Geometría fractal de la Zona de Falla de Lorca-Alhama (Murcia, SE España)

Resum

Fractal theory is applied in a quantitative analysis of the Lorca-Alhama Fault Zone geometry. Direct estimates of fractal dimension (D) of portions of the Lorca-Alhama Fault, has been based on the different geometric segments proposed by Silva et al (1992). Individual fractal dimensions are obtained from a set of measured fault lenghts, analogous to the lenghts of coastlines discussed by Mandelbrot (1982). Based on fault traces mapped at a scale of 1 :25. 000, (D) is 1,25 for the en tire fault zone. But in the segmented analysis, reaches chatracterized by complicated fault geometry, are associated with larger values of (D). In contrast, reaches with lowest values of (D), are related to areas of moderate/low seismic activity. In particular, sectors with (D) lowest than 1. 15 are total/y aseismic, and seem to be necesary to exceed (D) values of 1.4 to nucleate majar earthquakes.