Paleoseismology of the 2016 <i>M</i> _W 6.1 Petermann earthquake source: Implications for intraplate earthquake behaviour and the geomorphic longevity of bedrock fault scarps in a low strain‐rate cratonic region

The 20 May 2016 MW 6.1 Petermann earthquake in central Australia generated a 21 km surface rupture with 0.1 to 1 m vertical displacements across low-relief landscape. No paleo-scarps or potentially analogous topographic features are evident pre-earthquake Worldview-1 and Worldview-2 satellite data. Two excavations the expose near-surface fault geometry mixed aeolian-sheetwash sediment faulted only earthquake. A 10.6 ± 0.4 ka optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age of sheetwash provides minimum estimate for period quiescence prior rupture. Seven cosmogenic beryllium-10 (10Be) bedrock erosion rates derived samples < 5 distance from on hanging-wall foot-wall, three 19 50 distinction is found between proximal (1.3 2.6 0.2 Myr−1) distal (1.4 2.3 Myr−1). thickness rock fragments (2–5 cm) coseismically displaced perturbs steady-state rate by 3%, less than uncertainty estimated each sample (7–12%). Using 10Be scarp height measurements we approximately 0.5 Myr differential required return topography. By inference any pre-2016 fault-related topography likely similar time removal. We conclude that was first this last ca. 0.5–1 Myr. Extrapolating single nuclide timescale introduces large uncertainties, cannot resolve whether represents ever fault, > interseismic period. Either option reinforces importance including distributed sources displacement seismic hazard analyses.