Islamabad J. Sci. Vol.

13 (1), 2003

Recent Seismic Activity Along the Western Margin of the Nanga Parbat
Haramosh Massif, Pakistan

A. A. Khwaja1, MonaLisa1, S. A. Khan2, Q. Z. Chaudhry3, M. Rafiq4 & A.T. Khan5

1
Department of Earth Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
2
Microseismic Studies Program (MSSP), Nilore.
3
Pakistan Meteorological Department, Islamabad, Pakistan.
4
Geophysical Centre Quetta.
5
University of Balochistan, Quetta.
________________________________________________________________
Abstract
The Nanga Parbat Haramosh Massif (NPHM) is considered to be seismically active.
Two devastating shallow earthquakes of body wave magnitudes 5.3 and 6.2 hit the
western side of the NPHM on Nov 01,2002 and Nov 20, 2002 respectively. The second
earthquake of 6.2 Mb body wave magnitude is the strongest of all the earthquakes ever
recorded in the area. A large number of aftershocks also affected about 8000 km2 of the
area. Intensity map prepared for the first event indicate an epicentral intensity of viii (on
MMI scale). Focal mechanism solutions in both the cases indicate right lateral strike
slip faulting. Similar trend (NE-SW) is obtained for the rupture plane for the events as
well as the composite solution. Maximum compressive stress directions also show a NE
trend. Complex processes are believed to be operative in the area.
______________________________________________________________________________

1. Introduction
The Nanga Parbat - Haramosh region (the eastern portion of the NW Himalayan Fold-
and-Thrust Belt) was affected by two devastating earthquakes of body wave magnitudes
(Mb) 5.3 and 6.2 on November 01, 2002 and November 20, 2002 respectively (Fig.1).
The locations of the two epicenters as recalculated by the SEISAN computer code [1] are
about 45 kms and 60 kms SE of Gilgit respectively (Fig.2). This figure also shows the
aftershock distribution of the two events while their respective source parameters are
represented in the Table.1a & b.
On the basis of the aftershocks distribution, surface damage and focal mechanism
studies of the main shocks, an attempt has been made to confirm the active nature of the
area.

2. Geology of the Area

The Himalayan fold – and – thrust belt covers all the area between the MMT (Main
Mantle Thrust) and SRT (Salt Range Thrust). In the east, separating the fold belt from
the central Himalayan fold belt of India is the north-south trending complex tectonic
zone called the Hazara – Kashmir Syntaxis and in the north - east is the Nanga Parbat-
Haramosh massif (Fig.1). The fault-bounded massif [2] consists of a variety of gneisses
and schists with a complicated history [4].

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Fig. 1. Structural and tectonic map of the study area and adjoining regions. Here MBT=Main
Boundary Thtrust. BSZ=Balakot Shear Zone. KBF=Kalabagh Fault. HKS=Hazara Kashmir
Syntaxis & NPHM=Nanga Parbat Haramosh Massif. 1& 2 represent the location of the
November 01 and November 20, 2002 earthquakes respectively.

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Fig. 2. Aftershocks distribution of November 01 and November 20, 2002 earthquakes. Here
MKT = Main Karakoram Thrust. MMT= Main Mantle Thrust. RF= Raikot Fault. SF= Stak
Fault.

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Table 1: Source (a) and focal mechanism solution (b) parameters of the main shocks.

PARAMETRS DESCRIPTION OF MAIN SHOCKS

SOURCE PARAMETRS (a)

MSSP USGS
Time 22:09:29.00 22:09:29.80
(Hr:Min:Sec)
01-11-2002 Location 35.620 N 74.660 E 35.520N 74.650E
Depth (Km) 23 33

Magnitude (Mb) 5.3 5.3

Time(Hr:Min:Sec) 21:32:31.00 21:32:30.90
0 0
20-11-2002 Location 35.51 N 74.68 E 35.400N 74.550E
Depth (Km) 45 33
Magnitude (Mb) 6.2 6.5

PARAMETERS OBTAINED FROM FOCAL MECHANISM

STUDIES [Only Fault Plane] (b)

P-AXIS T-AXIS RAKE

EVENT# STRIKE DIP
AZIMU PLUN AZIMU PLUN
TH
GE TH GE
0 0 0 0 0
ONE 200 75 64 31 329 90 -1500
NW
0
TWO 199 460 480 390 1560 200 -1640
EW
COMPOSITE 2030 620 650 190 1620 190 1800
NW

In this large antiformal structure containing many domal folds, at least three deformational
phases have been recognized [4,5,9a, 13]. Differential uplift of the massif is considered to be an
ongoing process with the Raikot-Sassi and Stak fault zones in the west and east of the massif
mostly accommodating the uplift.

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The Raikot-Sassi fault zone, the area affected by the two earthquake events discussed in
this study, is an active zone [3] lying between Raikot in the south to Sassi in the north. In
this zone a complex system of faults and shears occur. Some of the major faults in the
area of interest are the Liachar thrust (Raikot Fault) and the Shahbatot fault. Thrusting
and mostly dextral strike-slip faulting has been recognized from this zone [5,8b]. In close
proximity to this zone, the MMT also occurs [7].

6 (a)

5
No. of Earthquakes

0
3.6 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8 5.0 5.2
Magnitude

6
(b)

5
No.of Earthquakes

0
3.6 3.8 4.0 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.8
Magnitude

Fig. 3. Magnitude versus number of earthquakes diagram for the aftershocks of

the (a) November 01, 2002 and (b) November 20,2002 earthquakes
respectively.

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3. Seismicity of the Area

The northern part of Pakistan is considered to be a seismically very active region with a
history of many large earthquakes like the Pattan Earthquake of 1974 and Darel Valley
Earthquake of 1981. The NPHM is tectonically an active feature, characterized by uplift
rates of >7mm /year [13], high seismicity [12] and active faulting [5,8b]. Earthquakes of
3-5 magnitudes and hypocentral depth ranging mostly from 30-100 km have been
recorded from the area [2].
The epicentral distribution of the two events and their aftershocks is shown in
Fig. 2. According to MSSP, the two major events occurred at a depth of 23 and 45 km
respectively. No foreshocks were recorded before the two events. However 33
aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 3.5 to 5.2 were recorded till 8th November for the
first event and 20 events of magnitude 3.4 to 4.9 for the second event (Fig. 3a and b).
Aftershock distribution does not show any distinct trend although a wide area was
affected by this earthquake activity (Fig. 2). According to MSSP, the depth of
aftershocks for the first event ranged from 22 to 45 km, while for the second event, it
varied from 33 to 68 km thereby indicating that both events are shallow earthquakes.

Fig. 4. Intenity map of November 01, 2002 earthquake.

In the large area affected by earthquake activity, most of the damage resulted due to rock
falls and landslides. Karakoram highway was also badly affected mostly due to rockfalls.
19 people died while 65 were injured in the villages of Damot, Bunji, Tatta Pani and
surroundings due to the first event. Collapse of roofs rendered thousands of people

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homeless especially in the area marked by the intensity of eight in the isoseismal map
(Fig. 4). The second event of larger magnitude (Mb=6.2) resulted in loss of 30 lives while
hundreds were injured. Most affected villages were Turbling, Mushin, Dashkin and
Harchu.

4. Focal Mechanism Studies

Focal mechanism solutions undertaken by earlier workers [10,11] from immediately
adjacent regions have shown the dominance of strike-slip faulting with some thrust
faulting in this region of collisional tectonics. In the present case, the focal mechanism
solutions of the main shocks of November 01, 2002 and November 20,2002 have been
determined. Alongwith the fault plane solutions of the individual events, the composite
fault plane solution has also been carried out as the epicentral location of both of the
events is lying quite close to each other.
Focal mechanism solutions using polarities of first arrivals at seismic stations of
the MSSP seismic network and USGS global seismic stations are determined. Computer
programs, PMAN and FOCAL [6] were used for this purpose.

Event No.1 is lying at a distance of 5 kms SE of Bunji (Fig.2). Hypocentral depth

recorded by USGS is 33 km and by MSSP is 23 km (Table.1). In this area between Bunji
and Raikot, a complex system of faults, thrusts and shears occur [2]. It seems likely that
one of the fault splays in this complex zone got activated.
Focal Mechanism Solution (Fig.5 a) obtained is of a strike slip fault. From
amongst the two nodal planes, the one trending in the NNE-SSW direction is considered
to be the rupture plane. The reason is that the MMT/ Raikot-Sassi fault zone are located
to the east of the epicenter and have a nearly N-S trend. Further, according to [2], south
of Bunji, a number of fault splays parallel to the MMT occur. Thus the inference of a
NNE-SSW trending rupture plane parallel to the trend of these faults and with a right-
lateral sense of motion is in accordance with the geological observations. Other
parameters obtained for the event are shown in Table 1b.

Event No.2 of magnitude 6.2 Mb is the strongest of the earthquakes ever recorded in the
area. Its epicenter is located approximately 20 kms SE of Bunji and nearly 15 kms SE of
the Event no.1 (Fig.2). Structurally it occurs in an area where both the MMT and the
Raikot fault (Liachar Thrust) lie very close to each other. A number of right-lateral strike
slip faults trending in the N-S direction have also been recognized in this area of
thrusting. In the focal mechanism solution (Fig. 5b), the nearly N-S trending nodal plane
that indicates a right-lateral sense of motion and is in conformity with the available
geological information is inferred to be the rupture plane. Table 1b provides additional
information about the event.
Composite Fault Plane Solution (Fig.5c) also shows right lateral strike slip movement
with the rupture plane trending in the NE-SW direction. Dip direction obtained is similar
to the two solutions.

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Fig. 5. Focal mechanism solutions of the main shocks (a) and (b) and composite
solution (c).

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5. Discussion and Conclusions

As mentioned earlier the NPHM is tectonically an active feature, characterized by high
seismicity [12] and active faulting [5,8b]. Multiple stages of deformation have resulted in
the generation of complex structures. Several domal structures occur within this large
antiformal structure and are believed to have formed by amplification of folds in an
oblique convergent regime [4]. At the same time, rapid rates of uplift (7mm/year) and
denudation have been recorded from the area [13]. The uplift rates vary within the
NPHM and formed the domal structures with further accommodation taking place along
the faults bounding the eastern and western side of the massif. Occurrence of two major
events (see also Fig.2) on the western margin indicates that the ongoing process of
deformation taking place within the massif is probably being accommodated more along
the fault zone here.
Thrusting as well as right lateral strike slip faulting has been documented on the
western margin. The former is more prominent in the southern portion, where a
northwest verging thrust (Liachar/Raikot thrust) occurs. Along this thrust fault, the
gneissic rocks of the Indo-Pakistan plate are being carried over the Indus alluvium and
Kohistan rocks. Rotation of the block towards the thrust tip is believed to have resulted
in the thrusting. North of this thrust (the Shahbatot fault) shows that the strike slip
(dextral) movement is more pronounced. This is a later phase related to tear faulting near
the thrust tip. Considering this brief information, the location of the two events in an area
where thrusting has previously been found to be more prominent suggests that
propagation of dextral strike slip faulting towards the south is taking place. However
more data is needed to confirm this important change in kinematics.
Maximum compressive (P-axes) orientations show a NE-SW trend (Table 1b).
This trend is similar to that observed by other workers for northeastern Pakistan [10,11].
According to [4], the most recent structural changes taking place in the area extending
from near Askole to the northwestern margin of NPHM (Fig. 2) is the east-west
alignment of the structural domes. This may explain the trend of the P-axes orientations.
Alternatively complex convergence of movement involving tear faulting near the tip of
thrusts may be the reason.

Acknowledgement
The authors would like to thank Dr. M. Qaiser and Mr. Karam Khan of MSSP for providing
relevant information of the work.

References

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