The New Madrid seismic zone of the Central United States - Intraplate Earthquakes - page 189

model explains the Holocene onset of the NMSZ and, I believe, also provides the most
satisfactory explanation as to the cause, distribution, displacement magnitude, and timing
of Quaternary faulting of the Reelfoot Rift faults throughout the lower Mississippi River
valley. Quaternary incision of the Mississippi River system locally diminishes the stress on
the faults produced by ridge push and releases the stored elastic strain energy at different
times and different locations, thereby turning Reelfoot Rift faults on and off with relatively
minor total Quaternary displacement occurring on individual faults.
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