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Archeological and pedological evidence for large prehistoric earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone, central United States

Martitia P. Tuttle and Eugene S. Schweig
Archeological and pedological evidence for large prehistoric earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone, central United States
Geology (Boulder) (March 1995) 23 (3): 253-256

Abstract

Prehistoric liquefaction features have been identified by careful observation of their structural and stratigraphic relations to Native American occupation horizons and their subtle soil characteristics. The ages of these liquefaction features have been estimated from radiocarbon dating of wood associated with the features and Native American artifacts found within bounding occupation horizons. At three sites near Blytheville, Arkansas, in the central part of the New Madrid seismic zone, one sand-blow crater formed between A.D. 800 and 1400, two sand-blow deposits formed between A.D. 800 and 1670, and three, possibly four, sand dikes formed since 4035 B.C. Where not found in association with Native American occupation horizons and artifacts, prehistoric liquefaction features can be difficult to distinguish from features that formed during the great New Madrid earthquakes of A.D. 1811 and 1812. This raises the possibility that prehistoric liquefaction features may have been misinterpreted during previous studies in the area. Nevertheless, a paleoearthquake chronology is beginning to emerge for the New Madrid seismic zone. Our findings are consistent with paleoseismological studies in the northern part of the seismic zone and suggest a recurrence interval of hundreds of years for earthquakes large enough to induce liquefaction in this region (M > or = 6.4). By mapping the age distribution of liquefaction features, a more accurate assessment of the long-term earthquake potential of the region will be possible.


ISSN: 0091-7613
EISSN: 1943-2682
Coden: GLGYBA
Serial Title: Geology (Boulder)
Serial Volume: 23
Serial Issue: 3
Title: Archeological and pedological evidence for large prehistoric earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone, central United States
Affiliation: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY, United States
Pages: 253-256
Published: 199503
Text Language: English
Publisher: Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, United States
References: 21
Accession Number: 1995-029703
Categories: Quaternary geologyEnvironmental geology
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Annotation: Lamont-Doherty Earth Obs., Contrib. No. 5278
Illustration Description: sects., sketch map
N35°49'60" - N36°00'00", W90°00'00" - W89°45'00"
Secondary Affiliation: U. S. Geological Survey, Memphis, TN, USA, United States
Country of Publication: United States
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2017, American Geosciences Institute. Reference includes data supplied by the Geological Society of America, Boulder, CO, United States
Update Code: 199511
Program Name: USGSOPNon-USGS publications with USGS authors
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