INVESTIGATION OF YOUNG FAULTING IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

Previous investigations have revealed the N30E trending down-to-the-west Memphis and Ellendale faults in Memphis, Tennessee. In our current work, seismic reflection profiling using both deep P-wave and shallow S-wave techniques has revealed a third fault that we call the Shelby Farms fault near and parallel to the Ellendale fault. The Shelby Farms fault has been imaged to a depth of over 700 m and is a down-to-the-east normal fault that appears to have been reactivated as a reverse fault. Electrical conductivity surveys and bore holes acquired in Quaternary Wolf River alluvium indicate that both the Shelby Farms and Ellendale faults may have young displacement. A shallow S-wave seismic reflection line and an electrical conductivity survey acquired across the Memphis fault on the Wolf River flood plain also suggest Quaternary displacement.