diff --git a/pygmt/src/meca.py b/pygmt/src/meca.py
index 6aed8b029ca..ed93deb02b0 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/meca.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/meca.py
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ def data_format_code(convention, component="full"):
 )
 @kwargs_to_strings(R="sequence", c="sequence_comma", p="sequence")
 def meca(
-    self,  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
+    self,
     spec,
     scale,
     longitude=None,
@@ -249,7 +249,16 @@ def update_pointers(data_pointers):
 
         param_conventions = {
             "AKI": ["strike", "dip", "rake", "magnitude"],
-            "GCMT": ["strike1", "dip1", "dip2", "rake2", "mantissa", "exponent"],
+            "GCMT": [
+                "strike1",
+                "dip1",
+                "rake1",
+                "strike2",
+                "dip2",
+                "rake2",
+                "mantissa",
+                "exponent",
+            ],
             "MT": ["mrr", "mtt", "mff", "mrt", "mrf", "mtf", "exponent"],
             "PARTIAL": ["strike1", "dip1", "strike2", "fault_type", "magnitude"],
             "PRINCIPAL_AXIS": [
@@ -275,23 +284,21 @@ def update_pointers(data_pointers):
             "plot_latitude": plot_latitude,
         }
 
-        # make a DataFrame copy to check convention if it contains
-        # other parameters
-        if isinstance(spec, (dict, pd.DataFrame)):
-            # check if a copy is necessary
-            copy = False
-            drop_list = []
-            for pointer in data_pointers:
-                if pointer in spec:
-                    copy = True
-                    drop_list.append(pointer)
-            if copy:
-                spec_conv = spec.copy()
-                # delete optional parameters from copy for convention check
-                for item in drop_list:
-                    del spec_conv[item]
-            else:
-                spec_conv = spec
+        # make a DataFrame copy to check convention if it contains other params
+        # check if a copy is necessary
+        copy = False
+        drop_list = []
+        for pointer in data_pointers:
+            if pointer in spec:
+                copy = True
+                drop_list.append(pointer)
+        if copy:
+            spec_conv = spec.copy()
+            # delete optional parameters from copy for convention check
+            for item in drop_list:
+                del spec_conv[item]
+        else:
+            spec_conv = spec
 
         # set convention and focal parameters based on spec convention
         for conv in list(param_conventions):
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_meca_gcmt_convention.png.dvc b/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_meca_gcmt_convention.png.dvc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b8a2c1c6022
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pygmt/tests/baseline/test_meca_gcmt_convention.png.dvc
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+outs:
+- md5: a44dc0f1af50958aeff2d359ea8b03a7
+  size: 8732
+  path: test_meca_gcmt_convention.png
diff --git a/pygmt/tests/test_meca.py b/pygmt/tests/test_meca.py
index 9364cf23845..0742c08b970 100644
--- a/pygmt/tests/test_meca.py
+++ b/pygmt/tests/test_meca.py
@@ -1,16 +1,12 @@
 """
 Tests for meca.
 """
-import os
-
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
 import pytest
 from pygmt import Figure
 from pygmt.helpers import GMTTempFile
 
-TEST_DATA_DIR = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), "data")
-
 
 @pytest.mark.mpl_image_compare
 def test_meca_spec_dictionary():
@@ -210,3 +206,34 @@ def test_meca_loc_array():
         projection="M14c",
     )
     return fig
+
+
+@pytest.mark.mpl_image_compare
+def test_meca_gcmt_convention():
+    """
+    Test plotting beachballs using the global CMT convention.
+    """
+    fig = Figure()
+    # specify focal mechanisms
+    focal_mechanisms = dict(
+        strike1=180,
+        dip1=18,
+        rake1=-88,
+        strike2=0,
+        dip2=72,
+        rake2=-90,
+        mantissa=5.5,
+        exponent=0,
+    )
+    fig.meca(
+        spec=focal_mechanisms,
+        scale="1c",
+        longitude=239.384,
+        latitude=34.556,
+        depth=12,
+        convention="gcmt",
+        region=[239, 240, 34, 35.2],
+        projection="m2.5c",
+        frame=True,
+    )
+    return fig