Fairview Peak Fault Scarp
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This EarthCache is located about 40 miles east of Fallon, NV and about 5 miles south of Highway 50. The roads are gravel, easily passable to passenger vehicles in dry weather. Years ago, I even pulled a pop-up trailer to this site. NOTE: A couple cachers have reported getting flat tires on these roads. Of course, most have not. But do be aware!
In the early morning hours of December 16, 1954 two major earthquakes struck central Nevada in Churchill County. One of these, a magnitude 7.1 quake, was centered near a system of faults along the eastern side of Fairview Peak. This EarthCache will take you to this fault so that you can view for yourself evidence of movement along the fault. The second quake, magnitude 6.9, struck 4 minutes later, north of first quake at the base of the Stillwater range in the Dixie Valley. Some local residents were shaken out of their beds by these quakes, but there were no reported injuries or deaths. To reach the site, turn south off Highway 50 on to a well-marked dirt road at N 39 17.212, W 118 07.817. Proceed about 5 miles and turn right on to another dirt road at N 39 12.855 min, W 118 08.212. Follow this road about 0.7 miles to a parking lot at N 39 12.707, W 118 08.793. In this part of Nevada known as the Basin and Range the earth’s crust is spreading. But the spreading doesn’t always proceed at a steady rate. Most spreading occurs when stresses which build up in the earth’s crust are suddenly released. This sudden release of energy results in an earthquake in which the land suddenly jerks to a new position. When you exit your car the fault scarp will be easily recognizable at the western edge of the parking lot. It is that sharp, barren cliff-like formation that runs more or less along the base of these mountains. If you were paying attention, you could have seen the scarp to your right as you traveled south on the approach road. This fault is a normal fault. As you stand facing it, you are on the eastern fault block known as the hanging wall. When the fault slipped this block dropped; the block on the other side of the fault, the footwall, rose. Fairview Peak sits on the footwall. Hence, Fairview Peak rose. This is one geologic process by which mountains rise. LOGGING THE CACHE To log this cache, you must e-mail me the answers to the following two questions. DO NOT post them; I will delete them if you do. 1. Estimate the height of the fault at the parking lot. 2. In what direction does the fault run? If you want to see more of the fault scarp, you can hike along it in either direction. You can also return to the main dirt road and proceed south. There are several places where you can approach the fault. REFERENCES 1. “Geology Underfoot in Central Nevada,” R. Orndorff, R. Wieder, H. Filkorn, Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2006, p. 131. 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fault_(geology) BASIC VISITOR-USE AND PUBLIC SAFETY INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC LANDS IN NEVADA All visitors should plan ahead and prepare for outings on Nevada public lands by: Knowing the regulations and special concerns for the area you are planning to visit (obeying laws that prohibit collection or destruction of artifacts, etc.); Carrying a map and a GPS unit and/or compass (Maps are available for purchase at all BLM offices); Traveling only on existing roads and trails; Staying away from all mine shafts and adits; Planning for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies; Carrying a full-size spare tire, extra food, water, and warm clothing; Being aware that cell phones DO NOT usually work in the rural areas away from the major highways; Leaving your travel plans with a responsible party, including the date and time of your return; Following the principals of Tread Lightly and Leave No Trace.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)