Seismic slip on the west flank of the Upper Rhine Graben (France-Germany) : evidence from tectonic morphology and cataclastic deformation bands

Shipton, Zoe K. and Meghraoui, Mustapha and Monro, Louise (2016) Seismic slip on the west flank of the Upper Rhine Graben (France-Germany) : evidence from tectonic morphology and cataclastic deformation bands. Geological Society Special Publications, 432 (1). pp. 147-161. ISSN 0305-8719 (https://doi.org/10.1144/SP432.12)

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Abstract

Intraplate large and moderate earthquakes have occurred along the Upper Rhine Graben (URG) in the past but no coseismic surface faulting has been reported so far. We investigate the 25-km-long linear Riedseltz-Landau normal fault scarp affecting late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits of the western edge of the northern URG. The fault zone with cataclastic deformation textures is exposed in the Riedseltz quarry where it affects Pliocene and late Pleistocene (Wurm) units. Cataclasis is demonstrated by spalling and transgranular fractures in quartz grains concentrated in deformation bands with reduced grain size. The observed microstructures suggest multiple phases of deformation with cataclasis followed by emplacement of Fe-oxide matrix into deformation bands, and later emplacement of a clay-rick matrix into fractures. Previous studies along the fault show late Pleistocene (Wurm) loess deposits and early Holocene sand-silty deposits with 1.5 m and 0.7 m surface slip, respectively. New and previous results provide a minimum 0.15 mm/yr slip rate. A dislocation model suggests a minimum Mw 6.6 earthquake as a plausible scenario in the western edge of northern URG. Surface faulting in young sediments associated with cataclasis provides new evidence for assessing the occurrence of large earthquakes and seismic hazard assessment in the northern URG.

ORCID iDs

Shipton, Zoe K. ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2268-7750, Meghraoui, Mustapha and Monro, Louise;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:57682
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    16 September 2016
    Published
    8 June 2016
    Accepted
    Notes:Geological Society Special Publications 2016 http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ © Geological Society of London 2016.
    Keywords:Upper Rhine Graben, Riedseltz-Landau normal fault, cataclasite, fractured grains, coseismic surface faulting, fault scarp, cataclasis, seismically active tectonic zones, tectonic morphology, cataclastic deformation bands, Geology, Environmental engineering, Water Science and Technology, Ocean Engineering, Geology
    Subjects:Science > Geology
    Technology > Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) > Environmental engineering
    Department:Faculty of Engineering > Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:06 Sep 2016 08:20
    Last modified:23 Sep 2021 05:37
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/57682
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