Shallow SH-wave seismic investigation of the Mt. Angel Fault, Northwest Oregon, USA

• Published in: Tectonophysics 2003-06, Vol.368 (1), p.105-117
• Main Authors: Wang, Zhenming, Madin, Ian P., Woolery, Edward W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Mt. Angel Fault; Seismic investigation; SH-wave reflection; SH-wave refraction
• ISSN: 0040-1951; 1879-3266
• DOI: 10.1016/S0040-1951(03)00153-7

The Mt. Angel Fault is likely one of the most active faults near the Portland metropolitan area, and was probably associated with the 1993 Scotts Mills earthquake. SH-wave seismic techniques used to image the Mt. Angel Fault suggest that the fault offsets late Pleistocene gravel (∼22 to 34 ka) at several locations. Within the study area, displacement of the late Pleistocene gravel along the strike of the Mt. Angel Fault increases from no obvious displacement on the northwest to approximately 18 m on the southeast. This trend of increasing offset along the strike of the fault is paralleled by topographic and geomorphic trends. A reconnaissance geologic investigation at an anomalous bend in the Pudding River near the projected trace of the Mt. Angel Fault revealed potential tectonic deformation in sediments younger than the late Pleistocene gravel imaged by SH-wave data. The results of this study have contributed to the paleoseismic record of the Mt. Angel Fault, laid the groundwork for future geologic investigations along the Pudding River, and determined potential sites for future paleoseismic trenching investigations.