Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey are digging deep under Summit County to see 100 million years of Rocky Mountain history.
On Friday the USGS launches its investigation into the Gore Range Trench. They’ll be digging into the foot of the Tenmile Range near Masontown, a mining-era relic just south of Frisco, where seismic shifts formed the mountains all around us.
Scientists know Summit was once rocked by earthquakes, but they do not know when or how large. This investigation will tell them about the most recent quakes. Information then goes into a national database.
Here’s more from the USGS:
“The USGS maintains the U.S. National Seismic Hazard Model, which forecasts potential future earthquake shaking across all 50 states and territories.
USGS scientists are always collecting information about active faults to maintain accuracy of the model. Policy makers and regional planners use the USNSHM and other similar products to understand the relative hazards communities will face due to earthquake potential.
No one can predict earthquakes. But existing faults and past earthquakes provide information about future earthquakes, and geology showshow the ground shakes during an earthquake.”