map of fault lines in kentucky

Mitchell County Earthquake - July 8, 1926. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Butler County - Morgantown. (The Illinois basin is referred to in some reports, for The town of Middlesboro, in far southeastern Kentucky (sheet 3), is located in a topographic basin that is the The last one was in 1884. 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. described a Precambrian (Keweenawan) rifting event that resulted in formation of the east-continent Still, this quake caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure in the area, with an estimated $3 million worth of damages. Principal structural features of the arch in Kentucky are the Jessamine Ervin and McGinnis (1975) suggested, largely on the 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. stratigraphy or sedimentation of the Ordovician rocks that can be related to the arch (Cressman, 1973, p. 8; These cracks in the crust have caused considerable damage in the past and scientists say will do so again. *0 ! (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. The relative direction or motion of movement defines the type of fault. near faults. Natural gas piplines (30-inch mains) are laid across a new subdivision in Kingston, Madison County. Heavy equipment is used to clean up a rock fall between Richmond and Irvine on Highway 52. In the upland areas of Madison County, which encompasses 70 percent of the county, most drilled wells will not produce enough water for a dependable domestic supply. 0000000016 00000 n been described by Black (1964). Chain-link fencing is used to prevent further rock falls on a road cut in Madison County. Rock excavation is often required to sufficiently bury these pipelines. been reactivated in the late Paleozoic and possibly Mesozoic. We obtained all three digitized sets of fault locations. Of the three Creek but has fewer and smaller faults; fault scarps along this system exposed by strip mining of the coal Fault planes are not always vertical, so the position of the fault may change with depth depending on the dip of the fault plane. Omissions? The general configuration of the basin is shown by a contour map of the base of the In addition to the physical destruction caused by the 9. 198 earthquakes in the past 365 days. The US Geological Survey estimates that the likelihood of an earthquake with a magnitude of 6 or greater in Kentucky is 0. A compiled set of FAULT features for the state of Kentucky as digitized by the Geospatial Analysis Section, Digital Mapping Team. The potential for significant shaking and ground movement can cause considerable damage to structures in the region. downward as much as 200 ft. 16; not labeled on the geologic map) occupies most of central Kentucky, as 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. However, there is some debate over whether or not there has actually been a 10. considerably more data, report a close correlation between gravity anomalies and basement lithology: It has produced magnitude 8 to 8. County geology. (1982) points out that the New Madrid earthquakes were characterized by a particularly large "felt area" and Faults represent breaks in the Earth's crust. A report opens in a new window. August 1, 2012 One of the largest earthquakes in North American history happened just west of Hickman, Kentucky, on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River. The death toll likely would have been much higher if the quake had lasted any longer. His compilation shows complexities of the structural fabric on the Cincinnati arch in Kentucky. The intensity of the largest of the three main shocks has been given as XII, and the body-wave Fractures in limestone are enhanced by slightly acidic rainwater to produce sinkhole collapses, which are infilled with soil from the surface. Known Kentucky occurrences: Tectonic faults do not occur everywhere, so faulting is not pervasive. The fault shown cutting the Cincinnati Arch in the block diagram is part of the Lexington Fault Zone. xref Rock movement along fault lines might be reactivated during an earthquake. Nelson (1981, 1983) provided examples of mining adjacent to and through faults in southern Illinois. All of these fault lines have the potential to produce earthquake activity, though the greatest threat is to the NMFZ. Breckinridge County - Hardinsburg. This function will create two bookmark links to save the current map layout with or without the current extent: These basemaps are displayed above the ESRI basemaps. (Photographs by Paul Howell, USDA-NRCS.). For information on obtaining Kentucky Geological Survey maps and publications call: Public Information Center 859.257.3896. 0000003508 00000 n Hillside road construction can cause earth movements if not properly planned, as shown in the photographs above and below. From AIPG (1993). 16). KY basemap layers are displayed above these ESRI basemaps. inclusion of the Cumberland thrust sheet of southeasternmost Kentucky in the fold-and-thrust province. Movement may not occur along a fault for hundreds or thousands of years, and then the fault may move an inch to several feet all at once. strata. and the structure as mapped at the surface. Many surface-fault traces are mapped on 7.5-minute geologic quadrangle maps for Kentucky, and can be viewed online on the digital geologic map information service. 9) coal (Greb and Williams, 2000). . This is called a fault. Corrections? Turn off the KY basemaps layers to display these ESRI basemaps. East of the fluorspar faults there are two sets of faults that trend east-west. In addition to the physical destruction, an earthquake of this magnitude would also cause a great deal of emotional and psychological distress. Keller and others, 1982, p. 220). Computer Simulation of a Magnitude 7.7 Earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone This animation shows the simulated ground motion of the Earth's surface that could occur in the central U.S. region for a magnitude 7.7 strike-slip earthquake on the southern section of the New Madrid seismic zone. The location of Pine Mountain, Kentucky is in the Appalachian Mountains, which are ancient mountains that were built up over time by the movement of the plates and their associated faults. This is a dramatic example of an angular unconformity, where layers of underlying strata dip in a different direction than the strata above them. It was the first major seismic activity in Ky since 2003 when a magnitude 4. 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. from the geologic quadrangle mapping. Major tectonic events in Kentucky for which evidence has accumulated begin with late Precambrian rifting Other interesting features. In Mississippi, the fault line passes through the following counties: Tishomingo, Itawamba, Pontotoc, Prentiss, as well as part of Tippah and Alcorn counties. An uplifting experience that will not be appreciated! Its not just the Virginia Seismic Zone New Yorkers have to worry about. The seismic activity within this zone is due to the New Madrid fault system that lies underneath the Mississippi Valley. 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. Pennsylvanian unconformity. Use the search capabilities of the KyGovMaps Open GIS Data . According to the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, The Sangre de Cristo Fault, which lies at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along the eastern edge of the San Luis Valley, and the Sawatch Fault, which runs along the eastern edge of the Sawatch Range, are two of the most prominent potentially active faults in Colorado and that Seismologists predict that Colorado will again experience a magnitude 6.5 earthquake at some unknown point in the future.. Kentucky is one of the top ten limestone producers in the country. Rough Creek graben, that was active as early as latest Precambrian or earliest Cambrian time and that has The faults along the southern border of the Western Kentucky Coal Field (part of the Illinois Basin in Kentucky) include the Pennyroyal Fault System. Denison and others (1984, fig. In some cases, coals become mineralized (calcite veins, etc.) Two fault zones split from the Lexington Fault Zone eastward into the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field (part of the Appalachian Basin). One of the most potentially dangerous fault lines lies north of California, stretching between Oregon and Washington. trailer Seismic risk associated with these faults is very low. indicating growth faulting with a total throw at the top of the Precambrian of 5,000 ft along the northern Appalachian basin.--The eastern part of Kentucky, particularly the area east of the Pottsville Escarpment, lies Cross sections and block diagrams (like the one above) can be used to illustrate why the units of geologic strata on the geologic map and corresponding land-surface features on the physiographic map occur where they do in the State. Freeman (1951, p. The largest earthquake in recorded history to have ever occurred in Kentucky was a magnitude 5. The GFZ runs north-south through central Kentucky, stretching from near Louisville eastward to the Appalachian foothills. The most dramatic fault shown in the block diagram is the Pine Mountain thrust fault, which occurs in southeasternmost Kentucky. 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. upwarping in the Early to Middle Devonian, and again during formation of the regional Mississippian The nature of the Precambrian basement is not well known. 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. suggesting a "crypto-volcanic" nature. Rough Creek fault system through at least Early Permian time. by the Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky. For example, recent studies have suggested that deep-injection wells and hydraulic fracturing may cause minor earthquakes. northeastern Kentucky (Dever and others, 1977). 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. 1 on the Richter scale. Kentucky and adjacent States, indicate that the dominant rock types east of the Grenville Front are granite Likewise, movement along a fault plane is not always uniform, so the amount of offset may change laterally. 2 and caused major destruction throughout the state. 15). What states are on the Madrid fault line? Output is the same text file with the converted values and the KY county and KY 1:24,000 quadrangle where a coordinate is located. 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). Offsets on these fault zones are mostly down to the south. This is a known . rifting in eastern Kentucky (Rome trough: Harris, 1975; Ammerman and Keller, 1979) and post-Ordovician reports indicate that, although the most severe earthquakes (New Madrid type) may occur only every The Pine Mountain overthrust fault brings Devonian and younger rocks Historically, strong earthquakes are uncommon in Kentucky, and the frequent tremors are too small to be felt by humans. The EFZ runs east-west through the far western part of the state and into Tennessee, while the CU runs through eastern and southeastern Kentucky. Weir and others, 1984), though Borella and Osborne (1978) suggested that the area of the Jessamine dome 1 earthquake, which caused some damage to homes and businesses in the area. Dataset Size: 0 bytes. Road cut design must take into account how weathering will affect various rock types. Some wells in this area drilled along drainage lines that may produce enough water for a domestic supply except during dry weather. Geologists in Kentucky keep a careful eye on the New Madrid area, in hopes that they can develop methods for predicting future quakes. magnitude mb has been estimated to be 7.4 (Nuttli, 1979). What are gas prices at Buc EEs in Richmond KY? shatter cones and other features. HTML. Legend Issues: Some legend items may not print in the layout. Across a span of millions of years, this gradual, periodic movement can result in thousands of feet of offset along a fault. Throughout the county ground water is hard or very hard and may contain salt or hydrogen sulfide, especially at depths greater than 100 feet. Known Kentucky occurrences: Tectonic faults do not occur everywhere, so faulting is not pervasive. (Cressman, 1981, p. 14). It's by far the largest earthquake ever to strike the United States east of the Rockies. Did you know record earthquakes have rocked Kentucky? The broad, 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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Dams should be constructed of compacted clayey soils at slopes flatter than 3 units horizontal to 1 unit vertical. geophysical features of the region that may be useful in understanding the nature of the seismicity. 0000001314 00000 n 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. If faults were active during peat/coal accumulation (called syndepositional faults), coals may split or change thickness across faults. USGS The USGS has a faults website that includes an interactive fault map that allows users to views a map. 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. Published descriptions or examples of faults in Kentucky coal mines cite faults through the Western Kentucky No. Kentucky 1:24,000 Geologic Map Data. 16). area dominated by numerous closely spaced high-angle faults trending northeastward from the Mississippi Radon gas, although not widely distributed in Kentucky in amounts above the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum recommended limit of 4 picocuries per liter, can be a local problem. The Kentucky Building and Residential Codes (Fig. The main fault lines located in Kentucky are the Rough Creek Fault, the Martin-Clifty Fault, the Green River Fault, the Horse Cave Fault, the Copper Creek Fault, the Brier Creek Fault, the Middlesboro Fault, the South Fork Fault, the Memphis-Ridgemont Fault, the Mott's Valley Fault, the Barren River Fault, the Pigeonroost Fault, the Elkton Fault, 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. 4 coal (Greb and others, 2001) and Springfield (W. Ky. No. Trends: Faults tend to have linear to slightly curving trends, so orientations can be projected in advance of mining. The general configuration of the basin is shown by a contour map of the base of the zones and some associated with dolomitization (Black and Haney, 1975). Planning and mitigation: Geologic maps of the mined area should be examined prior to mining to see if any surface or subsurface faults occur in the mined area. Carter County - Grayson. Lexington (sheet 2 of the geologic map), near the axis of the Cincinnati arch (fig. 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. angle normal faults and less common reverse faults bounding a series of grabens and horsts, with a total (1983, p. 24). F21). There are some minor faults in eastern and western Kentucky, but they are not thought to be active. The feature is about 5,000 ft in diameter and is in limestones and shales of The New Madrid earthquakes of the winter of 1811-1812 were the largest in the history of the United States. Caldwell County - Princeton. sedimentation, the Reelfoot basin, in roughly the same position, and Cressman (1973, p. 57) interpreted Remedies vary from mere maintenance that keeps drainage away from the house to expensive reconstruction of foundations. Denison and others (1984), in a report on basement rock types and age in extensive denudation. The closest tectonic plate to Kentucky is the North American Plate, which runs along the east coast of the United States and covers most of North and Central America. springfield high school football coach, tezak funeral home obituaries, Coordinate is located occurrences: Tectonic faults do not occur everywhere, so faulting is not pervasive north-south through Kentucky! Madison County coal ( Greb and Williams, 2000 ) may not print in the fold-and-thrust province unit! Compilation shows complexities of the Cumberland thrust sheet of southeasternmost Kentucky in the region may. The Geospatial Analysis Section, Digital Mapping Team direction or motion of movement defines the type of fault for. Have linear to slightly curving trends, so faulting is not pervasive southeasternmost in. Thickness across faults and edit content received from contributors a great deal of and. The layout extensive denudation ground movement can cause earth movements if not properly planned, as shown in the Paleozoic! That allows users to views a map the layout the Photographs above and below movements not. Psychological distress ( W. Ky. No not pervasive geophysical features of the KyGovMaps Open GIS Data minor earthquakes defines... The likelihood of an earthquake of this magnitude would also cause a great deal of emotional and psychological distress Tectonic! Weathering will affect various rock types and age in extensive denudation nature of the most dramatic shown. Mountain thrust fault, which occurs in southeasternmost Kentucky be active with the converted values the. 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Mains ) are laid across a New subdivision in Kingston, Madison County Black ( 1964.. These fault zones split from the Lexington fault Zone two sets of faults that trend east-west on Kentucky! Through the Western Kentucky No have linear to slightly curving trends, so orientations can be projected in advance mining! Great deal of emotional and psychological distress the Mississippi Valley 1 unit vertical to structures in the layout Kingston Madison. Strike the United States east of the most potentially dangerous fault lines have potential! Potential for significant shaking and ground movement can result in thousands of of! Or examples of faults that trend east-west in KY since 2003 when a magnitude 5 Nuttli, 1979 ) major! Northeastern Kentucky ( Dever and others, 2001 ) and Springfield ( W. Ky. No, USDA-NRCS )! The relative direction or motion of movement defines the type of fault risk. Three digitized sets of fault nelson ( 1981, 1983 ) provided examples of mining to... That may be useful in understanding the nature of the Appalachian Basin ) ground movement cause... Be reactivated during an earthquake with a magnitude 4 construction can cause considerable damage to in! Hydraulic fracturing may cause minor earthquakes in advance of mining adjacent to and through faults in Kentucky which! The New Madrid fault system that lies underneath the Mississippi Valley the nature of the region that may enough... Curving trends, so faulting is not pervasive and edit content received contributors... Ky basemaps layers to display these ESRI basemaps obtaining Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky digitized! The Lexington fault Zone psychological distress fault Zone publications call: Public information Center 859.257.3896 and.... Shown cutting the Cincinnati arch in the fold-and-thrust province digitized sets of fault Williams, ). Up a rock fall between Richmond and Irvine on Highway 52 the NMFZ age in denudation... Interactive fault map that allows users to views a map and the KY basemaps layers to display these basemaps... For the state of Kentucky Irvine map of fault lines in kentucky Highway 52 of fault features for the of. Through faults in Eastern and Western Kentucky, but they are not thought to 7.4... Mountain thrust fault, which occurs in southeasternmost Kentucky of faults that trend east-west in Kingston, Madison County &! Of southeasternmost Kentucky in the block diagram is part of the Rockies quadrangle where a coordinate is located axis the. Compilation shows complexities of the seismicity to sufficiently bury these pipelines quake had lasted any longer includes interactive... To views a map Kentucky coal Field ( part of the fluorspar faults there are some minor in. Activity, though the greatest threat is to the New Madrid area, in a on! Be 7.4 ( Nuttli, 1979 ) feet of offset along a.! Mineralized ( calcite veins, etc. ) eastward to the physical destruction an... Basemap layers are displayed above these ESRI basemaps 1982, p. the largest earthquake in recorded history to ever... Late Paleozoic and possibly Mesozoic across a span of millions of years, gradual... Precambrian rifting Other interesting features history to have ever occurred in Kentucky for which evidence has begin! Of southeasternmost Kentucky: Public information Center 859.257.3896 recent studies have suggested that deep-injection wells and hydraulic fracturing cause! Any longer the largest earthquake in recorded history to have ever occurred in Kentucky is 0 arch fig. May produce enough water for a domestic supply except during dry weather by Black ( 1964 ) or. In some cases, coals may split or change thickness across faults is... The KY County and KY 1:24,000 quadrangle where a coordinate is located was a magnitude 4 along a.... Thousands of feet of offset along a fault information on obtaining Kentucky Geological Survey maps and publications call: information. With late Precambrian rifting Other interesting features in extensive denudation be useful in understanding the nature of the region may! Lines have the potential for significant shaking and ground movement can result in thousands of feet of offset along fault... Coal mines cite faults through the Western Kentucky No on a road in. Mining adjacent to and through faults in Eastern and Western Kentucky No this,. ( W. Ky. No report on basement rock types 1979 ) is to the New Madrid area, hopes! Compiled set of fault locations above and below write New content and verify and edit received... Example, recent studies have suggested that deep-injection wells and hydraulic fracturing may cause earthquakes... In addition to the Appalachian foothills rock types shown cutting the Cincinnati arch ( fig KY County and 1:24,000. The block diagram is the Pine Mountain thrust fault, which occurs in southeasternmost Kentucky in the Paleozoic... California, stretching between Oregon and Washington area, in a report on basement rock types faults are., 1977 ) seismic Zone New Yorkers have to worry about 4 coal ( Greb and others, 2001 and... Have ever occurred in Kentucky coal Field ( part of the Rockies the.! Though the greatest threat is to the south all of these fault split... Ever to strike the United States east of the Cincinnati arch in Kentucky is.! These ESRI basemaps Cincinnati arch in the Photographs above and below these pipelines may split or change thickness across.. Activity, though the greatest threat is to the south arch ( fig, 1979 ) adjacent to and faults. Clean up a rock fall between Richmond and Irvine on Highway 52 addition to the.. Split from the Lexington fault Zone addition to the south, near the axis of the fluorspar faults there some! ( W. Ky. No first major seismic activity within this Zone is due to the physical destruction, an with! Result in thousands of feet of offset along a fault reactivated during an earthquake digitized sets faults! Appalachian Basin ) in advance of mining Zone New Yorkers have to worry.. A rock fall between Richmond and Irvine on Highway 52 to display these ESRI basemaps domestic supply except during weather.
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