Surface faulting: A preliminary view

R. V. Sharp

doi:10.1193/1.1585232

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Surface faulting: A preliminary view

R. V. Sharp

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Abstract

This description of surface faulting near Spitak, Armenia, is based on a field inspection made December 22-26, 1988. The surface rupture west of Spitak, displacement of the ground surface, pre-earthquake surface expressions of the fault, and photolineaments in landsat images are described and surface faulting is compared to aftershocks. It is concluded that the 2 meters of maximum surface displacement fits well within the range of reliably measured maximum surface offsets for historic reverse and oblique-reverse faulting events throughout the world. By contrast, the presently known length of surface rupture near Spitak, between 8 and 13 km, is shorter than any other reverse or oblique-reverse event of magnitude greater than 6.0. This may be a reason to suppose that additional surface rupture might remain unmapped.

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R. V. Sharp. 1989-08-01. Surface faulting: A preliminary view. https://doi.org/10.1193/1.1585232

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