Fault structure and earthquake clustering in Aswan region (Egypt) revealed by high-precision earthquake location from 35 years of recorded natural and induced seismicity

Abstract

Starting from an initial catalogue of 7833 natural and reservoir-induced seismic events collected in Aswan region (south Egypt) from 1982 to 2016, we investigate the fault structure and triggering mechanisms by determining high-resolution hypocenters for 2562 earthquakes. Despite the complex network of intersecting fractures, high-precision earthquake locations reveal numerous discrete fault strands (some not mapped yet), whose kinematics have been determined from the focal mechanisms of Ml ≥ 2.5 earthquakes. Furthermore, the analysis of the space-time evolution of seismicity indicates an eastward migration of earthquakes and a progressive activation of different faults. This process could reflect fluid migration in the Wadi Kalabsha embayment likely controlled by permeability barriers at depth acting as seals, and the subsequent build-up of the pore pressure as the dominant driving mechanism of the observed seismicity in the region. A strong spatio-temporal earthquake clustering is observed in the region characterized by seismic sequences, repeated earthquakes, and long-lasting swarms. High variability of b-value in correspondence of the occurrence of mainshock-aftershock sequences also suggests the activation of faults and fractures within their respective fault zones under lower differential stress conditions due to fluids. The projection of earthquake hypocenters on an E-W vertical depth section of the study area shows a seismic gap with an approximate length of about 11 km along the Kalabsha fault, which suggests the presence of a locked fault patch that may generate a Mw 5.9 earthquake if this segment were to break in a single rupture episode.