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First paleoseismological constraints on the strongest earthquake in France (Provence) in the twentieth century

¹ Centre Européen de Recherche et d'Enseignement de Géosciences de l'Environnement (UMR CNRS 6635), Université Paul Cézanne, BP 80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex 4, France
² Département des Géoressources, Géotechnologies et Matériaux de Construction, Université de Liège, Belgium, and Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Recherche Impliquant la Géologie et la Mécanique (EA CNRS 3111), Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France
³ Centre Européen de Recherche et d'Enseignement de Géosciences de l'Environnement (UMR CNRS 6635), Université Paul Cézanne, BP 80, 13545 Aix-en-Provence cedex 4, France

We have identified surface ruptures of M 6 earthquakes on a branch of the propagating reverse fault system that produced the strongest event recorded in France during the twentieth century (1909 Lambesc earthquake, Provence). The rate of slip on that branch is 0.05–0.3 mm/yr with a corresponding return period for M 6 events of 700–5000 yr. In addition to possibly identifying the 1909 earthquake surface rupture, by recognizing successive surface breaks of large earthquakes, this study calls for a reassessment of seismic hazard in Provence.

Key Words: seismic hazard • active thrusting • paleoseismology • France