Cosmogenic Dating of Paleoearthquakes: Implications for Studies of Recurrence, Clustering and Fault Segmentation

University Of Arizona, Tucson AZ

Investigators

Abstract

9903227 Zreda Determination of ages of paleoearthquakes on faults is important for studies of earthquake recurrence intervals, temporal clustering, fault segmentation and other aspects of brittle failure. However, chronology of paleoearthquakes is difficult to determine because landforms and deposits produced by earthquakes are difficult to date accurately by standard geochronological methods. This project will further test and implement a new cosmogenic nuclide method of dating fault scarps, using selected scarps in the Great Basin. Results are expected to advance knowledge of fault recurrence behavior and to help evaluate dating methodology.