© 2006 by The Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies

4 Distribution and Origin of Fault-Line Scarps of Southwest Louisiana,

USA

3
Heinrich, Paul V.
Louisiana Geological Survey, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803

Abstract
Compilation of fault-line scarps and traces from existing geologic mapping and revision of
the resulting compilation using remote sensing data and various aerial images revealed a complex
pattern of Quaternary fault-line scarps within southwest Louisiana. Numerous, generally east-
west trending, fault-line scarps form a 24 km wide east-west trending belt lying south of a line
between Ville Platte, Louisiana and Kirbyville, Texas. The southern edge of it is marked by a rela-
tively continuous set of fault-line scarps associated with the Tepetate fault zone. Numerous fault-
line scarps occur between the Tepetate fault zone and the shoreline of the Gulf of Mexico. How-
ever, these fault-line scarps lack any regional pattern, and many are associated with local salt
domes and growth faults. The northernmost fault-line scarps found within southwest Louisiana
consist of a narrow belt of prominent east-west trending scarps within southern Rapides Parish.
Many of these Quaternary fault-line scarps are the surface expressions of known Tertiary
growth faults, a number of which are associated with roll-over structures containing oil and gas
fields. Such oil and gas fields were formed as the result of reactivation of the faults during the
Pleistocene. The reactivation of these faults and the associated formation of these scarps represent
the results of the loading of the Gulf of Mexico margin starting in Late Pliocene time. This loading
has had the effect of reactivating regional fault trends such as the Tepetate fault zone and causing
the renewed flowage of deep-seated salt.

Introduction
Southwest Louisiana consists of a series coastal terraces underlain by Pleistocene allostrato-
graphic units, which the Louisiana Geological Survey has grouped into the Intermediate and Praire
allogroups (Fig. 1). A deeply dissected strip of Pliocene coastal plain sediments of the Willis Formation
lies along the northern edge of the Pleistocene terraces between the Sabine and Calcasieu rivers. Between
the Calcasieu River and the eastern valley wall of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, younger Pleistocene
sediments cover the eroded edge of these Pliocene age sediments (Heinrich and Autin 2000, Snead et al.,
2002a, 2002b, McCulloh and Heinrich 2002, Heinrich et al., 2002, 2003, McCulloh et al., 2003).
Within southwest Louisiana, the coast-parallel units comprising the Intermediate Allogroup, in
order of descending elevation and decreasing age, consist of the Lissie, Elizabeth, and Oakdale allofor-
mations. These alloformations consist of early to middle Pleistocene fluvial deposits of the Calcasieu,
Mississippi, Sabine, and Red rivers, their tributaries, and coastal plain streams. Alloformations have rel-
atively flat, but highly dissected, terrace surfaces lacking any remnants of original constructional
topography. Intermediate Alloformation is bounded updip by the Willis and Fleming formations and
onlapped gulfward by the sediments of the Prairie Allogroup. Near the Mississippi River flood plain,
Sicily Island and Peoria loesses blanket the Intermediate Allogroup (Snead et al., 2002a, 2002b,
McCulloh et al., 2003). Along the Red River and between it and the Mississippi River, the Intermediate
Allogroup consists of the Pleistocene fluvial sediments of Fisk's (1948) Montgomery and Bentley for-
mations (McCulloh and Heinrich 2004).

Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Transactions, Volume 55, 2005 284 
 Heinrich

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Figure 1. Geologic map of southwest Louisiana showing known fault traces and fault-line scarps. Compiled
and generalized from McCulloh and Heinrich (2002), Saucier and Snead (1989), and various published and
unpublished 1:100,000 scale Louisiana geologic quadrangles cited in text. Note: ch = China segment, C = Cam-
eron Meadows salt dome, H = Hackberry salt dome, J =Jefferson Island salt dome, Je = Jennings salt dome,
mb = Marsh Bayou segment, t = Topsy segment, and V = Vinton salt dome.
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 Distribution and Origin of Fault-Line Scarps of Southwest Louisiana, USA

4 The Beaumont Alloformation consists of Sangamon coastal plain deposits. A diverse assemblage
of fluvial and deltaic sediments of the Calcasieu, Mississippi, Sabine, and Red rivers, their tributaries,
and coastal plain streams; barrier sands that comprise Houston ridge; and estuarine and marine sedi-
ments comprise this alloformation. Unlike the alloformations that compose the Intermediate Allogroup,
3 the surface of the Beaumont Alloformation, although degraded by various surficial processes, exhibits
recognizable constructional landforms including coastal ridges, relict channels, and a barrier island
ridge. It is onlapped gulfward by Holocene sediments of the Mermantau Alloformation. The Avoyelles
Alloformation occurs as isolated terrace fragments and comprises the southeast corner of the Prairie
7 Allogroup along the western valley wall of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Its surface exhibits the relict
meander-belt morphology of the relict Lafayette meander-belt of the Mississippi River. The Big Cane
Alloformation consists of Red River sediments intermediate in age, stratigraphy, and elevation between
the Avoyelles Alloformation and modern Mississippi River floodplain. Peoria loess covers the surfaces
of the Avoyelles and Big Cane alloformations and the western part of the Beaumont Alloformation adja-
cent to the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (Heinrich and Autin 2000, Heinrich et al., 2002, 2003,
McCulloh et al., 2003, McCulloh and Heinrich 2004).
The Deweyville Allogroup consists of Wisconsinan fluvial deposits intermediate in age and
stratigraphic position between Holocene fluvial sediments underlying the modern floodplains of the
Calcasieu and Sabine rivers and the Prairie Allogroup. The surface of the Deweyville exhibits well-pre-
served meander scars that are substantially larger than those of adjacent modern flood plains. Gulfward,
these surfaces dip beneath the floodplains and sediments of the river valleys along which they are found.
Multiple units of alloformation rank have been recognized and mapped within the Deweyville Allo-
group (Blum et al., 1995, Heinrich et al., 2002, 2003).
For this paper, the alluvial valleys of the Calcasieu, Mississippi, Sabine, and Red rivers and their
tributaries, the fluvial sediments underlying them are left undifferentiated. Within the Mississippi River
Alluvial Valley, unnamed Pleistocene valley train deposits occur, which are also not discussed. The
remainder of the Holocene sediment consists of the deposits of the Mississippi River delta and the Mer-
mentau Alloformation.
The Mermentau Alloformation, originally defined as the "Mermentau Member" by Jones et al.,
(1954), underlies the chenier plain of southwest Louisiana. It consists of dark-colored marine muds,
sandy and shelly beach deposits, organic marsh clays, and lacustrine and bay muds that underlie the
Louisiana chenier plain. This alloformation extends westward along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico into
Texas as far west as Galveston Bay and eastward to Vermilion Bay (Jackson et al., 1954, Heinrich in
press, in preparation).
As discussed by Heinrich (2005), Howe and Moresi (1931) mapped the first fault-line scarp
within southwest Louisiana. They interpreted this scarp to be a terrace boundary between their Pensa-
cola and Hammond terraces. Later, Bernard (1950) was apparently the first person to recognize the
presence of fault-line scarps within the southwest Louisiana region by mapping fault-line scarps just
across the Sabine River in Texas within Newton County. Later, Heinrich (1988) postulated that a scarp,
the Dequincy scarp, within southwest Louisiana interpreted by Fisk (1948) to be a terrace scarp, was, in
fact, tectonic in origin. As reported by Heinrich (1997, 2000), the tectonic origin of one of these scarps,
the De Quincy scarp, was confirmed by STATEMAP funded drilling conducted for Snead et al., (1995).
Since then, fault-line scarps within southwest Louisiana have been mapped for and illustrated by several
1:100,000 scale geologic quadrangles, i.e. Heinrich and Autin (2000), Snead et al., (2002a, 2002b), Hei-
nrich et al., (2002, 2003), and Heinrich (in press, in preparation). In addition, McCulloh et al., (2003)
briefly described these fault-line scarps.

Methodology
A map of fault-line scarps within southwest Louisiana was compiled from existing geologic
maps and from new mapping created from recently available remote sensing data. The remote sensing
data consisted of digital elevation models (DEMs) prepared from LIDAR (LIght Detection And Rang-
ing) data available at Atlas: The Louisiana Statewide GIS at http://atlas.lsu.edu/ and National Elevation
Dataset (NED) available at http://seamless.usgs.gov/. Previously mapped fault-line scarps were
obtained from Heinrich and Autin (2000), Snead et al., (2002a, 2002b), Heinrich et al., (2002, 2003),

286 
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4 Heinrich (2005), and Heinrich (in press, in preparation). The locations of these fault-line scarps as indi-
cated on original draft 1:24,000 geologic maps for these sources were consulted and reviewed against
LIDAR images produced using MacDEM, Version 1.0. In addition, analyses of the LIDAR DEMs using
Global Mapper, Version 5.07, and visual inspection of MacDEM LIDAR images were used to map the
3 location of additional fault-line scarps. The locations of these potential fault-line scarps were examined
relative to features identifiable from USGS Digital Orthophoto Quarter Quadrangles, soils surveys, and
available subsurface data. The height of fault-line scarps was estimated using Global Mapper, Version
7 5.07 from the LIDAR DEMs.

Results
Compilation and review of previously mapped fault traces and fault-line scarps and analysis of
images produced from both LIDAR and NED DEMs revealed a number of previously unmapped fault
traces and fault-line scarps. The plotting of these features on 1;100,000 scale topographic and geologic
maps revealed three major regions of surface faulting. They are the Glenmora trend, Tepetate trend, and
Southern Fault-line Scarps and Traces region.

Glenmora trend

The northernmost set of fault-line scarps, the Glenmora trend, lies within southern Rapides Par-
ish (Fig. 1). This trend consists of sets of east-west scarps, which lie within an area extending from just
over a mile north of Lake Cocodrie westward past Glenmora, Louisiana, to the Rapides-Vernon parish
line. Indistinct linear features on images made from LIDAR DEMs suggested the presence of the trace
of another east-west fault trace lying about a mile south of the Allen-Rapides parish line.
Because of the dissected nature of the terraces associated with the Lissie and Oakdale alloforma-
tions of the Intermediate Allogroup, it is difficult to determine the exact amount that the fault-line scarps
of the Glenmora trend have displaced the terrace surfaces. For the northernmost sets of scarps, height
varies from 15 to 25 ft (4.6 to 7.6 m). The westernmost scarp segment of one set has a height varying
from 30 to 35 ft (9.1 to 11 m). The southernmost set of scarps has a height of only 8 to 10 ft (2.4 to 3.0
m).
Available log data from water, oil, and gas wells is insufficient to confirm the presence faults
associated with these scarps in the subsurface at this time. However, the morphology of these scarps,
their east-west orientation, and their cross-cutting of terrace scarps separating the surfaces of the the
Lissie and Oakdale alloformations clearly show them to be fault-line scarps. One scarp segment, which
extends from the Lissie Alloformation across terraces of Tenmile Creek as a 3 ft (0.9 m) high scarp
within southwest Rapides Parish, Sec. 31, T. 1 S., R.4 W. (Fig. 2). This and similar fault-line scarps
within the Glenmora trend demonstrate the tectonic origin of these scarps and ongoing fault movement.
At this time there appears to be a gap of about 23 mi (37 km) separating the Glenmora and
Tepetate trends. A review of images made from NED DEMS, selected 1:24,000 scale topographic maps,
and selected 1:24000 scale USGS Digital Orthophoto Quadrangles (DOQQ) revealed no evidence of
significant scarps within this gap. Detailed analysis of LIDAR data, when it becomes available, might
reveal scarps with heights below the resolution of the 1:24,000 scale topographic maps within this gap.
Similarly with the currently available data, i.e. various aerial imagery and photographs, 1:24,000 scale
topographic maps, 1:24,000 scale DOQQs, and DEMs derived from these topographic maps, no evi-
dence of fault-line scarps west of the Rapides-Vernon parish line could be discerned. However, the
detailed analysis of LIDAR data, when it becomes available, would be able to determine if the Glen-
mora trend extends further west.

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Figure 2. Image produced from LIDAR DEM for the Steep Gulley 1:24,000 quadrangle showing fault-line
scarp within the Glenmora trend. Arrows point to base of fault-line scarp. A = fault-line scarp cutting surface
of Lissie Alloformation. B and C = scarp cutting terraces within the valley of Tenmile Creek within southwest
Rapides Parish.
k

Tepetate trend

Extending from the western valley wall of the Mississippi River alluvial Valley to the valley of
the Sabine River, the Tepetate trend of fault-line scarps crosses across the surface of the Lissie and
Beaumont alloformations westward into East Texas (Fig. 1). It consists of a 15 mi (24 km) wide zone
containing several fault-line scarps. Except along its southern edge, the fault-line scarps that compose
this trend apparently consist of discontinuous east-west scarps ranging from less than 1 mile (0.6 km) to
about 7 mi (11 km) in length. However, when LIDAR data become available for this part of Louisiana
covering the bulk of the Tepetate trend, it is possible that more fault-line scarps will be found and known
ones will be found to be more continuous and extensive than can be determined using the data now
available.
The southern edge of the Tepetate trend is defined by an almost continuous series of fault-line
scarps composed of four segments, the De Quincy, Marsh Bayou, Topsy, and China segments (Fig. 1).
The De Quincy, Topsy, and China segments consist of gulfward-facing fault-line scarps. In contrast the
Marsh Bayou segment consists of an inland-facing fault-line scarp. Where these fault-line scarps of the
De Quincy and Topsy segments cross the Lissie Alloformation, they displace its surface by 25 to 30 ft
(7.6 to 9 m) (Fig. 2). These fault-line scarps also displaced alluvium within the valleys, where they cross
them. Further west, fault-line scarps of the China segment displace the surface of the Beaumont Allofor-
mation between 6 to 10 ft (1.8 to 3 m) within Acadia, Jefferson Davis, and Lafayette parishes. Near the
Acadia-Jefferson Davis parish line, fault-line scarp within the China segment, displaces a terrace, possi-
bly belonging to the Avoyelles Alloformation, along Bayou Nezpique by about 4 ft (1.2 m). The fault-
line scarps of the China segment also displace several relict Pleistocene fluvial channels of the Red
River.

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4 The fault-line scarps of the Tepetate trend are clearly associated with regional growth faults in the
subsurface. As discussed in detail by Heinrich (2000) and Miller and Heinrich (2003), the fault-line
scarps of the De Quincy and China segments are clearly associated with the Tepetate fault zone in the
subsurface. Paine (1962) illustrated faulted alluvium of the Beaumont Alloformation exposed in the
3 Wolfe gravel pit at Indian Village, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. Heinrich (2000) documented sub-
surface displacement of the alluvium comproing the Lissie Alloformation associated with a fault-line
scarp of the De Quincy segment. The other fault-line scarps within the Tepetate trend are associated
7 with regional growth faults as mapped by Lautier (1980, 1981), Lemoine (1989), Anonymous (2002),
and others. Oil and gas fields associated with roll-over structures are often located immediately south of
fault-line scarps within the Tepetate trend (Holland et al., 1952, Paine 1962, Standfield et al., 1981,
Anonymous 2002, Miller and Heinrich 2003).
Clear evidence of recent movement along fault-line scarps within the Tepetate trend exists within
southwest Louisiana. As illustrated by Miller and Heinrich (2003), subsidence has occurred where a
fault-line scarp of the China segment crosses a few floodplains of modern bayous and streams within
Allen Parish. For example, the floodplain of Bayou Serpent has been offset by almost 3 ft (1 m). Hein-
rich (2000) found displacement of terrace surfaces within stream valleys where they cross the trace of
the De Quincy segment in Calcasieu and Beauregard parishes. Images prepared from LIDAR data show
that the Holocene floodplains of many of the drainages crossing the De Quincy segment are offset by
low, but distinct, fault-line scarps (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Image produced from LIDAR DEM for De Quincy 1:24,000 quadrangle, Calcasieu Parish, showing
fault-line scarp along De Quincy segment within the Tepetate trend. Arrows point toward base of fault-line
scarps. A = fault-line scarp cutting Lissie Alloformation. B = fault-line scarp cutting Holocene alluvium within
stream valleys. ? = possible scarps of inland facing antithetic faults.
k

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 Distribution and Origin of Fault-Line Scarps of Southwest Louisiana, USA

4 Southern fault trace and fault-line scarps region

Widely scattered fault-line scarps and fault traces occur south of the Tepetate fault-line scarp
trend (Fig.1). They consist of a mixture of fault traces and gulfward- and inland-facing fault-line scarps
3 lacking any discernible regional trends. Typically, these fault-line scarps face gulfward. The height of
these scarps typically ranges from 2 to 4 ft (0.6 to 1.2 m) to 5 to 7 ft (1.5 to 2.1 m). They offset relict flu-
vial landforms and coastal ridges found on the surface of the Beaumont and Avolleyes alloformations in
7 many places.
Although the majority of fault-line scarps found south of the Tepetate trend face gulfward, a
series of inland-facing fault-line scarps occurs within Sections 14-17, 19, and 20, T.9S., R.6W.; Sections
15 and 22-24, T.9S., R.6W.; Sections 25-30, T.9S., R.5W.; and Sections 26-30, T.9S., R.4W., western-
most Jefferson Davis Parish and easternmost Calcasieu Parish (Fig. 1). The relief on these fault-line
scarps is quite low being in the range of 3 to 6 ft (0.9 to 2 m). As a result, they are not readily apparent
on 1:24,000 scale topographic maps although they show up quite well in images made from LIDAR
data. The tectonic origin of these scarps is consistent with their morphology and demonstrated by relict
channels and natural levees of the Red River, which they offset (Fig. 4).

Figure 4. Image produced from LIDAR DEM for Fenton 1:24,000 quadrangle, Jefferson Davis Parish, show-
ing inland-facing fault-line scarp offsetting relict Red River channel. Arrows point toward base of scarps. A =
scarp cutting Beaumont Allofromation. Dashed line = centerline of relict Red River channel.
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290 
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4 An extensive fault-line scarp system radiates from the Vinton salt dome in southwest Calcasieu
Parish (Fig. 1). From the Vinton salt dome, fault line scarps extend as far as 12 mi (20 km) to the north-
east, 7.3 mi (12 km) to the southeast, and 3 mi (5 km) to the west. The height of the fault-line scarps to
the northeast and west is typically about 3 ft (0.9 m). In case of the longest of the northern fault-line
3 scarps, the displacement of the fault reverses along its length such that it changes from an eastward-fac-
ing scarp to a westward-facing scarp. The fault-line scarps to the southeast of the Vinton dome typically
range in height from 2 to 3 ft (0.6 to 0.9 m). The displacement of terrace surfaces, relict river channels,
and coastal ridges by these scarps clearly demonstrate their tectonic origin.
7 Fault traces and fault-line scarps are also associated with three other salt domes within southwest
Louisiana (Fig. 1). Within Iberia Parish, Heinrich (2005) described a less extensive radial pattern of
fault-line scarps associated with the Jefferson Island salt dome. Although the Hackberry salt dome also
has fault-line scarps associated with it, they do not form the radial pattern seen in the other three salt
domes. The fault-line scarps associated with both the Hackberry and Jefferson island salt domes offset
relict river channels. Within the Chenier Plain, Heinrich (in press) has mapped fault traces radiating out
from the Cameron Meadows salt dome. In the case of the Cameron Meadows, Hackberry, and Jefferson
Island salt domes, the fault-line scarps correspond closely to known fault zones within the subsurface.

Discussion
The trends and groups of fault-line scarps appear to represent differing responses to the loading
of the Louisiana coastal plain by the Mississippi, Red, and Sabine rivers. The factors determining the
location of the Glenmora trend faulting are unclear given the lack of a major, mapped subsurface fault
zone associated with it and the lack of accessible subsurface data. One possible explanation of the posi-
tion of this fault trend is provided by the presence of the southern edge of the Comachean just north of
and paralleling the Glenmora trend (Adams 1985, Lopez 1995). Van Siclen (1978) suggested that fault-
ing might be concentrated in front of the position of this former continental shelf edge, behind which the
sediments are stabilized, in part, by the presence of thick carbonate sequences.
In case of the Tepetate trend, the fault-line scarps are clearly associated with pre-existing growth
faults. Detailed studies done by Heinrich (2000) along the China segment, by Hanor (1982) along the
Tepetate fault zone in Pointe Coupee Parish, and Durham and Peeples (1956) along the Baton Rouge
fault zone in Southeastern Louisiana, all indicated that the fault-line scarps are the result of the reactiva-
tion of growth faults during the Pleistocene. These results are consistent with arguments by Nunn
(1985) and, later, Dokka (2004), that the reactivation of these growth faults was the result of high sedi-
mentation rates, which have occurred within the Louisiana coastal plain and continental shelf since the
start of continental glaciation. Nunn (1985) and Dokka (2004) argued that this loading has caused the
reactivation of these faults as a result of a combination of tensional stress to which the underlying crust
is being subjected within the Tepetate trend, gravity sliding of the Central Province of Peele et al.,
(1995) under its own weight, and the reactivation of the flowage of deep-seated salt.
In the case of the fault traces and fault-line scarps south of the Tepetate trend, they are far too
south to be explained by tensional stress on the underlying crust as suggested by Nunn (1985). The reac-
tivation of these fault-line scarps, as argued by Dokka (2004) is readily explained as the result of gravity
sliding and the flowage of deep-seated salt. The fault-line scarps associated with the Cameron Mead-
ows, Hackberry, Jefferson Island, and Vinton salt domes quite likely reflect salt flowage at depth
associated with these domes.

Conclusions
The compilation of data from Heinrich and Autin 2000, Snead et al., 2002a, 2002b, McCulloh
and Heinrich 2002, Heinrich et al., 2002, 2003, and Heinrich (2005, in press, in preparation) and the re-
evaluation of this mapping using recent LIDAR DEMs found that Late Pleistocene faulting within the
coastal plain of southwest Louisiana is not limited to the Tepetate fault zone. The compilation of fault
traces and fault-line scarps from these sources defines three general groupings of these features, the
Glenmora trend, the Tepetate trend, and the Southern Fault trace and Fault-line Scarp region, within
southwest Louisiana. Each of these groupings represents differing regional response to the loading of
the Louisiana coastal plain.

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4 The presence of well-defined fault traces and fault-line scarps outside of the Tepetate fault zone
demonstrates that the potential for the damage to infrastructure within southwest Louisiana by fault
movement is greater than previously thought. Because there is no direct evidence of earthquake activity
associated with faults within southwest Louisiana, except possibly for the relatively minor 1983 Lake
3 Charles earthquake, the hazard from seismic shaking is negligible. As a result, the main hazard posed by
faults within southwest Louisiana is from movement along these faults as a result of ongoing natural
subsidence, possibly accentuated at times by excessive groundwater pumping. Over time, such move-
ment can cause cumulative damage to buildings, roads, pipelines, railroads, and other infrastructure
7 built across them or associated antithetic faults.

Acknowledgements
The United States Geological Survey under their STATEMAP program funded the geologic map-
ping, which made this research possible, under cooperative agreements no. 1434-94-A-1233, 1434-HQ-
96-AG-01490, and 03HQAG0088. In addition, support from the Louisiana Geological Survey made the
compilation of the geologic map data and review of LIDAR and NED data possible. Finally, I thank Mr.
Sidney Agnew, currently at the Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University at
Baton Rouge and Richard P. McCulloh of the Louisiana Geological Survey for sharing their ideas and
expertise fault-line scarps and the about the use of LIDAR in mapping them.

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293 
 Erratum to ‘‘Distribution and origin of fault-line scarps of
southwest Louisiana, USA‘‘

In the legend of figure 1 on page 285 of Heinrich (2005) , the Beaumont Alloformation is
incorrectly labeled as the “Hammond alloformation.” The corrected legend is below.

Reference Cited:
 
Heinrich,  P.  V.,  2005a,  Distribution  and  Origin  of  Fault‐Line  Scarps  of  Southwest  Louisiana,  USA.  Gulf  Coast  Association  of 
Geological Societies Transactions. vol. 55, pp. 284‐293.