New Madrid Earthquake Information Pages

Earthquake Information Pages

Earthquake Related Research at SIUC

Currently at SIUC a number of geophysical investigations related to neotectonics, paleoseismic and earthquake hazard problems are ongoing. Geologists working in the southern Illinois area have recently located several exposures of shallow, reactivated faults.

Pictured in this photo (left) is one such fault, the Barnes Creek Fault Zone. Graduate students Rector Koffi and Mamadou Coulibaly observe a segment of the Barnes Creek Fault Zone just north of Metropolis, Illinois. Note the gravel-filled graben and adjacent fractures which disturb Cretaceous sandstone layers and overlying Quaternary gravels and alluvial deposits.

Teams of geologists and geophysicists have been studying, mapping and imaging these faults in the subsurface using a variety of geophysical techniques, such as high-resolution seismic reflection, surface penetrating radar, magnetic gradient, resistivity and gravity methods.

Similar high-resolution geophysical imaging studies have been conducted throughout the New Madrid Seismic Zone, southern Illinois, and Wabash River Valley areas during the last two decades. Part of a study to determine if Sikeston Ridge in Missouri is related to local earthquake activity is being concluded, and the results are expected to be published soon. Studies to map and image shallow faulting along the Wabash River using high-resolution aeromagnetic, seismic reflection and surface penetrating radar data are also ongoing.

Junior and Senior High School students participating in Basics in Geology, an earth science outreach program, are also studying and investigating the earthquake phenomenon in southern Illinois.

Table of Contents:

SIUC / College of Science / Geology / Quakes / Research
URL: http://www.geology.siu.edu/quakes/research.html

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