Co-seismic strike-slip fault displacement determined from push-up structures: the Selsund Fault case, South Iceland

We analysed push-up structures along the Selsund Fault, a N-S right-lateral strike-slip fault activated during the 1912 earthquake in the South Iceland Seismic Zone. Volume changes and syn-tectonic collapse affected push-ups during the earthquake, followed by post-seismic gravitational sagging. To determine the push-up shortening, and hence the strike-slip fault motion, we define a virtual push-up structure, without volume change and collapse, and we compare it with the present-day configuration. Whereas length comparisons are subject to errors, volumetric analysis allows determination of shortening through evaluation of the thickness of the deformed layer affected by the push-ups. We determine a co-seismic peak displacement of 2.4 m along the rupture trace. This value is consistent with the magnitude 7 of the earthquake, based on empirical relationships. Neglecting volume changes and collapse effects gives underestimated displacement. The new method for analysing push-up structures thus allows better determination of magnitudes of ancient earthquakes along strike-slip faults. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.