Altai (Ms = 7.5) are studied in detail. These deformations developed as advanced systems of R- and R'-shears,
gash fractures, and compression structural features in loose sediments. In bedrocks, the older shear zones
were reactivated, the previously existing fractures were renewed and propagated further, and new faults and
crush zones were formed. The system of seismic dislocations is a fault zone no less than 4 km wide that extends
in the northwestern direction. As follows from the structural elements that reveal a systematic mutual orienta-
tion, the internal structure of this zone is typical of a right-lateral strike-slip fault. The initial stress field that led
to the development of the entire assemblage of seismotectonic deformations related to the Chuya earthquake
corresponds to the strike-slip type with the NNW, almost meridional direction of compression axis (
1) and the ENE, almost latitudinal direction of the tension axis (
3). The local variations of the stress state were expressed in an insignificant shift of
1 to the northwest or northeast, in the short-term change of relative stress values with retention of their spatial orientation, and in the increasing inclination of
1 in front of the previously existing fault. The comparison of the internal structure of the seismotectonic fault zone with a tectonophysical
model of faulting in large continental systems with a right-lateral offset indicates that the distribution of the
advanced faults corresponds to the late stage of faulting, when the main fault is still not formed completely, but
its particular segments are already developed distinctly. It is shown that at high rates of displacement the struc-
tural features in markedly different rocks develop according to the general laws of solids’ deformation even near
the day surface.