Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act

Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act

Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act: The Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act is a law that assists geologists to define “active faults” versus “potentially active faults.” The process entails using the same aging criteria as the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS). In fact, California policy requires zoning any potentially active fault that possesses a relatively high potential for ground rupture, for future public reference. The law was originally passed in 1972 as the “Alquist-Priolo Special Studies Zones Act.” Currently, it has undergone some reform, and is now referred to as the “Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act.”

The Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act commonly applies to the seismology, engineering geology, and geotechnical branches of geology.

Fault Investigations

As per the CGS, strike-slip faults and dip-slip faults may be categorized as “active,” “potentially active,” or “inactive.” Active faults show displacement within the past 11,000 years. Potentially active faults show displacement within the last 1.6 million years. And inactive faults show no evidence of displacement within the last 1.6 million years.

Related Posts:

Similar Posts

  • Troposphere

    ByGeo Forward

    Troposphere Troposphere: The troposphere of a terrestrial planet is the lowest member of the atmosphere. On Earth, the troposphere starts atop the ground surface and terminates roughly 10 kilometers above mean sea level. In fact, geologists understand that most of the Earth’s water vapor (clouds) exists in the troposphere. And the next member of the…

  • Aphanitic

    ByGeo Forward

    Aphanitic Definition Aphanitic: In geology, the term aphanitic describes the texture of plutonic or volcanic igneous rocks, with grains that are not visible to the naked eye. In fact, an aphanitic texture is usually the result of faster cooling and solidification of liquid magma.

  • Facies

    ByGeo Forward

    Facies Facies: In the field of geology, the term “facies” represents a mappable, areally restricted part of a rock body that has different fossils or lithology from other contiguous beds deposited at the same time.

  • Intrusive Rocks

    ByGeo Forward

    Intrusive Rocks In the volcanology branch of geology, intrusive rocks are igneous rocks that form and crystallize under the Earth’s ground surfaces, within other geologic formations. In fact, intrusive rocks form by the process of magma shooting through pre-existing sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic rocks. For instance, a pegmatite dyke or a batholith. On the other…

  • Dry Density (ρd)

    ByGeo Forward

    Dry Density (ρd) “Dry Density” (ρd) is a value that represents the density of soil when it is completely dry. To illustrate, it equates to (“bulk density” / 1) + “water content.” This is a common geotechnical engineering laboratory procedure. Dry Density Formula Dry Density = [(Bulk Density ÷ 1) + (Water Content)]