Late-Quaternary Movement Along the Sertengshan Piedmont Fault and a Model for Segmentation of Its Rupture

Analysis and study of the geometrical structure of the fault, tectonic features of late-Quaternary movement, paleoseismic activity, and structural characteristics of boundaries between segments of the Sertengshan piedmont fault permitted us to preliminarily determine the following 4 active segments of the fault: the Wujiahe segment (from Dongwugai Gully to Dahoudian Village),Wujumengkou-Dongfeng Village segment (from Dahoudian to Delingshan), Dashetai segment (from Delingshan to Xiaoshetai Gully mouth), and the Ulan Hudong segment (from Xiaoshetai Gully mouth to Tailiang). The boundaries between them are the Dagoudian mountain spur,the Delingshan Mountain spur and the step zone at Xiaoshetai Gully mouth, respectively. The segments are independent for seismic activity. However, it is possible that joint ruptures between Wujiahe and Wujumengkou-Dongfeng Village segments and between Dashetai and Ulan Hudong segments may occur.     

Multiarchive paleoseismic record of late Pleistocene and Holocene strong earthquakes in Switzerland

A multiarchive approach has been applied to the investigation of the late Pleistocene and Holocene record of strong earthquakes in Switzerland. The geological archives used for this study include active faults, lake deposits, slope instabilities, and caves. In the Basle area, eight trenches were opened across the Basle–Reinach fault, nearby rockfall deposits were systematically investigated, sediment cores were taken from two lakes, and nine caves were studied. In Central Switzerland, five lakes were investigated by means of high-resolution seismic lines and sediment cores. Furthermore, three caves were studied in Central Switzerland. Altogether, the investigations are based on more than 350 km of high-resolution reflection seismic lines, 450 m of core samples, 260 m of trenches, and 245 radiocarbon age determinations. The measured co-seismic displacements along the Basle–Reinach fault supply independent information for the magnitude of the AD 1356 Basle earthquake exclusively based on geological evidence. Deformation features related to three well-documented strong historic earthquake shocks were identified. Deformation features of the AD 1774 Altdorf and AD 1601 Unterwalden earthquakes can be used to calibrate paleoseismic evidence in Central Switzerland. Altogether, traces of 13 earthquakes could be found in the two study areas, all of them with magnitudes M_w  6 or greater. For the first time, the earthquake catalogue for Switzerland can be extended back beyond historic records, into the late Pleistocene, spanning 15,000 years.     

Field occurrences of liquefaction-induced features: a primer for engineering geologic analysis of paleoseismic shaking

Discussed in this paper are the factors that control the typical manifestations of liquefaction that are found in continental field settings. The factors are given mainly in terms of the local geologic field situation and the geotechnical properties there. A meaningful interpretation of liquefaction-based data for quantitative analysis of paleoseismic shaking requires understanding of both geologic and geotechnical roles in the mode of ground failure at a specific site.

Recommendations are made for the size of the field area that must be searched for liquefaction effects, in order to develop adequate data for engineering geologic/geotechnical analyses of paleoseismicity. The areal extent must be based on an appreciation that the tectonic situation can cause seismically induced liquefaction effects to form in some locales, but not in others nearby, even for a strong earthquake in the region.

Our guidelines for the conduct of the field search and preliminary analysis of the data relate to three issues for which liquefaction features are especially useful in answering: Has there been strong Holocene/latest Pleistocene shaking in the region? Where was the tectonic source? And what was the strength of shaking? Understanding of the various factors that control the manifestations of liquefaction effects, which we present in this paper, is essential for developing credible answers to these questions.