Estimation of the epicentral area of the 1912 Acambay earthquake (M 6.9, Mexico) determined from the earthquake archaeological effects (EAE) and the ESI07 macroseismic scale

Earthquake Environmental Effects describe the geological features of an earthquake, including the surface faulting, ground cracks, soil liquefaction and landslides, among others. Historical large earthquakes could be classified according to the EEE macroseismic geological scale (ESI07), with the advantage that it is possible to compare different earthquakes which have occurred in different places and estimate the parameterization of their seismogenic sources. Hence, we have determined the ESI07 scale by the EEE description of the geological effects observed during the 1912 Acambay earthquake, which took place in the central basin of Mexico. Additionally, we have estimated the epicentral area of this earthquake, the total rupture length and the potential seismicity of the Acambay-Tixmadejé fault zone. Furthermore, we have estimated the earthquake archaeological effects (EAEs) of the oriented damage. To do this, we have modelled the S-wave travelling by assuming different epicentre locations at several active fault segments and thus, we have compared with the oriented damage mapped by Urbina and Camacho (1913) at different villages. Therefore, we propose a model of rupture of 1912 Acambay earthquake, releasing a M ≥ 7 earthquake and with the epicentre located at Tixmadejé. This rupture model implies earthquake directivity towards East and the S-wave travelling towards South. The total rupture length was estimated 33 km and the maximum coseismic offset 52 cm.