Geoarchaeological evidence of strong prehistoric earthquakes in the New Madrid (Missouri) seismic zone

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0296:GEOSPE>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5524243

Saucier, R T ^[1]

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1. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, MS (USA)

Sand blows and fissures that cover >10,500 km{sup 2} in northeastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri attest to the severity of the 1811-1812 earthquake series in the New Madrid seismic zone. However, except for one occurence near New Madrid, Missouri, the region has been devoid of any evidence of other major shocks for at least 1.3 ka prior to 1811 and possibly for >9 ka. Stratigraphic relations and radiocarbon dating at a recently excavated archaeological site near East Prairie, Missouri, have revealed liquifaction phenomena attributable to a shock dated to within about 100 yr prior to A.D. 539 and a probable second one dated between about A.D. 539 and 991.

• OSTI ID: 5524243
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Vol. 19:4; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
ARKANSAS
EARTHQUAKES
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
MISSOURI
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
CARBON 14
GEOLOGIC FISSURES
ISOTOPE DATING
LIQUEFACTION
MAPS
SAND
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SOILS
STRATIGRAPHY
AGE ESTIMATION
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON ISOTOPES
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
FEDERAL REGION VI
FEDERAL REGION VII
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
SEISMIC EVENTS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
USA
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
580000* - Geosciences