Seismic Hazards
Seismic Hazards |
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| Most of our recent experience in seismic hazards and neotectonic studies has been in
the extensional tectonic regime of the Rio Grande rift (map
or view), but our staff have participated in similar
studies ranging from South Carolina and New York to California and Washington. Our studies
have focused on fault locations, fault and fracture propagation, surface rupture, fault
event histories, tectonic sedimentation, mass wasting, and fault scarp evolution, with
hazard implications, in particular, for nuclear facilities. Our expertise in field
geology, paleoseismology, geomorphology, soils, structural geology, and tectonics, as well
as extensive experience with conventional and innovative age dating techniques, can be
brought to bear on a great variety of seismic hazards problems. Working in volcanic
terranes of western North America, we have additionally drawn on the group's considerable
capabilities in volcanology, geochemistry, and petrology to complement and facilitate
seismic hazards studies. A major basic research thrust in our group has been the
elucidation of the interplay between young magmatism, neotectonism, and hydrothermal
activity which uniquely enable development of many geothermal and ore deposit resources. Some pictures: Paleoseismic trenching in the '70's: Wallula Gap fault zone, south-central Washington. D-9 Cat (yellow) for scale. Most recent movement less than 11,000 years ago. Paleoseismic trenching in the '80's: Guaje Mountain fault, northern Rio Grande rift. Back hoe for scale. Most recent movement between 4000 and 6000 years ago. Paleoseismic trenching in the '90's: Pajarito fault zone, northern Rio Grande rift. Trench is one meter wide. Most recent movements undetermined. Pajarito fault in the northern Rio Grande rift. Exposure is about four meters in height, and shows Quaternary gravels (left) faulted against 7 million year old tuffs (right). For more information, contact Jamie Gardner (505-667-1799 or jgardner@lanl.gov). |
