Paleoliquefaction Study and Earthquake Source Characterization of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, Eastern United States
In 2011, a <b>M</b> 5.7, earthquake struck near Mineral, Virginia, about 130 km southwest of Washington, D.C., prompting studies on paleoliquefaction to better understand the earthquake potential of the Central Virginia seismic zone and the hazard it poses to the Mid-Atlantic region. Res...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | GeoHazards |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-795X/6/1/13 |
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| author | Martitia P. Tuttle Steven L. Forman Kathleen Dyer-Williams Kathleen Tucker Carlos Velez |
| author_facet | Martitia P. Tuttle Steven L. Forman Kathleen Dyer-Williams Kathleen Tucker Carlos Velez |
| author_sort | Martitia P. Tuttle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2011, a <b>M</b> 5.7, earthquake struck near Mineral, Virginia, about 130 km southwest of Washington, D.C., prompting studies on paleoliquefaction to better understand the earthquake potential of the Central Virginia seismic zone and the hazard it poses to the Mid-Atlantic region. Researchers identified earthquake-induced liquefaction features along the Appomattox and Rapidan rivers, dated sediment and estimated the ages of these liquefaction features as well as features previously found along several other rivers in the seismic zone, and evaluated scenario earthquakes to constrain the locations and magnitudes of past earthquakes. Evidence suggests that historical earthquakes (<b>M</b> 5.25–5.5) in 1758, 1774, and 1875 C.E. caused liquefaction along the Appomattox, James, and Pamunkey Rivers, and a paleoearthquake (<b>M</b> 6.5–6.75) around 2640 ± 80 yr B.P. near Wyndham Forest caused liquefaction along the Appomattox River and across the seismic zone. Similarly, an earthquake (<b>M</b> 5.5–5.75) around 1690 ± 50 yr C.E. may have triggered liquefaction along the Rapidan River. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-55e9341c8f644f9db6a892d8d7223049 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2624-795X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | GeoHazards |
| spelling | doaj-art-55e9341c8f644f9db6a892d8d72230492025-08-20T02:42:32ZengMDPI AGGeoHazards2624-795X2025-03-01611310.3390/geohazards6010013Paleoliquefaction Study and Earthquake Source Characterization of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, Eastern United StatesMartitia P. Tuttle0Steven L. Forman1Kathleen Dyer-Williams2Kathleen Tucker3Carlos Velez4M. Tuttle & Associates, P.O. Box 345, Georgetown, ME 04548, USADepartment of Geosciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USAM. Tuttle & Associates, P.O. Box 345, Georgetown, ME 04548, USAM. Tuttle & Associates, P.O. Box 345, Georgetown, ME 04548, USAM. Tuttle & Associates, P.O. Box 345, Georgetown, ME 04548, USAIn 2011, a <b>M</b> 5.7, earthquake struck near Mineral, Virginia, about 130 km southwest of Washington, D.C., prompting studies on paleoliquefaction to better understand the earthquake potential of the Central Virginia seismic zone and the hazard it poses to the Mid-Atlantic region. Researchers identified earthquake-induced liquefaction features along the Appomattox and Rapidan rivers, dated sediment and estimated the ages of these liquefaction features as well as features previously found along several other rivers in the seismic zone, and evaluated scenario earthquakes to constrain the locations and magnitudes of past earthquakes. Evidence suggests that historical earthquakes (<b>M</b> 5.25–5.5) in 1758, 1774, and 1875 C.E. caused liquefaction along the Appomattox, James, and Pamunkey Rivers, and a paleoearthquake (<b>M</b> 6.5–6.75) around 2640 ± 80 yr B.P. near Wyndham Forest caused liquefaction along the Appomattox River and across the seismic zone. Similarly, an earthquake (<b>M</b> 5.5–5.75) around 1690 ± 50 yr C.E. may have triggered liquefaction along the Rapidan River.https://www.mdpi.com/2624-795X/6/1/13earthquake-induced liquefactionpaleoearthquakesearthquake potentialradiocarbon datingoptically-stimulated luminescence datingCentral Virginia seismic zone |
| spellingShingle | Martitia P. Tuttle Steven L. Forman Kathleen Dyer-Williams Kathleen Tucker Carlos Velez Paleoliquefaction Study and Earthquake Source Characterization of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, Eastern United States GeoHazards earthquake-induced liquefaction paleoearthquakes earthquake potential radiocarbon dating optically-stimulated luminescence dating Central Virginia seismic zone |
| title | Paleoliquefaction Study and Earthquake Source Characterization of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, Eastern United States |
| title_full | Paleoliquefaction Study and Earthquake Source Characterization of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, Eastern United States |
| title_fullStr | Paleoliquefaction Study and Earthquake Source Characterization of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, Eastern United States |
| title_full_unstemmed | Paleoliquefaction Study and Earthquake Source Characterization of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, Eastern United States |
| title_short | Paleoliquefaction Study and Earthquake Source Characterization of the Central Virginia Seismic Zone, Eastern United States |
| title_sort | paleoliquefaction study and earthquake source characterization of the central virginia seismic zone eastern united states |
| topic | earthquake-induced liquefaction paleoearthquakes earthquake potential radiocarbon dating optically-stimulated luminescence dating Central Virginia seismic zone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2624-795X/6/1/13 |
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