Bulletin de l’Institut Scientifique, Rabat, Special paper : Colloque séisme d’Al Hoceima

section Sciences de la Terre, 2006, n°28, 19-30. Al Hoceima 24-26 février 2005

Focal mechanisms and state of stress in the Al Hoceima area

(Central Rif, Morocco)
Fida MEDINA1 & Sidi Otman EL ALAMI2

1. Université Mohammed V–Agdal, Institut Scientifique, Département de Géologie, B.P. 703 Agdal, Rabat, Maroc. e-mail :
medina@israbat.ac.ma
2. Université Mohammed V–Agdal, Institut Scientifique, Département de Physique du Globe, B.P. 703 Agdal, Rabat, Maroc. e-mail :
elalami@israbat.ac.ma

Abstract. The review of the available focal mechanisms of the Al Hoceima area for the period 1968-2004 shows that: (1) most
mechanisms correspond to normal and/or strike-slip faulting mainly. The state of stress determined with the help of the numerical
quadridimensional search (R4DT) for three sets of earthquakes (single events, 1994 and 2004 crises) shows that the main compressional
axis σ1 is NNW-SSE, while the minimum compressional stress axis σ3 is ENE-WSW in the three cases; (2) focal mechanisms are
homogeneous by event (main shock and its aftershocks), but become heterogeneous when corresponding to single events which are time-
and space-distant, reflecting the structural diversity of the area. The NW-SE trend of the main compressional stress axis agrees with the
displacement vector of Africa with respect to Eurasia in the area, with local variations. The obtained states of stress correspond to the
regional state of stress for moderate earthquakes (M ≥ 4) and to local states of stress for the weak events.
Mécanismes au foyer et état de contrainte dans la région d’Al Hoceima (Rif central, Maroc).
Résumé. La revue des mécanismes au foyer disponibles pour la région d’Al Hoceima durant la période 1968-2004 montre que : (1) la
plupart des mécanismes correspondent à des failles normales et/ou décrochantes principalement ; l’état de contrainte déterminé à l’aide de
la méthode numérique de recherche quadridimensionnelle (R4DT) pour trois groupes de séismes (événements isolés et crises sismiques de
1994 et 2004) montre que la direction de l’axe de la contrainte compressive maximum σ1 est NNW-SSE, celle de la contrainte
compressive minimum étant ENE-WSW ; (2) les mécanismes au foyer sont homogènes par événement (séisme principal et ses répliques)
et hétérogènes quand ils sont isolés et temporellement et spatialement distants, reflétant la grande diversité structurale de la région. La
direction NW-SE de la contrainte compressive maximale est compatible avec le vecteur déplacement de l’Afrique par rapport à l’Eurasie
dans la région, avec des variations locales. Les états de contrainte obtenus correspondent à l’état de contrainte régionale pour les séismes
modérés (M ≥ 4) et à des états de contrainte locaux pour les séismes faibles.

INTRODUCTION Goguel 1979, Etchecopar et al. 1981, Rivera & Cisternas

1990) was attempted in the region. These methods have
Al Hoceima city is located in the northern part of the
been applied to microseismicity of the Al Hoceima area
Rif chain, a region which has been suffering the largest
during 1989 (Medina 1995), and to the seismic crises of
seismic activity in Morocco (Fig. 1), as also shown by the
1994 (El Alami et al. 1998) and 2004 (Dorbath et al.
earliest earthquake catalogues for this country (see Cherka-
2005).
oui 1988, for a list of catalogues) and by the historical
studies (Elmrabet 2005). In this area, earthquakes are This paper exposes a review of the focal mechanisms
frequent, shallow (z < 30 km), and of moderate magnitude determined up to 2004 for the earthquakes of the Al
(M < 5), with the exception of the 26 May 1994 and 24 Hoceima region (34.5°-35.6°N; 3.5°-4.25°W), and a new
February 2004 shocks, which attained magnitudes Md = 5.6 approach of the related state of stress, mainly based on the
and Mw = 6.3 respectively. numerical search method R4DT (Angelier 1990).
On the scale of the Betic-Rif Arc, seismicity appears to
be largely scattered (e.g. Udias et al. 1976, Cherkaoui 1988, GEOLOGICAL SETTING
El Alami et al. 2004) ; however, at the regional scale,
epicentres of some well-constrained aftershocks are clearly Al Hoceima is located in the central Rif chain, which
aligned along NNE-SSW, NNW-SSE and WNW-ESE parallels the northern coast of Morocco (Fig. 2). Near the
trends (Cherkaoui et al. 1990, Calvert et al. 1997, El Alami city, the most important structures consist of southward-
et al. 1998, Dorbath et al. 2005, Buforn et al. 2005). On a verging thrust sheets which are, from the upper
more global scale, seismicity of northern Morocco is related (northernmost) to the lower (southernmost): (i) the
to the N320°E-trending relative convergence of the African Bokkoya, with nappes of Palaeozoic terranes and their
and Eurasian plates, with a theoretical velocity of 0.5 cm/yr Mesozoic-Cenozoic cover; (ii) the Tiziren unit, comprising
according to models NUVEL-1 et NUVEL-1A (DeMets et Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous carbonates and flysch
al. 1994). The ‘instantaneous’ smaller rates of 0.06 cm/yr series (3000 m); (iii) the Ketama metamorphic unit, which
recently suggested by Buforn et al. (2004) from seismicity, consists of Cretaceous flysch and limestones. Volcanic
are explained by the lack of major earthquakes during the rocks are represented by the middle Miocene Ras-Tarf
20th century. andesites (Guillemin & Houzay 1982).
On the base of focal mechanisms data, determination of Recent sediments (Miocene and younger deposits;
the state of stress using the right dihedra method (Angelier Thauvin 1971) overlying the previous units are encountered
& Mechler 1977, Allmendinger et al. 1989), and/or in the triangular lower Nekor graben, trending N-S, and the
numerical methods (e.g. Carey & Brunier 1974, Angelier & Boudinar basin, east of Ras Tarf Cape.
 F. Medina & S.O. El Alami – Focal mechanisms and state of stress in Al Hoceima

36N

ATLANTIC OCEAN Rabat

34
Al Hoceima

32

30
-12 -8 -4 w0

Figure 1. Seismicity of Morocco (northern provinces) for the period 1987-2000 (files El Alami) and main fault structures.
Symbols correspond to epicentres of earthquakes. The size of symbols increases with increasing magnitudes.

Figure 2. Structural map of the Al Hoceima area and main faults; after several authors (cited in Medina 1995).

In addition to the Nekor fault, which is the major thought to extend offshore into the Al Hoceima Bay
transverse structure (e.g. Leblanc & Olivier 1984), the most (Calvert et al. 1997).
important faults are: (ii) The Jbel Hammam fault system (NNW-SSE),
(i) The Imzouren (NNW-SSE) and Trougout (N-S) normal consisting of several normal faults with trace lengths of
faults, which respectively delimit the western and eastern 20 km.
boundaries of the lower Nekor graben; the Trougout fault is

20
 F. Medina & S.O. El Alami – Focal mechanisms and state of stress in Al Hoceima

(iii) The Rouadi fault, a normal fault trending NNE-SSW inferred from local studies (Groupe de Recherche
over 15 km, the eastern block is downthrown. Néotectonique de l'Arc de Gibraltar 1977).
(iv) The Bousekkour-Aghbal strike-slip fault (Fig. 2),
trending NE-SW, which crosscuts the whole Bokkoya unit REVIEW OF THE FOCAL MECHANISMS OF THE
with a sinistral displacement (Mourier 1982). This fault is AL HOCEIMA AREA
thought to have been active during the 1994 seismic crisis
A large number of focal mechanisms were determined
(El Alami et al. 1998).
for the Al Hoceima area since the 1970’s. Solutions were
Most authors agree that, after the pre-Messinian first obtained using first motion polarities of P-waves, and,
emplacement of the Rif nappes, the tectonic regime was more recently, waveform analysis and moment tensor
dominated by simultaneous normal and strike-slip motion inversion (Table I).
along the faults. Normal faulting generally takes place on Because of the large population of focal mechanisms, it
fault planes parallel to the compressional stress axis, is easier to represent them by their tectonic axes P, T and B
whereas strike-slip motion is observed on the planes which within triangular diagrams (Frohlich & Apperson 1992).
are at a certain angle with the compressional stress axis. This representation, already used for the studied area
Structural analysis carried out by Frizon de Lamotte (1982, (Medina 1995, Buforn et al. 2004), helps directly
p. 297) and Chotin & Aït Brahim (1988) shows that determining the tectonic regime. Besides the triangular
horizontal σ1 underwent a counterclockwise rotation: ENE- diagrams, azimutal scatter of axes P and T is visualised on
WSW during the Tortonian, NNE-SSW during the end- classical equal-area stereograms.
Tortonian, and NW-SE in the Plio-Quaternary, even though The list of focal mechanisms used is given in Tables
a more complex evolution involving extensional episodes is A – D of the Appendix.

Table I. Methods and database used by previous authors for determining focal mechanisms of the Al Hoceima area.

Method Authors Events

Hatzfeld (1978) teleseisms previous to 1980
Medina & Cherkaoui (1992) teleseisms 1959-1986
Hatzfeld et al. (1993) microseisms of 1989
Medina (1995) microseisms of 1989, teleseisms
Polarity of P-wave arrivals
El Alami et al. (1998) major events of the 1994 seismic crisis

Instituto Geografico Nacional (IGN, Spain) teleseismic events

Bezzeghoud & Buforn (1999) teleseismic events

Waveform analysis Bezzeghoud & Buforn (1999) and Buforn et major shocks of 1994 and 2004
al. (2005)
IGN and IAG, centres ZUR (Switzerland) and
Moment tensor inversion MED (France), Stich et al. (2003) and Rueda moderate teleseisms (4<M<5)
& Mezcua (2004)

Single events 1968-2001 al. 1993, Medina 1995, his Fig. 6) shows that the dominant
regime is strike-slip/normal, with a general lack of pure
Fifteen (15) focal mechanisms were determined for the
reverse mechanisms. On a stereographic projection, axes P
single events recorded from 1968 to 2001 (Table A,
are distributed along a NW-SE great circle, with largely
Appendix), most of them corresponding to strike-slip
variable plunges, whereas axes T are NE-SW to ESE-WNW
displacements with normal component and to normal faults
with a shallow plunge (Medina 1995, his Fig. 5).
(Fig. 3). Few mechanisms correspond to strike-slip motions
with reverse component. The left side of the diagram (B–P),
1994 seismic crisis
shows a gap between strike-slip and normal mechanisms.
On a stereographic projection, axes P are distributed in the Solutions obtained for the main event of the 1994
NW and SE quadrants with variable plunge, with the seismic crisis from moment tensor inversion (USGS,
exception of two axes located in the NE quadrant. Harvard, CSEM) or from waveform modelling
(Bezzeghoud & Buforn 1999) show strike-slip motion with
Microseismicity 1989
a slight normal component (Fig. 4). The solution proposed
Three hundred and sixteen micro-earthquakes were by El Alami et al. (1998) on the base of first motions
recorded during the microseismic survey carried out during includes a reverse component (Table B, Appendix).
October–November 1989, of which 231 were accurately Bezzeghoud & Buforn (1999) suggested that the main event
located (Cherkaoui et al. 1990, Hatzfeld et al. 1993). consists of two sub-events, mechanism of sub-event 2 also
Plotting the axes of 88 determined mechanisms (Hatzfeld et showing a reverse component.

21
 F. Medina & S.O. El Alami – Focal mechanisms and state of stress in Al Hoceima

B
4 5 NN
1

strike-slip
single events 15
10
6
8 3
14
2
9

11
7
13 thrust
normal 12

P T

Figure 3. Left, distribution of the tectonic axes P, B and T (points) on a triangular diagram (Frohlich & Apperson 1992) for single events of
the Al Hoceima area. Right, azimutal distribution of P axes on a stereographic projection (lower hemisphere) for the same events. The
numbers correspond to events listed in Table A (Appendix).

B
N
N

strike-slip

thrust
normal

P T
1994 crisis
main shock
(various determinations)

Figure 4. Distribution of the tectonic axes P, B and T (points) on a triangular diagram (Frohlich & Apperson 1992) for the main events of
the 1994 crisis, and azimutal distribution of P axes on a stereographic projection (lower hemisphere) for the same events. Data from
El Alami et al. (1998).

Mechanisms of the 7 main aftershocks (Tab. C, Mechanisms of the weakest aftershocks also correspond
Appendix) all correspond to strike-slip motion with a to strike-slip faulting with mainly a normal component
normal component (El Alami et al. 1998; Fig. 4). On a (Dorbath et al. 2005).
stereographic projection, P axes are oriented NW-SE with a On a stereographic projection, axes P concentrate
slight to moderate plunge. around azimut N330°E.

2004 seismic crisis

STATE OF STRESS
For the main shock of 24 February 2004, focal
mechanisms were determined from moment tensor Methodology
inversion (USGS, Harvard, LDG) (Table D, Appendix).
Nodal planes are oriented NNE-SSW and WNW-ESE with An approach of the state of stress was attempted by
ESE and SSW steep dips respectively. Mechanisms of the several authors for northern Morocco, and particularly for
strongest aftershocks, determined by IGN (Table E, the Al Hoceima area. The main methods used are listed in
Appendix) correspond to strike-slip faulting with a reverse Table II.
component mainly, and to reverse faulting (Fig. 5). One In the present study, focal mechanism analysis was
single case shows normal faulting (mechanism 7). carried out with the help of software TENSOR , with

22
 F. Medina & S.O. El Alami – Focal mechanisms and state of stress in Al Hoceima

B
14 NN
5 1
15
918
10
16
2
8 3
strike-slip 13

19
11
17

4
6

7 thrust
normal 12

P T
2004 seismic crisis

Figure 5. Distribution of the tectonic axes P, B and T (points) on a triangular diagram (Frohlich & Apperson 1992) for the main shock and
aftershocks of the 2004 crisis, and azimutal distribution of axes P on a stereographic projection (lower hemisphere) for the same
events. Data from IGN (Spain). The numbers correspond to events listed in Table E (Appendix).

Table II. Methods and database used by previous authors for determining the state of stress in the Al Hoceima area and Morocco.

Method Author(s) Events

Galindo-Zaldivar et al. (1993) and
Right diherdra method (Angelier &
Henares et al. (2001) teleseisms
Mechler 1977)
Medina (1995) microseisms of 1989 and teleseisms
Numerical method R4DT (Angelier) El Alami et al. (1998) 1994 earthquake and aftershocks
Numerical method (Rivera & Cisternas Dorbath et al. (2005) aftershock sequence of the 2004
1990) earthquake (pers. comm..)

quadridimensional iterative search (R4DT) option (Angelier (2) The number and distribution of stations on the diagram
1990). The state of stress is defined by the trend and plunge for solutions determined with the help of P-wave first
of the main stress axes (σ1 ≥ σ2 ≥ σ3), and by their relative arrivals. In this case, the assigned weight depends on the
magnitude, expressed by ratio Φ = (σ2–σ3)/(σ1–σ3). After a quality of the solution. Data which were not directly
preliminary determination involving both nodal planes of observed were given the minimum value, because no
each focal mechanism, we selected for each solution the control was possible on the quality of the solutions.
plane showing the least angular difference between the In addition, the accuracy of the tensors was estimated by
observed slip vector and the calculated shear stress (Carey- quality factors n1 et n2 which express the number of planes
Gailhardis & Mercier 1987, Angelier 1990). Methodology with angular differences ANG>45° and 22.5°<ANG<45°
is illustrated in Figure 6. between the slip vector and the shear stress obtained.

Reliability of solutions Results

The reliability of focal mechanism solutions used The following results were obtained (Table III; Fig. 7):
constitutes one of the main parameters on which is based
the determination of the state of stress. In order to favour – For the 15 single events in the Al Hoceima area (period
the most reliable mechanisms, the focal mechanism planes 1968-2001), the software excluded only mechanisms 2 and
were weighted with respect to the quality of the solutions. 12 (Appendix); the state of stress determined for 13
The weight assigned to each plane depends on : mechanisms is extensional, with almost-horizontal σ3
(1) The magnitudes of the corresponding shocks, so that the plunging 3° towards N245°E, and almost-horizontal σ1
largest weights were assigned to the shocks with highest trending N336°E and plunging 9°; the value of ratio Φ
magnitudes ; this obeys to the fact that high magnitudes (0.953) indicates that σ1 and σ2 are of similar magnitude;
reflect large rupture parameters, such as the width, the quality factor n1 is 0 while n2 is of only 3.
length, the area, and the surface displacement (e.g. Wells & – The state of stress determined for 8 mechanisms of the
Coppersmith 1994). 1994 seismic crisis is strike-slip with almost-horizontal σ1

23
 F. Medina & S.O. El Alami – Focal mechanisms and state of stress in Al Hoceima

Insertion of all nodal

planes of earthquake First run by
focal mechanisms software
weighted in function (R4DT)
of the magnitudes

Choice of the best

Second run by plane (minimum angle
the software between observed
and calculated shear )
for each mechanism

Axes σ1, σ2 σ3
Ratio Φ= (σ2−σ3) / (σ1−σ3)

Figure 6. Methodology of determination of the parameters of the main stress axes and ratio Φ with the help of program Tensor.

Table III. Parameters of the state of stress calculated for the events of the Al Hoceima area represented by the azimut and
plunge of the main maximal (σ1) and minimal (σ3) compressive stress, and the stress ratio Φ (=σ2–σ3/σ1–σ3). N, number of
events selected for the final calculation (second run of R4DT program).

set N σ1 σ3 Φ n1 n2
Az. Pl. Az. Pl.
Isolated 13 336 09 245 03 0.953 0 3
1994 crisis 8 140 19 042 20 0.22 3 4
2004 crisis 16 326 01 056 04 0.3 0 0

ratio Φ is of 0.3; quality factors n1 and n2 are null, which

N means a very good solution.
Among the determined solutions, single events show
Isolated events
solutions that can be considered as very reliable, with the
σ1 exception of mechanisms 8, 9 and 10, which are of lesser
σ3 reliability because of the small number of stations used. The
1994 crisis other groups of solutions are generally very reliable.
σ1
σ3
DISCUSSION: REGIONAL STATE OF STRESS
2004 crisis
IN THE AL HOCEIMA AREA
σ1
σ3
As extensively discussed in a previous paper (Medina
1995), it can be admitted on the basis of seismotectonic
studies (e.g. Carey-Gailhardis & Mercier 1992) that large to
moderate earthquakes are related to the regional state of
Figure 7. Plot of the main maximal (σ1) and minimal (σ3) stress
axes (equal area, lower hemisphere). See Table III for the stress (i.e. plate and microplate motions), while micro-
numerical results. earthquakes only reflect a local state of stress (i.e. block
adjustments). On the other hand, it clearly appears from
and σ3 trending N140°E and N042°E respectively (Table analysis of other attempts of determination of the state of
III) ; ratio Φ is 0.22 ; quality factor n1 is 3 while n2 is of 4. stress (Henares et al. 2003, Buforn et al. 2004) that
obtaining an accurate state of stress strongly depends on the
– Finally, the state of stress for the 2004 crisis, determined choice of the focal mechanisms. Thus, a heterogeneous
with the help of 16 mechanisms calculated by IGN, population of solutions often leads to poor results because it
correspond to a strike-slip regime with σ1 trending N326°E may generally involve two or more states of stress.
and plunging 01 ; σ3 trending N056°E and plunging 04°; Therefore, the best determinations appear to be those that

24
 F. Medina & S.O. El Alami – Focal mechanisms and state of stress in Al Hoceima

only take into account a main shock and its largest In the Rif–Betics–Alboran area, Buforn et al. (2004;
aftershocks. their sector B) obtained from total seismic moment tensor
The states of stress obtained for the three sets of calculations a strike-slip regime with a small normal
moderate to large earthquakes (isolated, 1994 and 2004) component. The data set comprises shallow (h<40 km),
show similar solutions reflecting a strike-slip regime, large to moderate earthquakes (mb≥5 for shocks before
with σ1 and σ3 horizontal and trending NNW-SSE (N140°E 1975, and mb≥4.0 after 1975). Axis P trends NW-SE with a
to N156°E) and ENE-WSW (N42°E to N65°E) small dip towards NW, while axis T is horizontal and NE-
respectively. The strike differences may be interpreted as SW.
due to the iteration procedure and should not be understood Although different, the solutions we obtained are in
to represent temporal rotations of the stress axes. However, agreement with those of Henares et al. (2003) for large
ratio Φ for the set of single earthquakes (close to 1; i.e. σ2 ≈ earthquakes, and Buforn et al. (2004). Our results show a
σ1) is different than those of the seismic sequences (close to good fit with the plate displacement vector, the trend of
0; σ2 ≈ σ3). This can be easily explained by the less which is N320°E in the Al Hoceima area (models NUVEL-
homogeneous population of mechanisms of the single 1 et NUVEL-1A). This trend is also in agreement with the
events, and by the wider area considered. The fault NW-SE compressional stress active in Plio-Quaternary
population used for the determination of the state of stress times. However, it is slightly oblique to the plate
includes normal and strike-slip mechanisms determined on displacement vector determined from geodesy (McClusky
relatively distant fault segments which may have acted et al. 2003), which is oriented N116E (N296).
independently. However, it should be noted that this state of stress only
For micro-earthquakes (shocks of magnitude 1 to 3), the applies to the Al Hoceima area and should not be extended
state of stress is extensional in the Imzouren area and strike- westwards to the rest of the Rif chain, as the latter is
slip elsewhere (Medina 1995). The state of stress in submitted to a complex regime involving extension and
Imzouren reflects a permutation of σ1 and σ2 due to normal especially lateral escape of fault-delimited blocks
faulting along the western fault of the Nekor graben. (Chalouan et al. 2004).
However, this dataset still needs applying a numerical
methodology in order to improve the determination of the CONCLUSIONS
state of stress.
(1) In the Al Hoceima area, focal mechanisms are
For single events, focal mechanisms located in the homogeneous by event (main shock and its aftershocks),
Alboran sea all show a strong normal component; however, but become heterogeneous when corresponding to single
numerous other teleseisms and microseisms located events which are time- and space-distant, reflecting the
onshore also show normal faulting mainly; therefore, the structural diversity of the area.
type of mechanisms does not a priori seem to be related to
(2) The NW-SE trend of the main compressional stress axis
the location of the events. agrees with the displacement vector of Africa with respect
The three states of stress are somewhat different from to Eurasia in the area, with local variations.
those obtained by Henares et al. (2003), and closer to that
(3) The obtained states of stress correspond to the regional
determined by Buforn et al. (2004).
state of stress for moderate earthquakes (M≥4) and to local
From isolated shallow events (h<40 km) in a larger area states of stress for the weak events.
comprising Al Hoceima and Nador (their sector 2; approx.
4.5°W-1.5°W), Henares et al. (2003) obtained two states of Acknowledgements
stress using the right dihedra method: (i) for large This paper has been presented as a communication to the
earthquakes (mb 5.3-5.7), compression is horizontal and International Conference on the Al Hoceima earthquake of 2004,
N55°-90°E, while extension is also horizontal and N0°- held at Al Hoceima (24-26 February 2005). We are grateful to Pr.
35°E; (ii) for moderate earthquakes (mb 4.0-4.6), Elisa Buforn (Universidad Complutense, Madrid) and to Pr. Jesus
compression is N25°W dipping NNW, while extension is Galindo-Zaldivar (Universidad de Granada) for critical reviews
N55°-90°E dipping ENE. which helped improving the first draft of the manuscript.

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M., Aït Brahim L. & Harnafi M. 1998. The Al Hoceima area, and surface displacement. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 84,
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65.
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314, 239-309. strike-slip earthquakes using InSAR: The 1994 and 2004 Al
Frohlich C. & Apperson K.D. 1992. Earthquake focal Hoceima, Morocco earthquakes. Geophys. J. Internat., 166,
mechanisms, moment tensors, and the consistency of seismic 1347-1362.
activity near plate boundaries. Tectonics, 11, 2, 279-296. Cakir Z., Meghraoui M., Akoglu A.M., Jabour N., Belabbes S. &
Galindo-Zaldivar J., Gonzalez-Lodeiro F. & Jabaloy A. 1993. Aït Brahim L. 2006. Surface deformation associated with the
Stress and paleostress in the Betic-Rif Cordilleras (Miocene Mw 6.4, 24 February 2004 Al Hoceima, Morocco,
to present). Tectonophysics, 227, 105-126. earthquake deduced from InSAR: implications for the active

26
 F. Medina & S.O. El Alami – Focal mechanisms and state of stress in Al Hoceima

tectonics along North Africa. Bull. Seismol. Soc. America, Stich D., Mancilla F., Baumont D. & Morales J. 2005. Source
96, 1, 59-68. analysis of the Mw 6.3 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake
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532. Manuscript received 17 April 2006
Revised version accepted 18 October 2006

27
 Appendix

Table A. Focal parameters and mechanisms of isolated events used in this study.

N° Date Time Lat. Long. Magnitude Depth Type Plane A Plane B Axis P Axis T N Ref
(N) (W) (tr., dip, rake) (tr., dip, rake)
1 17/04/1968 09-12-04 35.24 3.73 5 13 FM 348; 82;***1 80; 80; –8 304; 12 35; 02 40 (10) H78
2 30/10/1968 11-41-57 35.28 3.76 4.6 NC FM 286; 55; 145 38; 62; 40 1602; 04 254; 46 n CB94
3 3
3 07/04/1970 09-16-14 34.87 3.90 4.8 27 FM 244; 64; 155 346; 70; 19 114; 03 205; 35 17 (2) H78
4 29/04/1973 14-37-57 34.63 4.17 4.5 35 FM 32; 90; 0 122; 90; 0 167; 0 77; 0 27 (4) H78
5 14/07/1974 02-55-26 35.58 3.68 4.3 2 FM 36; 90; 0 126; 90; 0 351; 0 81; 0 13 (3) H78
6 15/07/1977 05-41-50 35.17 3.73 3.7 (ISC) 17 FM 211; 70; –25 310; 66; –158 170; 32 262; 03 11 (1) MC92
7 24/02/1979 21-19-23 34.93 4.28 4.3 5 FM 51; 40; –23 159; 75; –129 32; 46 276; 23 12 (0) MC92
8 21/04/1979 19-52-06 35.03 4.00 3.8 5 FM 171;70; 32 71; 60; 158 300; 07 35; 36 9 (1) M95
9 20/03/1981 14-08-00 35.13 3.90 3.9 5 FM 168; 80; 37 70; 54; 168 294; 17 034; 32 9 (1) M95
10 07/04/1981 23-37-00 35.11 3.98 3.7 5 FM 183; 75; 33 85; 60; 163 310; 10 047; 33 8 (1) M95
11 09/12/1987 23-14-26 35.41 3.81 4.3 (mb) 7 FM 54; 49; –58 190; 50; –123 38; 64 303; 08 N HN03
12 05/10/1988 00-42-11 35.50 3.88 4 11 FM 248; 26; –58 32; 68; –105 280; 64 136; 22 28 (9) IGN88
13 20/10/1998 23-47-03 34.84 3.77 3.9 (Mw) NC MT 116; 54; –118 338; 44; –56 328; 67 225; 05 IAG
14 18/07/1999 17-26-47 35.24 4.09 3.9 (Mw) NC MT 118; 83; –149 24; 59; –7 346; 26 247; 16 IAG
15 08/06/2001 13-47-32 35.49 3.93 4 (Mw) NC MT 128; 71; –157 30; 68; –20 349; 29 259; 02 IAG

References: H78: Hatzfeld 1978; CB94: Coca & Buforn 1998; MC92: Medina & Cherkaoui 1992; M95: Medina 1995; HN03: Henares et al. 2003; IGN88: Instituto Geografico Nacional, Madrid
1988; IAG: Instituto Andaluz de Geofisica.

Types of mechanism: FM: first motion of P-waves; MT: moment tensor inversion.

N: number of stations used (in parentheses number of incompatible motions).

 F. Medina & S.O. El Alami – Focal mechanisms and state of stress in Al Hoceima

Table B. Parameters of the focal mechanism of the main earthquake of 1994 according to various sources.
(WFA: waveform analysis; CMT: centroid moment tensor)

Plane A Plane B P-axis T-axis

Reference
str. dip (°) str.(°) dip (°) az. (°) pl.(°) az.(°) pl.(°)
93 75 00 80 316 18 47 04 USGS (P-Waves)
93 80 02 84 317 11 47 03 USGS (M-Tensor)
112 48 17 85 326 33 72 24 HARVARD (CMT)
91 83 00 87 316 14 224 04 HARVARD (P-waves)
291 86 200 79 156 11 67 05 EMSC
202 60 100 72 151 04 59 30 El Alami et al. 1998 (P-waves)
329 77 281 40 28 19 Bezzeghoud & Buforn 1999 (WFA)
355 69 311 13 218 16 Bezzeghoud & Buforn 1999 (WFA)

Table C. List of focal mechanisms related to the 1994 crisis (after El Alami et al 1998). Abbreviations as for Table A.

Date Time Lat. N Long. Depth Mag. Plane A Plane B Axis P Axis T N
W Tr. Dip Tr. Dip Az Pl Az Pl

26/05/94 12-27-54 35°12' 4°01' 20 4.4 185° 70° 298° 44° 140° 49° 247° 15° 13(1)
28/05/94 03-32-02 35°14' 4°03' 10 3.5 180° 50° 308° 54° 159° 60° 063° 03° 10(1)
29/05/94 19-14-05 35°14' 4°02' 10 3.3 220° 80° 316° 60° 174° 29° 270° 19° 11(3)
29/05/94 23-45-06 35°16' 4°02' 10 4.0 199° 82° 296° 56° 146° 37° 254° 23° 11(1)
01/06/94 00-53-52 35°11' 4°01' 8.5 4.0 209° 64° 330° 43° 166° 55° 273° 13° 11(1)
03/06/94 08-57-38 35°11' 4°02' 8 4.6 190° 55° 082° 66° 138° 07° 040° 44° 21(5)
08/06/94 03-08-31 35°11' 4°02' 10 3.6 008° 80° 100° 80° 324° 14° 234° 01° 11(1)

Table D. Parameters of the focal mechanism of the main earthquake of 2004 according to various sources.

Plane A Plane B P-axis T-axis

Reference
str. dip rake ° str. dip rake°E az. (°) pl.(°) az.(°) pl.(°)
21 86 –19 111 89 –176 336 04 246 03 USGS
18 81 –29 113 61 –170 Harvard
208 67 07 115 84 157 163 11 069 20 SED
198 73 –37 300 55 –159 154 37 253 12 INGV

29
Table E. List of focal mechanisms of the 2004 crisis (after IGN) used for the present study. Mo: scalar moment; Q: quality of solution according to IGN.

Depth Plane A Plane B

N° IGN Date Time Lat. N Long. W Mw (km) Mo (tr., dip, rake) (tr., dip, rake) Q
458391 24/02/2004 02-27-46 35.142 3.997 6.2 6 2.66E+25 200 82 023 107 67 171 3
459905 25/02/2004 05-21-14 35.121 3.931 4.5 9 6.35E+22 098 88 176 188 86 002 3
460103 25/02/2004 12-44-54 35.052 3.861 5.2 6 6.54E+23 202 74 036 101 56 161 3
460255 25/02/2004 16-33-28 35.170 3.941 4.0 9 1.09E+22 293 85 162 025 72 005 3
460715 26/02/2004 12-07-03 35.190 4.064 4.8 9 1.94E+23 197 86 008 107 82 176 3
461000 27/02/2004 00-59-00 35.139 3.990 4.3 3 2.84E+22 285 88 –178 195 88 –002 4?
461386 27/02/2004 16-50-42 35.184 3.919 4.5 15 5.85E+22 098 78 164 191 75 013 4
461723 28/02/2004 16-29-25 35.023 4.013 4.2 6 2.10E+22 255 63 102 050 29 068 3
462848 02/03/2004 20-36-26 35.148 3.867 4.4 6 3.78E+22 198 89 029 108 61 179 4
463533 04/03/2004 11-44-14 35.165 3.987 3.8 12 4.87E+21 102 82 171 193 81 008 4
464446 07/03/2004 06-37-52 35.060 4.005 5.0 12 3.28E+23 272 87 –176 182 86 –003 3
464584 07/03/2004 10-30-05 35.115 3.893 3.5 33 2.19E+21 189 84 016 98 74 174 2
466339 12/03/2004 17-21-51 34.921 4.051 4.8 9 1.88E+23 345 48 –073 140 45 –108 4
468390 18/03/2004 11-45-31 35.165 4.225 3.9 9 8.36E+21 073 50 120 210 48 059 2
469073 20/03/2004 09-37-26 35.007 4.148 4.5 9 6.65E+22 114 87 –171 024 81 –003 4
474163 06/04/2004 01-53-09 35.060 4.111 4.2 6 2.01E+22 277 56 129 041 50 046 3
487009 23/05/2004 00-29-45 35.157 4.015 3.7 24 4.48E+21 099 77 165 193 75 014 3
494264 20/06/2004 22-47-05 34.936 3.875 4.3 24 3.30E+22 289 83 –170 198 80 –008 3
515511 10/10/2004 08-13-58 35.045 3.983 3.9 9 9.02E+21 176 86 004 085 86 176 2