Southeastern Extension of the Reelfoot Fault

Arsdale, Roy B. Van; Cox, Randel Tom; Johnston, Arch C.; Stephenson, William J.; Odum, Jack K.

doi:10.1785/gssrl.70.3.348

Cited by 23 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The Reelfoot South fault is a seismically active stepover that is clearly evident in seismic-refl ection data of Eocene and older sediments, yet it has only very subtle geomorphic evidence of Quaternary uplift (Van Arsdale et al, 1999). Such evidence is consistent with the Reelfoot South fault zone (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

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Late Pliocene and Quaternary deformation of the Reelfoot rift

Arsdale

Cupples

2013

Geosphere

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The Reelfoot rift is a N45°E-trending Cambrian rift that has controlled late Pliocene and Quaternary deformation and current seismicity beneath the central Mississippi River Valley. Analysis of 557 well logs between 35°N and 37°N latitude reveals that the Pliocene Upland Complex of western Kentucky and Tennessee and the Upland Complex in Crowley's Ridge of eastern Arkansas have been displaced by east-striking normal faults that extend across the Eastern Lowlands of the Mississippi River Valley. The normal faults extend east and west of the margins of the Reelfoot rift, thus indicating that the region between the Commerce fault and the Big Creek-Ellendale fault has been subjected to right-lateral simple shear since the Pliocene. An additional 3334 well logs in the lowlands of the Mississippi River Valley between 35°N and 37°N were analyzed for structural displacement of the unconformity at the base of the Quaternary-age Mississippi River alluvium. No Quaternary displacement is seen on the east-striking normal faults in the Eastern Lowlands identifi ed in this study, suggesting their Quaternary displacement is below the resolution of the mapping. However, our baseof-Quaternary mapping has confi rmed previously mapped structures and identifi ed new structures that allow the estimation of uplift rates. In the Western Lowlands, the Quaternary unconformity (locally 24-27 ka) is displaced 30 m down-to-the-southeast across the northwestern Reelfoot rift margin, indicating a displacement rate of ~1.2 mm/yr. In the Eastern Lowlands, within the last 12 k.y., the Charleston uplift has been lifted 36 m, resulting in an average uplift rate of 3 mm/yr; Lake County (Reelfoot North fault) uplift is 21 m (1.8 mm/yr), Blytheville arch uplift is 25 m (2.1 mm/yr), Joiner Ridge uplift is 20 m (1.7 mm/yr), and the Meeman-Shelby fault zone uplift is 28 m (2.3 mm/yr). Absence of a Quaternary fault scarp or surface monocline on the subsurface Reelfoot South fault sug-gests that this seismically active fault zone may have become reactivated during the earthquake sequence of 1811-1812.The Reelfoot rift and its outboard faults have undergone right-lateral simple shear since the Pliocene, resulting in (1) right-lateral strike-slip occurring along the northeast-striking basement faults, (2) east-west compression across north-striking reverse faults (stepover zones), and (3) north-south extension across east-striking normal faults. The origin of these structures is illustrated within the strain fi eld of a simple strain ellipse that should be considered in future fi eld strain measurements of the New Madrid seismic zone region. Quaternary deformation in the Reelfoot rift region provides insights into intraplate strain and associated seismicity that may apply to intraplate rifts globally.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 61%

“…The Reelfoot South fault has subtle geomorphic evidence of 1811-1812 deformation(Van Arsdale et al, 1999).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Pliocene and Quaternary deformation of the Reelfoot rift

Arsdale

Cupples

2013

Geosphere

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“…Comparing analogous faults from both areas, the east-side bounding fault (MSF) of the Joiner Ridge segment has an orientation of approximately N13°W with no documented evidence of surface rupture or expression along its length. Similarly, the RSF segment of the Reelfoot fault structure, interpreted on the basis of various types of subtle geologic evidence and detailed seismicity analysis, has a projected trend of approximately N18°W and also has no clear evidence of surface rupture (Van Arsdale et al 1999;. Two seismic-reflection profiles constrain dip on the MSF to approximately 80° at a depth of less than 1 km (top of the Paleozoic surface) and less steep within the Paleozoic sedimentary section (Figures 8A and 8B).…”

Section: Joiner Ridge and Reelfoot Fault Stepover Similaritiesmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…The south segment of the RF consists of the Reelfoot south fault (RSF), which has no obvious surficial expression. The location and geometry of these two segments are delineated by the modern seismicity pattern of the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ), seismic reflection profiles, and geologic data (Chiu et al 1992(Chiu et al , 1997Odum et al 1998;Van Arsdale et al 1999). show that the RNF and RSF segments differ in strike, dip, basement displacement, surface deformation, earthquake epicenter depths, and probably paleoseismic history as well.…”

Section: Joiner Ridge and Reelfoot Fault Stepover Similaritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multisource, High-resolution Seismic-reflection Imaging of Meeman-Shelby Fault and a Possible Tectonic Model for a Joiner Ridge-Manila High Stepover Structure in the Upper Mississippi Embayment Region

Odum

Stephenson

Williams

2010

Seismological Research Letters

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“…Recent studies indicate that the Reelfoot thrust fault extends to the southeastern margin of the Reelfoot Rift near Dyersburg, Tennessee (Van Arsdale et al, 1999) (Figure 1). and Cherryhomes (2003) have demonstrated that the southeastern rift margin has experienced Quaternary right-slip displacement, and Cox et al (2001b) believe that this rift margin may be accommodating strain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Faulting along the Southeastern Margin of the Reelfoot Rift in Northwestern Tennessee Revealed in Deep Seismic-reflection Profiles

Parrish

Arsdale

2004

Seismological Research Letters

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Approximately 320 km of deep seismic-reflection profiles in northwestern Tennessee reveal the structure of a major portion of the southeastern margin of the Reelfoot Rift. This rift margin consists of at least two major down-to-the-west late Precambrian to Cambrian normal faults. Maximum fault displacement at one location is 3 km. These two faults strike N S0~ in their northern portions; over their southern extent they trend N30~ however.Numerous faults in these reflection lines displace Paleozoic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary reflectors. The dominantly reverse faulting, folding, and positive flower structures in the shallower section indicate Eocene or younger transpression. We believe the late Tertiary faulting is due to reactivation of the basement faults, because on some of the reflection lines basement normal faults can be traced into Tertiary reverse faults, the Tertiary faults parallel the basement faults, and the Tertiary faults overlie or are adjacent to the basement faults. Numerous faults displace the highest (youngest) reflectors and therefore we do not know how recently faulting has occurred. Previous studies have identified Quaternary faulting within the southeastern Reelfoot Rift margin of western Tennessee, however. Thus, we believe all of the late Tertiary faults identified in this research should be evaluated for possible Quaternary movement.

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Southeastern Extension of the Reelfoot Fault

Cited by 23 publications

References 14 publications

Late Pliocene and Quaternary deformation of the Reelfoot rift

Late Pliocene and Quaternary deformation of the Reelfoot rift

Multisource, High-resolution Seismic-reflection Imaging of Meeman-Shelby Fault and a Possible Tectonic Model for a Joiner Ridge-Manila High Stepover Structure in the Upper Mississippi Embayment Region

Faulting along the Southeastern Margin of the Reelfoot Rift in Northwestern Tennessee Revealed in Deep Seismic-reflection Profiles

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