in the Flinders Ranges region. This deployment consisted of about 18 stations spaced at roughly 30 km intervals. Among the questions about the Flinders Ranges region which this deployment was intended to address were:

Over 500 locatable earthquakes were recorded within the network and surrounding areas. This 3D model displays these earthquakes at their true three dimensional location. These data are currently being analysed to determine what their relationship may be to faults, what constraint they place on the crustal stress field, and how earthquake waves propagate in the geologic environment of the Adelaide Fold Belt.

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Information

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Required software

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Opening the model

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Metadata

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Any queries about the digital data can be directed to :-

Sales Centre
Geoscience Australia
PO Box 378
Canberra City
ACT 2601
Email : sales@ga.gov.au
Phone : (02) 6249 9519

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