*Hiroyuki Tsutsumi1, Nobuhiko Sugito2, Haruo Kimura3, Shozo Kawashima1, Toranosuke Morishima1, Kaoru Taniguchi4, Masashi Omata4
(1.Department of Environmental Systems Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Doshisha University, 2.Faculty of Sustainability Studies, Hosei University, 3.Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry, 4.Pasco Co.)
Keywords:the eastern marginal fault of the Nara basin, Obitoke fault, Tenri fault, paleoseismic trenching, borehole data, paleoseismic activity
The eastern marginal fault of the Nara basin consists of a series of east-dipping reverse faults at the topographic boundaries between mountains and hills on the east and basins and lowlands on the west. This fault zone poses high seismic hazards to the central Kinki area but the probability of earthquake occurrence in the next 30 years is very loosely constrained. Since the 2019 academic year, we have conducted active fault mapping, slip rate estimation, and obtaining paleoseismic data of the fault zone under a 3-year research project, "Comprehensive Research Project for the Nara-bonchi-toen Fault Zone." In 2020, we conducted paleoseismic investigations at a few localities within the Nara basin. At Imaichi, Nara City, we carried out a GPR survey, trenching, and borehole drilling to identify geologic evidence for recent faulting on the Obitoke fault. At Yashima, Nara City, we excavated pits to radiometrically date faulted and un-faulted geomorphic surfaces by the Tenri fault. Besides, geologic cross-sections based on the "Database for Boreholes in the Kansai Area" clearly illuminate the deformation of lower terrace deposits by the Obitoke fault, which gives a dip-slip rate of 0.3-0.4 mm/yr of the fault.