DOI: 10.1785/bssa0710061933. Evidence for contemporary vertical fault displacement from precise leveling data near the New Madrid seismic zone, western Kentucky

Evidence for contemporary vertical fault displacement from precise leveling data near the New Madrid seismic zone, western Kentucky

10.1785/bssa0710061933

Crossref journal-article

Seismological Society of America (SSA)

Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America (790)

Abstract

AbstractRelative vertical displacements of bench marks in extreme western Kentucky have been determined by comparison of successive leveling surveys in 1947 and 1968. The resulting pattern of apparent surface deformation shows steep offset which can be closely modeled by a normal fault buried in an elastic half-space. The offset is located near the northern boundary of the Mississippi Embayment and the New Madrid seismic zone, an area where faults have previously been inferred on the basis of both geological and geophysical evidence. If the apparent movement is due to slip along a fault, several lines of evidence (regional structure, earthquake data, and lineations) suggest that the postulated fault trends NNE. Thirteen earthquakes were recorded in this area between the times of leveling; focal mechanisms exist for three of these. The nearest of these three focal mechanisms to the leveling offset implies normal faulting. The magnitude of the earthquake, however, appears to be too small to account for the amount of slip required by the fault model. Thus the apparent deformation may have accumulated with several undetected small earthquakes, or gradually as aseismic creep.

Bibliography

Schilt, F. S., & Reilinger, R. E. (1981). Evidence for contemporary vertical fault displacement from precise leveling data near the New Madrid seismic zone, western Kentucky. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 71(6), 1933â1942.

Authors 2

F. Steve Schilt (first)
Robert E. Reilinger (additional)

References 27 Referenced 3

10.1029/RG014i001p00013 / Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. / Vertical crustal movements from leveling data and their relation to geologic structure in the eastern United States by Brown ((1976))
10.1086/627882 / J. Geol. / Plume-generated triple junctions: key indicators in applying plate tectonics to old rocks by Burke ((1973))
Davis R. W. Lambert T. W. Hansen A. J. (1973). Subsurface geology and ground-water resources of the Jackson Purchase region, Kentucky, Geol. Survey Water Supply Paper 1987, 66 pp.
Docekal J. (1970). Earthquakes of the stable interior, with emphasis on the mid-continent, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nebraska, 174 pp.
10.1130/0016-7606(1975)86<1287:RRRPTT>2.0.CO;2 / Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. / Reelfoot rift: reactivated precursor to the Mississippi embayment by Ervin ((1975))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB6', 'article-title': 'Geological investigation of the alluvial valley of the lower Mississippi River', 'author': 'Fisk', 'year': '(1944)'} / Geological investigation of the alluvial valley of the lower Mississippi River by Fisk ((1944))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB7', 'first-page': '77', 'volume-title': 'The National Atlas of the United States of America', 'author': 'Gerlach', 'year': '(1970)'} / The National Atlas of the United States of America by Gerlach ((1970))
10.1785/BSSA0680041095 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Focal mechanism studies in the New Madrid seismic zone by Herrmann ((1978))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB9', 'article-title': 'Regional structure of the southeast Missouri and Illinois-Kentucky mineral districts', 'author': 'Heyl', 'year': '(1965)'} / Regional structure of the southeast Missouri and Illinois-Kentucky mineral districts by Heyl ((1965))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB10', 'article-title': 'Magnetic and gravity anomalies in the northern Mississippi Embayment and their spatial relation to seismicity', 'author': 'Hildenbrand', 'year': '(1978)', 'journal-title': 'U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-914'} / U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-914 / Magnetic and gravity anomalies in the northern Mississippi Embayment and their spatial relation to seismicity by Hildenbrand ((1978))
Hook J. W. (1974). Structure of the fault systems in the Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district, Kentucky Geol. Surv. Spec. Publ. 22, Series X.
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB12', 'first-page': '1073', 'article-title': 'Theoretical basis of some empirical relations in seismology', 'volume': '65', 'author': 'Kanamori', 'year': '(1975)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Seism. Soc. Am.'} / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Theoretical basis of some empirical relations in seismology by Kanamori ((1975))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB13', 'volume-title': 'The Tectonics of Middle North America: Middle North America East of the Cordilleran System', 'author': 'King', 'year': '(1969)'} / The Tectonics of Middle North America: Middle North America East of the Cordilleran System by King ((1969))
10.1785/BSSA0640041189 / Bull. Seism. Soc. Am. / Magnitude recurrence relation for central Mississippi valley earthquakes by Nuttli ((1974))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB15', 'first-page': '422', 'article-title': 'Neotectonic deformation, near surface movements, and systematic error in U.S. releveling measurements: implications for earthquake prediction', 'author': 'Reilinger', 'year': '(1981)', 'journal-title': 'Earthquake Prediction: An International Review'} / Earthquake Prediction: An International Review / Neotectonic deformation, near surface movements, and systematic error in U.S. releveling measurements: implications for earthquake prediction by Reilinger ((1981))
Ross C. A. (1963a). Structural framework of southernmost Illinois, Illinois Geol. Surv. Circ. 351.
Ross C. A. (1963b). Faulting in southernmost Illinois, Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Publ. 73, 229.
Ross C. A. (1964). Geology of the Paducah and Smithland quadrangles in Illinois, Illinois Geol. Surv. Circ. 360.
10.1130/0016-7606(1979)90<1013:LHFAER>2.0.CO;2 / Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. / Late Holocene faulting and earthquake recurrence in the Reelfoot Lake area, northwestern Tennessee by Russ ((1979))
10.1029/JZ071i020p04897 / J. Geophys. Res. / Surface deformation associated with dip-slip faulting by Savage ((1966))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB21', 'first-page': '1953', 'article-title': 'Seismic character of southeast Missouri as indicated by a telemetered micro-earthquake array', 'volume': '66', 'author': 'Stauder', 'year': '(1976)', 'journal-title': 'Bull. Geol. Soc. Am.'} / Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. / Seismic character of southeast Missouri as indicated by a telemetered micro-earthquake array by Stauder ((1976))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB22', 'article-title': 'Relationships of earthquakes and geology in west Tennessee and adjacent areas, Report for TVA', 'author': 'Stearns', 'year': '(1972)'} / Relationships of earthquakes and geology in west Tennessee and adjacent areas, Report for TVA by Stearns ((1972))
{'key': '2021063013241695000_BIB23', 'first-page': '207', 'article-title': 'Post-Cretaceous faulting in the head of the Mississippi embayment', 'volume': '17', 'author': 'Stearns', 'year': '(1976)', 'journal-title': 'Southeastern Geology'} / Southeastern Geology / Post-Cretaceous faulting in the head of the Mississippi embayment by Stearns ((1976))
10.1126/science.184.4143.1285 / Science / Earthquake mechanics in the central United States by Street ((1974))
10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<1105:CACFIE>2.0.CO;2 / Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. / Cretaceous and Cenozoic faulting in eastern North America by York ((1976))
10.1130/0016-7606(1979)90<1019:RFITVO>2.0.CO;2 / Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. / Recurrent faulting in the vicinity of Reelfoot Lake, northwestern Tennessee by Zoback ((1979))
10.1126/science.209.4460.971 / Science / Recurrent intraplate tectonism in the New Madrid Seismic Zone by Zoback ((1980))

Dates

Type	When
Created	4 years, 2 months ago (June 30, 2021, 11:47 a.m.)
Deposited	2 years, 7 months ago (Jan. 1, 2023, 11:29 p.m.)
Indexed	1 year, 11 months ago (Sept. 23, 2023, 3:52 a.m.)
Issued	43 years, 9 months ago (Dec. 1, 1981)
Published	43 years, 9 months ago (Dec. 1, 1981)
Published Online	43 years, 9 months ago (Dec. 1, 1981)
Published Print	43 years, 9 months ago (Dec. 1, 1981)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Schilt_1981, title={Evidence for contemporary vertical fault displacement from precise leveling data near the New Madrid seismic zone, western Kentucky}, volume={71}, ISSN={0037-1106}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1785/bssa0710061933}, DOI={10.1785/bssa0710061933}, number={6}, journal={Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America}, publisher={Seismological Society of America (SSA)}, author={Schilt, F. Steve and Reilinger, Robert E.}, year={1981}, month=dec, pages={1933–1942} }

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