Jabalpur Earthquake of May 22, 1997: Constraint from Aftershock Study

Abstract Macroseismic and microseismic (aftershock) investigations were carried out by the Geological Survey of India immediately after the Jabal pur earthquake (M 6.0) of May 22, 1997. The meizoseismal area of an intensity VIII (MSK) is 35 km long and 15 km wide, trending ENE-WSW. The aftershock investigation was earned out by a five-station temporary microearthquake (MEQ) network. Five felt aftershocks (M=3.0) and 23 aftershocks in the magnitude range 1.5 to < 3.0 were recorded by the network. These are mostly clustered in an elongated area, 15 ×10 krn, near the main shock epicentre. and occurred at a depth range 35-40 k.m which is compatible with that of the main shock. The fault-plane solution of the main shock and the aftershocks revealed reverse faulting with left-lateral strike-slip component The hypocentral section and the fault-plane solutions indicate that the pre-existing ENE-WSW trending Nannada South Fault is deep-rooted to mantIe depth, and has been activated at the crust-mantle boundary to produce the main shock and the aftershocks. The failure appears to be caused in response to the northward post collisional movement of the Indian plate.