Fault kinematics and stress fields in the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda

Sachau, T., Koehn, D. , Stamps, D. S. and Lindenfeld, M. (2016) Fault kinematics and stress fields in the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. International Journal of Earth Sciences, 105(6), pp. 1729-1740. (doi: 10.1007/s00531-015-1162-6)

Abstract

The Rwenzori Mountains in western Uganda form an active rift transfer zone in the Western Branch of the East African Rift System. Here we quantify local stress fields in high resolution from field observations of fault structures to shed light on the complex, polyphase tectonics expected in transfer zones. We apply the Multiple Inverse Method, which is optimized for heterogeneous fault-slip data, to the northern and central Rwenzori Mountains. Observations from the northern Rwenzori Mountains show larger heterogeneity than data from the central Rwenzori, including unexpected compressional features, thus the local stress field indicates polyphase transpressional tectonics. We suggest transpression here is linked to rotational and translational movements of the neighboring Victoria block relative to the Rwenzori block that includes strong overprinting relationships. Stress inversions of data from the central Rwenzori Mountains indicate two distinct local stress fields. These results suggest the Rwenzori block consists of smaller blocks.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Koehn, Dr Daniel
• Authors: Sachau, T., Koehn, D., Stamps, D. S., and Lindenfeld, M.
• Subjects: Q Science > QE Geology
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences > Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: International Journal of Earth Sciences
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1437-3254
• ISSN (Online): 1437-3262
• Published Online: 18 March 2015
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
• First Published: First published in International Journal of Earth Sciences 105(6) 1729-1740
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher