Today in Earthquake History

Today's Earthquake Fact:
The oldest rocks on Earth are found on land. Since the ocean floor is being continually regenerated as the continental plates move across the Earth's surface, the oldest rocks on the ocean floor are less than 300 million years. In contrast, the oldest continental rocks are 4,500 million years old.

Year at a Glance

March

Note: All earthquake dates are UTC, not local time.

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Year	Location	Magnitude	Comment

1879	Washington, D.C.		130th Anniversary The United States Geological Survey was established on March 3, 1879, just a few hours before the mandatory close of the final session of the 45th Congress, when President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the bill appropriating money for sundry civil expenses of the Federal Government for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1879. The sundry civil expenses bill included a brief section establishing a new agency, the United States Geological Survey, placing it in the Department of the Interior, and charging it with a unique combination of responsibilities: `classification of the public lands, and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain.' From The United States Geological Survey: 1879-1989, USGS Circular 1050 by Mary C. Rabbitt.

1985	Offshore Valparaiso, Chile	7.8	At least 177 people killed, 2,575 injured and extensive damage in central Chile, including the cities of San Antonio, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar, Santiago and Rancagua. Maximum intensity VIII in the Valparaiso area. Liquefaction occurred in saturated beach dune sands in the Vina del Mar and San Antonio areas. Reports of extensive ground cracks and subsidence throughout most of the epicentral area. Numerous landslides in the coastal mountains. Felt in Chile along a 2,000 km strip from Copiapo to Valdivia. Felt (VI) at Mendoza and (V) at San Juan, Argentina. Also felt by people in highrise buildings in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tsunami generated with wave heights at selected tide stations as follows: 1.1 m at Valparaiso; 48 cm at Hilo, Hawaii; 15 cm at Sand Point, Alaska; 12 cm at Adak, Alaska; 11 cm at Rikitea, Gambier Islands; 10 cm at Papeete, Tahiti; 10 cm at Kushiro, Nemuro and Miyako, Japan; 5 cm at Seward, Alaska; 4 cm at Kodiak, Alaska; and 3 cm at Honolulu and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. From Significant Earthquakes of the World, 1985.

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