Stresses in the Australian crust: evidence from earthquakes and in-situ stress measurements

Evidence from earthquake focal mechanisms, in situ stress measurements, and surface deformations indicate that the Australian continent is in a state of substantial horizontal compression. Reliable focal mechanism determinations are now available from eight earthquakes that have occurred in several parts of the continent since 1967. Each of these mechanisms indicates that the faulting associated with the earthquakes was caused by compressive stress acting close to horizontal. In situ measurements made in mines and tunnels, and close to the surface in quarry floors or on rock outcrops, also indicate horizontal compressive stress in all areas. Near the epicentres of the 1968 Meckering and 1970 Calingiri earthquakes, shallow over-coring measurements (

来自地震震源机制（earthquake focal mechanisms）、原位应力测量（in situ stress measurements）与地表形变的证据显示，澳大利亚大陆处于显著的水平挤压应力状态。目前已针对1967年以来澳大利亚大陆多个区域发生的8次地震获得可靠的震源机制解结果。所有这些震源机制均表明，对应地震的断层活动由接近水平的挤压应力诱发。在矿山、隧道以及地表附近的采石场底板或岩层出露区域开展的原位应力测量结果，同样证实所有区域均存在水平挤压应力。在1968年梅克林（Meckering）地震与1970年卡林吉里（Calingiri）地震的震中附近，浅层套钻应力测量（shallow over-coring measurements）