Scientists Just Found a Hidden Fault Under New Jersey, And It Caused The 2024 Earthquake
"Previously unrecognized but critical earthquake hazards."
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Researchers have identified a previously unknown geological fault beneath New Jersey that was responsible for a 4.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Tewksbury in April 2024. A team from Columbia University analyzed the seismic event and determined that the well-known Ramapo Fault, which stretches nearly 300 kilometers across the northeast and mid-Atlantic region, was not oriented correctly to have caused the tremor.
Through examination of aftershock data, topographic mapping using LiDAR technology, and laboratory friction analysis, scientists discovered what they named the Mountainville Fault located approximately 3.5 kilometers west of the earthquake’s epicenter. This newly identified fault is classified as an “immature” basement fault—one formed in ancient crystalline bedrock where fractures have not yet developed into a single, unified slip surface. Researchers walked the fault line above ground to identify physical evidence and used three-dimensional seismic wave data to pinpoint its location.
The study suggests that the Ramapo Fault’s misalignment may concentrate stress in surrounding rock layers, making nearby lesser-known faults more susceptible to failure. The research team believes additional factors, such as water pressure changes or localized stress variations, may have contributed to triggering the mainshock. Scientists now emphasize that similar immature basement faults along the densely populated US east coast could pose significant and previously unrecognized earthquake risks requiring further investigation.
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Originally reported by Sciencealert →
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