LATE QUATERNARY FAULTED LANDFORMS AND FAULT ACTIVITY OF THE HUASHAN PIEDMONT FAULT

Based on the 1︰50000 active fault geological mapping, combining with high-precision remote imaging, field geological investigation and dating technique, the paper investigates the stratum, topography and faulted landforms of the Huashan Piedmont Fault. Research shows that the Huashan Piedmont Fault can be divided into Lantian to Huaxian section (the west section), Huaxian to Huayin section (the middle section) and Huayin to Lingbao section (the east section) according to the respective different fault activity. The fault in Lantian to Huaxian section is mainly contacted by loess and bedrock. Bedrock fault plane has already become unsmooth and mirror surfaces or striations can not be seen due to the erosion of running water and wind. 10~20m high fault scarps can be seen ahead of mountain in the north section near Mayu gully and Qiaoyu gully, and we can see Malan loess faulted profiles in some gully walls. In this section terraces are mainly composed of T₁ and T₂ which formed in the early stage of Holocene and late Pleistocene respectively. Field investigation shows that T₁ is continuous and T₂ is dislocated across the fault. These indicate that in this section the fault has been active in the late Pleistocene and its activity becomes weaker or no longer active after that. In the section between Huaxian and Huayin, neotectonics is very obvious, fault triangular facets are clearly visible and fault scarps are in linear distribution. Terrace T₁, T₂ and T₃ develop well on both sides of most gullies. Dating data shows that T₁ forms in 2~3ka BP, T₂ forms in 6~7ka BP, and T₃ forms in 60~70ka BP. All terraces are faulted in this section, combing with average ages and scarp heights of terraces, we calculate the average vertical slip rates during the period of T₃ to T₂, T₂ to T₁ and since the formation of T₁, which are 0.4mm/a, 1.1mm/a and 1.6mm/a, and among them, 1.1mm/a can roughly represent as the average vertical slip rate since the middle stage of Holocene. Fault has been active several times since the late period of late Pleistocene according to fault profiles, in addition, Tanyu west trench also reveals the dislocation of the culture layer of(0.31~0.27)a BP. 1~2m high scarps of floodplains which formed in(400~600)a BP can be seen at Shidiyu gully and Gouyu gully. In contrast with historical earthquake data, we consider that the faulted culture layer exposed by Tanyu west trench and the scarps of floodplains are the remains of Huanxian M_S8½ earthquake. The fault in Huayin to Lingbao section is also mainly contacted by loess and mountain bedrock. Malan loess faulted profiles can be seen at many river outlets of mountains. Terrace geomorphic feature is similar with that in the west section, T₁ is covered by thin incompact Holocene sand loam, and T₂ is covered by Malan loess. OSL dating shows that T₂ formed in the early to middle stage of late Pleistocene. Field investigation shows that T₁ is continuous and T₂ is dislocated across the fault. These also indicate that in this section fault was active in the late Pleistocene and its activity becomes weaker or no longer active since Holocene. According to this study combined with former researches, we incline to the view that the seismogenic structure of Huanxian M_S8½ earthquake is the Huashan Piedmont Fault and the Northern Margin Fault of Weinan Loess, as for whether there are other faults or not awaits further study.     

DISTRIBUTION OF YANGJIA VILLAGE-YAODIAN SECTION OF WEIHE FAULT AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ITS LATE QUATERNARY ACTIVITY

The Yangjia Village-Yaodian segment of Weihe Fault, starting from Yangjia Village in the west, passing through Weijiaquan, Jinjiazhuang, Donger Village, Chenjiatai to Yaodian, occurs as a NE-striking fault dipping south with a total length of 33 kilometers. As a syn-depositional normal fault, it extends along the leading and trail edge of T₁, T₂ and T₃ terrace at the northern bank of Weihe River. Results of remote sensing interpretation, shallow seismic exploration, exploratory trench, and drilling show that the Yangjia Village-Yaodian section of Weihe Fault manifests as fault scarps, overlapping with the NE-extending terrace scarp at the northern bank of Weihe River. Weihe Fault broke the T₁ that can be distinguished on the shallow seismic profile and multiple profiles with broken signs from T₁ to the ground, which is the same with the cracks through the Han Tomb at the top of the exploratory trench in Yangjia Village. It shows that the fault may still be active from the late Pleistocene to Holocene. Through composite drilling section and the analysis of exploratory trench, there is no significant difference in activity between the Yangjia Village-Jinjiazhuang and Donger Village-Yaodian section. This segment has experienced a large displacement event since (46.0±3.3)ka BP, approximately 11.0~16.5m, with a vertical slip rate of 0.34~0.45mm/a. The most recent activity occurred approximately around 2.0ka BP. The left-step en echelon fracture zone at Jingjiazhuang separates this section into two minor ones, Yangjia Village-Jinjiazhuang section and Donger Villag-Yaodian section. Yangjia Village-Yaodian section in Weihe Fault and Yaodian-Zhangjiawan section which was found out in the Xi'an active fault detection and seismic risk assessment project can be combined into the Yangjia Village-Zhangjiawan section.     

HOLOCENE SLIP RATE ALONG THE NE-TRENDING QIXIANG CO FAULT IN THE CENTRAL TIBETAN PLATEAU AND ITS TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS

The two mainstream deformation models of the Tibet plateau are continental escape model and crustal thickening model, the former suggests that the NW-trending Karakoram Fault, Gyaring Co Fault, Beng Co Fault and the Jiali Fault as the Karakoram-Jiali fault zone is the southern border belt and that the dextral strike-slip rate is estimated as up to 10~20mm/yr. However, research results in recent years show that the slip rates along those faults are significantly less than earlier estimates. Taylor et al. (2003)suggest that the conjugate strike-slip faults control the active deformation in the central Tibet. The lack of research on the slip behavior of the NE-trending faults in the central Tibet Plateau constrains our understanding of the central Tibet deformation model. Thus, we choose the NE-direction Qixiang Co Fault located at the north of the Gyaring Co Fault as research object. Based on the interpretation of satellite images, we found several faulted geomorphic sites. Using RTK-GPS ground control point and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)topographic surveying, we obtained less than 10cm/pix-resolution digital elevation model (DEM)in the Yaqu town site. We used the LaDiCaoz_v2.1 software to automatically extract the left-lateral offset of the largest gully on the terrace T₂ surface, which is (21.3±7.1)m, and the vertical dislocation of the scarp on the terrace T₂ surface, which is (0.9±0.1)m. The age of both U-series dating samples on the terrace T₂ is (4.98±0.17)ka and (5.98±0.07)ka, respectively. The Holocene left-lateral slip rate along Qixiang Co Fault is (3.56±1.19)mm/a and the vertical slip rate is (0.15±0.02)mm/a. The kinematic characteristics of the sinistral strike-slip with normal slip coincide with the eastward motion of the central Tibet plateau, and its magnitude is in agreement with its conjugate Gyaring Co Fault, suggesting that the deformation pattern of the central Tibetan plateau complies with the conjugate strike-slip faults mode.     

SLIP RATES OF THE RIYUE MT. FAULT AT DEZHOU SEGMENT SINCE LATE PLEISTOCENE

The Riyue Mt. Fault is a secondary fault controlled by the major regional boundary faults (East Kunlun Fault and Qilian-Haiyuan Fault). It lies in the interior of Qaidam-Qilianshan block and between the major regional boundary faults. The Riyue Mt. fault zone locates in the special tectonic setting which can provide some evidences for recent activity of outward extension of NE Tibetan plateau, so it is of significance to determine the activity of Riyue Mt. Fault since late Pleistocene to Holocene. In this paper, we have obtained some findings along the Dezhou segment of Riyue Mt. Fault by interpreting the piedmont alluvial fans, measuring fault scarps, and excavating trenches across the fault scarp. The findings are as follows:(1) Since the late Pleistocene, there are an alluvial fan f_p and three river terraces T₁-T₃ formed on the Dezhou segment. The abandonment age of f_p is approximately (21.2±0.6) ka, and that of the river terrace T₂ is (12.4±0.11) ka. (2) Since the late Pleistocene, the dextral strike-slip rate of the Riyue Mt. Fault is (2.41±0.25) mm/a. In the Holocene, the dextral strike-slip rate of the fault is (2.18±0.40) mm/a, and its vertical displacement rate is (0.24±0.16) mm/a. This result indicates that the dextral strike-slip rate of the Riyue Mt. Fault has not changed since the late Pleistocene. It is believed that, as one of the dextral strikeslip faults, sandwiched between the the regional big left-lateral strike-slip faults, the Riyue Mt. Fault didn't cut the boundary zone of the large block. What's more, the dextral strike-slip faults play an important role in the coordination of deformation between the sub-blocks during the long term growth and expansion of the northeast Tibetan plateau.     

LATE QUATERNARY TECTONIC DEFORMATION AROUND THE HUJIATAI ANTICLINE ALONG THE EAST SEGMENT OF THE FODONGMIAO-HONGYAZI FAULT,NORTHERN QILIAN SHAN: AN INSIGHT ON THE SEISMOGENIC PATTERN OF 1609 HONGYAZI M7 1/4 EARTHQUAKE

The Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault (FHF)is one of the most active faults of the northern Qilian thrust fault zone. The 1609 Hongyazi M7 1/4 earthquake occurred on the east segment of the FHF, an area with a complex geometry at the Mayinghe River site. The seismogenic pattern of this earthquake revealed by complex surface ruptures remains unclear. In this paper, we focus on active tectonic deformation around the Hujiatai anticline (HA)in the Mayinghe River site. Combining with topographic survey via dGPS across deformed terraces and alluvial fans, a field survey of the geological section across the HA, the characteristics of the active fold and several sub-faults were constrained. Meanwhile, combined with the seismic reflection profiles passing through the anticline, the correspondence relationship between surface expressions of this tectonic and the deep structure was discussed. According to our research, the HA is a result of northward propagation of the range-front thrust fault F₁. At the same time, a thrust fault F₂ with dextral strike-slip motion and a thrust fault F₄ were formed on the east side and north side of the HA, respectively. These two active faults accommodated local deformation. Trench results and ¹⁴C dating reveal that the 1609 Hongyazi M7 1/4 earthquake ruptured the T₁ terrace in the Huangcaoba site. Combined with previous field investigations and literature about the 1609 Hongyazi earthquake, we suggest that this earthquake occurred on the range-front fault F₁, and the depth of the hypocenter may be about 8~22km.     

TERRACE DEFORMATION AND SLIP RATES OF THE DONGBIELIEKE FAULT IN WESTERN JUNGGAR BASIN SINCE THE LATE QUATERNARY

Strike-slip fault plays an important role in the process of tectonic deformation since Cenozoic in Asia. The role of strike-slip fault in the process of mountain building and continental deformation has always been an important issue of universal concern to the earth science community. Junggar Basin is located in the hinterland of Central Asia, bordering on the north the Altay region and the Baikal rift system, which are prone to devastating earthquakes, the Tianshan orogenic belt and the Tibet Plateau on the south, and the rigid blocks, such as Erdos, the South China, the North China Plain and Amur, on the east. Affected by the effect of the Indian-Eurasian collision on the south of the basin and at the same time, driven by the southward push of the Mongolian-Siberian plate, the active structures in the periphery of the basin show a relatively strong activity. The main deformation patterns are represented by the large-scale NNW-trending right-lateral strike-slip faults dominated by right-lateral shearing, the NNE-trending left-lateral strike-slip faults dominated by left-lateral shearing, and the thrust-nappe structure systems distributed in piedmont of Tianshan in the south of the basin. There are three near-parallel-distributed left-lateral strike-slip faults in the west edge of the basin, from the east to the west, they are:the Daerbute Fault, the Toli Fault and the Dongbielieke Fault. This paper focuses on the Dongbielieke Fault in the western Junggar region. The Dongbielieke Fault is a Holocene active fault, located at the key position of the western Junggar orogenic belt. The total length of the fault is 120km, striking NE. Since the late Quaternary, the continuous activity of the Dongbielieke Fault has caused obvious left-lateral displacement at all geomorphologic units along the fault, and a linear continuous straight steep scarp was formed on the eastern side of the Tacheng Basin. According to the strike and the movement of fault, the fault can be divided into three segments, namely, the north, middle and south segment. In order to obtain a more accurate magnitude of the left-lateral strike-slip displacement and the accumulative left-lateral strike-slip displacement of different geomorphic surfaces, we chose the Ahebiedou River in the southern segment and used the UAV to take three-dimensional photographs to obtain the digital elevation model(the accuracy is 10cm). And on this basis, the amount of left-lateral strike-slip displacement of various geological masses and geomorphic surfaces(lines)since their formation is obtained. The maximum left-lateral displacement of the terrace T₅ is(30.7±2.1)m and the minimum left-lateral displacement is(20.1±1.3)m; the left-lateral displacement of the terrace T₄ is(12±0.9)m, and the left-lateral displacement of the terrace T₂ is(8.7±0.6)m. OSL dating samples from the surface of different level terraces(T₅, T₄, T₂ and T₁)are collected, processed and measured, and the ages of the terraces of various levels are obtained. By measuring the amount of left-lateral displacements since the Late Quaternary of the Dongbielieke Fault and combining the dating results of the various geomorphic surfaces, the displacements and slip rates of the fault on each level of the terraces since the formation of the T₅ terrace are calculated. Using the maximum displacement of(30.7±2.1)m of the T₅ terrace and the age of the geomorphic surface on the west bank of the river, we obtained the slip rate of(0.7±0.11)mm/a; similarly, using the minimum displacement of(20.1±1.3)m and the age of the geomorphic surface of the east bank, we obtained the slip rate of(0.46±0.07)mm/a. T₅ terrace is developed on both banks of the river and on both walls of the fault. After the terraces are offset by faulting, the terraces on foot wall in the left bank of the river are far away from the river, and the erosion basically stops. After that, the river mainly cuts the terraces on the east bank. Therefore, the west bank retains a more accurate displacement of the geomorphic surface(Gold et al., 2009), so the left-lateral slip rate of the T₅ terrace is taken as(0.7±0.11)mm/a. The left-lateral slip rate calculated for T₄ and T₂ terraces is similar, with an average value of(0.91±0.18)mm/a. In the evolution process of river terraces, the lateral erosion of high-level terrace is much larger than that of low-level terrace, so the slip rate of T₄ and T₂ terraces is closer to the true value. The left-lateral slip rate of the Dongbielieke Fault since the late Quaternary is(0.91±0.18)m/a. Compared with the GPS slip rate in the western Junggar area, it is considered that the NE-trending strike-slip motion in this area is dominated by the Dongbielieke Fault, which absorbs a large amount of residual deformation while maintaining a relatively high left-lateral slip rate.     

USING DEFORMED FLUVIALTERRACES OF THE QINGYIJIANG RIVER TO STUDY THE TECTONIC ACTIVITY OF THE SOUTHERN SEGMENT OF LONGMENSHAN FAULT ZONE

On 20 April 2013, a destructive earthquake, the Lushan M_S7.0 earthquake, occurred in the southern segment of the Longmenshan Fault zone, the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau in Sichuan, China. This earthquake did not produce surface rupture zone, and its seismogenic structure is not clear. Due to the lack of Quaternary sediment in the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone and the fact that fault outcrops are not obvious, there is a shortage of data concerning the tectonic activity of this region. This paper takes the upper reaches of the Qingyijiang River as the research target, which runs through the Yanjing-Wulong Fault, Dachuan-Shuangshi Fault and Lushan Basin, with an attempt to improve the understanding of the tectonic activity of the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone and explore the seismogenic structure of Lushan earthquake. In the paper, the important morphological features and tectonic evolution of this area were reviewed. Then, field sites were selected to provide profiles of different parts of the Qingyijiang River terraces, and the longitudinal profile of the terraces of the Qingyijiang River in the south segment of the Longmenshan fault zone was reconstructed based on geological interpretation of high-resolution remote sensing images, continuous differential GPS surveying along the terrace surfaces, geomorphic field evidence, and correlation of the fluvial terraces. The deformed longitudinal profile reveals that the most active tectonics during the late Quaternary in the south segment of the Longmenshan Fault zone are the Yanjing-Wulong Fault and the Longmenshan range front anticline. The vertical thrust rate of the Yanjing-Wulong Fault is nearly 0.6~1.2mm/a in the late Quaternary. The tectonic activity of the Longmenshan range front anticline may be higher than the Yanjing-Wulong Fault. Combined with the relocations of aftershocks and other geophysical data about the Lushan earthquake, we found that the seismogenic structure of the Lushan earthquake is the range front blind thrust and the back thrust fault, and the pop-up structure between the two faults controls the surface deformation of the range front anticline.     

龙门山断裂带北段第四纪活动的地质地貌证据

以龙门山断裂带北段中的青川断裂、茶坝-林庵寺断裂沿线的地质地貌为研究对象,在青川断裂沿线的土关铺、大安,茶坝-林庵寺断裂上的薛家沟、胡家坝等地,对断裂附近的河流地貌进行了详细的构造地貌制图。龙门山断裂带北段所在地区的河流一般发育5级阶地,T1阶地拔河高度3~5m,为全新世堆积阶地。T2阶地拔河高度10m左右,为晚更新世基座阶地。T3阶地拔河高度一般为30~35m,为晚更新世早期形成的基座阶地。T4阶地拔河高度60~70m,残留的阶地砾石层中花岗岩、砂岩砾石已经被强风化,只保留砾石的形态。T5阶地拔河高度为90m左右,阶地堆积物被剥蚀殆尽。青川断裂、茶坝-林庵寺断裂在河流的T4和T5阶地上形成宽30~180m的断层槽地,深度达8~20m,T4阶地砾石层底面落差达10~15m。T3阶地上不发育断层槽地,或断层两盘的T3阶地拔河高度一致,一些地段断层被T3阶地砾石层覆盖。因此认为,这两条断裂在T3阶地形成之前,T4阶地形成之后有过强烈的活动     

EVIDENCE OF HOLOCENE ACTIVITY DISCOVERED IN ANHUI ZIYANGSHAN SEGMENT OF TANLU FAULT ZONE

Anqiu-Juxian Fault(F₅) is the latest active fault in the eastern graben of the middle segment of the Tanlu fault zone. In recent years, the research results of F₅ in Jiangsu Province are abundant, and it is found that Holocene activity is prevalent in different segments, and the movement pattern is dominated by dextral strike-slip and squeezing thrust. The Anhui segment and the Jiangsu segment of the Tan-Lu fault zone are bounded by the Huaihe River. Previous studies have not discussed the extension and activity of F₅ in the south of the Huaihe River in Anhui Province. This paper chooses the Ziyangshan segment of Tanlu fault zone in the south of the Huaihe River as the breakthrough point, which is consistent with the linear image feature of extension of F₅ in Jiangsu Province. Through the remote sensing image interpretation, geological and geomorphological investigation and trench excavation, we initially get the following understanding:(1)The linear structural features of the Ziyang segment are clear, and the fault is developed on the gentle slope of the Mesozoic red sandstone uplift along the Fushan-Ziyangshan, which is the southern extension of the Anqiu-Juxian Fault(F₅); (2)The excavation of the Zhuliu trench reveals that the late Pleistocene clastic layers are interrupted, and the late late Pleistocene to early Holocene black clay layers are filled along the fault to form black fault strips and black soil-filled wedges, indicating that the latest active age of the fault is early Holocene; (3)The excavation of Zhuliu trench reveals that there are at least 3 paleo-earthquake events since the Quaternary, the first paleo-seismic event is dated to the early and middle Quaternary, and the 2nd paleo-seismic event is 20.10~13.46ka BP, the age of the third paleo-seismic event is(10.15±0.05)~(8.16±0.05)ka BP. These results complement our understanding of the late Quaternary activity in the Anhui segment of the Tanlu fault zone, providing basic data for earthquake monitoring and seismic damage prevention in Anhui Province.     

焉耆盆地北缘和静逆断裂-褶皱带古地震破裂方式和时间序列

古地震研究是构造地质基础研究工作之一,获得较为精细的古地震结果有利于提高对断层构造变形的样式、强度以及时间的认识。焉耆盆地是南天山东段的山间盆地,现今的构造应力场特征以挤压兼有走滑为主。盆地南北缘断裂均为全新世活动断裂,南缘开都河断裂以走滑运动为主。盆地北缘断裂向盆内扩展的新生和静逆断裂-褶皱带以逆冲运动为主,且具备发生7级以上大地震的能力。因此,对于焉耆盆地北缘和静逆断裂-褶皱带的古地震破裂方式和发生时间的研究具有重要意义。调查发现,其中的哈尔莫敦背斜南翼主逆断裂以30°左右向盆内逆冲,在河漫滩和T1阶地上形成了3排断层陡坎。在3条断层陡坎上开挖的5个探槽中,通过标志地层建立的时间序列可以确定6次古地震事件的先后关系。利用14C和光释光(OSL)测年手段获得了探槽中相关地层和坎前堆积物的沉积时代,利用逐次限定法得到了各次古地震事件的发生时间和全新世以来2ka左右的古地震复发间隔。结果显示F1断层在所有的古地震事件中都发生了破裂,F2断层只在事件E时产生了破裂,F3断层只在事件D和事件E中发生过破裂。从古地震事件上分析,事件D是一次3条断层同时破裂的事件,事件E是一次F1和F32条断层同时破裂的事件,其他事件都只在F1断层上破裂。和静逆断裂的古地震破裂同时存在必然性和不确定性。     

THE ACTIVITY OF WESTERN LISHAN FAULT SINCE THE LATE PLEISTOCENE

Along the northern piedmont of Mt. Lishan, the characteristics and locations of the active normal Lishan fault in west of Huaqing Pool provide important evidences for determining the seismotectonic environment, seismic stability evaluation of engineering in the eastern Weihe Basin. After reviewing the results from high-density resistivity method, seismic profile data, geological drillhole section and trenching in west of the Huaqing Pool, it is found that the strike of western normal Lishan Fault changes from EW direction at the eastern part to the direction of N60°W, and the fault consists of two branches, dipping NE with a high dip angle of~75°. The artificial shallow seismic profile data reveals that the attitude of strata near Lishan Fault mainly dips to south, which is presumed to be related to the southward tilt movement of Mt. Lishan since the Cenozoic. The section of geological drillhole reveals that since the late middle Pleistocene, the displacement of the paleo-soil layer S₂ is about 10m. And the maximum displacement of western Lishan Fault recorded in the paleo-soil layer S₁ reaches 7.8m since the late Pleistocene. In addition, evidences from trench profile show that the western Lishan Fault was active at least 3 times since Malan loess deposition with ¹⁴ C dating age(32 170±530)Cal a BP. The multiple activities of the Lishan Fault result in a total displacement about 3.0m in the Malan loess layer L₁. The latest activity of the western Lishan Fault produced a displacement of about 0.9m in the early Holocene loess layer L₀((8 630±20)Cal a BP)and caused obvious tensile cracks in the Holocene dark leoss layer S₀((4 390±20)Cal a BP). Briefly, we have obtained a vertical movement rate of about 0.11~0.19mm/a since the Holocene((8 630±20)Cal a BP)in the western extension of the Lishan Fault, the recurrence interval of earthquakes on the fault is about(10.7±0.5)ka, and the co-seismic surface rupture in a single event is inferred to be about 0.9m.     

DEMARCATION OF THE GEOMORPHOLOGICAL BOUNDARIES OF SOUTHEASTERN TIBET: IMPLICATIONS FOR EXPANSION MECHANISMS OF THE PLATEAU EDGE

The geomorphologic structure in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau is one of the important indexes for the expansion and deep dynamic process of Tibet. There are two different understandings for the geomorphologic structure in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, i.e. gradual change and abrupt change. The gradient model suggests a gradual topographic reduction towards southeast which is an important evidence for the lower crust channel flow. The abrupt model considers that the southeast boundary of the plateau shows an abrupt change of topography in a zone of 50~200km wide which is controlled by the Yarlung-Yulong fault system. Here, we describe the morphotectonic feature in detail of the Sichuan-Yunnan block on the southeast edge of the plateau through the digital elevation model(DEM)analysis, further review the structural controls on the geomorphologic structure by combining the tectono-thermochronology analysis, and evaluate the southeastward spreading mode of the plateau. The topographic arithmetic progression ranking by using the DEM of the Sichuan-Yunnan block reveals three geomorphologic steps gradually lowering from the northwest to southeast. The switching of hypsometric integral(HI)value and the anomaly of SL/K value(where SL is stream length-gradient index and K is altitude of the profile)of river systems all occur on the edge of terraces. The high terrace is located on the north of Muli-Yulong with average elevation~4 200m; the secondary level of terrace extends to the Yanyuan-Lijiang area with average elevation~3 000m; and the third level is the region between the Jinhe-Qinghe and Anninghe with average elevation~1 800m. Structure investigation reveals that all the topographic boundaries between different terraces are consistent with regional major faults. The Muli thrust fault and Yulong thrust fault control the southeast edge of the high terrace, the Jinhe-Qinghe thrust fault separates the second and third level of terrace. The coincidence between topography boundaries and faults suggests that the formation of the stepped geomorphology on the southeast edge of the plateau were induced by the fault activities, reflecting the fault-controlled southeastward stepped-expanding mode of the plateau. The fission-track(FT)dating of the granites at the hanging wall of the Yuling-Muli Fault reveals fast uplift during~27~22Ma BP, reflecting the major thrusting along the Yulong-Muli Fault, which is consistent with the early-stage activity (~30~25Ma BP) of the Longmenshan Fault. Therefore, the high terrace was formed during the Oligocene to early Miocene with the thrusting of the Yulong-Muli Fault. Tectono-thermochronology analysis also reveals the major thrusting of the Jinhe-Qinghe Fault occurred during~18~11Ma BP, indicating the middle terrace was formed in the middle Miocene, which also could correspond to the middle Miocene(~15~10Ma BP) activity of the Longmenshan Fault. Therefore, the thrusting faults controlled stepped terrace geomorphologic structure and the stepwise expanding mode under combined movements of large-scale thrusts and strike-slip faults at the southeast edge of Tibetan Plateau during the late Cenozoic do not support the lower crust channel flow model.     

NEW EVIDENCES FOR LATE QUATERNARY ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTHERN SEGMENT OF THE YISHU-TANGTOU FAULT,THE TAN-LU FAULT ZONE,AND ITS TECTONIC IMPLICATION

The Tan-Lu Fault Zone(TLFZ), a well-known lithosphere fault zone in eastern China, is a boundary tectonic belt of the secondary block within the North China plate, and its seismic risk has always been a focus problem. Previous studies were primarily conducted on the eastern graben faults of the Yishu segment where there are historical earthquake records, but the faults in western graben have seldom been involved. So, there has been no agreement about the activity of the western graben fault from the previous studies. This paper focuses on the activity of the two buried faults in the western graben along the southern segment of Yishu through combination of shallow seismic reflection profile and composite drilling section exploration. Shallow seismic reflection profile reveals that the Tangwu-Gegou Fault(F₄)only affects the top surface of Suqian Formation, therefore, the fault may be an early Quaternary fault. The Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)has displaced the upper Pleistocene series in the shallow seismic reflection profile, suggesting that the fault may be a late Pleistocene active fault. Drilling was implemented in Caiji Town and Lingcheng Town along the Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)respectively, and the result shows that the latest activity time of Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)is between(91.2±4.4)ka and(97.0±4.8)ka, therefore, the fault belongs to late Pleistocene active fault. Combined with the latest research on the activity of other faults along TLFZ, both faults in eastern and western graben were active during the late Pleistocene in the southern segment of the Yishu fault zone, however, only the fault in eastern graben was active in the Holocene. This phenomenon is the tectonic response to the subduction of the Pacific and Philippine Sea Plate and collision between India and Asian Plate. The two late Quaternary active faults in the Yishu segment of TLFZ are deep faults and present different forms on the surface and in near surface according to studies of deep seismic reflection profile, seismic wave function and seismic relocation. Considering the tectonic structure of the southern segment of Yishu fault zone, the relationship between deep and shallow structures, and the impact of 1668 Tancheng earthquake(M=8(1/2)), the seismogenic ability of moderate-strong earthquake along the Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)can't be ignored.     

利用岷江阶地的变形估算龙门山断裂带中段晚第四纪滑动速率

用岷江都江堰—汶川段晚第四纪阶地面的变形量估算了龙门山断裂带中段的滑动速率。岷江及其支流发育3级晚第四纪河流阶地,阶地面的年龄分别约为10,20,50kaBP。阶地纵剖面在茂汶-汶川断裂、北川-映秀断裂和江油-灌县断裂处有明显的垂直变形。断裂活动具有间歇性特点,晚第四纪以来有过3期活动,其起始时间分别为50,20,10kaBP。依据各级阶地面年龄和变形量估算的茂汶-汶川断裂、北川-映秀断裂和江油-灌县断裂晚第四纪逆冲滑动速率分别为0.5,0.6～0.3,0.2mm/a;据阶地走滑位错估算的茂汶-汶川断裂和北川-映秀断裂的晚第四纪右旋走滑速率均约为1mm/a。现代河床之下发育很厚的河流堆积物表明,龙门山的构造抬升经历了较为复杂的过程     

熊坡背斜构造变形与蒲江-新津断裂活动特征

熊坡背斜位于龙门山构造带东南端的成都盆地内,是龙门山逆冲推覆构造向前推挤进入盆地内部的一个主要变形区域,与其配套发育的断裂为蒲江-新津断裂,断裂与背斜褶皱之间在构造变形模式上表现出明显的一致性。在褶皱和断裂的构造变形和活动特征上,熊坡背斜南段表现为一种不对称的褶皱,向NE方向发展表现为较为宽缓的对称褶皱形态,卷入的地层主要是中生代及其以前的地层,对蒲江-新津断裂的地貌调查结果表明,断裂没有对该区域内广泛发育的冲沟Ⅰ级阶地产生影响,而对山前发育的相当于南河(岷江Ⅰ级支流)Ⅳ级阶地的洪积台地有明显的控制作用,说明断裂活动时间应该为第四纪早期,到第四纪晚期活动减弱或是趋于静止     

VERTICAL SLIP RATE OF MINLE-DAMAYING FAULT INDICATED BY SCARPS ON TERRACES OF DONGDA RIVER

The Qilianshan north-edge thrust (QNT)is located at the boundary between the northern margin of the Qilianshan mountain and Hexi Corridor, with a length over 700km. The Minle-Damaying fault (MDF), trending NWW, is part of the eastern section of the QNT, cutting through the Minle and Wuwei Basins. Hexi Corridor is a region of intense seismic activities, where many large earthquakes have been documented in history, such as the M7.5 Gaotai earthquake in 180, M8.5 Haiyuan earthquake in 1920, M8.0 Gulang earthquake in 1927 and the M7.6 Changma earthquake in 1932. While, there is no seismic record on the MDF. The Dongda River flows across the MDF from south to north. One of the tributary of the Dongda River, Xie River, has very well preserved terraces (T₆-T₁)which were offset by the MDF. On these terraces, there is clear trace of scarps, of which the height increases from terraces T₃ to T₆, indicating an accumulation of offset with time. In order to acquire the cross-section of scarps, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)scanning was implemented. With a digital camera mounted on, the UAV scanned an area of 0.52km² and digital elevation model (DEM)was generated with an accuracy of 0.2m vertically. The Thompson's method was utilized to conduct linear regressions on both the hanging wall and foot wall of the fault. The difference between the intercepts of the regression lines with the vertical line going through the intersection of the scarp surface on the fault surface is considered as the vertical offset. Terraces from T₆ to T₃ are very well preserved where MFD intercepts the Xie river, while T₂ and T₁ are badly eroded at the same location. Utilizing the cross-sections extracted from high resolution DEM, we estimate that the vertical offsets of T₆-T₃ are 13.26~15.67m, 9.74~10.13m, 5.86~7.35m and 5.03~5.60m, respectively, with 95%confidence interval. From the offsets of terraces, at least 4 paleo-seismic events are indentified. Terraces were dated by the AMS ¹⁴ C dating, yielding ages (cal BP)of T₆-T₂ as (16 405±210)a, (111 975±21)a, (5 697.5±210)a, (4 470.5±54.5)a and (3 137.5±77.5)a. Liner regression was performed for the relation between the ages and the offsets of terraces, resulting in the average vertical slip rate of MDF since the formation of T₆ as 0.91 average v. As the dip of MDF is about 35°, the shortening rate is estimated to be (1.3±0.13)mm/a. This study provides important parameters for the analysis of seismic activity in heavily populated Minle and Yongchang areas.     

STUDY ON PALEOEARTHQUKES ALONG THE FODONGMIAO-HONGYAZI FAULT,GANSU PROVINCE

The Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault is a Holocene active thrust fault, belonging to the middle segment of northern Qilianshan overthrust fault zone, located in the northeastern edge of the Tibet plateau. The Hongyapu M7(1/4) earthquake in 1609 AD occurred on it. A few paleo-seismology studies were carried out on this fault zone. It was considered that four paleoearthquakes occurred on the Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault between(6.3±0.6) ka BP and(7.4±0.4) ka BP, in(4.3±0.3) ka BP, in(2.1±0.1) ka BP and in 1609 AD. The occurrences of the earthquakes suggested the quasi-periodic characteristic with a quasi-periodic recurrence interval between 1 600~2 500a(Institute of Geology, State Seismological Bureau, Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, State Seismological Bureau. 1993; Liu et al., 2014). There was no direct evidence for the Hongyapu M7(1/4) earthquake in 1609 AD from trench research in the previous studies. Great uncertainty exists because of the small number of the chronology data, as a few TL and OSL measurement data and several¹⁴ C data, and it was insufficient to deduce the exact recurrence interval for the paleoearthquakes. Five trenches were excavated and cleared up respectively in the eastern segment, middle segment and western segment along the Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault. After detail study on the trench profiles, the sedimentary characteristics, sequence relationship of the stratigraphical units, and fault-cuts in different stratigraphical units were revealed in these five trenches. Four paleoearthquakes in Holocene were distinguished from the five trenches, and geology evidences of the Hongyapu M7(1/4) earthquake in 1609 AD were also found. More accurate constraint of the occurring time of the paleo-earthquakes since Holocene on the Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault is provided by the progressive constraining method(Mao and Zhang, 1995), according to amounts of ¹⁴ C measurement data and OLS measurement data of the chronology samples from different stratigraphical units in the trenches. The first paleoevent, E4 occurred 10.6ka BP. The next event, E3 occurred about 7.1ka BP. The E2 occurred about 3.4ka BP. The last event, E1 is the Hongyapu M7(1/4) earthquake in 1609 AD. Abounds of proofs for the occurrences of the events of E1, E2 and E3 were found in the trench Tc1, trench Tc2, trench Tc4 and trench Tc3, located in the eastern, middle and western segments of the Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault accordingly. It's considered that the events E1, E2 and E3 may cause whole segment rupturing according to the proofs for these three events found together in individual trenches. The event E4 was only found in the trench Tc5 profile in the west of the Xiaoquan village in the eastern segment of the Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault. The earthquake rupture characteristics of this event can't be revealed before more detailed subsequent research. The time intervals among the four paleoearthquakes are ca 3.5ka, ca 3.7ka, and ca 3.0ka. The four events are characterized by ca 3.4ka quasi-periodic recurrence interval.     

THRUST OF THE SOUTHERN LONGMENSHAN FAULT IN THE LATE QUATERNARY REVEALED BY RIVER LANDFORMS

The Longmenshan fault zone is divided into three sections from south to north in the geometric structure. The middle and northern segments are mainly composed of three thrust faults, where the deformation of foreland is weak. The geometric structure of the southern segment is more complex, which is composed of six fault branches, where the foreland tectonic deformation is very strong. The Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake occurred in the middle of the Longmenshan in 2008, activating the bifurcation of two branches, the Yingxiu-Beichuan and the Guixian-Jiangyou faults. In 2013, the Lushan M_S7.0 earthquake occurred in the southern Longmenshan, whose seismogenic structure was considered to be a blind fault. After the Lushan earthquake, the seismic hazard in the southern Longmenshan has been widely concerned. At present, the studies on active tectonics in the southern Longmenshan are limited to the Dachuan-Shuangshi and the Yanjing-Wulong faults. The Qingyi River, which flows across the southern Longmenshan, facilitates to study fault slip by the deformation of river terraces. Based on satellite imagery and high-resolution DEM analysis, we measured the fluvial terraces along the Qingyi river in detail. During the measurement, the Sichuan network GPS system (SCGNSS)was employed to achieve a precision of centimeter grade. Besides, the optical luminescence dating (OSL)method was employed to date the terraces' ages. And the late Quaternary activities of the six branch faults in the southern Longmen Shan were further analyzed. The Gengda-Longdong, Yanjing-Wulong and the Xiao Guanzi faults (west branch of the Dachuan-Shuangshi fault)all show thrust slip and displaced the terrace T₂. Their average vertical slip rates in the late Quaternary are 0.21-0.30mm/a, 0.12-0.21mm/a and 0.10-0.12mm/a, respectively. Since the Late Quaternary, vertical slip of the east branch of the Dachuan-Shuangshi fault was not obvious, and the arc-like Jintang tectonic belt was not active. Crustal shortening rate of the southern Longmenshan thrust fault zone in the late Quaternary is 0.48-0.77mm/a, which equals about half of the middle segment of the Longmenshan. Based on the previous study on the tectonic deformation of the foreland, we consider that the foreland fold belt in the southern Longmenshan area has absorbed more than half of the crustal shortening. The three major branch faults in the southern Longmenshan are active in the late Quaternary, which have risk of major earthquakes.     

SURFACE TRACKS AND SLIP RATE OF THE FAULT ALONG THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF THE WUWEI BASIN IN THE LATE QUATERNARY

The fault along the southern margin of the Wuwei Basin, located in the eastern Hexi Corridor, NW China, plays an important role in the thrust fault system in the northern Qilian Mountains. The activities of this fault resulted in the generation of the Gulang earthquake(M_S8.0) in 1927. Based on remote sensing image interpretation, geological and geomorphic observations in the field and ¹⁴C geochronological dating results, we conducted a detailed research on the geometry and kinematics of the fault. According to the discontinuous geometric distribution and variable strike directions, we divide this fault into 5 segments: Kangningqiao Fault(F₁), Nanyinghe Fault(F₂), Shangguchengcun-Zhangliugou Fault(F₃), Tajiazhuang Fault(F₄)and Yanjiazhuang Fault(F₅). Results indicate that this fault, with a total of 60km long trace at the surface, has been active since the late Pleistocene. It behaves predominantly as a thrust fault and is accompanied with a locally sinistral strike-slip component along the Nanyinghe Fault(F₂). Intensive activities of this fault in Holocene have caused extensive occurrence of dislocated landforms along its strike. Some measured displacements of the dislocated geologic or geomorphic units, combined with the ¹⁴C dating results, yield a vertical slip rate of (0.44±0.08)mm/a on this fault in Holocene, and a sinistral strike-slip rate of (1.43±0.08)mm/a on the Nanyinhhe Fault (F₂) in late Pleistocene.     

NEW ACTIVITY CHARACTERISTICS AND SLIP RATE OF THE EBOMIAO FAULT IN THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF BEISHAN,GANSU PROVINCE

The Ebomiao Fault is a newly discovered active fault near the block boundary between the Tibetan plateau and the Alashan Block. This fault locates in the southern margin of the Beishan Mountain, which is generally considered to be a tectonically inactive zone, and active fault and earthquake are never expected to emerge, so the discovery of this active fault challenges the traditional thoughts. As a result, studying the new activity of this fault would shed new light on the neotectonic evolution of the Beishan Mountain and tectonic interaction effects between the Tibetan plateau and the Alashan Block. Based on some mature and traditional research methods of active tectonics such as satellite image interpretation, trenches excavation, differential GPS measurement, Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle Photogrammetry(UAVP), and Optical Stimulated Luminescence(OSL)dating, we quantitatively study the new activity features of the Ebomiao Fault.
Through this study, we complete the fault geometry of the Ebomiao Fault and extend the fault eastward by 25km on the basis of the 20km-fault trace identified previously, the total length of the fault is extened to 45km, which is capable of generating magnitude 7 earthquake calculated from the empirical relationships between earthquake magnitude and fault length. The Ebomiao Fault is manifested as several segments of linear scarps on the land surface, the scarps are characterized by poor continuity because of seasonal flood erosion. Linear scarps are either north- or south-facing scarps that emerge intermittently. Fourteen differential GPS profiles show that the height of the north-facing scarps ranges from (0.22±0.02)m to (1.32±0.1)m, and seven differential GPS profiles show the height of south-facing scarps ranging from (0.33±0.1)m to (0.64±0.1)m. To clarify the causes of the linear scarps with opposite-facing directions, we dug seven trenches across these scarps, the trench profiles show that the south-dipping reverse faults dominate the north-facing scarps, the dipping angles range from 23° to 86°. However, the south-facing scarps are controlled by south-dipping normal faults with dipping angles spanning from 60° to 81°.
The Ebomiao Fault is dominated by left-lateral strike-slip activity, with a small amount of vertical-slip component. From the submeter-resolution digital elevation models(DEM)constructed by UAVP, the measured left-lateral displacement of 19 gullies in the western segment of the Ebomiao Fault are(3.8±0.5)~(105±25)m, while the height of the north-facing scarps on this segment are(0.22±0.02)~(1.32±0.10)m(L₃-L₇), the left-lateral displacement is much larger than the scarp height. In this segment, there are three gullies preserving typical left-lateral offsets, one gully among them preserves two levels of alluvial terraces, the terrace riser between the upper terrace and the lower terrace is clear and shows horizontal offset. Based on high-resolution DEM interpretation and displacement restoration by LaDiCaoz software, the left-lateral displacement of the terrace riser is measured to be(16.7±0.5)m. The formation time of the terrace riser is approximated by the OSL age of the upper terrace, which is (11.2±1.5)ka BP at (0.68±0.03)m beneath the surface, and(11.4±0.6)ka at (0.89±0.03)m beneath the surface, the OSL age (11.2±1.5)ka BP at (0.68±0.03)m beneath the surface is more close to the formation time of the upper terrace because of a nearer distance to sediment contact between alluvial fan and eolian sand silt. Taking the (16.7±0.5)m left-lateral displacement of the terrace riser and the upper terrace age (11.2±1.5)ka, we calculate a left-lateral strike-slip rate of(1.52±0.25)mm/a for the Ebomiao Fault. The main source for the slip rate error is that the terrace risers on both walls of the fault are not definitely corresponded. The north wall of the fault is covered by eolian sand, we can only presume the location of terrace riser by geomorphic analysis. In addition, the samples used to calculate slip rate before were collected from the aeolian sand deposits on the north side of the fault, they are not sediments of the fan terraces, so they could not accurately define the formation age of the upper terrace. This study dates the upper terrace directly on the south wall of the fault.
Since the late Cenozoic, the new activity of the Ebomiao Fault may have responded to the shear component of the relative movement between the Tibetan plateau and the Alashan Block under the macroscopic geological background of the northeastern-expanding of the Tibetan plateau. The north-facing fault scarps are dominated by south-dipping low-angle reverse faults, the emergence of this kind of faults(faults overthrusting from the Jinta Basin to the Beishan Mountain)suggests the far-field effect of block convergence between Tibetan plateau and Alashan Block, which results in the relative compression and crustal shortening. As for whether the Ebomiao Fault and Qilianshan thrust system are connected in the deep, more work is needed.