EXAMINATION OF BULK SOIL FROM A PALEOSEISMIC TRENCH ACROSS THE MERCUR FAULT, UTAH

Three bulk soil samples from a paleoseismic trench across the Mercur fault along the eastern margin of the Great Basin in Utah were floated to recover organic fragments suitable for radiocarbon dating. The trench transects a fault scarp on an alluvial fan surface estimated to be at least 130,000 to 150,000 years old. Botanic components and detrital charcoal were identified, and potentially radiocarbon datable material was separated.采自美国犹他州大盆地东缘默库尔断层古地震探槽的3份批量土壤样品经浮选处理，以提取适用于放射性碳定年法的有机碎屑。该探槽横穿一处冲积扇面上的断层崖，该冲积扇面的形成年代经估算至少为13万至15万年。研究人员鉴定出其中的植物组分与碎屑炭，并分离出了具备放射性碳定年潜力的物质。