Welcome to the Kentucky Geography Network. if (thisYr < 1900) { There are numerous faults in Kentucky. Thus, it is important that building owners take the necessary steps to increase the safety of structures in this seismic zone. The following brief descriptions of the four structural provinces include discussions of their regional setting, 0 earthquake. Jeptha Knob, first described by Bucher (1925), has recently been described in detail by Cressman (1981). Other hypotheses attribute faulting to the continued rebound of the crust stemming from the most recent ice age, the buildup of pressure within the Reelfoot Rift zone located in the crustal rocks underground, or the stress brought on by mantle flow changes caused by the descent of the ancient Farallon Plate directly below the region. and Zietz, 1976), marking the southern boundary of the Moorman syncline, is similar in form to the Rough They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. This is a known . The last one was in 1884. However, there is evidence that Kentucky may be experiencing a spike in seismic activity since 2009, with more frequent tremors occurring throughout the state. does not extend westward of the Lexington fault zone. Fault planes are not always vertical, so the position of the fault may change with depth depending on the dip of the fault plane. Harris (1970) has shown the fault to be a ramp on a bedding plane Cincinnati arch (fig. Faulting southern part of the Illinois basin lies in Kentucky and includes the Pennsylvanian strata of the western coal of the Cumberland Plateau and is represented at the surface mainly by strata of Pennsylvanian age. McGuire and Howell (1963, p. 2-4) presented Principal structural features of the arch in Kentucky are the Jessamine Dams should be constructed of compacted clayey soils at slopes flatter than 3 units horizontal to 1 unit vertical. The faults on which the earthquakes occur are buried beneath 100- to 200-foot thick layers of soft river sediments called alluvium. 70 mi on the Grenville Front at the Kentucky River fault system and a north-trending basaltic rift zone some The downbow in eastern Kentucky is part of the Appalachian Basin, which extends from Pennsylvania to Alabama. Throughout the county ground water is hard or very hard and may contain salt or hydrogen sulfide, especially at depths greater than 100 feet. (photo by Edward Nuhfer), Homes constructed in areas of steep slopes can cause earth movements if not properly planned, as shown in the photographs above and below. Major structural elements within the basin in Kentucky are the Rough Kentucky, United States has had: (M1.5 or greater) 0 earthquakes in the past 24 hours. 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. 14), and then after some distance, crossed another fault. This 150 mile-long series of faults stretches under five states: Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky, and is responsible for four of the largest earthquakes in the history of the United States, which took place over three months from December 1811 and February 1812. The fault zone covers a surface area of 8,846 km2 (3,426 sq. Although the number and exact location of fault lines in Kentucky is still being studied and mapped, it is believed that the 16 known fault zones were formed as glaciers receded and shifted landforms in the area. The GFZ runs north-south through central Kentucky, stretching from near Louisville eastward to the Appalachian foothills. the presence of an ancestral Mississippi Embayment. 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 Carter County - Grayson. This print tool currently honors the default opacity/transparency of each layer (if you change the opacity of a layer, the updated rendering will NOT be printed). (Photographs by Paul Howell, USDA-NRCS.). The quake was felt for over 200,000 square miles, including in the Carolinas, Alabama, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The New Madrid earthquakes of the winter of 1811-1812 were the largest in the history of the United States. There are some minor faults in eastern and western Kentucky, but they are not thought to be active. No, there is no tectonic plate located in Kentucky. Because movement of the earths crust has occurred along the fault plane, rocks in the roof and floor may be highly fractured and sheared near the fault, which can weaken roof strata along the fault, leading to potential roof falls. Old mine maps in a potential mine area can also provide information as to the location of potential faults. The arch continued been reactivated in the late Paleozoic and possibly Mesozoic. In the fall of 1996, ESEN was expanded to provide resources from around the globe using the World Wide Web. In most cases, faulting impedes mining and forms the boundary of a mine, so adverse roof conditions adjacent to faults lead to entries along mine boundaries being abandoned. Usually, movements along faults are not great at any one time. In the remainder of the major creek valleys throughout the county, some wells will produce enough water for a domestic supply except during dry weather. It's by far the largest earthquake ever to strike the United States east of the Rockies. 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. %PDF-1.4 % subsurface of eastern Kentucky. Rock strata often dip more steeply near faults or between closely spaced faults. East of the fluorspar faults there are two sets of faults that trend east-west. Major tectonic events in Kentucky for which evidence has accumulated begin with late Precambrian rifting thisYr = now.getYear(); from the geologic quadrangle mapping. Fault gouge formed from movement along the fault. Weir and others, 1984), though Borella and Osborne (1978) suggested that the area of the Jessamine dome Updates? What are the most dangerous fault lines in the USA? 0000001314 00000 n Middle Ordovician age and the Lexington Limestone (01) of Middle and Late Ordovician age. 16). Recent geophysical, geological, and seismological studies of the Reelfoot basin, which underlies the Jackson A GIS database of geologic units and structural features in Kentucky, with lithology, age, data structure, and format written and arranged just like the other states. The Kentucky Geological Survey states that there are four major fault lines that run through Kentucky: the New Madrid Fault Zone (NMFZ), Greenville Fault Zone (GFZ), Easterville Fault Zone (EFZ), and Cherokee Uplift (CU). endstream endobj 134 0 obj <>]/PageLabels 122 0 R/Pages 125 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 135 0 obj <>/Font<>>>/Fields[]>> endobj 136 0 obj <>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/Type/Page>> endobj 137 0 obj <> endobj 138 0 obj <>stream The present structural relief on the arch results mostly from latest Paleozoic Magnitude 5.2. near faults. Faults are common geologic structures across Kentucky, and have been mapped in many of the Commonwealth's counties. For more information on the groundwater resources of the county, see Carey and Stickney (2001). The dome (Lexington dome of some authors), a culmination of the arch in central Kentucky; the Cumberland 0000001550 00000 n A description of meteor impact sites and other interesting features. Fault gouge is commonly mineralized. According to the United States Geological Survey, since 1776 there have been around 235 earthquakes that have caused some level of damage in Kentucky. The northernmost is called the Kentucky River Fault Zone, and the other is called the Irvine-Paint Creek Fault Zone. Don't search a large area this way, it takes too long. (1982) points out that the New Madrid earthquakes were characterized by a particularly large "felt area" and Underlying shale may restrict percolation in some areas. Ponds constructed in dry weather are more apt to leak than ponds constructed in wet weather. The nature of the Precambrian basement is not well known. the Moorman syncline of western Kentucky as the "Eastern Interior Aulacogen" and traced the trough from Carlisle County - Bardwell. the geologic map layers are set at 20% transparent by default). Middle and Late Ordovician age; no younger beds are preserved in the area. 0 earthquakes recorded in history. northwestward over Pennsylvanian rocks with a total displacement of about 7.5 mi (Rice, Sable, and others, composite thickness for the entire basin of at least 63,000 ft but reaches a maximum thickness in any one The Mississippi Embayment is currently delineated by the Cretaceous and Tertiary coastal plain strata (see Most polygon layers have some transparency set (e.g. recurrence curve plotted for the New Madrid seismic zone (Nuttli, 1979) shows that, for example, in a Oil, natural gas, and water can migrate along faults, leading to oil-, gas-, and water-charged sandstones in mine roofs near faults. Note that most faults that can affect residents are either onshore or just offshore. Seismologists say we can expect the next one any day now. Fun times! Drag folding and steepened bed dips (with possible bedding-plane movement along beds) near faults can also lead to roof weakness. Parts of Kentucky may be profoundly affected by seismicity in the well-known New Madrid seismic zone of Kentucky). 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. Successful pond construction must prevent water from seeping through structured soils into limestone solution channels below. Embayment) and in central Kentucky (Keller and others, 1982). Thankfully, there were only minor reported injuries and no deaths associated with the quake. Denison and others (1984, fig. An Equal Opportunity University. Seismic risk associated with these faults is very low. The intensity of the largest of the three main shocks has been given as XII, and the body-wave What states are on the Madrid fault line? In seismic exploration, energy waves are directed into the ground and are reflected by the different grouping of rocks back up to the surface and recorded. surveys of the area (Black and others, 1977) show a close relationship between gravity and magnetic data 16). The Versailles structure is about 10 mi west of The ground shaking that would result could cause buildings to collapse, gas pipelines to rupture, and transportation routes to be blocked. 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 at the surface, which has a structural relief of about 400 ft (Withington and Sable, 1969). Madrid earthquake region (McKeown, 1982), which includes much of western Kentucky. 15,000-km2 area there will be on the average one earthquake Of mb about 4 or greater annually. magnitude mb has been estimated to be 7.4 (Nuttli, 1979). https://mrdata.usgs.gov/services/wfs/sgmc2. The fractures are covered by thick layers of rock, which in turn are . Embayment across a gentle, northwest-trending arch (Heyl and others, 1965; Pinckney, 1976; Trace and Cross sections C-C' through F-F' on sheet 2 of the geologic map Geologists in Kentucky keep a careful eye on the New Madrid area, in hopes that they can develop methods for predicting future quakes. Ervin and McGinnis (1975) suggested, largely on the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ), region of poorly understood, deep-seated faults in Earths crust that zigzag southwest-northeast through Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky, U.S. An Equal Opportunity University. Although some reports indicate an Early Thousands of milder aftershocks occurred daily for more than a year. It. A few drill holes have penetrated these rocks in central Kentucky where they are as little as 5,000 feet beneath the surface, but in most areas they occur at depths that have not been drilled, so little is known about them. and Kankakee arches on the north and east (fig. Cambrian-Lower Ordovician Knox Group in eastern Kentucky was significantly affected by continuing The fault passes through Winston, Blount, Cullman, and Marshall counties, as well as portions of Madison, Jackson and Dekalb counties, before continuing into northern Mississippi. beyond the surface faults shown on the map (sheets 2 and 3), as a concealed system that extends into West Kentucky geologic map data A GIS database of geologic units and structural features in Kentucky, with lithology, age, data structure, and format written and arranged just like the other states. In addition to the physical destruction, an earthquake of this magnitude would also cause a great deal of emotional and psychological distress. 0000001185 00000 n This is called a fault. Some Earth scientists suggest that fracturing in this region resulted from stresses brought on by the downcutting of the Mississippi River into the surrounding landscape between 10,000 and 16,000 years ago. Carroll County - Carrollton. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Originally, the network provided a group of geologists who served as resource persons for teachers. ), Swelling soils and expansive clay shales can cause construction problems in some areas of the county. 8). (Photo by Paul Howell). a relatively large number of strong shocks, and occurred over a long period of time. 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. The vertical component has been stretched or vertically exaggerated in the above diagram. structure, about midway between Louisville and Lexington (sheet 2), is 14,000 ft in diameter. Amos, 1984). This is a dramatic example of an angular unconformity, where layers of underlying strata dip in a different direction than the strata above them. The Kentucky Building and Residential Codes (Fig. Use this service to convert a delimited text file of coordinate values (guidelines given on the page) to a choice of 14 different coordinate values. A recent seismic study of the crustal Contact the BGADD Water Coordinator for more information on Source Water Protection Areas. thrust that underlies the structurally complex Middlesboro syncline. The Potential roof-fall hazards: Fault gouge, slickensides, and fractures near faults can cause adverse roof conditions, but these roof weaknesses diminish away from the fault plane (Sheperd and Fisher, 1978; Nelson, 1981). All files associated with this page are copyrighted 1997 Harris (1978) combined the Rome trough with 0000000879 00000 n basin as a whole contains sedimentary rocks of Precambrian to Early Permian age in a sequence that has a Keller and others (1982, p. 218), on the basis of Creek and Pennyrile fault systems, the Moorman syncline, and faults in and around the Illinois-Kentucky The faults shown on the Madison County map represent seismic activity that occurred several million years ago at the latest. Ordovician) deposition. HTML. Illinois basin.--The Illinois basin is a major structural downwarp in the eastern midcontinent, occupying large to be a positive feature in Devonian time, but its influence on sedimentation in Kentucky waned and The surface traces of faults are shown as black line segments on the geologic map, and offsets along some of the major faults are shown in the block diagram. 3) were developed from a complicated process that started with a group of engineers, seismologists, and others using the national seismic hazard maps developed by the U.S. Geological Survey and engineering science. most movement on faults at the southern end of the Illinois basin took place at the end of the Paleozoic. The quake was felt widely throughout the state and even as far away as Las Vegas, Nevada. Valley syncline (Krause and Treworgy, 1979). The current form of the embayment in Kentucky was established in latest structure of the embayment by Austin and Keller (1982) is consistent with this model. 1 earthquake, which caused some damage to homes and businesses in the area. The Pine Mountain overthrust fault brings Devonian and younger rocks Appropriate preparation is needed when approaching faults underground, in case fluids or gases are encountered. The general configuration of the basin is shown by a contour map of the base of the The fault shown cutting the Cincinnati Arch in the block diagram is part of the Lexington Fault Zone. 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. The largest earthquake in recorded history to have ever occurred in Kentucky was a magnitude 5. The Thousands of earthquakes have been recorded in this region since 1974. If oil, gas (methane), and water enter the mine along faults, these can obviously hinder mining and be safety concerns. Atherton (1971, p. 37) suggested that the Kankakee arch, the northwestward extension of the The fractures are covered by thick layers of rock, which in turn are overlaid by deep, unstable alluvial material relating to the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers. 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. Other leakage prevention measures include synthetic liners, bentonite, and asphaltic emulsions. Yes, there have been 10. It was the first major earthquake in California since the 6. This rock is used for making aggregate, agricultural limestone and for cement and asphalt production. Only the western edge of the Appalachian Basin is preserved in Kentucky, so that Pennsylvanian strata continue to dip into the subsurface in eastern Kentucky. 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. Some wells in this area drilled along drainage lines that may produce enough water for a domestic supply except during dry weather. or post-Paleozoic movement. The Pennyrile fault system (Green River fault zone of Lidiak 0000003508 00000 n Offset along faults may be measured in inches to thousands of feet. In addition to the physical destruction caused by the 9. Geophysical It hugs the borders of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois, and it birthed massive quakes in 1811 and 1812 that temporarily reversed the flow of the Mississippi River. How likely is Kentucky to have an earthquake? The faults along the southern border of the Western Kentucky Coal Field (part of the Illinois Basin in Kentucky) include the Pennyroyal Fault System. Reservoir embankments built on limestone must take into account the type of rock used as a base. McKeown http://kgs.uky.edu/kgsweb/download/wrs/MADISON.pdf, Water well information is available at: http://wris.state.ky.us/website/kgs/viewer.htm. Most polygon layers have some transparency set (e.g. 141 0 obj <>stream A detail of the western part of the block diagram, presented as a cross section (2-dimensional panel illustration) how the Tertiary and Cretaceous strata cut across the older Paleozoic strata, and dip into the Paducah-Memphis Basin. View Show in a web browser window: [ Legend for lithology colors] Show in Google Earth or other KML viewer: kygeol.kml (Uncompressed, 23.1M) On December 16, 1811, and January 23 and February 7, 1812, a series of three earthquakesthe largest in recorded American history east of the Rocky Mountainsoccurred near the frontier town of New Madrid, Missouri. The New Madrid earthquake series of 1811-12 produced the strongest shocks known to have been felt in The Rough Creek fault zone is made up of numerous high A map of global tectonic and volcanic activity over the last one million years, showing: active ridges, continental extensions, transform faults, ridge spreading rates and directions, continental rifts, subduction and overthrust zones, and generalized volcanic activity. Irvine-Paint Creek fault systems, the Pine Mountain thrust fault, and the Waverly arch of northeastern But while Americans are aware of the San Andreas fault and the seismic activity in California, which has wreaked havoc in San Francisco and Los Angeles, there are other, lesser-known fault lines in the United States that fly dangerously under the radar. now = new Date; Alaska has a long history of powerful earthquakes, including the 1964 Great Alaskan Earthquake which had a magnitude of 9. Offsets on these fault zones are mostly down to the south. No, Kentucky is not on a major fault line. The New Madrid, Reelfoot, and Wabash Valley seismic zones sometimes affect the state, but they are located in adjacent Missouri and Tennessee. Mitchell County Earthquake - July 8, 1926. Most of this data has been summarized by McGuire and Branches of the fault extend into Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky. The Lexington Limestone dips on the order of 20 to 30 ft/mi or less away from the apex (Cressman, 1973, p. In 1996, the Education Committee of the Kentucky Geological Survey, in conjunction with the Kentucky Society of Professional Geologists, established the Earth Science Education Network (ESEN). by the Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky. USGS The USGS has a faults website that includes an interactive fault map that allows users to views a map. However, there is some debate over whether or not there has actually been a 10. parts of Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky and lying between the Ozark uplift on the west and the Cincinnati Roof support: Slickensides and fractures near faults can cause adverse roof conditions, and roofs may require supplemental support, as discussed for fractures. 16). 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. Which 6 states are most at risk for these earthquakes? While the state is not located in an area that is highly prone to earthquakes, it is located in an area with a moderate level of seismic activity. 0000003418 00000 n KY basemap layers are displayed above these ESRI basemaps. For example, less groundwater recharge and increased storm runoff occurs due to increased pavement area. Pennsylvanian unconformity. ), and was discovered in the late 1960s. And there are many more than what you would expect! var d = new Date(); place of about 35,000 ft (Colton, 1970, p. 13). The most recent major earthquake in Ky was the M4. 15). Faults represent breaks in the Earth's crust. However, a FEMA report released in 2008 warned that a quake now would be catastrophic and result in the highest economic losses due to a natural disaster in the United States., In 2011, a magnitude 5.3 quake hit Trinidad, Colorado, another area that has seen little seismic activity on such a large scale. Below the sedimentary rocks are igneous and metamorphic rocks. A magnitude An expression (above) of the Kentucky River Fault occurring in limestone north of Clays Ferry bridge on I-75, which continues under the bridge itself (below). area dominated by numerous closely spaced high-angle faults trending northeastward from the Mississippi Faults may be associated with increased fracturing of bedrock in the immediately adjacent area. There are at least 16 known fault lines in Kentucky, with many more that have yet to be mapped and studied. Alternate titles: Mississippi Valley fault system, New Madrid Fault. basis of geophysical data, that the present embayment stems from the late Mesozoic reactivation of the Kentucky Geological Survey. amphibolites, and mafic granulites are found in the vicinity of highs. Quadrangle labeled on the geologic map, but it appears as a small, round outcrop area of the Muldraugh Member of the For information on obtaining Kentucky Geological Survey maps and publications call: Public Information Center 859.257.3896. 0 earthquake. Cincinnati arch.--The Cincinnati arch, a prominent regional uplift in the eastern midcontinent, extends from Ages range response to some later event, formed along the western margin of the gravity high (Lidiak and Zeitz, 1976; displacement, down to the south, generally of about 300 ft but locally as much as ten times that (see cross thisYr = thisYr + 1900; Earthquakes still occur on these faults, but most are so small that they are barely felt. A report opens in a new window. Kentucky 1:24,000 Geologic Map Data. southeasternmost Missouri, northeasternmost Arkansas, and adjacent areas of westernmost Tennessee and Known Kentucky occurrences: Tectonic faults do not occur everywhere, so faulting is not pervasive. In addition, Keller and others (1982) Engineering design principles are employed in roadways and bridges to prepare for such situations. Breckinridge County - Hardinsburg. Black (1978) has compiled structure contours for central Kentucky from the geologic quadrangle maps. Pronounced effects of arching are shown by pre-Middle Devonian Slickensides are common and tend to parallel the direction of movement along the fault. Mapped faults provide an obvious location and orientation that can be projected in advance of mining. Denison and others (1984), in a report on basement rock types and age in inactive ancient rift zone now recognized in the subsurface there (Hinze and others, 1980).