Paleoseismic study of the XEOLXELEK–Elk Lake fault: A newly identified Holocene fault in thenorthern Cascadia forearc near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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Abstract
High-resolution topographic data show a tectonic scarp formed in Quaternary sediments near the city of Victoria in the northern Cascadia forearc on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. A paleoseismic trench excavation across the structure, the XEOLXELEK–Elk Lake fault, shows evidence for a Holocene (after 12.2 cal ka BP) surface-rupturing reverse-slip
earthquake that produced a fault-propagation fold and resulted in the formation of a ∼1.4 to 3.5 m-high scarp. Fault-propagation fold modelling indicates ∼3.2 m of reverse slip on a 50°-dipping fault plane reproduces the observed deformation, and fault-scaling relations suggest a single earthquake rupture with this surface displacement could occur during a ∼Mw 6.1–
7.6 earthquake. Given the fault’s location within the metropolitan area of Victoria, an earthquake near this magnitude would result in significant damage to local infrastructure and this fault is worth considering in future seismic hazard assessments.
Suggested Citation
Harrichhausen, N., Finley, T., Morell, K.D., Regalla, C., Bennett, S.E., Leonard, L.J., Nissen, E., McLeod, E., Lynch, E.M., Salomon, G., Sethanant, I., 2022, Paleoseismic study of the XEOLXELEK–Elk Lake fault: A newly identified Holocene fault in thenorthern Cascadia forearc near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in Proceedings of the 11th International INQUA Workshop on Paleoseismology, Active Tectonics and Archaeoseismology, France, September 25-30, 2022, p. 90-93.
| Publication type | Conference Paper |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Conference Paper |
| Title | Paleoseismic study of the XEOLXELEK–Elk Lake fault: A newly identified Holocene fault in thenorthern Cascadia forearc near Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Year Published | 2022 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Zenodo |
| Contributing office(s) | Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Book |
| Larger Work Subtype | Conference publication |
| Larger Work Title | Proceedings of the 11th International INQUA Workshop on Paleoseismology, Active Tectonics and Archaeoseismology |
| First page | 90 |
| Last page | 93 |
| Conference Title | 11th International INQUA Meeting on Paleoseismology, Active Tectonics and Archeoseismology |
| Conference Location | France |
| Conference Date | September 25-30, 2022 |