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Open-File Report 2007–1104

Prepared under the auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development

Seismotectonic Map of Afghanistan and Adjacent Areas

By Russell L. Wheeler and Kenneth S. Rukstales

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Open-File Report
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This report is USGS Afghanistan Project Product No. 154

This map is part of an assessment of Afghanistan’s geology, natural resources, and natural hazards. One of the natural hazards is from earthquake shaking. One of the tools required to address the shaking hazard is a probabilistic seismic-hazard map, which was made separately. The information on this seismotectonic map has been used in the design and computation of the hazard map.

A seismotectonic map like this one shows geological, seismological, and other information that previously had been scattered among many sources. The compilation can show spatial relations that might not have been seen by comparing the original sources, and it can suggest hypotheses that might not have occurred to persons who studied those scattered sources. The main map shows faults and earthquakes of Afghanistan. Plate convergence drives the deformations that cause the earthquakes. Accordingly, smaller maps and text explain the modern plate-tectonic setting of Afghanistan and its evolution, and relate both to patterns of faults and earthquakes.

Version 1.0

Posted May 2007


Suggested citation:

Wheeler, R.L. and Rukstales, K.S., 2007, Seismotectonic map of Afghanistan and adjacent areas: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1104, 1 plate.



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Last modified: Wednesday, 07-Dec-2016 20:13:55 EST