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Quaternary Faults and Fold Database of the United States
What this map layer shows: The locations of faults and fault zones in the conterminous United States.
Background Information
Sample Map A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures in the Earth's crust, along which the blocks of crust have moved relative to one another; an earthquake is the result of such a movement. Folds are curves or bends in rock layers. The Quaternary Faults and Fold Database contains information compiled by the Earthquake Hazards Program of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The database describes faults and associated folds in the United States that are believed to be sources of earthquakes, greater than magnitude 6, in the past 1,600,000 years, and is intended to be an archive of historical (less than 150 years) and ancient earthquake sources which can be used in seismic-hazard analyses, such as those conducted when siting nuclear reactors; developing seismic design provisions for buildings, bridges, and utilities; and providing earthquake-preparedness education. This map layer was compiled by the Geology Discipline of the USGS. The Quaternary Faults and Fold Database of the United States map layer shows locations of faults and fault zones in the conterminous United States. The data presented in the National Atlas are a snapshot of the information in the USGS Geology Discipline online Quaternary Faults and Fold Database of the United States, which should be consulted for the most up-to-date version of the data. Descriptive information in the National Atlas map layer includes the fault name, age, type, rate of motion, direction parameters, and links to highly detailed information about each fault. For further information on quaternary faults, visit the Earthquake Hazards Program Quaternary Faults and Fold Database home page, and for information on earthquake magnitudes see the magnitude and intensity page.
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National Atlas of the United States^® and The National Atlas of the United States of America^® are registered trademarks of the United States Department of the Interior Privacy Statement, Disclaimer, Accessibility, FOIA http://www.nationalatlas.gov/mld/qfaultm.html Last modified: September 17, 2009 11:32