ORCID
- Sarah Boulton: 0000-0002-8251-0025
- Zoe Mildon: 0000-0001-6192-765X
Abstract
The ancient city of Sparti (Greece) suffered extensive damage from an estimated Mw 7.2 earthquake in 464 BCE, resulting in c. 20 000 fatalities, but questions remain about the short-(c. 104 years) and long-term (105–106 years) activity of this important structure. This paper presents new structural data and fluvial geomorphological analysis from the Sparta Fault and, in particular, considers the less well-known northern fault segment. A new topographic profile on the well-developed post-glacial fault scarp from the northern strand indicates a 7.53 m offset over the last c. 15 ka, suggesting a throw-rate of c. 0.5 mm a−1. The longitudinal profiles of rivers flowing across the fault allow the elucidation of longer term fault activity. Along the strike of the fault, rivers exhibit up to two slope-break knickpoints, which decrease in height from south to north. These knickpoints are interpreted to have formed as a result of the initiation of faulting and a subsequent slip-rate acceleration. The post-glacial fault scarp and fluvial geomorphology both indicate that the entire fault is active and has an asymmetrical throw profile that results in the highest slip-rate in the south.
DOI
10.1144/jgs2024-066
Publication Date
2024-09-02
Publication Title
Journal of the Geological Society
Volume
181
Issue
5
ISSN
0016-7649
Recommended Citation
Çağatay, Ç., Boulton, S., & Mildon, Z. (2024) 'Structural and geomorphological constraints on the activity of the Sparta Fault (Greece)', Journal of the Geological Society, 181(5). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2024-066
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