Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

2664

Date

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Earth Sciences

Concentration

Geology

Committee Chair

Roy B. Van Arsdale

Committee Member

Daniel Larsen

Committee Member

Randel T. Cox

Abstract

The Joiner Ridge horst and Meeman-Shelby fault (MSF) are of particular earthquake concern because of their proximity to Memphis, Tennessee. Seismic reflection profiles of the MSF and Joiner Ridge horst show vertical displacement of subsurface Quaternary alluvium of 28 m and 20 m, respectively. We obtained two continuous cores of Mississippi River alluvium on the uplifted blocks of the MSF and Joiner Ridge horst and obtained OSL dates of the vertically displaced basal alluvium. The stratigraphy of the MSF core demonstrates a fining upward point bar sequence, with the lower 4 m of the alluvial section being 14.30 ka glacial outwash. The Joiner Ridge core exhibits a thick Holocene overbank unit underlain by at least two coarse-grained glacial outwash units, the oldest being 20.32 ka. The ages of the displaced basal alluvium yield displacement rates of 2.0 mm/yr for the MSF and 1.0 mm/yr for the Joiner Ridge horst.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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