Left-lateral strike-slip motion squeezes the crustal blocks of the Tibetan Plateau outwards, forcing it to move eastwards.

Meanwhile, the strike-slip motion also results in east–west extension of the plateau, causing normal faults to break within the thickened crust.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred as a result of dominantly left-lateral strike-slip faulting with a component of normal dip-slip.

[21] A research paper soon to be published in Science Bulletin found that the largest surface displacements measured 2.4 meters, while the use of satellite imagery to model the earthquake rupture found a maximum slip of 6 meters near the hypocenter.

[22] In another earthquake model, up to 7 meters of coseismic slip occurred on the shallow 12 km of the rupture.

Meanwhile, another study published in Geophysical Research Letters inferred a maximum slip of 9.3 meters at a depth of 7 km.

[27] They added that this earthquake likely occurred within the Bayan Har block, a piece of continental crust in the Tibetan Plateau.

The survey results were compiled to create an intensity map of the earthquake which was released on 28 May.

[43] According to the findings, 3 cities, prefectures, 7 counties, 32 townships in Qinghai Province, and 1 city, prefecture, 1 county, 4 townships in Sichuan Province were located within the seismic intensities VI–X on the China seismic intensity scale.

[44] The meizoseismal area of the earthquake was in Machali, a town in Maduo County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

[45] Official words from Chinese authorities stated that 30,000 residents were affected, no deaths occurred and 19 people from Maduo and Maqin counties were injured.

[46][6] Most residents sustained minor injuries, 17 of whom were discharged from the hospitals after receiving treatment.

[7] The source cited by Radio Free Asia stated that residents in Maduo County and Tibet were prohibited to spread any information of casualties.

[53] According to the Qinghai Provincial Transportation Department, the all roads and highways affected by the earthquake were temporarily closed and immediately attended to by repair workers.

[56] Many land fissures, landslides, and ground failures were reported around a zone greater than 100 km in length.