Upper Waikato Stream Fault

Upper Waikato Stream Fault
Map
Known active faults of eastern wall of Ruapehu Graben including the Upper Waikato Stream Fault.[1] Clicking on the map enables mouse over of fault details. For map of other nearby active faults see Taupō Rift.
EtymologyUpper Waikato Stream a source tributary of the Tongariro River.
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWaikato Region
Characteristics
Length15 km (9.3 mi)[2]
StrikeN-S
Displacement0.63 mm (0.025 in)/year (long term average)[2]
Tectonics
PlateIndo-Australian
StatusActive
TypeNormal fault
MovementMw6.5[2]
AgeQuaternary
Volcanic arc/beltTaupō Volcanic Zone
New Zealand geology database (includes faults)

The Upper Waikato Stream Fault is an eastern Taupō rift-bounding north–south striking normal fault in the Ruapehu Graben, a seismically active area of the central North Island of New Zealand to the west of Mount Ruapehu.[2][3][4] While its own whole fault rupture potential is Mw6.5, such a rupture could be part of a Mw 7.1 multi-fault rupture.[2]

Geography

It is located near the eastern side of the Tongariro National Park, and its surface traces commence to the east of State Highway 1 where it is known as "the Desert Road" and extend to the north east for 15 km (9.3 mi) crossing the top of the Tongariro River and for a short distance into the foothills of the Kaimanawa Mountains.[1]

Geology

The Upper Waikato Stream Fault is one of the eastern wall faults of the Ruapehu Graben and it is immediately to the north of the longer Rangipo Fault. Its alignment has it as a potential continuation from the west of the Wahianoa Fault. This intersection of the three faults could result in a 7.1 MW event if all three faults had a total rupture.[2] The fault is normal with a NE strike, and about a 75°W dip. From past to present the slip-rate has changed from 0.45 mm (0.018 in)/year between 45 and 36.1 ka BP to 1.5 mm (0.059 in)/year for an active period between 36.1 and 23.65 ka BP and after the Taupō Volcano Oruanui eruption it has reduced to 0.26 mm (0.010 in)/year.[2] It is believed to have been activated by this eruption.[2]

Recent events Upper Waikato Stream Fault [2]
Fault event Number date of last marker before event Max Displacement Note
12 3,520 years BP 0.86 m (2 ft 10 in) possible match to a Rangipo Fault rupture[2]
11 11,000 years BP 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) possible match to a Rangipo Fault rupture[2] Is about times of Pahoka–Mangamate eruption sequence (vents Ruapehu's northern summit and between Ruapehu and Tongariro).[5]
10 11,770 years BP 3.78 m (12.4 ft) probable match to a Rangipo Fault rupture[2]
9 25,400 years BP 0.17 m (6.7 in) before 17,700 years BP
8 25,400 years BP 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) At time of Oruanui eruption
7 27,000 years BP 0.92 m (3 ft 0 in)
6 27,000 years BP 2.76 m (9 ft 1 in)
5 28,200 years BP 1.24 m (4 ft 1 in)
4 36,100 years BP to 28,200 years BP 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
3 36,100 years BP to 28,200 years BP 1.21 m (4 ft 0 in)
2 36,100 years BP 5.64 m (18.5 ft)
1 45,500 years BP or more 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)

Risks

The current assumed worse case is from a Mw 7.1 event rupturing this and two adjacent faults over 43 km (27 mi) by an average of 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in).[2] A 15 km (9.3 mi) whole fault rupture of the Upper Waikato Stream Fault by an average of 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in) would create a Mw 6.5 event.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b New Zealand Active Fault database
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Gómez-Vasconcelos, MG; Villamor, P; Cronin, SJ; Procter, J; Kereszturi, G; Palmer, A; Townsend, D; Leonard, G; Berryman, K; Ashraf, S (2016). "Earthquake history at the eastern boundary of the South Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 59 (4): 522–543. Bibcode:2016NZJGG..59..522G. doi:10.1080/00288306.2016.1195757. ISSN 0028-8306. S2CID 133036606.
  3. ^ Villamor, P.; Berryman, K. R. (2006). "Late Quaternary geometry and kinematics of faults at the southern termination of the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 49 (1): 1–21. Bibcode:2006NZJGG..49....1V. doi:10.1080/00288306.2006.9515144.
  4. ^ Rowlands, D. P.; White, R. S.; Haines, A. J. (2005). "Seismic tomography of the Tongariro Volcanic Centre, New Zealand" (PDF). Geophysical Journal International. 163 (3): 1180–1194. Bibcode:2005GeoJI.163.1180R. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.2005.02716.x. S2CID 55584177.
  5. ^ Auer, A; Martin, CE; Palin, JM; White, JDL; Nakagawa, M; Stirling, C (2015). "The evolution of hydrous magmas in the Tongariro Volcanic Centre: the 10 ka Pahoka-Mangamate eruptions". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 58 (4): 364–384. Bibcode:2015NZJGG..58..364A. doi:10.1080/00288306.2015.1089913.