"Uncovering the Surprising Origin of Seattle's Deadly Fault"

Geologists have uncovered a new origin story for the Seattle fault zone, suggesting its formation around 55 million years ago due to tectonic deformation and interactions with ancient volcanic islands. This study, published in Tectonics, aims to enhance hazard modeling for the densely populated Puget Sound region. The research reveals magnetic evidence indicating the fault's potential origin from the continent's edge splitting in half over 50 million years ago, offering a fresh perspective on the fault system's initial formation and providing valuable details about the region's geologic structure.