Modes of active intraplate deformation, Flinders Ranges, Australia

Abstract

The Flinders Ranges form one of the most seismically active zones within the Australian continent with seismogenic strain-rates over the last 30 years of ∼10-16 s-1. Active deformation in the region reflects late Neogene increases in stress levels in the Indo-Australian plate as a response to increased plate boundary forcing from collision zones with the neighboring Asian and Pacific plates. Geological and geophysical observations suggest two modes of active deformation in operation in the Flinders Ranges over the last several million years: (1) low-amplitude (∼200-500 m), long-wavelength (∼200 km) lithospheric flexure and (2) active reverse faulting along the range front with fault slip rat..