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The '''Chixoy-Polochic Fault''', also known as '''Cuilco-Chixoy-Polochic Fault''', is a major [[fault zone]] in [[Guatemala]] and |
The '''Chixoy-Polochic Fault''', also known as '''Cuilco-Chixoy-Polochic Fault''', is a major [[fault zone]] in [[Guatemala]] and southeast [[Mexico]]. It runs in a light arc from the east coast of Guatemala to [[Chiapas]], following the deep valleys of the [[Polochic River]], [[Chixoy River]] and [[Cuilco River]].<ref name="Ortega">{{cite journal |last=Ortega-Gutiérrez |first=Fernando |title=The Maya-Chortís Boundary: A Tectonostratigraphic Approach |url=http://bellwether.metapress.com/content/531mx67478398875/fulltext.pdf |year=2007 |journal=International Geology Review |volume=49 |issue=11 |pages=996–1024 |doi=10.2747/0020-6814.49.11.996 |display-authors=etal |bibcode=2007IGRv...49..996O }}{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |
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|last=Ortega-Gutiérrez |first=Fernando |coauthors=(et.al.) |title=The Maya-Chortís Boundary: A Tectonostratigraphic Approach |url=http://bellwether.metapress.com/content/531mx67478398875/fulltext.pdf |year=2007 |month= |journal=International Geology Review |volume=49 |issue=11 |pages=996–1024 |id= |
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|doi=10.2747/0020-6814.49.11.996 }}</ref> |
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== Extent, slip rate and total displacement == |
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The Chixoy-Polochic Fault runs largely parallel to the [[Motagua Fault]] situated some 80 km to its south. Both fault zones are onshore extensions of the [[Bartlett Deep]], or [[Cayman Trench]] of the [[Caribbean Sea]], which marks the tectonic boundary between the [[Caribbean Plate]] and the [[North American Plate]].<ref name="Ortega" /> |
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The Chixoy-Polochic Fault is a large, dominantly strike-slip, left-lateral fault that runs largely parallel to the [[Motagua Fault]] situated some 45 km to its south. Both fault zones are onshore extensions of the Bartlett Deep, or [[Cayman Trench]] of the [[Caribbean Sea]], which marks the tectonic boundary between the [[Caribbean plate]] and the [[North American plate]].<ref name="Ortega" /> Both faults connect at sea west of the Guatemalan coast. To the west, the Polochic fault may branch onto the Tonala fault of western Chiapas. It does not continue at sea across the Pacific coastal plain and marine shelf.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Keppie|first=J. Duncan|last2=Morán-Zenteno|first2=Dante J.|date=2005-05-01|title=Tectonic Implications of Alternative Cenozoic Reconstructions for Southern Mexico and the Chortis Block|journal=International Geology Review|volume=47|issue=5|pages=473–491|doi=10.2747/0020-6814.47.5.473|issn=0020-6814|bibcode=2005IGRv...47..473K}}</ref> |
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The Chixoy-Polochic fault has total displacement of 125 km, well constrained by the offset of Paleocene or Eocene laramide folds and thrusts.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Burkart|first=Burke|date=1978-06-01|title=Offset across the Polochic fault of Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico|journal=Geology|volume=6|issue=6|pages=328|doi=10.1130/0091-7613(1978)6<328:OATPFO>2.0.CO;2|issn=0091-7613|bibcode=1978Geo.....6..328B}}</ref> Fault velocity has been estimated at 4.8 ± 2.3 mm/y over the past 10 ky,<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Authemayou|first=Christine|last2=Brocard|first2=Gilles|last3=Teyssier|first3=Christian|last4=Suski|first4=Barbara|last5=Cosenza|first5=Beatriz|last6=Morán-Ical|first6=Sergio|last7=González-Véliz|first7=Claussen Walther|last8=Aguilar-Hengstenberg|first8=Miguel Angel|last9=Holliger|first9=Klaus|date=2012-07-01|title=Quaternary seismo-tectonic activity of the Polochic Fault, Guatemala|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth|volume=117|issue=B7|pages=B07403|doi=10.1029/2012JB009444|issn=2156-2202|bibcode=2012JGRB..117.7403A|url=https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-00732137/file/JGR-Authemayou-2012.pdf}}</ref> 2.5–3.3 mm/y over the last 7–10 [[Million years|Myr]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Brocard|first=Gilles|last2=Teyssier|first2=Christian|last3=Dunlap|first3=Walker James|last4=Authemayou|first4=Christine|last5=Simon-Labric|first5=Thibaud|last6=Cacao-Chiquín|first6=Eric Noé|last7=Gutiérrez-Orrego|first7=Axel|last8=Morán-Ical|first8=Sergio|date=2011-12-01|title=Reorganization of a deeply incised drainage: role of deformation, sedimentation and groundwater flow|journal=Basin Research|volume=23|issue=6|pages=631–651|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2117.2011.00510.x|issn=1365-2117|bibcode=2011BasR...23..631B}}</ref> and less than 5 mm/y during the current interseismic cycle.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lyon-Caen|first=H.|last2=Barrier|first2=E.|last3=Lasserre|first3=C.|last4=Franco|first4=A.|last5=Arzu|first5=I.|last6=Chiquin|first6=L.|last7=Chiquin|first7=M.|last8=Duquesnoy|first8=T.|last9=Flores|first9=O.|date=2006-10-01|title=Kinematics of the North American–Caribbean-Cocos plates in Central America from new GPS measurements across the Polochic-Motagua fault system|journal=Geophysical Research Letters|volume=33|issue=19|pages=L19309|doi=10.1029/2006GL027694|issn=1944-8007|bibcode=2006GeoRL..3319309L|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02057876/file/Lyon-Caen_et_al-2006-Geophysical_Research_Letters.pdf}}</ref> |
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The Chixoy-Polochic fault separates the largely [[crystalline rock]]s of the [[Sierra de Chuacús]] and [[Sierra de las Minas]] to the south, from the [[sedimentary rock]]s of the [[Sierra de los Cuchumatanes]] and the [[Sierra de Chamá]] to the north.<ref name="Ortega" /> The fault zone was particularly active during the [[Laramide orogeny]] which occurred during the early [[Tertiary]].<ref>{{cite book |
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|last=Lovell |first=William George |title=Conquest and Survival in Colonial Guatemala: A Historical Geography of the Cuchumatán Highlands, 1500-1821 |year=2005 |publisher=[[McGill-Queen's University Press]] |location=Montreal/Kingston |isbn=978-0-7735-2741-6 |pages=19}}</ref> While recent seismic activity is more prominent in the Motagua fault, some studies suggest the Chixoy-Polochic Fault is still capable of producing major earthquakes, like the [[1816 Guatemala earthquake]] with an estimated magnitude of 7.5 - 7.8 [[Moment magnitude scale|M<sub>w</sub>]].<ref>{{cite journal | last= White | first =Randall A. | title =The Guatemala earthquake of 1816 on the Chixoy-Polochic fault | journal =Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America | volume =75 | issue =2 | pages =455–473 | publisher =Seismological Society of America | location = | date = | url=http://bssa.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/75/2/455 | accessdate =2009-05-28 }}</ref> |
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== Seismicity == |
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While recent seismic activity is more prominent in the Motagua fault, some studies suggest the Chixoy-Polochic Fault is still capable of producing major earthquakes. The magnitude 7.5–7.8 [[Moment magnitude scale|M<sub>w</sub>]] [[1816 Guatemala earthquake]] of western Guatemala has been ascribed to the Polochic Fault,<ref name=":1">{{cite journal|last= White|first=Randall A.|title=The Guatemala earthquake of 1816 on the Chixoy-Polochic fault|journal=Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America|volume=75|issue=2|pages=455–473|url=http://bssa.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/75/2/455}}</ref> although this has been disputed.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Brocard|first=Gilles|last2=Anselmetti|first2=Flavio S.|last3=Teyssier|first3=Christian|date=2016-11-15|title=Guatemala paleoseismicity: from Late Classic Maya collapse to recent fault creep|journal=Scientific Reports|volume=6|issue=1|pages=36976|doi=10.1038/srep36976|pmid=27845383|pmc=5109539|issn=2045-2322|bibcode=2016NatSR...636976B}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Guzmán-Speziale|first=Marco|date=2010-12-01|title=Beyond the Motagua and Polochic faults: Active strike-slip faulting along the Western North America–Caribbean plate boundary zone|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251497962|journal=Tectonophysics|volume=496|issue=1–4|pages=17–27|doi=10.1016/j.tecto.2010.10.002|bibcode=2010Tectp.496...17G}}</ref> Most recent recorded fault activity includes at least for slip events between 17 ka and 13 ka [[Before Present|BP]],<ref name=":0" /> and [[Aseismic creep|aseismic]] [[surface rupture]] over some of the past 5 centuries.<ref name=":2" /> One or several intermediate to large earthquakes between 850 [[Common Era|CE]] and 1,400 [[Common Era|CE]], including a cluster of 4 earthquakes over 60 years during the [[Classic Maya collapse]].<ref name=":2" /> The fault display a 5 km to 10 km deep zone of microseismicity<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Franco|first=A.|last2=Molina|first2=E.|last3=Lyon-Caen|first3=H.|last4=Vergne|first4=J.|last5=Monfret|first5=T.|last6=Nercessian|first6=A.|last7=Cortez|first7=S.|last8=Flores|first8=O.|last9=Monterosso|first9=D.|date=2009-11-01|title=Seismicity and Crustal Structure of the Polochic-Motagua Fault System Area (Guatemala)|journal=Seismological Research Letters|volume=80|issue=6|pages=977–984|doi=10.1785/gssrl.80.6.977|issn=0895-0695}}</ref> which may represent a locked zone. Only ≤ 5.6 [[Moment magnitude scale|M<sub>w</sub>]] earthquakes have occurred on the fault since the beginning of regional instrumental records (1920 CE).<ref name=":1" /> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 21:02, 4 November 2024
The Chixoy-Polochic Fault, also known as Cuilco-Chixoy-Polochic Fault, is a major fault zone in Guatemala and southeast Mexico. It runs in a light arc from the east coast of Guatemala to Chiapas, following the deep valleys of the Polochic River, Chixoy River and Cuilco River.[1]
Extent, slip rate and total displacement
[edit]The Chixoy-Polochic Fault is a large, dominantly strike-slip, left-lateral fault that runs largely parallel to the Motagua Fault situated some 45 km to its south. Both fault zones are onshore extensions of the Bartlett Deep, or Cayman Trench of the Caribbean Sea, which marks the tectonic boundary between the Caribbean plate and the North American plate.[1] Both faults connect at sea west of the Guatemalan coast. To the west, the Polochic fault may branch onto the Tonala fault of western Chiapas. It does not continue at sea across the Pacific coastal plain and marine shelf.[2]
The Chixoy-Polochic fault has total displacement of 125 km, well constrained by the offset of Paleocene or Eocene laramide folds and thrusts.[3] Fault velocity has been estimated at 4.8 ± 2.3 mm/y over the past 10 ky,[4] 2.5–3.3 mm/y over the last 7–10 Myr,[5] and less than 5 mm/y during the current interseismic cycle.[6]
Seismicity
[edit]While recent seismic activity is more prominent in the Motagua fault, some studies suggest the Chixoy-Polochic Fault is still capable of producing major earthquakes. The magnitude 7.5–7.8 Mw 1816 Guatemala earthquake of western Guatemala has been ascribed to the Polochic Fault,[7] although this has been disputed.[8][9] Most recent recorded fault activity includes at least for slip events between 17 ka and 13 ka BP,[4] and aseismic surface rupture over some of the past 5 centuries.[8] One or several intermediate to large earthquakes between 850 CE and 1,400 CE, including a cluster of 4 earthquakes over 60 years during the Classic Maya collapse.[8] The fault display a 5 km to 10 km deep zone of microseismicity[10] which may represent a locked zone. Only ≤ 5.6 Mw earthquakes have occurred on the fault since the beginning of regional instrumental records (1920 CE).[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Ortega-Gutiérrez, Fernando; et al. (2007). "The Maya-Chortís Boundary: A Tectonostratigraphic Approach" (PDF). International Geology Review. 49 (11): 996–1024. Bibcode:2007IGRv...49..996O. doi:10.2747/0020-6814.49.11.996.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Keppie, J. Duncan; Morán-Zenteno, Dante J. (2005-05-01). "Tectonic Implications of Alternative Cenozoic Reconstructions for Southern Mexico and the Chortis Block". International Geology Review. 47 (5): 473–491. Bibcode:2005IGRv...47..473K. doi:10.2747/0020-6814.47.5.473. ISSN 0020-6814.
- ^ Burkart, Burke (1978-06-01). "Offset across the Polochic fault of Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico". Geology. 6 (6): 328. Bibcode:1978Geo.....6..328B. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1978)6<328:OATPFO>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0091-7613.
- ^ a b Authemayou, Christine; Brocard, Gilles; Teyssier, Christian; Suski, Barbara; Cosenza, Beatriz; Morán-Ical, Sergio; González-Véliz, Claussen Walther; Aguilar-Hengstenberg, Miguel Angel; Holliger, Klaus (2012-07-01). "Quaternary seismo-tectonic activity of the Polochic Fault, Guatemala" (PDF). Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 117 (B7): B07403. Bibcode:2012JGRB..117.7403A. doi:10.1029/2012JB009444. ISSN 2156-2202.
- ^ Brocard, Gilles; Teyssier, Christian; Dunlap, Walker James; Authemayou, Christine; Simon-Labric, Thibaud; Cacao-Chiquín, Eric Noé; Gutiérrez-Orrego, Axel; Morán-Ical, Sergio (2011-12-01). "Reorganization of a deeply incised drainage: role of deformation, sedimentation and groundwater flow". Basin Research. 23 (6): 631–651. Bibcode:2011BasR...23..631B. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2117.2011.00510.x. ISSN 1365-2117.
- ^ Lyon-Caen, H.; Barrier, E.; Lasserre, C.; Franco, A.; Arzu, I.; Chiquin, L.; Chiquin, M.; Duquesnoy, T.; Flores, O. (2006-10-01). "Kinematics of the North American–Caribbean-Cocos plates in Central America from new GPS measurements across the Polochic-Motagua fault system" (PDF). Geophysical Research Letters. 33 (19): L19309. Bibcode:2006GeoRL..3319309L. doi:10.1029/2006GL027694. ISSN 1944-8007.
- ^ a b White, Randall A. "The Guatemala earthquake of 1816 on the Chixoy-Polochic fault". Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 75 (2): 455–473.
- ^ a b c Brocard, Gilles; Anselmetti, Flavio S.; Teyssier, Christian (2016-11-15). "Guatemala paleoseismicity: from Late Classic Maya collapse to recent fault creep". Scientific Reports. 6 (1): 36976. Bibcode:2016NatSR...636976B. doi:10.1038/srep36976. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 5109539. PMID 27845383.
- ^ Guzmán-Speziale, Marco (2010-12-01). "Beyond the Motagua and Polochic faults: Active strike-slip faulting along the Western North America–Caribbean plate boundary zone". Tectonophysics. 496 (1–4): 17–27. Bibcode:2010Tectp.496...17G. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2010.10.002.
- ^ Franco, A.; Molina, E.; Lyon-Caen, H.; Vergne, J.; Monfret, T.; Nercessian, A.; Cortez, S.; Flores, O.; Monterosso, D. (2009-11-01). "Seismicity and Crustal Structure of the Polochic-Motagua Fault System Area (Guatemala)". Seismological Research Letters. 80 (6): 977–984. doi:10.1785/gssrl.80.6.977. ISSN 0895-0695.