Scaling and correlation functions in a model of a two-dimensional earthquake fault

We study numerically a two-dimensional version of the Burridge-Knopoff model. We calculate spatial and temporal correlation functions and compare their behaviour with the results found for the one-dimensional model. In the two-dimensional system the Gutenberg-Richter law is only obtained for a special choice of the conservation of elastic stress. We find that in general the distribution of the fractal dimension of the slip zone exhibits two well-defined peaks corresponding to intermediate size and large events. We discuss in detail the change in size and structures of events as the conservation is varied.