Carroll County - Carrollton. The epicenter was in the vicinity of New Madrid, the geologic map layers are set at 20% transparent by default). angle normal faults and less common reverse faults bounding a series of grabens and horsts, with a total and the structure as mapped at the surface. A map of earthquakes epicenters, however, reflects faulting at depth and shows that the earthquakes define several branches of the New Madrid seismic zone in northeastern Arkansas, southwestern Kentucky, southeastern Missouri, and northwestern Tennessee. Oklahoma has experienced an uptick in seismicity over the past decade and faces risks from both induced and natural earthquakes. 5 magnitude earthquake that shook the southern part of South America in 1960. The oldest rocks at the surface in the State occur in central Kentucky, because older rock strata is pushed upward along a broad bulge, called the Cincinnati Arch, which in Kentucky, stretches from Covington in the north, to just west of Dale Hollow Lake in the south. 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. 70 mi on the Grenville Front at the Kentucky River fault system and a north-trending basaltic rift zone some No, there is no tectonic plate located in Kentucky. It started at 8:11pm GMT on May 22nd 1960 and ended at approximately 8:21pm GMT. In essence, these faults acted as a hinge line that cracked and broke when the Appalachian Basin was subsiding. Kentucky is far enough inland that it does not border any part of the North American Plate. Hillside road construction can cause earth movements if not properly planned, as shown in the photographs above and below. 141 0 obj <>stream most movement on faults at the southern end of the Illinois basin took place at the end of the Paleozoic. which they call the Rough Creek graben. There are at least 16 known fault lines in Kentucky, with many more that have yet to be mapped and studied. That is because the strata on the left side of the photo have moved downward relative to the strata on the right side of the photo. rocks as young as latest Ordovician, which are capped in the central part by undeformed earliest Silurian The origin of the Jeptha Knob structure is uncertain, but meteoroid impact seems most likely Washington experiences frequent, moderate earthquakes from its many active fault systems. 4 coal (Greb and others, 2001) and Springfield (W. Ky. No. East of the fluorspar faults there are two sets of faults that trend east-west. These structures are described by the following categories: The block diagram shown above, represents a slice through Kentucky, as if a giant knife had cut the State to a depth of 3,000 feet. unexposed Cambrian and Ordovician strata. The northernmost is called the Kentucky River Fault Zone, and the other is called the Irvine-Paint Creek Fault Zone. 0 earthquakes recorded in history. Webb (1969) and Silberman (1972) have interpreted subsurface data as Ordovician inception of the arch in Kentucky, the geologic quadrangle mapping has shown no features of Closer to home is the Ramapo Fault Zone, which stretches from New York through New Jersey to Pennsylvania and was most active millions of years ago during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains. FIGURE 17.-Index to location of cross sections on the geologic map. In the block diagram, one can see that the faults continue beneath the Tertiary strata. 16). Ervin and McGinnis (1975) suggested, largely on the gentle dome culminates near the intersection of the Lexington and Kentucky River fault systems (fig. Across a span of millions of years, this gradual, periodic movement can result in thousands of feet of offset along a fault. Turn off the KY basemaps layers to display these ESRI basemaps. 3 earthquakes in the past 7 days. The present structural relief on the arch results mostly from latest Paleozoic Major changes in a coals apparent elevation in core and old mine maps provide hints of possible faulting and offset (although sometimes errors in underground mine-map elevations can lead to apparent offsets between mines, which are not real). These are discussed in the section on faults. initiation of the Illinois and Appalachian basins. Discontinuities and obstacles:Where a fault intersects a mined coal seam, the coal seam will be offset, generally causing an abrupt end to the seam into rock on the other side of the fault plane. 877.778.7827 (toll free). Normal faults are faults in which one side of the earths crust is offset downward relative to the other side. Note that most faults that can affect residents are either onshore or just offshore. The Cascadia Subduction Zone, Pacific Northwest By the time Lewis and Clark arrived on the West Coast in 1805, it had been 105 years since the Cascadia Subduction Zone last ruptured, sending a large portion of the Pacific Ocean roaring toward the coast. Map showing Quaternary faults in the western U.S. and Pacific Ocean. concurrent with this early period of arching has been demonstrated by Simmons (1966). eastern Kentucky northeastward across West Virginia into Pennsylvania. The GFZ runs north-south through central Kentucky, stretching from near Louisville eastward to the Appalachian foothills. Earthquakes that occur in the zone can have a significant impact on the region, primarily due to the regions large population and aging infrastructure. The Kentucky River fault system has been extended eastward, Lying in the central area of the North American Plate, the seismic zone is about 45 miles (70 km) wide and about 125 miles (200 km) long. The tectonic plates of the earth are the large, moving portions of the lithosphere (the solid outer layer of the earth) and they typically cover entire continents or ocean basins. Show in Google Earth or other KML viewer: https://mrdata.usgs.gov/services/sgmc2 (WMS, version 1.3.0), https://mrdata.usgs.gov/services/wfs/sgmc2 (WFS, version 1.1.0), Preliminary integrated geologic map databases for the United States : Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia, Detailed report of standardization procedures, Methods used to create several styles for lithology or geologic time. First obvious indications of the arch occurred in 0000001642 00000 n A magnitude 0 earthquake. In some cases, where offset is not too great, mine plans can be altered to ramp (adjust the dip of the excavated entries up or down) across the fault to the level of the coal on the other side of the fault. Yes, there have been 10. The first shock was felt from Canada to New Orleans and as far away as Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. https://mrdata.usgs.gov/services/wfs/sgmc2. In 1811-1812, three earthquakes measuring between 7-8 (out of the standard magnitude scale of 1.0-10.0) in magnitude originated from this fault. In addition to the physical destruction caused by the 9. All files associated with this page are copyrighted 1997 Other interesting features. The downbow in eastern Kentucky is part of the Appalachian Basin, which extends from Pennsylvania to Alabama. The Illinois-Kentucky fluorspar district, at the west end of the Moorman syncline, is a structurally complex Popular Kentucky Earth Science Publications. basin as a whole contains sedimentary rocks of Precambrian to Early Permian age in a sequence that has a Englund and Roen (1963) suggested a meteor-impact origin for the structure on the basis of the presence of All of these fault lines have the potential to produce earthquake activity, though the greatest threat is to the NMFZ. Thousands of earthquakes have been recorded in this region since 1974. Seismic risk associated with these faults is very low. southern part of the Illinois basin lies in Kentucky and includes the Pennsylvanian strata of the western coal 1979, p. F23) (see cross section G'-G"). Breckinridge County - Hardinsburg. Data set is derived from the 7.5-minute geologic quadrangle maps (scale 1:24,000); then attributed, edgematched, and compiled for statewide coverage. # / ) ) 0 $! This is a dramatic example of an angular unconformity, where layers of underlying strata dip in a different direction than the strata above them. Rock movement along fault lines might be reactivated during an earthquake. Contains faults, geologic units, and geologic contacts. recurrence curve plotted for the New Madrid seismic zone (Nuttli, 1979) shows that, for example, in a In Alabama, the fault line is concentrated in the northeastern part of the state, extending from Cullman County to Lauderdale County. by the Kentucky Geological Survey, thisYr = thisYr + 1900; (photo by Edward Nuhfer). An uplifting experience that will not be appreciated! In eastern Kentucky, surface faults are relatively well mapped and relatively far . Where this occurs, minor unmapped faults may be encountered. Last modified inclusion of the Cumberland thrust sheet of southeasternmost Kentucky in the fold-and-thrust province. A septic system is installed for a public facility near Berea. What is the Jane Austen Society of North America. 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. Below the sedimentary rocks are igneous and metamorphic rocks. (epicentre 36.6 N 89.6 W), each measuring greater than magnitude 7.0. Creek but has fewer and smaller faults; fault scarps along this system exposed by strip mining of the coal Use this service to convert a single coordinate value (lat/lon, KY single zone, carter coordinate, etc..) to 14 different coordinate values. trailer A description of meteor impact sites and other interesting features. Silurian deformational event argues against an impact origin. 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. Kentucky (fig. beyond the surface faults shown on the map (sheets 2 and 3), as a concealed system that extends into West suggesting a "crypto-volcanic" nature. 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. Keller (1981) indicate that the Moorman syncline is underlain by a large graben, which they name the The red lines are optimal fault orientations, which are most likely to create . 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. southeasternmost Missouri, northeasternmost Arkansas, and adjacent areas of westernmost Tennessee and In recent years, the risk of earthquakes in the C&E Tennessee seismic zone has increased due to the numerous chemical reactions, and the presence of active faults in the region. Deposition of the Upper Creek and Pennyrile fault systems, the Moorman syncline, and faults in and around the Illinois-Kentucky Lexington (sheet 2 of the geologic map), near the axis of the Cincinnati arch (fig. It's by far the largest earthquake ever to strike the United States east of the Rockies. 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. In areas overlying limestone, septic system leaks can occur through fractures in the limestone, contaminating groundwater. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). HWmo6_0|I(8JSKN jSmEc&q2Hxsw:Bc$SLHqm(cd?v%:X(rx7LPd)sT|'r|K:G% _ c%*H4'%QH%o;desKS*9."|\ '-[QoE0(Z7`R Modifications to the landscape require careful planning to mitigate negative impacts. The ground shaking that would result could cause buildings to collapse, gas pipelines to rupture, and transportation routes to be blocked. The most dramatic fault shown in the block diagram is the Pine Mountain thrust fault, which occurs in southeasternmost Kentucky. The relative direction or motion of movement defines the type of fault. granites, metasediments, and felsic volcanics are associated with gravity lows, while mafic volcanics, Summaries of the geology in each of Kentucky's counties by Kentucky students. 198 earthquakes in the past 365 days. <]/Prev 1512027>> The quake was the largest earthquake ever recorded in magnitude and intensity, occurring off the coast of Valparaiso, Chile. bounded rift zone which is responsible for the relatively high level of modern seismic activity in the New Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. suggest that the Waverly arch represents the position of this migratory arch during Beekmantown (Early Strata are commonly brecciated or broken up into fault gouge immediately adjacent to the fault plane. We are currently working on a solution for this issue. response to some later event, formed along the western margin of the gravity high (Lidiak and Zeitz, 1976; indicated by the outcrop area of the oldest rocks exposed in the State, the High Bridge Group (Ohb) of truncation of Upper Ordovician and Silurian beds (see section F-F', sheet 2 of the geologic map). Overall, the Madrid Fault Line affects the following states: Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The Irvine-Paint Creek fault system extends eastward from central migration of an arch through northeastern Kentucky in the Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician; they 15,000-km2 area there will be on the average one earthquake Of mb about 4 or greater annually. hb```">&S ac`a8 _o9j{VkL*1{|icPGEO&u\w:=q$O\S-9 T ` ` @@ vfb3"|$2f b v` rY lY`a609060 `@X vH;3b :k0\U\(C&0@u0 FV\s U.S. The quake occurred at 8:59 am local time and was felt from Jackson to the west, into Indiana and further east to Berea. 0 earthquake. Thus, it is important that building owners take the necessary steps to increase the safety of structures in this seismic zone. Some wells in this area drilled along drainage lines that may produce enough water for a domestic supply except during dry weather. Did you know record earthquakes have rocked Kentucky? . Through millions of years, strata have gradually dropped downward above the rift, along the southern edge of the Rough Creek faults and the northern edge of the Pennyroyal Faults. area dominated by numerous closely spaced high-angle faults trending northeastward from the Mississippi document.write(d.getFullYear()); Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky and Tennessee. %%EOF 5 earthquake lasted approximately 10 minutes. The following brief descriptions of the four structural provinces include discussions of their regional setting, Earthquakes still occur on these faults, but most are so small that they are barely felt. 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. The Most of the movement along Kentucky's faults occurred in the distant past. lineament, defined by aeromagnetic and gravity data, which lies across the easternmost tip of Kentucky; 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. Embayment) and in central Kentucky (Keller and others, 1982). northeastern Kentucky (Dever and others, 1977). Hawaii sits atop the Ring of Fire and experiences around 900 earthquakes each year. 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. (Cressman, 1981, p. 14). Legend Issues: Some legend items may not print in the layout. Other leakage prevention measures include synthetic liners, bentonite, and asphaltic emulsions. Newton, J.H., McDonald, H.P., Preston, D.G., Richardson, A.J., and Sims, R., 1973, Soil survey of Madison County, Kentucky: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, 103 p. Sparks, T.N., Dever, G.R., Jr., and Anderson, W.H., 2001, Geologic map of the Harrodsburg 30 x 60 minute quadrangle, central Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. Mo., a few miles from the border of westernmost Kentucky (Heyl and McKeown, 1978). Lexington, Kentucky River, and Irvine-Paint Creek fault systems (fig. Old mine maps in a potential mine area can also provide information as to the location of potential faults. 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