The December 22, 1983, earthquake in Guinea, West Africa

Abstract

The study of the 1983 earthquake, employing modern techniques of data collection and analysis, has resulted in important new results on this class of infrequent natural hazard. Whereas surface faulting is unusual for intraplate earthquakes, it is not rare. The other ground effects of fracturing, rockfalls, and liquefaction, were also expectable, given the geology and topography of the host region. The cavern-roof collapse was the sole unusual ground effect observed. The seismographic aftershock survey, even though it began 22 days after the main shock, added important data to the geologic understanding of the shock. -from Authors