Kekerengu Fault Explained

The Kekerengu Fault is an active dextral (right lateral) strike-slip fault in the northeastern part of South Island, New Zealand. It is closely associated with the Hope Fault and Jordan Thrust at its south-easternmost edge and likely joins with the Clarence Fault to form the Wairarapa Fault offshore in Cook Strait.[1] [2]

Early investigations immediately following the 14 November 2016 Kaikōura earthquake indicated that up to 10m (30feet) of motion may have occurred on the Kekerengu Fault during the 7.8 magnitude quake.[3] The maximum displacement was later found to be 12m (39feet) ± 0.7m (02.3feet).[4] During this earthquake the offshore continuation of the Kekerengu Fault to the north east, known as the Needles Fault, ruptured as well. NIWA marine geologist Dr Philip Barnes said the length of the Kekerengu–Needles Fault rupture may extend for about 70km (40miles), consisting of 36km (22miles) on land and 34km (21miles) under the sea.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Zachariasen . Judith . Berryman . Kelvin . Langridge . Robert . Prentice . Caro . Rymer . Michael . Stirling . Mark . Villamor . Pilar . 2006 . Timing of late Holocene surface rupture of the Wairau Fault, Marlborough, New Zealand . New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics . 49 . 1 . 159–174 . 10.1080/00288306.2006.9515156.
  2. Lensen . G.J. . 1958 . Note on fault correlations across Cook Strait . New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics . 1 . 2 . 263–268 . 10.1080/00288306.1958.10423182.
  3. Web site: M7.8 Kaikoura Earthquake: Latest updates . McBride . Sue . 14 November 2016.
  4. Three-Dimensional Surface Deformation in the 2016 MW 7.8 Kaikōura, New Zealand, Earthquake From Optical Image Correlation: Implications for Strain Localization and Long-Term Evolution of the Pacific-Australian Plate Boundary. Robert . Zinke. James . Hollingsworth. James F. . Dolan . Russ . Van Dissen. 10.1029/2018GC007951 . 2019. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 20 . 3. 1609–1628 . free.
  5. Web site: Huge fault rupture stretches 34km offshore from Kaikoura . Stuff . 23 November 2016 . 24 November 2016.

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