"Recent deformation at the junction between the North Luzon block and the Central Philippines, from

ERS-1 images"
M. Pubellier (1), F. Garcia (2) , A. Loevenbruck (1) , J. Chorowicz (2)
(1) : CNRS, UMR 8538, Laboratoire de Gologie, Ecole Normale Suprieure, 24 rue Lhomond 75231 Paris
Cedex 05 France.
(2) : Dpartement de Gotectonique, CNRS ESA 7072, T 26-16 E1, Universit Pierre et Marie Curie, 4
Place Jussieu 75252 Paris France.
Abstract
The transfer of the major part of the motion between the Philippine Sea Plate and the Sunda block is
accommodated along a NW shear wide zone partly on the Philippine Fault and partly on the Sibuyan
Verde Passage Fault (SVPF) as indicated by GPS and geological data. Given the limited motion along the
SVPF and the important motion along the Philippine Fault, as well as the necessity of a connection
between these faults and the southern Manila Trench, a transtensional motion along the NE-SW
Macolod Corridor may be predicted. We make use of SAR ERS-1 images to analyse the volcano-tectonic
features of this area because these images are sensitive to minute textural or topographic contrasts
resulting from small effects of recent deformation. In addition they allow to determine accurately the
shape of the base of volcanic edifices and to detect linear clusters of very small adjascent cones
(Chorowicz et al., 1997).

The results presented herein allow us to extend the features recognized earlier to a larger Macolod
Corridor. Large faults actually connect the Philippine Fault to the Sibuyan Verde Passage Fault all accross
the Taal Volcanic Field. In addition to extension along NE faults, we identify an important component of

left-lateral strike-slip underlined by fault scarps, dykes, alignments of volcanoes and pull-apart basins,
accompanied by extension along N-S faults. A relative chronology of the fractures and volcanic edifices is
proposed. When compared to the existing ages of the volcanics, an evolution scheme of the area may
be proposed, according to which extension shifted from a nearly N-S opening between 5 and 2 my to a
direction close to E-W at Present. The early N-S extension existed in the Marinduque Basin and may
have migrated northward and rotated to the present Macolod Corridor.