A. M. Korzhenkov

Paleoseismological investigations in the pleistoseismal zone of the 1885 Belovodskoe earthquake, North Tien Shan

The results of paleoseismological investigations to find the epicentral area of the Belovodskoe earthquake are presented. New data on prehistoric earthquakes have been obtained resulting from a seismic deformation study using trenching. It is found that seismic dislocations during the reactivation of the fault by the 1885 earthquake did not extend east of the Sokuluk River. In addition, the age and kinematic features of a paleoearthquake located in the area between the Sokuluk and Alamedin rivers are specified. This earthquake occurred in the interval of 887–1533 cal BC and was no less than 7.1 in magnitude. The minimal estimated earthquake source length is 32 km and the reverse-fault amplitude is 3.8 m.

On unknown strong Holocene earthquakes in the south of the Issyk Kul depression, Tien Shan

An area of paleoseismic deformations of seismogravitation and seismotectonic genesis that trace the epicentral zones of ancient earthquakes, is revealed for the first time in the Tossor river basin, the southern Issyk Kul region. The C14 age is the 9th century AD for the recent earthquake and middle-early Holocene for the earlier seismic event. High seismic activity of the Pre-Terskey Border Fault in the south of the Issyk Kul Lake depression is recorded. An upslope-facing scarp and many significant rockslides in the Tossor river basin mark an epicentral zone of strong Holocene earthquakes, which is not consistent with instrumental seismic data and was not taken into account when compiling the latest seismic zoning map of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Traces of strong earthquakes of the 9th century in the ruins of Dvin, ancient Armenian Capital

The results of an archeoseismological investigation of the Dvin (ancient Armenian capital) ruins are presented. Multiple occasions of seismogenic damage and destructions have been revealed in the remains of walls, including places where they are tilted or pushed out, or fragments and particular stone blocks are rotated. The extensive cracks that run through several blocks have also been found. The identified systematics in how deformations occurred suggests that the epicenter of the ancient earthquake that struck Dvin in the late 9th century was located close to the city. Most likely, the western termination of an unnamed east-tonortheast trending fault (situated north of the city) was ruptured.

Archeoseismological investigation of the Kurmenty medieval settlement site, northeastern Issyk-Kul region, Kyrgyzstan

Archeoseismological studies of the Kurmenty settlement have proved the seismogenic origin of the deformation in the walls at this site. The radiocarbon age of the first seismic event damaged the walls of the settlement is 7th century AD. The second seismic event occurred a few centuries later, probably in the late Middle Ages. The strongest seismic events of North Tien Shan occurred in the late 19th–early 20th century as the Chilik (1889, M = 8.4) and Kebin (1911, M = 7.9) also damaged the walls of the Kurmenty settlement. The local shaking intensity during these seismic events was I ≥ VII on MSK-64 scale.

Estimation of maximum mass velocities in the focal zones of strong earthquakes based on measured displacements of rock blocks: A case study of Kyrgyzstan

An important task in seismic hazard assessment is estimation of the intensity and frequency of extremely strong earthquake effects, in particular, peak ground velocities (PGV). Earlier, a method was proposed to evaluate PGV values based on the magnitude of displacements of rock blocks (Rodkin et al., 2012). In this study, this method is used to analyze field data on the source zones of the August 19, 1992, MS = 7.3 Susamyr earthquake and the January 3, 1911, Mw = 7.9 Kemin earthquake, and estimate maximum ground shaking at the upper construction site of the Upper Naryn series of hydropower plants, Kyrgyz Republic. It is shown that the resulting estimates are consistent with data obtained through other techniques. Therefore, the new approach can be recommended to estimate earthquake effects.

Strong Paleoearthquakes along the Aksuu Border Fault according to the Results of Dating the Offset Terrace Complex of the Chon-Aksuu River, Northern Tien Shan

The study and radiocarbon dating of the low alluvial terraces of the Chon-Aksuu River, in the Northern Issyk-Kul region, which were broken by the Kebin (Kemin) earthquake of 1911 (Ms = 8.2, Io = 10 to 11), are carried out. The obtained radiocarbon dated ages refer to the second half of the Holocene. Since that time, at least eight strong earthquakes took place along this (Chon-Aksuu) segment of the Aksuu border fault. Three seismic events, including the earthquake of 1911 occurred in the second millennium A.D. This outburst of seismic energy was preceded by two millennia of seismic quiescence, which set in after another pulse of seismic activation. The latter lasted for 1.5 millennia and included five strong earthquakes. The recurrence period of seismic events during the activations is 300–600 years. Hence, the seismic regime along the Chon–Aksuu segment of the Aksuu border fault in the second half of the Holocene was a succession of two seismic activations, each with a duration of 1.0–1.5 ka, which were separated by a 2-ka interval of seismic quiescence. Therefore, the absolute datings of the river terraces of different ages which have been broken by a seismogenic rupture can serve as a reliable source of information about the age of the strong earthquakes that occurred along the seismogenic fault.

Seismogenic deformations in the walls of the late medieval Yeni-Kale fortress in Eastern Crimea

The results of a macroseismic study of the late medieval Turkish Yeni-Kale fortress in Eastern Crimea are described. Despite the fact that the fortress’ structures were considerably affected by local landslide activity, military operations during the Crimean War, the Civil War, and the WWII, as well as by anthropogenic factors, such as railroads, etc., numerous specific deformations in the fortress walls suggest that the existing destruction and damage might be explained by strong seismic impacts. The local intensity of seismic oscillations could be I = (VIII)–IX points according to the MSK-64 macroseismic scale, and the direction of the combined maximum seismic impact could have a NW–SE strike. It is likely that the Turks abandoned the fortress without a battle because of its significant seismic damage and destruction in the 18th century, which had not yet been repaired by the time the Russian army arrived.

On traces of a strong earthquake in walls of the Sary-Bulun medieval sites along the great silk route (western Issyk-Kul Lake region, Northern Tien Shan)

The Sary-Bulun archeological sites located along the Great Silk Route of medieval times are studied. The study revealed a number of the deformations of seismogenic origin: tilts, shifts, and collapse and lateral bends of walls as well as long fissures in corner parts of the rooms. Judging by archeological artifacts, the seismic event occurred at the end of the 12th–beginning of the 13th century AD. Judging by degree of damage, the intensity of this ancient earthquake was I ≥ VIII on the MSK-64. The source of the seismic oscillations was apparently located in the faults cutting the active Boz-Barmak anticline. The studied archeological sites are located on the western limb of this anticline structure. In the medieval period, the Sary-Bulun settlements were the largest metallurgic centers of the Issyk-Kul depression and, thus, they are of a great significance for studying industrial processes of that time.

Archeoseismological study in Salachik, the ancient capital of Crimean Khans

Archeological, archeoseismological, and seismotectonic studies were carried out in Salachik, the ancient capital of the Crimean Khans, on the outskirts of the modern city of Bakhchysarai, Crimea. The following damage and deformations of medieval buildings were observed: tilted building walls, shifted elements of building structures, rotation of fragments of walls and building blocks around the vertical axis, considerable deformations of arch structures, and fissures running through several rows of building blocks. These deformations are of a seismogenic nature. Traces of at least two strong ancient earthquakes were revealed in the medieval monuments of Salachik. Based on analysis of kinematic indicators, it is found that the maximum seismic intensity (VIII ≤ I0 ≤ IX points) was due to an earthquake occurred in the west. Based on historical seismologic data, one of the two earthquakes is dated by April 30, 1698. Also, structural damage to buildings in Salachik was caused by Crimean earthquakes in 1927. The findings can be used for a comprehensive assessment of seismic hazards on the Crimean Peninsula.

New findings on the sources of strong earthquakes in Kerch Peninsula based on paleoseismological data

This paper presents the results of the recent paleoseismological studies covering the entire Kerch Peninsula. The Yuzhnoberezhnaya fold-and-thrust belt extending along the southern coast of Crimea in the Black Sea was earlier considered the principal seismogenic structure. Our findings suggest that the seismic hazard on the Kerch Peninsula is largely related to potential strong onshore earthquake sources. The observed discrepancy between instrumental and paleoseismological data suggests that seismic quiescence exists in this region at present.