Pleistocene Paleoseismicity and Landforms in the Blue Ridge

Field Course in Sparta, NC
Saturday, May 20, 2023 8:30am to 5:30pm

Field Course Leaders: Arthur Merschat and Mark Carter, USGS

The field course will focus on the surface rupture from the August 9, 2020, Mw 5.1 earthquake near Sparta, NC, and the results of integrated bedrock and surficial geologic mapping, paleoseismic, geomorphologic, and geochronologic studies. The field course will involve walking ~ 1km of the surface rupture (Little River fault). We will then examine several outcrops brittle faults, Pleistocene terrace deposits, possible paleoliquefaction sites, and other geomorphologic sites in Sparta, NC. These stops will help frame our discussions on the connections between seismicity, bedrock geology, geomorphology, and landscape evolution in the Blue Ridge.

The Announcement, Registration Form, and Field Course Waiver Form can be found here. It should be a great Saturday. We hope to see you there!

Registration Deadline: 5 pm on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

Cost: $20 for AEG members, teachers, and the public; $30 for non-members; free for student members of AEG (student membership of AEG is free).