Late Cenozoic left lateral strike-slip deformation in Minorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Resumo

Minorca is located at the easternmost sector of the Betic orogen between N-S to NE-SW extensional basins. The elongate WNW-ESE shape of the island follows the strike of late high-angle faults, which parallel the North Balearic Frac- ture Zone (NBFZ). The structure of Minorca differs from that of other nearby Mediterranean islands and has been the subject of recent studies. In this work we report the results of a fault population analysis (including its cartographical projection) applied to three late WNW-ESE faults that cross the island longitudinally. The stress inversion results show a left-lateral movement with normal component for the Tramuntana Fault, with R = 0,7 and horizontal σ1 and a normal movement with left-lateral component for the Mercadal and Binixems faults, with R = 0,8, vertical σ 1 and horizontal σ2; in both cases there are structural and/or cartographical evidence of right-lateral deformation. These results explain several Alpine structures of the island, poorly interpreted up to now, but are unfitting for a solely right-lateral movementof NBFZ.