RE-EVALUATION OF EARTHQUAKE POTENTIAL AND SOURCE IN THE VICINITY OF NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS Final Technical Report Research supported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Department of the Interior, under USGS award 1434-03HQGR0031 Martitia P. Tuttle M. Tuttle & Associates 128 Tibbetts Lane Georgetown, ME 04548 Tel: 207-371-2796 E-mail:
[email protected] URL: http://www.mptuttle.com Program Element II: Research on Earthquake Occurrence and Effects Key Words: Paleoliquefaction, Tsunami, Recurrence Interval, Age Dating The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Government. RE-EVALUATION OF EARTHQUAKE POTENTIAL AND SOURCE IN THE VICINITY OF NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS Martitia P. Tuttle M. Tuttle & Associates 128 Tibbetts Lane Georgetown, ME 04548 Tel: 207-371-2796 E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract During the first year of this paleoseismic study (USGS award 01HQGR0163), we found small, earthquake-induced liquefaction features and a distinctive sand layer, possibly a tsunami deposit, in Holocene marsh deposits near Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. During the second year of the study, presented here, we conducted additional reconnaissance for earthquake-related features and deposits as well as investigations at sites of liquefaction features and the possible tsunami deposit. Reconnaissance was performed along several rivers in southeastern New Hampshire, including the Blackwater and Browns Rivers and Hunts Island and Mill Creeks in Hampton Marsh and the Exeter and Squamscott Rivers northwest of Hampton Marsh. However, no new occurrences of liquefaction features or possible tsunami deposits were found.