A test of the longevity of impact‐induced faults as preferred sites for later tectonic activity

Abstract

The hypothesis that impact‐induced faults have been preferred sites for later deformation in response to lithospheric stresses has been suggested for several planets and satellites. We investigate this hypothesis on earth by examining whether terrestrial impact structures show higher rates of nearby earthquake activity than do surrounding intraplate regions. For 28 of 30 probable impact structures having an original crater 20 km or more in diameter, the rates of nearby seismicity have been no higher than the regional background rates. For two large probable impact structures, Vredefort and Charlevoix, with higher than normal rates of nearby seismicity, factors other than slip on impact‐induced faults appear to control the occurrence of earthquakes. We conclude that impact‐induced faults, at least on earth, do not persist as lithospheric “weak zones” for periods in excess of several million years after the impact event.