A Paleoseisuic Investigation of the Mosregor Fault, Rast-central ew vork A thesis presented to tha Faculty of the State University of New York at Albany in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Seneel of Science and Mathenatics Dapartment ef Geological Sefence Steven 7. Tlee 1993 7 awesrmser The sleuelurad disposition and povexent polwulial of the McGregor Fealt System in Hastern New York State are reviewoll [row the perspective of a psleaseisnic investigation. The MeGregor Fault vooe has been located honeath deltaic sediments waet of Wese Glens Falls using conmarclal and residential hore hole data and microgravity surveys. A 24 m long trench was exvavated in overburden near the vostern margin of tthe Medrogor Fault, gone to a depth of 3.2. Stratified fluvially eposited sediments ware exposed vhich shoved na evidence of sarthywake induced deformation at nffant. However, Che ovozburvdan presant here does uot possess optimal qualities necessary Lo record Mquifsction events, Also, {hn total thickness of the sedimeut and the large width of the fault zone ralntive ka the erench lengeh make cacounters of arthquake induced offset affacts unlikely at ehis locality. fred ACM ERCRNTENTS, My appreciat fun ia extended Lo Profansar George Evbmur of tne SOWA acuity, fer bla fxiendiy dow+-to-earth review, alvisoncct and uncoursgerent tkrmighout thia prajee! which eat through oun Lewnsforeations and Hit a few @lasnpeinting mags. Jean Mmory did Virlwit¥y all of the word precessing, for which } am vary gratefcl. 7 Unank Erafeasor Steve Hocker, who generously provide auch time snd expertise, und access to seismic and geavity survey equipment from RPL ‘A funny yoy. Special thanks Lo colleagues, veluntecrs oni dreftees who hetped ow kith gravity and/or selamtc refraction surveys: Christoph Are, Angelo Goulton, Nancy Griexal, Dek Lawrence, Lawra Smith, John Waechler. Dt. Youvar Leachsen slays shewed ardent enthusiasm for the project - which included a vivacious expectance of discovery that. ta infectious, T au gles he was at the site for the dig. I thenk Yrofessor Robert LuPleur for coming to the trenck site, his oxpertise was lovslosble, rofessue Uirthrop Li. Heans provided critical reviews of Uhis menugeript, keepin it caat, clean and couvistent. I have ene le prefer such standards. ‘his research vas made possilile by arants from the New York State Geologiva! Survey Honorariun GamiLloe and the State University of New York Henevelent Assocdation. eke lulyemere. Last of ables coe setecrteeeneeseaes List of 5 Lo 3.0 Aypunlin.« TART ce CONTENTS TE ceo vavavaveeeeeesaeeneassteccaneeeneessersaec¥IT Intreduction: Statenent of the Fealion and the Researelt Tachni que. LiL The McGzepor-Saratoga-Ral sion Lake Jault Syatem....4 1.2. Fault Movement: History and Evidence For Recent. Rexctivation. 1.3 Naogeoe Uplift and Possible Fault Accomodation. ....17 Some BarLbywake story of Southeastern conada and Northesstern United States and the Yault Hovenent Potential in the Regional Stress Field. 2.1 Postglacial Faulting in the Naw York Area. Bedrock Stratigrapty. 3.1 Overburden Stratigraphy: 4 Glacial Kiaeary. Palecsalenplogy: Fuoluating Soimmicity. . Tacating the MeGeogor Fault Beneath Uverburden.... Tewvrsplion of the txench Site and other Excavations Sythe Fish! Areas sscsesssrssesssssrsstsesevnsesecensss]O® ces eeteeeeeeeeees tees cere eeeeee cece 120 Bibliography... seteteeceeeees sev teereresens 12S ‘LIST OF TABLES table Pape aa SleaLignaphle Tarow in Neters of Ordovician Normal Faults ie the aobavk Valley, From vact (W, Carthage] to east (Saratage 2a Historical darthquakos in Use Mohawk Valley and Southern Adirondacks. + .0.-20+c¢ceseseeeeeeee 25. 2.2 Earthquakes Detected Near Glens Pulls. Bal Raw Gravity Survey Data. 3.2 Average Densities of Metamorphic orks, 3.3 Denwitias of Sediments and Sedimentary ltecks. Figure 14 1s ur i Las, OF eTCCRRS, Page Kap Shesiny the Tecaticn ot the HeCroxwr-Saratoga-Balleton bake aull System. ‘topversphie: Yap Sowing Topographic Fault Gita]. Hap ef Ube MeGruyvrSaratoga-Bel ston. Lake Fault System cee o Diagram of the Yault SLrvelures Typieel of the Mohawk Valley..eessosssresceesesteees Falecpespraphic Block Diagram of the ‘Taconte Foreland Basin in tho Mobuvk Valley. ceolegie Map of the Teconte Foreland Basin of Ube Nobatle Valleyssesesesesesesesesserereesesesnsnses oh Adizonduck Keloveling Line "Calibrated" ceveeeslB to Lake Ghamplain hater Jovel Gauge Profile... Radial Mrainaye Eattorn of the Addvondack Dome... .++e+++-21 Strectural Trendy and Lithology Pattercs of the Adivondack Dome...sssssescoreeesesees fer Salsmictty of Northurn Luitod States and Southesatern, Ganadas....sse+++ arLhquakes of Rastern Canada. A ncheatle Outline of Rift Strocture of the Restane North Ammtican Craton... coscereerereresseee29 ceveeesBL Yaetenie Stress Plald of Rastare North smeries. Figure 2S ae as wr Page Focal echunisua in the New lingiond Area. kpiceulors of the Blue Mountain Lake: and Goodtey Marlhywike Svaras - Adirondacks. A Lover onisphorie Projection Showing, the OrivolaLion of the MeSrapor Faule in Differently Orieulod Stems Flelda. Rocont: Offset dn Oribvictan Shales. Pop-up in Potsdam Sandstone. Bedrock Gealogy im the Viciwity of the NoGeegor Fault Syslem.-.- Coreniative Canbrian-Orlovicinn Strata in New York, Generalized Stratigraphy of the Saruloxe Area. Physiographie Provinces and Regional Tor Flow Direetions in New York. Depesitional Sequences of Up- Glacial Movement Map of Glacial Lake Ansterdan, ‘np of Glacial Lake ALbany... Hap of lower Lake ARbany/Lake Quaker Springs/ bake: Vermont. Overhorden Haposite West of Chens Falls. Sketch of a Tronch Wall Showing Oftset Due to PaLwowert hquake FFfects certs en Brotile of » Smubblow (An effect of Barthyuake Ligueticat ion) : ener Experimental Nesilts of Shaking Effects on a Slratiféed System. . seseeesTA igure Poge oe floc Thagese of a Fault Scary Tated and Modlfied by Alluvial Leposilss.seeessceeeeeeeees ees 76 fe skoten of @ Trench Wall Showing Dikes and Gills Fuplaces fue fo Eathquake Liquetactien Effuitn. +80 Aut Yaullod Rodeack Tavolving Overburden. ccs seeereeres eee eet 5a Hap of Wield Acoa, 6 ln SW of Glens Falla, Nex Yerks......82 5.2 ‘Theoretically Ueterminod Gravity Profile ver a Faulted Shabsosssesseeeeseseeeee 5.3 Sketch of the Innards of a Gravity Meter...cceceeeeeseses8? 54 Wap of Gravity SLaLion Locations West of Glena Falis......54 5.5 Gravity Ananaly "Contour" Maps ++ beesetteeeeee 5.6 Gravity Frofile, Norlh of Snornaa Island. -.--0cceeeeeeeeee97 5.7 Graviny Profile, South of Sherman Island. .2+ecrc+sseeee+ SH bo theoretical Relationship Hetwesn Cravily Anuualy sereeereseees 88 Gherves and Fault: Types. SA BB Skelon of Powsthle Fault Relations as an Interpretation of Gravity Data. . 5510 MPatter Road” Gravity Survey Profile. . 5.11 "ple Grav" (Spier Falls Kon) Geavity Survay Profile....104 5.12 "IM Grav" (Miagara Molwek Canal Road) Gravity Profile....105 5.13 Map of the MeGregor Faull Zone at Kings Station, NY... .106 6.1 & 6.2 Troach Excavation : ws oees108 6.3 & 6.4 Tranch Excavation Profiles = un 6 (ut and Fait Structures, - Ls Figure 66 pevwatering Structures... sceerereresceseeees LAS 6 Closeup of De-watering Slroclurmiesccsceiceree 6.8 Sketeb of Sand Diapirs. sist eterereeee LES ANEODULTTON: STATENENT OF THE PROBE. AMD UNE RESRARCR TECRNIQIE. ‘The probien to be addressed an ¢his stuly wos ro decernine whether any evidence of geologically raune (nost-planial) fauke accivicy could bbe Found on che Hetreger tavis of New ork State, and Indtrect wake evidence che need tor such en investigation [or oxrimaring earch- quake risk (piven che potential ipphications), karLhgmake harazd ssxecwwants in incraplate areas such ag che eastern Uniled Starnes Uypteatly fwalve a great deal of ambiguicy, one soures of which stems fron 4 raliance upon Ristoric events. Wishenko and Bollinger (1990) forecast tha! Lhe cantral and eastern United States has approximately two-thirds the Likelihood of Califarala to experience an earthquake wilh a “comparable damage area” wilhin the next 30 years. This is because for a given earthquake magnitude, seismic vaves acc poorly attenuated in Une, Hast and peak hovizoncal ground aeceleretions are greater (Muttli, 1981). Also, che eagcern United States conta: ws m vory igh population density, and the buildings sxe typically very old. Wodarate to severe carthyvakes ve occurred Lo of nea major matropolilan areas (New York City, For example; in 1884, 1893, 1916; Coffman & llskes 1972), and are Likeay to recur, yet mnrvent construction codes (outside of Heston) cake no note of Lhe: possibility The cegulation of building cafely ix an extablished cesponsibi tity of government, and chile the public renaina compiccely ignorant of any riak whatsoever, not elected benefactors are similarly complaccal in assiming that no rick exists, and no precaucions aze nevossary or justified. Mmittedly, the rick te ony oma individual 4a spall, and while now structures in earthyuake prone arink can be deaigned to better resist seisnic activity Tar about