Tectonics in this region is dominated by large-scale right lateral strike slip faults: Denali in the south and Tintina in the north. In the region bounded by these faults prominent NE- to NNE-striking seismic zones exist, but have not been directly linked to surface fault expressions. This event occurred in the Minto Flats Seismic Zone.

The elastic-wave radiation pattern of the M5.2 event indicates strike-slip faulting either consistent with left-lateral motion along the faults within Minto Flats seismic zone or right-lateral motion on a conjugate fault. The latler is the preferred interpretation for this earthquake sequence.