Prehistoric earthquakes on the Caribbean–South American plate boundary, Central Range fault, Trinidad

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2010 Prehistoric earthquakes on the Caribbean–South American plate boundary, Central Range fault, Trinidad Carol S. Prentice; Carol S. Prentice 1U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS 977, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John C. Weber; John C. Weber 2Department of Geology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan 49401, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christopher J. Crosby; Christopher J. Crosby 1U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS 977, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA *Current address: San Diego Supercomputer Center, University of California–San Diego, MC 0505, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0505, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daniel Ragona Daniel Ragona 3Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California–San Diego, La Jolla, California 92121, USA †Current address: BP America, 501 Westlake Park Blvd., Houston, Texas 77079, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2010) 38 (8): 675–678. https://doi.org/10.1130/G30927.1 Article history received: 02 Dec 2009 rev-recd: 19 Feb 2010 accepted: 21 Feb 2010 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Carol S. Prentice, John C. Weber, Christopher J. Crosby, Daniel Ragona; Prehistoric earthquakes on the Caribbean–South American plate boundary, Central Range fault, Trinidad. Geology 2010;; 38 (8): 675–678. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G30927.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Recent geodetic studies suggest that the Central Range fault is the principal plate-boundary structure accommodating strike-slip motion between the Caribbean and South American plates. Our study shows that the fault forms a topographically prominent lineament in central Trinidad. Results from a paleoseismic investigation at a site where Holocene sediments have been deposited across the Central Range fault indicate that it ruptured the ground surface most recently between 2710 and 550 yr B.P. If the geodetic slip rate of 9–15 mm/yr is representative of Holocene slip rates, our paleoseismic data suggest that at least 4.9 m of potential slip may have accumulated on the fault and could be released during a future large earthquake (M > 7). You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.