UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

a division of
Utah Department of Natural Resources
in cooperation with
University of Utah Seismograph Stations Utah Geological Survey Map 277
Utah Division of Emergency Management Utah Earthquakes (18502016) and Quaternary Faults

Malad
UTAH EARTHQUAKES (18502016) AND QUATERNARY FAULTS
7 15 by

I D A H O Preston Steve D. Bowman1 and Walter J. Arabasz2

E FAULT
Cokeville
2017
114W
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Bear Quaternary Fault Data: Bill D. Black1,3, Steve D. Bowman1, Gary E. Christenson1,4, Suzanne Hecker1,5,
10

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Snowville Michael D. Hylland1, Emily J. Kleber1, and Greg N. McDonald1
Earthquake Data: Walter J. Arabasz2, Relu Burlacu2, and James C. Pechmann2
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EXPLANATION Earthquakes Earthquake Mainshocks of Measured or Estimated Moment Magnitude (M) 4.9 or Greater ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Basemap shaded color relief from Shuttle Radar
(labeled by number on map) Topographic Mission (SRTM) 75 meter DEM data.
This map shows earthquakes known to have occurred within and surrounding Utah from 1850 through December 2016 and mapped Quaternary The earthquake epicenters on this map are primarily from a Uniform Moment Magnitude Earthquake Catalog developed for the Utah region by This map was made possible by ongoing funding, to both the Utah Geological Survey and the University of Utah Seismograph Grayscale shaded relief from U.S. Geological
No. Date (GMT) Epicenter Location M Stations, from the State of Utah and from the U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program under the National Earth- Survey 100 meter DEM data set.
faults considered to be earthquake sources. The faults shown on the map have been sources of large earthquakes (about magnitude 6.5 or greater) Arabasz and others (2016) for the period 1850 through September 2012. For this map, the catalog was extended through December 2016 and
during the Quaternary Period (past 2.6 million years) and are the most likely sources of large earthquakes in the future. Most small to moderate size expanded to include earthquakes smaller than magnitude 2.9 and coal-mining-induced seismicity. The database for the seismicity plotted on the 1 11/14/1901 Tushar Mountains 6.6 quake Hazards Reduction Program.
Projection: UTM Zone 12
earthquakes plotted on the map are background earthquakes not readily associated with known faults and of a size generally below the threshold map, together with explanatory information, is provided in Arabasz and others (2017). Gray hachured boundary lines delineate two areas in 2 11/17/1902 Pine Valley 6.3 Datum: NAD 1983
of surface faulting (about magnitude 6.5). Buried or unmapped secondary faults are likely sources of much of the background seismicity. east-central Utah within which seismicity consists predominantly (more than 90%) of mining-induced seismicity caused by underground coal The earthquake data shown on this map was enabled by the dedicated efforts of researchers and staff, present and past, of the Spheroid: GRS_1980
3 10/06/1909 Hansel Valley 5.6 University of Utah Seismograph Stations and the U.S. Geological Survey.
mining (see Arabasz and others, 2017). Moment magnitude, a modern seismological measure of the physical properties of the earthquake source,
4 05/22/1910 Salt Lake City 5.3 Utah Geological Survey
Quaternary Faults and Folds is the best indicator of an earthquakes true size (an improvement over the Richter local magnitude scale) and has become the preferred size 1594 West North Temple, Suite 3110
measure for seismic hazard and earthquake engineering applications. The table to the right lists the largest earthquake mainshocks (moment 5 09/29/1921 Elsinore 5.5 In addition to the current and former Utah Geological Survey staff listed above under Quaternary Fault Data, numerous other
P.O. Box 146100, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6100
The Utah faults and folds shown on this map are from the Utah Quaternary Fault and Fold Database developed by the Utah Geological Survey magnitude 4.9 or greater) in the map area since 1850. individuals have contributed to the Utah Quaternary Fault and Fold Database and this map, including Sophia Agopian, 801-537-3300
6 03/12/1934 Hansel Valley 6.6 Richard Dart, Gordon Douglass, Christopher DuRoss, Kathy Haller, Tara Hansen, Jay Hill, Janine Jarva, William Lund,
(UGS, 2017). Faults in Nevada are from the Quaternary Faults in Nevada map database (dePolo, 2008), and faults in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, geology.utah.gov
Epicenters 7 11/19/1937 Idaho-Nevada-Utah border area 5.4 Michael Machette, James McBride, Kelsey Minnoch, Susan Olig, Lucas Shaw, Neil Storey, and Corey Unger.
and Wyoming are from the Quaternary Fault and Fold Database of the United States (U.S. Geological Survey [USGS], 2006). The major fault
in Utah is the 240-mile-long Wasatch fault zone that extends from north of Malad City, Idaho, south through the Wasatch Front to near Fayette, Areas of Predominantly 8 01/18/1950 Northwestern Uinta Basin 5.3
Utah, and is considered to be capable of producing up to a magnitude 7.7 earthquake (Working Group on Utah Earthquake Probabilities, 2016). Mining-Induced Seismicity 9 07/21/1959 Arizona-Utah border We thank Relu Burlacu, Keith Koper, Kris Pankow, and James Pechmann (UUSS) and Gregg Beukelman, Rich Giraud, Adam
5.6
Other major hazardous faults include the East and West Cache, Hurricane, Joes Valley, OquirrhGreat Salt Lake, Sevier/Toroweap, and Washing- Magnitude Range* Earthquakes Hiscock, Michael Hylland, Tyler Knudsen, William Lund, Greg McDonald, and Adam McKean (UGS) for their review
10 08/30/1962 Cache Valley 5.8 comments.
ton fault zones, and the Eastern Bear Lake fault. These fault zones are composed of many individual fault traces (often subdivided and named) (M)
and are shown on the map using a wider colored line. The other faults shown on this map are also potential sources of future earthquakes. Faults 11 09/05/1962 Magna 4.9
1850June 1962 July 1962December 2016 1928December 2016 DISCLAIMER
may be shown terminating at a state boundary due to incomplete mapping in some areas. Additional faults may exist that have not been mapped, 12 07/07/1963 Juab Valley 5.1
may not have surface exposures, or were mapped subsequent to the publication of this map. The folds shown on this map are restricted to those 13 08/16/1966 Nevada-Utah border 5.2 This map is intended for general purpose viewing and not for project-specific fault and/or earthquake epicenter location. For
< 2.9
involving a component of Quaternary faulting (fault-related folds). Refer to the Utah Quaternary Fault and Fold Database for more information on other uses, see the original data sources: Arabasz and others (2017) for the earthquake database and Utah Geological Survey
14 10/04/1967 Marysvale 5.1
these structures. (2017) for the Utah Quaternary Fault and Fold Database.
2.93.4 15 03/28/1975 Pocatello Valley, Idaho 6.0
During an earthquake of about magnitude 6.5 or greater, fault rupture may break the ground surface, creating a vertical offset or scarp; surface breaks along 16 08/14/1988 San Rafael Swell 5.0 Although this product represents the work of professional scientists, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Geologi-
a fault sometimes occur over a zone tens of feet wide. Some communities in Utah have adopted ordinances that generally prohibit constructing buildings 3.53.9 17 01/30/1989 Southern Wasatch Plateau 5.2 cal Survey, makes no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding its suitability for a particular use. The Utah Department of
across or directly adjacent to a hazardous fault to reduce the risk of collapse or severe damage during an earthquake. Detailed 1:24,000-scale (1 inch equals Natural Resources, Utah Geological Survey, shall not be liable under any circumstances for any direct, indirect, special,
18 09/02/1992 St. George 5.5
2000 feet) surface-fault-rupture hazard maps of selected areas in Utah are available at http://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/maps/geologic-hazard-maps/. incidental, or consequential damages with respect to claims by users of this product. Map for use at 1:500,000 scale only. The
Guidelines for performing surface-fault-rupture investigations, that may be needed before development, are available at http://geology.utah.gov/about-us/- 4.04.9 UGS does not guarantee accuracy or completeness of the data.
geologic-programs/geologic-hazards-program/for-consultants-and-design-professionals/recommended-report-guidelines/. Additional information on
Utah faults or how to download the fault GIS data is available from the UGS at http://geology.utah.gov/resources/data-databases/qfaults. REFERENCES
5.05.9
Additional information on Utah earthquakes is available from the UUSS at http://quake.utah.edu. Seismic hazard maps showing the expected
Arabasz, W.J., Pechmann, J.C., and Burlacu, R., 2016, A uniform moment magnitude earthquake catalog and background
severity of earthquake ground shaking for various probability levels are available from the USGS at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/prod-
Age of Most Recent Movement seismicity rates for the Wasatch Front and surrounding Utah region, appendix E of Working Group on Utah Earthquake
ucts/conterminous/, or custom maps can be produced at http://geohazards.usgs.gov/hazards/apps/cmaps/. Probabilities, Earthquake probabilities in the Wasatch Front region in Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming: Utah Geological Survey
Faults Miscellaneous Publication 16-3, p. E-1 to E-126 plus 10 electronic supplements: Online, http://quake.utah.edu//wp-con-
6.06.9 Earthquake/Faulting Hazard and Risk Preparedness tent/uploads/Appendix_E_FINAL_31Mar2016.pdf, accessed April 28, 2017.
<150 years, well constrained
This map was developed to illustrate to the public and other stakeholders the geographic extent of earthquakes and faulting in Utah, which Arabasz, W.J., Burlacu, R., and Pechmann, J.C., 2017, Earthquake database for Utah Geological Survey Map 277, Utah Earth-
indicate widespread hazards and significant risk to Utahs people, property, infrastructure, and economy. This map was a collaborative effort quakes (18502016) and Quaternary faults: Online, Utah Geological Survey Open-File Report 667, 16 p.,
<15,000 years, solid where well constrained, long dashes where moderately constrained, short dashes where * All magnitudes (from Arabasz and others, 2016, 2017) are moment magnitude, M, either directly measured, empirically estimated from other among the three key partners in the Utah Earthquake Program: the Utah Geological Survey, the University of Utah Seismograph Stations, and the https://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/open_file_reports/ofr-667.pdf.
inferred. The fault traces beneath Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake, which were mapped primarily from
seismic reflection data, are solid where they displace the lake bottom and short dashes elsewhere size measures, or (for magnitudes of about 2.5 and smaller) inferred from other magnitude scales to be < M 2.9. Magnitude ranges are simplified Utah Division of Emergency Management.
dePolo, C.M., 2008, Quaternary faults in Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology Map 167, 1 plate, scale 1:1,000,000.
to one decimal place: < 2.9 means M < 2.85, 2.93.4 means 2.85 M 3.44, and so on.
<130,000 years, solid where well constrained, long dashes where moderately constrained, short dashes where The Utah Earthquake Program (https://ussc.utah.gov/pages/help.php?section=Utah+Earthquake+Program) is a strong partnership that unites
U.S. Geological Survey, 2006, Quaternary Fault and Fold Database of the United States: Online,
inferred diverse professionals working cooperatively to reduce earthquake losses and risk in Utah. By bringing together professionals with emergency
http://earthquakes.usgs.gov/regional/qfaults, accessed May 2017.
management, engineering, geology, seismology, and public outreach expertise into a collaborative framework, the Utah Earthquake Program
The refined earthquake catalog of Arabasz and others (2016) and its extension by Arabasz and others (2017) unifies catalogs compiled by the leverages a broad array of experience, reduces duplication of effort, optimizes limited funding, and ensures the delivery of consistent, authorita- Utah Geological Survey, 2017, Utah Quaternary Fault and Fold Database: Online,
<750,000 years, solid where well constrained, long dashes where moderately constrained, short dashes where
inferred primary agents of seismic monitoring of the region: the University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS) and the USGS. Authoritative source tive earthquake-related information for the benefit of all Utahns. http://geology.utah.gov/resources/data-databases/qfaults, accessed January 2017.
catalogs used to produce the unified catalog included (1) compilations of historical earthquakes since 1850 documented by USGS and UUSS
researchers and (2) catalogs of instrumentally recorded earthquakes resulting from regional seismic monitoring by the UUSS since mid-1962 and Working Group on Utah Earthquake Probabilities, 2016, Earthquake probabilities for the Wasatch Front region in Utah, Idaho,
<2.6 million years, solid where well constrained, long dashes where moderately constrained, short dashes
where inferred from national-scale seismic monitoring by the USGS since 1973 (or in earlier decades by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey). and Wyoming: Utah Geological Survey Miscellaneous Publication 16-3, 164 p., 5 appendices.

Folds

J Anticline, <2.6 million years, solid where well constrained, short dashes where inferred

4 Monocline, <2.6 million years, solid where well constrained