A major fault in Canada’s Yukon Territory, long thought dormant, has shown signs of recent seismic activity. A new study from the University of Victoria has brought attention to a 130-kilometer portion of the Tintina fault near Dawson City that indicates several large earthquakes occurred during the Quaternary Period.
Researchers used advanced topographic imaging data from satellites, aircraft, and drones to identify evidence of prehistoric earthquakes in the landscape. They found glacial landforms 2.6 million years old laterally offset across the fault scarp by up to 1000 meters, confirming that the fault has slipped multiple times throughout the Quaternary period.
The team estimates that future earthquakes on the Tintina fault could exceed magnitude 7.5, posing a significant threat to Dawson City and nearby highways and mining infrastructure. The region is also prone to landslides, which could be seismically triggered.
This discovery highlights the importance of geological investigation in detecting seismic risks that may go undetected by relying on historical earthquake records alone. The findings will be integrated into Canada’s National Seismic Hazard Model to inform seismic building codes and improve earthquake readiness in local communities.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-warn-tintina-fault-could-unleash-major-earthquake