New Data on Seismicity of the Middle Caspian Basin
and Their Possible Tectonic Interpretation

S. A. Kovachev, V. G. Kaz’min, I. P. Kuzin, and L. I. Lobkovsky

Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nakhimovskii pr. 36, Moscow, 117997 Russia

e-mail: kovachev@ocean.ru

Received November 11, 2005

Abstract—Short-term (three months) bottom seismic observations in the area of the Yalam–Samur structure in
the Middle Caspian Basin revealed a deep-seated compact zone of mantle-earthquake sources that dips beneath
the southeastern Caucasus. To a first approximation, this zone may be interpreted as a seismofocal layer that
characterizes thrusting of the Turan Plate under the southeastern Caucasus. However, the obtained spatial dis-
tribution of sources of microearthquakes and weak earthquakes is insufficiently reliable owing to the low aper-
ture of the observation network of bottom seismographs. More reliable data on the position and parameters of
the seismofocal layer could be obtained by the observation network with a wider spread of bottom seismo-
graphs (up to 50–100 km). If this result is confirmed, the current concept of interaction between the Alpine
structures of the southeastern Caucasus, Turan, and South Caspian plates should probably be revised. The geo-
tectonics of the Caucasus is preliminarily analyzed in the light of the newly revealed relationships.

DOI: 10.1134/S0016852106050049

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