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Open-File Report 2011-1118

Prepared in cooperation with the Arkansas Geological Survey

Earthquakes in Arkansas and Vicinity 1699–2010

Compiled by Richard L. Dart1 and Scott M. Ausbrooks2

1U.S Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS 966, Denver, CO 80225 USA
2Arkansas Geological Survey, 3815 West Roosevelt Rd., Little Rock, AR 72204, USA

Thumbnail of cover and link to download report PDF (25.3 MB)

This U.S. Geological Survey map poster summarizes approximately 300 years of earthquake activity in Arkansas. It is one in a series of similar State earthquake history maps. Work on the Arkansas map was done in collaboration with the Arkansas Geological Survey. The earthquake data plotted on the map are from several sources: the Arkansas Geological Survey, the Center for Earthquake Research and Information, the National Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. In addition to earthquake locations, other materials include seismic hazard and isoseismal maps and related text.

Earthquakes are a legitimate concern in Arkansas and parts of adjacent states. The largest historic earthquake in the vicinity of the State was an intensity XI event, on December 16, 1811, the first earthquake in the New Madrid sequence. This violent event and the earthquakes that followed caused considerable damage to the then sparsely settled region. Since 1811 Arkansas has undergone a number of felt earthquakes of magnitude 4.0 and greater. The most significant recent and ongoing earthquake activity are the events of the Enola swarm. Since beginning on January 12, 1982, more than 40,000 events have been recorded. The largest of these was a M4.0 on October 11, 2010.

First posted June 16, 2011

For additional information contact:

USGS Geologic Hazards
Box 25046, MS-966
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225-0046

http://geohazards.cr.usgs.gov/

For sale by
U.S. Geological Survey Information Services,
Box 25286, Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225;
1-888-ASK-USGS
USGS: Maps on Demand

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Suggested citation:

Dart, R.L., and Ausbrooks, S.M., 2011, Earthquakes in Arkansas and vicinity 1699–2010: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1118, 1 sheet.


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