Macroseismic information for the 1935 moment magnitude 6.1 earthquake, near Témiscamingue, Quebec

Abstract

The November 1st, 1935, Témiscaming earthquake occurred within 20 km of the town of Témiscaming, Quebec. This earthquake was felt west to Fort William (now part of Thunder Bay), Ontario, east to Saint John, New Brunswick, and south to Kentucky and Virginia. Damaged chimneys were reported in Témiscaming, Quebec, and North Bay and Mattawa, Ontario. In the epicentral region, rockfalls were observed as well as cracks in gravel and sand along the shores of islands and lakes. Some 350 km away from the epicentre, near Parent, Quebec, earthquake vibrations triggered a 30 metre slide of railroad embankment. Numerous aftershocks were felt in Témiscaming and Kipawa during the following months, the largest rated as magnitude ML 5.4 (or mN 4.9). For the main shock and its largest aftershock, this Open File Report provides the available macroseismic information interpreted on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale using newspaper accounts as the main source of information for Canada. Macroseismic information from total of 126 localities in Canada and nearly 900 communities in the US (from the NOAA database of intensities) are tabulated in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. When available, newspaper clippings are included, together with some original damage accounts, photographs and scientific reports. The Open File also includes a Google Earth kmz file that allows the felt information reports to be viewed in a spatial tool.