Shallow Structure and Location of the Piedmont Thrust Splay of the Hayward Fault, Oakland, California

Abstract:

The Piedmont Fault (PF) is interpreted as a thrust or reverse fault that may be associated with the historically active Hayward Fault (HF). The PF may represent a seismic risk due to its location in a densely populated urban area. In February 2015, we acquired high-resolution P- and S-wave seismic data across the approximately mapped trace of the PF at Dimond Canyon Park in Oakland, California to constrain the near-surface location and dip of the fault. Our seismic profile extended 315 m along a southwest to northeast trend. P- and S-wave data were acquired separately using hammer sources. Each shot was co-located with and recorded by 106 40-Hz (P-wave) and 4.5 Hz (S-wave) geophones, spaced 3 m apart. Both the P- and S-wave data show large differences in velocities on the southwest side of the profile (Vp =600-2100 m/s; Vs = 260-520 m/s) compared to the northeast side (Vp =800-3200 m/s; Vs = 500-800 m/s), with a near-vertical dip of velocity contours between the two sides. We interpret the abrupt, near-vertical zone of velocity transition to coincide with the PF. Vp/Vs and Poisson’s ratio models show pronounced lows associated with the apparent fault zone. Reflection images show diffractions and near-surface (~ 5 m) breaks in the continuity of reflectors at the location of our interpreted fault. We also evaluated the velocity structure along the profile using two different 2-D surface-wave techniques (MASW and MALW) that show velocities and structures similar to those determined by the tomographic method. Based on our interpreted location of the PF, drilling studies are planned to evaluate the recency of faulting along the PF.