Paleoseismological investigations in the pleistoseismal zone of the 1885 Belovodskoe earthquake, North Tien Shan

Abstract

The results of paleoseismological investigations to find the epicentral area of the Belovodskoe earthquake are presented. New data on prehistoric earthquakes have been obtained resulting from a seismic deformation study using trenching. It is found that seismic dislocations during the reactivation of the fault by the 1885 earthquake did not extend east of the Sokuluk River. In addition, the age and kinematic features of a paleoearthquake located in the area between the Sokuluk and Alamedin rivers are specified. This earthquake occurred in the interval of 887–1533 cal BC and was no less than 7.1 in magnitude. The minimal estimated earthquake source length is 32 km and the reverse-fault amplitude is 3.8 m.