15/09/2021

Active Faults and other

Earthquake Sources

Jeffrey S. Perez
Supervising Science Research Specialist / Geologist
[email protected]

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Objectives
• Define what is a fault and an
active fault is
• Identify the different earthquake
source zones in the Philippines

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Lecture Outline
• Definition: Faults
• Different types of Fault
• Active Faults
• Distribution of active faults in the Philippines
• Other earthquake source zone in the Philippines

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Seismicity of the World

Earthquake
occurrences are
not dispersed but
concentrated along
narrow zones
(plate boundaries)

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Tectonic Plate Boundaries

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Pacific Ring of Fire

Pacific Ring
of Fire
Tectonically active and dynamic region
of the world (Pacific Plate boundary)
Kious and Tilling, 1996
where many earthquakes and, volcanic
eruptions and tsunami occur.

Kious and Tilling, 1996 Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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The Philippines: A Seismically Active Country

~ an average of 20
earthquakes
recorded per day
~100-150 felt
earthquakes per year
~100 destructive
earthquakes for past
400 years

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Why do earthquakes occur in the

Philippines?

Tectonic Setting of the

Philippine Archipelago

EQUATOR

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Active Faults

Earthquake
Generators in
the Philippines

Trenches

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

What is a Fault?
• break, fracture, fissure or zone of
weakness where movement or displacement
had occurred or may occur again.
• may extend hundreds of kilometers across
the earth’s surface and tens of kilometers
downward
San Andreas Fault • fault zone refer to the zone of complex
deformation associated with the fault plane.
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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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TYPES OF FAULTS
NORMAL FAULT

BEFORE FAULTING

REVERSE FAULT

STRIKE-SLIP
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Hanging Wall

Foot Wall

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Normal Faults
A geologic fault in which the hanging
wall has moved downward relative to
the footwall. Normal faults occur
where two blocks of rock are pulled
apart, as by tension.

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com)

Normal faults in
volcanic ashes
and paleo-soils,
El Salvador,
photo by Chuck
DeMets

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Reverse/Thrust Faults
A geologic fault in which the hanging
wall has moved upward relative to the
footwall. Reverse faults occur where two
blocks of rock are forced together by
compression.

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (http://www.thefreedictionary.com)

Kobe, Japan
(1995)

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Strike-Slip Faults
A fault in with surfaces on opposite
sides of the fault plane is moving
horizontally and parallel to the
strike of the fault.

Right or left lateral:

dependent on perceived
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
crust movement

1990 Luzon
Earthquake
Philippine Fault:
Digdig Fault

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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What is an ACTIVE FAULT?

A fault is defined as an ACTIVE FAULT when
it has moved within the last 10,000 years, or in
the Holocene Period.
Fault movement can be established using one
or more of the following criteria: Perez and Tsutsumi, 2017
• historical and contemporary seismicity
• fault slip (displacement) based on
displaced rock or soil units of known age
• displaced landforms

Perez et. al., 2018

Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Fault slip based on displaced rock

or soil units of known age

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Landforms associated with ACTIVE FAULTS

Fault scarp of the East Valley Fault between Rodriguez and San Mateo, Rizal.

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Mapping and Identification of

ACTIVE FAULTS
• Existing literature
• Topographic maps
• LANDSAT & SAR
images Topographic maps

• Digital elevation
models
• Aerial photographs
• Field verification
Department of Science and Technology Satellite images
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Aerial photographs

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Mapping and Identification of

ACTIVE FAULTS
• Existing literature
• Topographic maps
• LANDSAT & SAR
images
• Digital elevation
models
• Aerial photographs
• Field verification
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

ACTIVE FAULTS in the

Philippines
• Philippine Fault • Tablas Fault
• Valley Fault System • Mindanao Fault
• Aglubang River • Central Mindanao
Fault Fault
• Central Mindoro • Cotabato-Sindangan
Fault Fault
• Casiguran Fault • Davao Fault System
• East Zambales Fault • Cotabato Fault
• West Panay Fault System
• North Bohol Fault • others
• East Bohol Fault
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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Perez and Tsutsumi, 2017

Philippine Fault
• ~1,250-km left-lateral strike-slip fault
• extending from Luzon Island
southward to Mindanao Island
• 1.5-3.6 cm/year slip rate (Aurelio,
2000)
• with historical surface rupture
Tsutsumi and Perez, 2013. Large Scale Active Faults Map of
the Philippine Fault Based on Aerial Photograph
Interpretation
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284039093_Large-
scale_active_fault_map_of_the_Philippine_fault_based_on_
aerial_photograph_interpretation

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Philippine Fault

1990 July 16 Luzon Earthquake (Mw 7.8)

- ~ 120 km surface rupture
- max. lateral slip ~ 6 m
- recurrence interval: 500-600 years
(Tsutsumi et al., 2006)
- Digdig segment
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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Philippine Fault

1973 Mar. 17 Ragay Gulf Eq. (M 7.0)

~ 30 km surface rupture
- 2-3 m displacement
- recurrence interval: 360-780 years
- slip rate: 2.1 - 4.4 cm/yr (Tsutsumi, et al.,
2015)
Guinayangan segment
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Philippine Fault

2003 Feb. 15
Masbate
Earthquake (M6.2)

2020 Aug. 18
Masbate
Earthquake (M6.6)

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Philippine Fault

2017 July 04
Leyte Earthquake
(M6.5)

Perez et al., 2018

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Philippine Fault

2017 Feb. 10
Surigao Earthquake
(M6.7)

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Perez et al., 2015 Magnitude of

Segment Historical
Name of segment maximum credible
length earthquake (Mw) earthquake

1879 Mw 7.4 Surigao

A. Surigao 100 7.4
earthquake
B. Esperanza 50 7.1

C. Agusan Marsh 65 7.2

D. West Compostela 1891 Ms7.2 Davao

55 7.1
Valley (WCV) earthquake
E. Central Compostela 1893 Ms 7.3
60 7.1
Valley (CCV) Monkayo earthquake
F. Nabuntaran 25 6.7
G. East Compostela
20 6.6
Valley (ECV)
H. Caraga River 35 6.9
I. Mati 60 7.1 Perez et al., 2015
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

2013 M7.2
Bohol Earthquake
Ground Rupture Effects:
• Fissuring
• Displacement of the ground
due to movement of the fault

2013 Inabanga, Bohol

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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Valley Fault System

• East Valley Fault
• 10 km (M6.2)
• Municipalities of Rodriguez and San Mateo, Rizal
• West Valley Fault
• 100 km (M7.2)
• Bulacan (Doña Remedios Trinidad, Norzagaray
and San Jose Del Monte City)
• Rizal (Rodriguez)
• Quezon City, Marikina City, Pasig City, Makati City,
Taguig City and Muntinlupa City
• Laguna (San Pedro City, Biñan City, Sta. Rosa
City, Cabuyao City and Calamba City)
• Cavite (Carmona, General Mariano Alvarez and
Silang) Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Cotabato Fault System

- M’lang Fault (~26 km; M6.7)
- Makilala Fault (~16 km; M6.5)
- Balabag Fault (~14 km; M6.4)
- Makilala-Malungon Fault (~67 km; M7.2)
- North Columbio Fault (~30 km; M6.8)
- South Columbio Fault (~30 km; M6.8)

Tangbulan Fault (~70 km; M7.2)

Digos Fault (~12 km; M6.3)

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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THE CENTRAL DAVAO

FAULT SYSTEM
Segments
FAULT NAME LENGTH MAGNITUDE
Tamugan Fault 25 km 6.7
Lacson Fault 33 km 6.8
Dacudao Fault 18 km 6.5
Pangyan-Biao 33 km 6.8
Escuela Fault
New Carmen 12 km 6.3
Fault
Department of Science and Technology 42
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Cabulig Fault
Misamis Oriental
Tagaloan Fault

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Maguindanao

faultfinder.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph
hazardhunter.georisk.gov.ph
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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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What is a trench?
A trench is a
manifestation of such a
subduction zone. A
trench is therefore the
deepest portion on the
sea floor.
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Tectonic Setting of the Philippines

The Philippine Mobile Belt (PMB) is surrounded

by several subduction zones, or seafloor
trenches or troughs where oceanic plates
converge with and plunge beneath the PMB.
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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Philippine Trench
• A zone wherein the Philippine Sea Plate
(PSP) subducts westerly beneath the
PMB between the offshore Bicol
Peninsula and southeast Mindanao.
• Convergence between the PSP and the
PMB occurs at the rate of 8 cm/year.
This produces earthquake activity
across the length of the Philippine
Trench.
• Most recent large earthquake along the
Philippine Trench is the M7.6 August
31, 2012 Eastern Samar Earthquake.
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

East Luzon Trough/Trench

• A young subduction zone
on the east of Luzon
Island.
• In between the Philippine
Trench and the East
Luzon Trough is a poorly
known geomorphological
feature and identified as
transform faults.
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Manila Trench
• Located on west Luzon Island
within the West Philippine Sea, it
represents the location where
Eurasian or Sundaland Plate
subducts beneath the PMB
between Taiwan and Mindoro.
• M7.0 May 06, 1924 West Luzon
Earthquake and the M7.6
February 14, 1943 Ilocos
Earthquake.
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Negros Trench
• A zone where the Sulu Sea
Plate which is part of the
Eurasian or Sundaland Plate
subducts beneath the PMB
parallel to the western coasts of
the Panay and Negros Islands.

Sulu Trench
• A zone where the Sulu Sea Plate subducts beneath the PMB
offshore of Zamboanga Peninsula and Sulu Archipelago.
• M7.5 September 21, 1897 Zamboanga Earthquake.
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Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Cotabato Trench
• A zone where the Celebes Sea
Plate which is part of the Eurasia
or Sundaland Plate subducts
beneath the PMB offshore of the
Provinces of Cotabato and
Sarangani.
• M8.1 August 17, 1976 Moro Gulf
Earthquake and Tsunami which
produced a devastating 9-m-high
tsunami and claimed more than
3,000 lives in western Mindanao Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph
/PHIVOLCS

@phivolcs.dost
jeffrey. [email protected]

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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EXERCISE
Fault Identification

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Identification of Fault and Fault Type Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Identification of Fault and Fault Type Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Identification of Fault and Fault Type

Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Identification of Fault and Fault Type Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Identification of Fault and Fault Type

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Identification of Fault and Fault Type Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Identification of Fault and Fault Type Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

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Identification of Fault and Fault Type

Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

Tsutsumi, H. and Perez, J.S., 2013. Large-

scale active fault map of the Philippine fault
based on aerial photograph interpretation.
Active Fault Research, Vol. 39, pp. 29-37.
https://doi.org/10.11462/afr.2013.39_29

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Perez, J.S., Tsutsumi, H., Cahulogan, M.T., Cabanlit,

D.P., Abigania, M.I.T. and Nakata, T., 2015. Fault
distribution, segmentation and earthquake
generation potential of the Philippine fault in
eastern Mindanao, Philippines. Journal of Disaster
Research, Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 74-82.
doi: 10.20965/jdr.2015.00074

Perez, J.S. and Tsutsumi, H., 2017. Tectonic

geomorphology and paleoseismology of the
Surigao segment of the Philippine fault in
northeastern Mindanao Island, Philippines.
Tectonophysics, Vol. 699, pp. 244-257.
doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2017.02.001

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