1986 Chalfant Valley earthquake
Encyclopedia
The 1986 Chalfant Valley earthquake struck the southern Mono County and surrounding incorporated and unincorporated of the Bishop
- Chalfant Valley
, California
areas at 6:42 p.m. (PDT
). The magnitude 6.2 earthquake
was felt as far distant as Salt Lake City
, Utah
. The earthquake was felt in some counties in southern california. Its epicenter was in Chalfant Valley
, California
at a depth of 0.8 kilometre (0.497098189319845 mi). Many small landslides and spectacular rockfalls occurred in the epicentral area. This shock injured two people and caused an estimated $2.7 million damage to property in the Bishop
- Chalfant Valley
, California
areas.
The earthquake was caused by a slip on a strike-slip fault trending northwesterly and dipping to the southwest under the Volcanic Tablelands. The event caused small cracks in the ground surface within the Volcanic Tablelands and along the White Mountain fault to the east.
A foreshock
occurred 1 day before the initial quake, and an aftershock
occurred 10 days after the initial temblor. Smaller aftershocks occurred through September 30, 1986.
At Bishop
, California
, a few chimneys cracked, windows broke, ceiling tile and plaster fell, and exterior walls cracked in several buildings. The brick facade on a bank on Main Street also sustained cracks. Most of the damage at Chalfant Valley
, California
was due to mobile homes being shaken off their supports, which damaged water and gas lines.
Bishop, California
Bishop is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet . The population was 3,879 at the...
- Chalfant Valley
Chalfant Valley, California
Chalfant is a census-designated place in Mono County, California. It is located on the abandoned Southern Pacific Railroad south-southeast of Benton, at an elevation of 4258 feet . The population was 651 at the 2010 census.Chalfant is a small, primarily residential community located north of the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
areas at 6:42 p.m. (PDT
Pacific Time Zone
The Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. During daylight saving time, its time offset is UTC-7.In the United States...
). The magnitude 6.2 earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
was felt as far distant as Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
. The earthquake was felt in some counties in southern california. Its epicenter was in Chalfant Valley
Chalfant Valley, California
Chalfant is a census-designated place in Mono County, California. It is located on the abandoned Southern Pacific Railroad south-southeast of Benton, at an elevation of 4258 feet . The population was 651 at the 2010 census.Chalfant is a small, primarily residential community located north of the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
at a depth of 0.8 kilometre (0.497098189319845 mi). Many small landslides and spectacular rockfalls occurred in the epicentral area. This shock injured two people and caused an estimated $2.7 million damage to property in the Bishop
Bishop, California
Bishop is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet . The population was 3,879 at the...
- Chalfant Valley
Chalfant Valley, California
Chalfant is a census-designated place in Mono County, California. It is located on the abandoned Southern Pacific Railroad south-southeast of Benton, at an elevation of 4258 feet . The population was 651 at the 2010 census.Chalfant is a small, primarily residential community located north of the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
areas.
The earthquake was caused by a slip on a strike-slip fault trending northwesterly and dipping to the southwest under the Volcanic Tablelands. The event caused small cracks in the ground surface within the Volcanic Tablelands and along the White Mountain fault to the east.
A foreshock
Foreshock
A foreshock is an earthquake that occurs before a larger seismic event and is related to it in both time and space. The designation of an earthquake as foreshock, mainshock or aftershock is only possible after the event....
occurred 1 day before the initial quake, and an aftershock
Aftershock
An aftershock is a smaller earthquake that occurs after a previous large earthquake, in the same area of the main shock. If an aftershock is larger than the main shock, the aftershock is redesignated as the main shock and the original main shock is redesignated as a foreshock...
occurred 10 days after the initial temblor. Smaller aftershocks occurred through September 30, 1986.
At Bishop
Bishop, California
Bishop is a city in Inyo County, California, United States. Though Bishop is the only city and the largest populated place in Inyo County, the county seat is Independence. Bishop is located near the northern end of the Owens Valley, at an elevation of 4147 feet . The population was 3,879 at the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, a few chimneys cracked, windows broke, ceiling tile and plaster fell, and exterior walls cracked in several buildings. The brick facade on a bank on Main Street also sustained cracks. Most of the damage at Chalfant Valley
Chalfant Valley, California
Chalfant is a census-designated place in Mono County, California. It is located on the abandoned Southern Pacific Railroad south-southeast of Benton, at an elevation of 4258 feet . The population was 651 at the 2010 census.Chalfant is a small, primarily residential community located north of the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
was due to mobile homes being shaken off their supports, which damaged water and gas lines.
External links
- Historic Earthquakes USGS