Staring At Spots

Portion of caption: Surface fault rupture illustrated by bold red line to the south of the mainshock. Photo, GNS Science.


I've been staring at this map of the various epicenters of earthquake shocks in and around Christchurch during the month of September, trying to discern a pattern. I don't like anything that seems to point at, or lead to, the Banks Peninsula (on the right; an extinct volcanic caldera), like this fault seems to. Not that anyone is suggesting anything is becoming active, or anything. But New Zealand is a very active place geologically! Certainly the country west of Christchurch, in and about Darfield, is some of the rockingest country going on the Earth right now!