Liquefaction Evidence for One Or More Strong Holocetie Earthquakes In
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Liquefaction Evidence for One or More Strong Holocetie Earthquakes in the Wabash Valley of Southern Indiana incj Illinois, with a T"1^ II * "*' 1*'* * if* JTrcilllllllidll-^v*^^lITYIi Y\ o t^\f y ILmMIld:lv>«''-d-'f"it'TY^O'^iE^ OI^\T AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions OP ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the current-year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Survey publications released prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." Publications that may be listed in various U.S. Geological Survey catalogs (see back inside cover) but not listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" may be no longer available. 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Maps For maps, address mail orders to Maps Only U.S. Geological Survey, Map Distribution Maps may be purchased over the counter at the following U.S. Box 25286, Bldg. 810, Federal Center Geological Survey offices: Denver, CO 80225 Residents of Alaska may order maps from FAIRBANKS, Alaska-New Federal Bldg., 101 Twelfth Ave. U.S. Geological Survey, Earth Science Information Center 101 Twelfth Ave. - Box 12 ROLLA, Missouri—1400 Independence Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99701 STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Mississippi-Bldg. 3101 Liquefaction Evidence for One or More Strong Holocene Earthquakes in the Wabash Valley of Southern Indiana and Illinois, with a Preliminary Estimate of Magnitude By S.F. OBERMEIER, J.R. MARTIN, A.D. FRANKEL, T.L. YOUD, PJ. MUNSON, C.A. MUNSON, and E.G. POND U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1536 A 175-km span of liquefaction features centered near Vincennes, Ind,, is interpreted to have been caused by one or more large earthquakes that occurred between 1,500 and 7,500 years ago UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON: 1993 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Liquefaction evidence for one or more strong Holocene earthquakes in the Wabash Valley of southern Indiana and Illinois, with a preliminary estimate of magnitude / by S.F. Obermeier ... [et al.]. p. cm.—(U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1536) Includes bibliographical references. Supt. of Docs. no. : I 19.16: 1536 1. Dikes (Geology)—Indiana—Vincennes region. 2. Soil liquefaction—Indiana—Vincennes region. 3. Earthquakes- Indiana—Vincennes region. 4. Geology, Stratigraphic—Holocene. I. Obermeier, Stephen F. II. Series. QE611.5.U6L57 1993 92-40578 551.2'2'0977239-dc20 CIP For sale by Book and Open-File Report Sales, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Center, Box 25286, Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract..................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction................................................................................................................ 1 Results...................................................................................................................... 3 Description of Features .......................................................................................... 3 Ages of Features................................................................................................... 5 Origin of Features ....................................................................................................... 8 Evidence for Seismic Origin .................................................................................... 8 Seismic versus Alternative Origins........................................................................... 9 Artesian Conditions ......................................................................................... 9 Morphology of the Dikes and Sand Blows ...................................................... 9 Role of Topography and Geology on Ground-Water Conditions.......................... 10 Nonseismic Landsliding.................................................................................... 15 Sudden Lowering of River Level........................................................................ 17 Syndepositional Processes, Weathering, and Frost................................................ 17 Paleoseismic Implications.............................................................................................. 18 Source Region....................................................................................................... 18 Strength of Earthquake(s)....................................................................................... 18 Conclusions................................................................................................................. 25 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................ 25 References Cited......................................................................................................... 26 ILLUSTRATIONS FIGURES 1, 2. Maps showing: 1. Areas that were searched for liquefaction features, sites where liquefaction features were discovered, and maximum dike widths........................................................................................................................... 2 2. Generalized locations, within the study area, of major fluvial and slack-water deposits near the Wabash and Ohio Rivers........................................................................................................................................ 4 3. Vertical section showing general characteristics of buried dikes with their vented sediments along the Wabash River .... 5 4. Grain-size curves for samples collected in the suspected coarsest source stratum in the Wabash Valley (at Site RF) and for samples collected from the coarsest stratum at a site at Whiskey Springs, Idaho...................................... 6 5, 6. Vertical sections showing: 5. Schematic relations for largest dikes and associated vented sandy materials at sites ranging from frequently flooded to rarely flooded ....................................................................................................................... 7 6. Anticipated relation of dikes and vented sediments from recurrent earthquake-induced liquefaction at an alluviating site .................................................................................................................................... 8 7. Aerial photograph of a portion of the Manila, Ark., 7.5-minute orthophotographic quadrangle showing fissures and sand blows that formed in response to liquefaction during the 1811-12 New Madrid earthquakes.......................... 11 8. Aerial photograph and topographic map of Site VW (southwest of Vincennes, Ind.) showing relation of strike of dikes to meander scrolls of point-bar deposits, and photographs of the widest dike at the site...................................... 12 9. Aerial photograph, topographic map, and vertical section showing location and geologic setting of dikes at Site PB, Wabash County, 111.................................................................................................................................. 14 10. Aerial photograph, topographic map,