01-22-2009, 01:45 PM
Thursday, January 22 10:49 am
Sky News
US scientists are warning a newly discovered fault in Arkansas could trigger a magnitude seven earthquake. Skip related content
The Arkansas Earthquake Centre says the fault is at least seven miles long and its epicentre is near a major natural gas pipeline.
It believes the fault, which lies west of Marianna, is around 5,000 years old and will have caused at least one big tremor in its history.
Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, would be at risk if there was a powerful quake despite being 100 miles southwest of the line.
Neighbouring states Tennessee and Mississippi could also be hit.
A pipe laid by Arkla Energy Resources runs through the area but a spokeswoman for the company would not say if it was the one near the fault's epicentre.
Scientists say the fault is different to the one at New Madrid that caused a series of tremors in 1811-12 and made the Mississippi river flow backwards.
Most Arkansas earthquakes happen in the northeast of the state, but experts say the Marianna fault is too far away for that area to be affected.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090122/twl-...d0ae9.html
Sky News
US scientists are warning a newly discovered fault in Arkansas could trigger a magnitude seven earthquake. Skip related content
The Arkansas Earthquake Centre says the fault is at least seven miles long and its epicentre is near a major natural gas pipeline.
It believes the fault, which lies west of Marianna, is around 5,000 years old and will have caused at least one big tremor in its history.
Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, would be at risk if there was a powerful quake despite being 100 miles southwest of the line.
Neighbouring states Tennessee and Mississippi could also be hit.
A pipe laid by Arkla Energy Resources runs through the area but a spokeswoman for the company would not say if it was the one near the fault's epicentre.
Scientists say the fault is different to the one at New Madrid that caused a series of tremors in 1811-12 and made the Mississippi river flow backwards.
Most Arkansas earthquakes happen in the northeast of the state, but experts say the Marianna fault is too far away for that area to be affected.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090122/twl-...d0ae9.html