Mostly big quakes on San Andreas Fault.

I read this article with interest, especially in the light of the scientist that predicted the next big earthquake to be due in CA by 5 September 2004, it might just be the big one that is overdue by 17 years?

"Digging trenches at a site on the San Andreas 120 miles northwest of Los Angeles, geologists identified six events and found evidence that about 95 percent of slippage there has occurred during big quakes, with magnitudes ranging from 7.5 to 8, according to the study appearing in the current issue of the journal Geology."

"Scientists have long known the average period between big earthquakes on the section of the San Andreas nearest Los Angeles is 130 years. The most recent large earthquake happened 147 years ago, a magnitude-7.9 temblor that struck in 1857."

www.contracostatimes.com...

I woldn't be worry about san andreas, their is a nice fault under new york which many geologists are worried is going to go, possibly upto a magnitude 6.

Strike slip faults such as the san andreas tend not to creep, as some other faults do, and lock until they have enough force to then give way, a hence causing a really large quake

And there's also one other area in central US where happened one big earthquake in 19th century, today it could cause major damage to many cities.