In western Kentucky, several mines have ramped across faults to completely different coal seams on the other side of the fault. The epicenter was in the vicinity of New Madrid, Known Kentucky occurrences: Tectonic faults do not occur everywhere, so faulting is not pervasive. the geologic map layers are set at 20% transparent by default). Creek and Pennyrile fault systems, the Moorman syncline, and faults in and around the Illinois-Kentucky upwarping in the Early to Middle Devonian, and again during formation of the regional Mississippian from about 1,500 to about 1,000 m.y. Natural gas piplines (30-inch mains) are laid across a new subdivision in Kingston, Madison County. The threat is so great, the BBC even did a nifty video on the potential MegaQuake threat. In eastern Kentucky, surface faults are relatively well mapped and relatively far apart, so mine operators know where they are and do not commonly encounter unexpected faults. may have originated much earlier, however: Schwalb (1969, p. 9) identified a Cambrian-Ordovician basin of Cincinnati arch (fig. Thankfully, there were only minor reported injuries and no deaths associated with the quake. No, there is no tectonic plate located in Kentucky. The Versailles structure is about 10 mi west of Geological Survey OF-89-0106, Plate 11, 151 p. Carey, D.I., and Stickney, J.F., 2001, Ground-water resources of Madison County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, Open-file Report OF-01-73, 30 p. Blue Grass Area Development District, 2003. The last time the VSZ caused so much chaos was in 1867 when it released an earthquake of 5.6-magnitude the strongest in Virginias history. The Irvine-Paint Creek fault system extends eastward from central They maintain that the erosion of surface material in the region allowed the upward force of warmer, expanding rocks below to overcome the weight of the remaining rocks above. 16), resulting in the Dataset Size: 0 bytes. The intensity of the largest of the three main shocks has been given as XII, and the body-wave Cressman (1981) suggested that Mississippian doming over a pre Geologists in Kentucky keep a careful eye on the New Madrid area, in hopes that they can develop methods for predicting future quakes. The EFZ runs east-west through the far western part of the state and into Tennessee, while the CU runs through eastern and southeastern Kentucky. " $ #& Likewise, movement along a fault plane is not always uniform, so the amount of offset may change laterally. Weir and others, 1984), though Borella and Osborne (1978) suggested that the area of the Jessamine dome //--> While the majority of these earthquakes were of a low magnitude, some of them caused significant damage. In the block diagram, one can see that the faults continue beneath the Tertiary strata. Chain-link fencing is used to prevent further rock falls on a road cut in Madison County. The pressures from mountain building caused the northeast edge of a block of Devonian, Mississippian, and Pennsylvanian strata to be pushed upward, forming a 125-mile long ridge that we call Pine Mountain. Deposition of the Upper from the geologic quadrangle mapping. Reservoir embankments built on limestone must take into account the type of rock used as a base. The sulfur content of coals may also increase or decrease near faults because of past fluid migration that led to deposition or removal of sulfates from the seam. a relatively large number of strong shocks, and occurred over a long period of time. Summaries of the geology in each of Kentucky's counties by Kentucky students. Major cities like Portland, Seattle and Vancouver lie along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which scientists say has the capability of a 9.0 or 10 magnitude earthquake 16 times more powerful than the 1906 quake which ravaged San Francisco. McKeown Near the end of the Paleozoic era (around 230 million years ago), when the Appalachian Mountains were being uplifted, a large block of the Earth's crust was pushed up and over the area that is now southeastern Kentucky. failed arm (the "Reelfoot rift") of a late Precambrian triple junction. (See New Madrid earthquakes of 181112.). Calloway County - Murray. and especially in western Kentucky. in western Kentucky (the Rough Creek graben of Soderberg and Keller (1981) and the Mississippi The death toll likely would have been much higher if the quake had lasted any longer. 15), rose at the close of Early Ordovician time. At the surface it is represented The general configuration of the basin is shown by a contour map of the base of the However, there have been seismic readings taken from areas like the Indian Ocean that have recorded seismic readings of up to 10. The Rough Creek fault system (Rough Creek-Shawneetown of some authors) crosses the southern end of Earthquakes in Kentucky mostly occur due to seismic activity associated with the New Madrid and Wabash Valley Seismic Zones, though there can be earthquakes caused by other seismic events. Earthquakes still occur on these faults, but most are so small that they are barely felt. J8T< B%3 F>YM^S=d0BqeCCu &8E2AYx`LR {]T)|x% ;". at the surface, which has a structural relief of about 400 ft (Withington and Sable, 1969). Both sides of the Illinois Basin are preserved in western Kentucky, which is why the Pennsylvanian strata on the geologic map have a roughly circular pattern surrounded by Mississippian strata. It's by far the largest earthquake ever to strike the United States east of the Rockies. http://kgs.uky.edu/kgsweb/download/wrs/MADISON.pdf, Water well information is available at: http://wris.state.ky.us/website/kgs/viewer.htm. the Nashville dome in central Tennessee through central Kentucky to northwestern Ohio, where it Cretaceous time, after subsidence and erosion of the Pascola arch to the south (Olive, 1980, p. 5). Old mine maps in a potential mine area can also provide information as to the location of potential faults. P, Elliott County peridotite intrusion. However, there is evidence that Kentucky may be experiencing a spike in seismic activity since 2009, with more frequent tremors occurring throughout the state. These cracks in the crust have caused considerable damage in the past and scientists say will do so again. Movement may not occur along a fault for hundreds or thousands of years, and then the fault may move an inch to several feet all at once. Webb (1969) and Silberman (1972) have interpreted subsurface data as bifurcates to form the Kankakee and Findlay arches (fig. response to some later event, formed along the western margin of the gravity high (Lidiak and Zeitz, 1976; There, the Devonian (red on the section) and Mississippian (light blue on the section) strata appear to split upward on the eastern (right) side of the diagram. startxref A quake of this magnitude would have devastating consequences on infrastructure and could potentially trigger massive tsunamis. Offsets on these fault zones are mostly down to the south. No, earthquakes arent particularly rare in Kentucky. For example, less groundwater recharge and increased storm runoff occurs due to increased pavement area. 16). Keller (1981) indicate that the Moorman syncline is underlain by a large graben, which they name the Strike-slip (also called translational or transform) faults are faults in which blocks of the earths crust are moving sideways along the fault plane. University of Kentucky. Soderberg and Keller (1981) suggest that it is underlain by a deep-seated graben of late Precambrian age, subsidence of the Rome trough (Cable and Beardsley, 1984). Legend Issues: Some legend items may not print in the layout. USGS Interactive Fault Maps. Therefore, the term "Illinois basin" is used herein to avoid confusion.) These faults roughly parallel the trend of the Cincinnati Arch and are related to the origin of the stresses that upbowed the Arch, deep beneath the surface of Kentucky. The most dramatic fault shown in the block diagram is the Pine Mountain thrust fault, which occurs in southeasternmost Kentucky. One of the most potentially dangerous fault lines lies north of California, stretching between Oregon and Washington. 70 mi on the Grenville Front at the Kentucky River fault system and a north-trending basaltic rift zone some and Pakiser, 1982) provides detailed descriptions of historic and modern seismicity and geologic and 15). The 150-mile (240 km)-long seismic zone, which extends into five states, stretches southward from Cairo, Illinois; through Hayti, Caruthersville, and New Madrid in Missouri; through Blytheville into Marked Tree in Arkansas. thisYr = thisYr + 1900; Ponds with dam heights exceeding 25 feet, or pond volumes exceeding 50 acre-feet require permits. 4 magnitude quake that occurred near the same location on July 4, 2019. %%EOF thrust that underlies the structurally complex Middlesboro syncline. A clayey soil pond liner is placed in loose, moist layers nine inches thick and compacted in six passes with a sheepsfoot roller. The general configuration of the basin is shown by a contour map of the base of the Kentucky 1:24,000 Geologic Map Data. Purchase and extends southwestward into Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee, suggest that it is a fault Which 6 states are most at risk for these earthquakes? In addition, Keller and others (1982) The fault line, located in the Midwest region of the United States, is responsible for a higher risk of damaging earthquakes. From AIPG (1993). Normal faults are faults in which one side of the earths crust is offset downward relative to the other side. A description of meteor impact sites and other interesting features. Recent geophysical, geological, and seismological studies of the Reelfoot basin, which underlies the Jackson The red lines are optimal fault orientations, which are most likely to create . It also covers a part of West Tennessee, near Reelfoot Lake, extending southeast into Dyersburg. unexposed Cambrian and Ordovician strata. The fault shown cutting the Cincinnati Arch in the block diagram is part of the Lexington Fault Zone. Kentucky is far enough inland that it does not border any part of the North American Plate. Fault gouge is commonly mineralized. The location of Pine Mountain, Kentucky is in the Appalachian Mountains, which are ancient mountains that were built up over time by the movement of the plates and their associated faults. The Mississippi Embayment is currently delineated by the Cretaceous and Tertiary coastal plain strata (see Madrid earthquake region (McKeown, 1982), which includes much of western Kentucky. 5 earthquake lasted approximately 10 minutes. and the structure as mapped at the surface. A fault line is a place in the earth where two plates move against each other which causes movements in the Earths crust. These faults were pathways for mineral-rich fluids, which deposited many types of minerals including fluorite. Engineering design principles are employed in roadways and bridges to prepare for such situations. migration of an arch through northeastern Kentucky in the Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician; they Create a bookmark, record the ID, and use your own layout here. Middle Ordovician age and the Lexington Limestone (01) of Middle and Late Ordovician age. Prior site planning that takes geology into account is always preferable to dealing with problems after a structure is built. suggest that the Waverly arch represents the position of this migratory arch during Beekmantown (Early In the photo above, one can see that rocks on one side of the break in strata are different than rocks on the other side. Breckinridge County - Hardinsburg. The New Madrid earthquakes of the winter of 1811-1812 were the largest in the history of the United States. Rock movement along fault lines might be reactivated during an earthquake. USGS The USGS has a faults website that includes an interactive fault map that allows users to views a map. This structure is not From AIPG (1993). was a shoal in late Middle and early Late Ordovician time. Hillside road construction can cause earth movements if not properly planned, as shown in the photographs above and below. The exact cause for the rise in seismic activity is unclear, but some scientists speculate that it could be related to natural phenomena, underground activities such as energy or mineral extraction, or even human-induced activities. The quakes epicenter was in Mineral, Virginia, about 90 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and was so powerful that Union Station, the Pentagon and the Capitol Building were all evacuated. For more information on the groundwater resources of the county, see Carey and Stickney (2001). In Tennessee, the fault line continues from northern Mississippi, and passes through Chester, Henderson, McNairy, Hardin, and Wayne counties, before entering western Kentucky. NEXT||PREVIOUS||TABLE OF CONTENTS. A variety of datasets can be located and downloaded, static map products can be viewed, and many web mapping applications and services are easily accessible. Earthquakes that occur in the zone can have a significant impact on the region, primarily due to the regions large population and aging infrastructure. Arkansas experiences earthquakes due to having proximity to the New Madrid Fault Line. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The hard dolomite of the Boyle formation was undercut by weathering of the softer shale of the Crab Orchard Formation, which caused the dolomite to fracture and fall. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Madrid-Seismic-Zone, Missouri Department of Natural Resources - Facts about the New Madrid Seismic Zone. In essence, these faults acted as a hinge line that cracked and broke when the Appalachian Basin was subsiding. Data set is derived from the 7.5-minute geologic quadrangle maps (scale 1:24,000); then attributed, edgematched, and compiled for statewide coverage. It. The current form of the embayment in Kentucky was established in latest August 1, 2012 One of the largest earthquakes in North American history happened just west of Hickman, Kentucky, on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River. 0 earthquake. and Zietz, 1976), marking the southern boundary of the Moorman syncline, is similar in form to the Rough zones and some associated with dolomitization (Black and Haney, 1975). What is the Jane Austen Society of North America. The various colors and line types indicate different ages of the most recent earthquakes on the fault and how well the location of the fault is constrained. Still, this quake caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure in the area, with an estimated $3 million worth of damages. Despite these studies, the seismic activity in Kentucky remains relatively low in comparison to other areas of the United States, and there is no evidence that highly destructive seismic activity is likely in the near future. basin as a whole contains sedimentary rocks of Precambrian to Early Permian age in a sequence that has a Alaska has a long history of powerful earthquakes, including the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake which had a magnitude of 9. 2 and caused major destruction throughout the state. basis of geophysical data, that the present embayment stems from the late Mesozoic reactivation of the area dominated by numerous closely spaced high-angle faults trending northeastward from the Mississippi 133 9 For example, in 1980 New Madrid experienced a magnitude 5. It has produced magnitude 8 to 8. stratigraphy or sedimentation of the Ordovician rocks that can be related to the arch (Cressman, 1973, p. 8; Roof support: Slickensides and fractures near faults can cause adverse roof conditions, and roofs may require supplemental support, as discussed for fractures. by a brecciated center within a belt of concentric faults. As an alternative, use your computer or device screen capture tool to make an image of the map. Overall, the Madrid Fault Line affects the following states: Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky and lying between the Ozark uplift on the west and the Cincinnati Parts of Kentucky may be profoundly affected by seismicity in the well-known New Madrid seismic zone of Kentucky (fig. Cincinnati arch.--The Cincinnati arch, a prominent regional uplift in the eastern midcontinent, extends from strata. bounded rift zone which is responsible for the relatively high level of modern seismic activity in the New Embayment across a gentle, northwest-trending arch (Heyl and others, 1965; Pinckney, 1976; Trace and ), and was discovered in the late 1960s. The NMSZ is the most active seismic area in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Virginia (Dever and others, 1977). Reverse or thrust faults are faults in which one side is moved upward relative to the other side. Dams should be constructed of compacted clayey soils at slopes flatter than 3 units horizontal to 1 unit vertical. Fractures in limestone are enhanced by slightly acidic rainwater to produce sinkhole collapses, which are infilled with soil from the surface. 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