| Greendale Fault | |
|---|---|
| The Greendale Fault photographed looking north, about 12 hours after the Darfield earthquake. The hedgerow and tractor tire tracks in the paddocks have been horizontally offset by about 3.5 meters | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury Plains |
| Characteristics | |
| Length | 29.5 km (18.3 mi) |
| Displacement | 2 mm (0.079 in)/yr [1] |
| Tectonics | |
| Plate | Pacific |
| Status | Active |
| Earthquakes | 2010 Canterbury earthquake |
| Type | Strike-slip fault |
| New Zealand Active Fault database | |
The Greendale Fault is an active seismic fault situated in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island. The fault was previously unknown to geologists until 4 September 2010, as physical traces of the fault had been buried by gravel (alluvial deposits) during the last glaciation period. [2]
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake, [3] [4] occurred on the Greendale Fault at 4:35 am on 4 September 2010 local time (16:35 3 September UTC). [3] The quake caused widespread damage and several power outages, particularly in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city. [5] [6]