Surface Earthquake Fault of the Mid Niigata Prefecture Earthquake in 2004

Abstract

The surface faults of the Mid Niigata prefecture Earthquake in 2004 appeared along preexisting active fault traces (lines) of the Obirou fault, as well as the northern part of the western marginal fault of the Muikamachi basin. The vertical displacement of surface faults are within 30 cm, and the three areas with distinct faults can be summarized as follows. At Obirou, in Hirokami village (Uonuma city), the road surface is vertically displaced by approximately 30 cm just along the active fault line, and the waterways located on the fault line are compressed and broken. At Shitakura, in the Horinouchi town (Uonuma city), the surfaces of both the highway and the old road are cracked and vertically displaced by approximately 20 cm. At Aoshima, in Koide town (Uonuma city), the surface faults clearly extend over 500 m in length. Paddy fields, gardens, waterways, roads, and houses are vertically displaced by approximately 20 cm. The facts mentioned above indicate that the Mid Niigata prefecture Earthquake in 2004 (probably the main shock) was caused by the rejuvenation of these active faults.