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Intraplate seismicity in mid-plate South America: correlations with geophysical lithospheric parameters

Hans Agurto-Detzel, Marcelo Assumpção, Marcelo Bianchi and Marlon Pirchiner
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 432, 73-90, 2 November 2015, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP432.5
Hans Agurto-Detzel
Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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Marcelo Assumpção
Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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Marcelo Bianchi
Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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Marlon Pirchiner
Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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Abstract

Mid-plate South America remains one of the least-studied regions of intraplate seismicity. Little is known about the origin and controlling factors that make this area the least seismically active intraplate region in the world. We analysed the distribution of intraplate seismicity and its correlation with several geophysical lithospheric parameters in an attempt to establish which factors might promote or inhibit the occurrence of intraplate earthquakes. We found that above-average seismicity occurs mostly in Neoproterozoic fold belts, associated with areas having a positive gravity anomaly, lower elastic thickness, higher heat flow, thinned crust and a negative S-wave anomaly at 100 km depth (associated with non-cratonic crust). Cratonic areas with a higher elastic thickness and lower heat flow are associated with low rates of seismicity. Our study suggests that the most important controlling factors are elastic thickness and heat flow. We propose that earthquake-prone areas with these favourable conditions correspond to regions of weakened lithosphere, where most of the regional lithospheric stresses are supported by the overlying brittle upper crust. These areas act as local concentrators of the regional compressional stress field, with the stress build-up then leading to the occurrence of intraplate seismicity.

Supplementary material: contains additional statistics and figures considering different filters for the used catalogue as a mean of comparison with the figures presented in the main text. They are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18872

  • © 2017 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. All rights reserved
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Geological Society, London, Special Publications: 432 (1)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Volume 432
2017
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Intraplate seismicity in mid-plate South America: correlations with geophysical lithospheric parameters

Hans Agurto-Detzel, Marcelo Assumpção, Marcelo Bianchi and Marlon Pirchiner
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 432, 73-90, 2 November 2015, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP432.5
Hans Agurto-Detzel
Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
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  • For correspondence: [email protected]
Marcelo Assumpção
Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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Marcelo Bianchi
Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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Marlon Pirchiner
Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-090, Brazil
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Intraplate seismicity in mid-plate South America: correlations with geophysical lithospheric parameters

Hans Agurto-Detzel, Marcelo Assumpção, Marcelo Bianchi and Marlon Pirchiner
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 432, 73-90, 2 November 2015, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP432.5
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