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.     

PALEOSEISMOLOGICAL RESEARCH ON THE LANGSHAN RANGE-FRONT FAULT,HETAO AREA,CHINA: INSIGHTS FOR STUDIES ON TECTONICS AND SEISMIC RISK

The Langshan range-front fault (LRF)is a Holocene active normal fault that bounds the Langshan Mountain and Hetao Basin at the northwest corner of the Ordos Plateau. Paleoseismic trenching research at three sites, Dongshen Village trench (TC1), Qingshan trench (TC2)and Wulanhashao trench (TC3)from north to south was performed in this study to reveal the seismic hazard risk in Hetao Basin. The paleoevents ED1, ED2, ED3 from TC1 can be constrained to have occurred (6±1.3)ka, (9.6±2)ka and (19.7±4.2)ka respectively, while the paleoevent EQ1 from TC2 occurred about (6.7±0.1)ka and the paleoevents EW1, EW2, EW3 at TC3 took place about (2.3±0.4)ka, (6±1)ka and before 7ka respectively. In combination with paleoseismic results of previous researchers, the Holocene earthquake sequence of the LRF could be established as 2.3~2.43ka BP (E1), 4.41~3.06ka BP (E2), 6.71~6.8ka BP (E3), 7.6~9.81ka BP (E4), and (19.7±4.2)ka BP (E5). Although the possibility of missing events cannot totally be ruled out, based on the analysis on faulted geomorphology at Wulanhashao site, we argue the paleoearthquake history of the LRF during Holocene may be complete with an average recurrent interval about 2500 yrs. The apparent displacements associated with events E1, E3 and E4 are significantly larger than that of event, E2, that suggests that they might be great events with magnitudes 7.5 to even over 8 that ruptured the entire LRF, while the event E2 may be a smaller event that only ruptured a segment of the fault. The magnitude of event E2 might be about M7. This poses a significant seismic hazard to the area of the Linhe depression in the western Hetao graben region. With the further limitation of previous radiocarbon dating result near our trench site at Wulanhashao, the slip rate at Wulanhashao should be not smaller than, but close to 0.66mm/a since 15ka BP. And the slip rate at Qingshan site is supposed to be about 1.4~1.6mm/a since 6.8ka BP. Both our combined most recent paleoseismic cognition and current tectonic geomorphologic research results supports to reveal that the Langshan range-front fault now is an unsegmented fault, preferring to rupture the whole fault in a surface-rupture event. Considering the most recent event E1 and fault slip rate obtained above, the accumulated strain on the LRF could be estimated as about 1.52~3.94m. Given the ~2500a recurrent interval, we argue that the elapsed time since last major quake, E1, is approaching or even over the recurrence, and the seismic risk for another major quake is imminent, at least cannot be ignored.     

THE SLIP RATE AND PALEOEARTHQUAKES OF THE YUMEN FAULT IN THE NORTHERN QILIAN MOUNTAINS SINCE THE LATE PLEISTOCENE

The Yumen Fault lies on the west segment of the north Qilian Fault belt and adjacent to the Altyn-Tagh Fault,in the north margin of the Tibet Plateau.The tectonic location of the Yumen fault is special,and the fault is the evidence of recent activity of the northward growth of Tibetan plateau.In recent twenty years,many researches show the activity of the Yumen Fault became stronger from the early Pleistocene to the Holocene.Because the Yumen Fault is a new active fault and fold belt in the Qilian orogenic belt in the north margin of the Tibet Plateau,it is important to ascertain its slip rate and the recurrence interval of paleoearthquakes since the Late Pleistocene.Using the satellite image interpretation of the Beida river terrace,the GPS measurement of alluvial fans in front of the Yumen Fault and the trench excavation on the fault scarps,two conclusions are obtained in this paper.(1) The vertical slip rate of the Yumen Fault is about 0.41~0.48mm/a in the Holocene and about 0.24~0.30mm/a in the last stage of the late Pleistocene.(2) Since the Holocene epoch,four paleoearthquakes,which happened respectively in 6.12~10.53ka,3.6~5.38ka,1.64~1.93ka and 0.63~1.64ka,ruptured the surface scarps of the Yumen Fault.Overall,the recurrence interval of the paleoseismic events shortens gradually and the activity of the Yumen Fault becomes stronger since the Holocene.Anther characteristic is that every paleoearthquake probably ruptured multiple fault scarps at the same time.     

龙首山北缘断裂带古地震初步探讨

龙首山北缘断裂带是潮水盆地与龙首山地的地貌分界线,展布于龙首山隆起的北麓。前期曾在龙首山北缘断裂带东段的白家嘴、中段包代河、西段斜坡山开挖了三个探槽,均揭露出多期古地震。本文通过三个探槽古地震事件的对比分析认为,龙首山北缘断裂带第1次古地震(11 ka)到最后1次古地震(1.6 ka)间隔9.4 ka,约1万年时间里有6次古地震发生。如果取算术平均(9.4 ka/6=1.57 ka),则每隔1 500年左右,龙首山北缘断裂带就有一次强地震事件,即古地震平均重复间隔约1.57 ka。这和其它各大断裂带得出的古地震优势重现周期(1~2 ka)并不矛盾。①5 ka年以前龙首山北缘断裂带仅有2次古地震事件,重复间隔5.3 ka,明显偏长,可能有古地震的遗漏问题;②5 ka年以后该断裂地震活动明显丛集,最短间隔0.7 ka,最长间隔1.5 ka,平均重复间隔约0.8 ka。无论是最短、最长或平均重复间隔,均与山丹-张掖地区历史地震的最长重复间隔0.79 ka接近。     

Paleoseismic activity on Wujiahe segment of Serteng piedmont fault,inner Mongolia

Geomorphic study on Wjiahe segment of Serteng piedmont fault,Inner Mongolia is made.Throuth analysis of the available data in combination with the results of predecessors‘studies it can be obtained that average vertical displacement rate is 0.48-0.75mm/a along the Wujiahe segment since the late Pleistocene(14.450-22.340ka BP)and 0.56-0.88mm/s since the early-middle Holocene(5.570-8.830ka BP).Analyzing paleoseismic phenomena revealed in the excavated 5trenches in combination with the results of predecessors‘studies of paleoearthquakes on the fault,we determine five paleoseismic events on the Wujiahe segment of Serteng piedmont fault since 27.0ka BP and the recurrence interval to be about 4.300-4.400ka,A cluster of paleoearthquakes occurred probably during 8.000-9.000ka BP and two paleoeismic events in 10.000-20.000ka BP may be missed.A comparison between height of fault scarps and sum of displacement caused by paleoseismic events revealed in trenches,and recurrence interval of paleoseismic events obtained from average displacement rate along the fault and the disloca-tion by one event suggest that three paleoseismic events are absent in Alagaitu trench.Two paleoseismic events may be absent on the whole active fault segment.     

PALEOEARTHQUAKES ALONG PUXIONG FAULT OF DALIANGSHAN FAULT ZONE DURING LATE QUATERNARY

Daliangshan fault zone (DFZ) constitutes an indispensable part of Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system which is one of the main large continental strong earthquake faults in China.Puxiong Fault,the east branch of middle segment of DFZ,is the longest secondary fault.Its paleoseismic activity plays an important role in evaluating regional seismic activity level and building countermeasures of preventing and reducing the earthquake damage.The active fault mapping as well as the study of paleoseismological trench in recent years illustrates that Puxiong Fault is a slightly west-dipping high-angle left-lateral strike-slip fault with strong activity since late Pleistocene.Two trenches excavated across this fault reveal 2 and 3 paleoearthquakes that ruptured the fault at 8206 BC-1172 AD,1084-1549 AD,and 17434-7557 BC,1577-959 BC and 927-1360 AD,respectively.The OxCal model combining the results from both trenches and the another one in previous study across the fault with the historical earthquake record yields the elapsed time of~0.7ka of the latest paleoearthquake event,and the interval time is~2.3ka between the last two events.In the model,the penultimate event is considered to be recorded in all trenches.As all the three trenches are located at north part of the Puxiong Fault whose strike is apparently different from the south part,the~57km long north secondary segment is supposed to be the seismogenic structure of the paleoearthquake.According to the empirical scaling laws between magnitude and rupture length,the magnitude of the surface ruptured paleoearthquake is estimated to be more than M7 with the coseismic displacement~3.5m.However,the difference between the time of the paleoearthquake events on the middle and south segments of DFZ illustrates their independence as earthquake fracture units,and furthermore,the lower connectivity and the new generation of DFZ.     

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.     

山西交城断裂北端及中段3个大型探槽全新世断错现象分析

前人在山西交城断裂带上开挖过多个探槽,揭露出全新世3次古地震事件,但其研究结果尚不能确定该断裂带全新世活动段的北部边界.近期在该断裂带北端和中段又开挖了3个大型探槽,其中在阳曲县泥屯盆地西界开挖的龙王沟探槽,是一个由多个探槽组合成的大探槽,该探槽揭示的地层断错信息,将交城断裂带全新世活动的范围向北延伸了20km.另外2个大型探槽分别为交城断裂带中段瓦窑沟东侧台地前缘的瓦窑探槽与市儿口沟西侧T1阶地前缘的新民探槽.这3个大探槽均揭示出全新世中期(14C测年值为距今5 ～ 6ka)的垆土和淤泥层,以及多组平行分布的断面,所揭示的全新世3次古地震事件具有断错事件活动的同步性,可与前人探槽揭示的全新世断层活动事件相对比.3次断错活动时间分别距今3.06 ～3.53ka、5.32ka左右或6.14ka左右、8.36ka左右;3次事件的时间间隔分别为2.02 ～ 2.84ka和2.22 ～ 3.04ka.这些断错事件的同震垂直位移为1.5～4.7m,显示了7级以上地表破裂型的强震活动.最后讨论了探槽中14C测年样品的影响因素.     

LATE QUATERNARY PALEOEARTHQUAKES ON THE MIDDLE SEGMENT OF THE LIJIANG-XIAOJINHE FAULT,SOUTHEASTERN TIBET

More attention has been paid to the late Quaternary activity of the boundary fault of the Sichuan-Yunnan block in eastern Tibet. The Lijiang-Xiaojinhe Fault (LXF) locates along the boundary of the northwest Sichuan and central Yunnan sub-blocks in the Sichuan-Yunnan block. Clear displaced landforms show that the fault has undergone strong late-Quaternary activity. However there is no surface-rupturing earthquake occurring on the LXF in the historical record. The LXF crosses the city of Lijiang, one of the most important tourist cities in Southwest China. The rupture behavior on this fault remains unclear and it is hard to assess its seismic hazard in the future. In this study, on the base of the interpretation of high-resolution satellite imagery, we chose the middle segment of the LXF and dug three trenches at Muzhuda, Hongxing, and Gantangzi sites to constrain the ages of paleoearthquakes combined with radiocarbon dating and OxCal modeling. The Muzhuda trench shows that at least three events occurred on the middle segment of the LXF at 7 940~6 540a BP, 4 740~4 050a BP and 1 830~420a BP, respectively. The Hongxing trench indicates that the LXF underwent two events at 5 120~3 200a BP and 2 100~1 220a BP. The Gantangzi trench reveals at least three paleoearthquakes at 44 980~17 660a BP, 7 210~3 810a BP and 2 540~1 540a BP, respectively. The events in the Gantangzi trench might be incomplete because of stratigraphic gap. These three trenches indicate that three events occurred on the middle segment of the LXF in the Holocene at 7 940~7 210a BP, 4 740~4 050a BP and 1 830~1 540a BP, respectively. Large earthquakes on the middle segment of the LXF appear to fit the quasi-periodic model with the mean recurrence interval of~3 000a and the estimated magnitude 7.5. Given the strong late-Quaternary activity of the middle segment of the LXF and a long elapsed time, we propose that the middle segment of the LXF might have a high seismic hazard potential in the near future.     

Using borehole core analysis to reveal Late Quaternary paleoearthquakes along the Nankou-Sunhe Fault,Beijing

The Nankou-Sunhe Fault is a buried active normal fault that traverses the urban area of Beijing.Its seismic risks have caused considerable concerns.This paper studies paleoearthquakes along this fault by analyzing and correlating bore-hole cores obtained from triple-tube coring,incorporating experience acquired from trenching.As a result,a model for identifying earthquake-derived colluvium by sediment-core analysis is proposed.Triple-tube coring technique is useful to collect continuous undis-turbed soil core near the Nankou-Sunhe Fault.By identifying fault-scarp colluviums,determining cumulative displacement,and analysing stratum thickening on the hanging wall,we are able to establish a preliminary paleoearthquake sequence consisting of 13 surface-rupturing events since 60 ka.The seismic history can be divided into three periods based on different recurrence intervals.Between 60 and 40 ka,three earthquakes occurred with recurrence interval of ～10 ka.From 40 to 25 ka,there were six earthquakes with the recurrence interval of about 2.5 ka.In the last 25 ka,four earthquakes have taken place with the recurrence interval varying considerably.The recurrence interval between the last three events is ～5 ka.Smaller recurrence intervals correspond to stages of faster fault slip.The coseismic displacement of a single event is 0.8 to 2.2 m,average 1.4 m,largely equivalent to moment magnitudes 6.7-7.1.This study demonstrates the feasibility of bore-hole drilling in investigating paleoearthquakes along normal faults.It also suggests that closely spaced boreholes with continuous undisturbed cores are essential for reconstructing the complete paleoearthquake sequence.     

RUPTURE CHARACTERISTICS OF LATE QUATERNARY STRONG EARTHQUAKES ON THE WESTERN BRANCH OF THE XIAOJIANG FAULT ZONE

The Xiaojiang fault zone is located in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, the boundary faults of Sichuan-Yunnan block and South China block. The largest historical earthquake in Yunnan Province, with magnitude 8 occurred on the western branch of the Xiaojiang Fault in Songming County, 1833. Research on the Late Quaternary surface deformation and strong earthquake rupture behavior on the Xiaojiang Fault is crucial to understand the future seismic risk of the fault zone and the Sichuan-Yunnan region, even crucial for the study of tectonic evolution of the southeastern margin of Tibetan plateau. We have some new understanding through several large trenches excavated on the western branch of the Xiaojiang fault zone. We excavated a large trench at Caohaizi and identified six paleoseismic events, named U through Z from the oldest to the youngest. Ages of these six events are constrained at 40000-36300BC, 35400-24800BC, 9500BC-500AD, 390-720AD, 1120-1620AD and 1750AD-present. The Ganhaizi trench revealed three paleoearthquakes, named GHZ-E1 to GHZ-E3 from the oldest to the youngest. Ages of the three events are constrained at 3300BC-400AD, 770-1120AD, 1460AD-present. The Dafendi trench revealed three paleoearthquakes, named E1 to E3 from the oldest to the youngest, and their ages are constrained at 22300-19600BC, 18820-18400BC, and 18250-present. Caohaizi and Ganhaizi trenches are excavated on the western branch of the Xiaojiang Fault, the distance between them is 400m. We constrained four late Holocene paleoearthquakes with progressive constraining method, which are respectively at 500-720AD, 770-1120AD, AD 1460-1620 and 1833AD, with an average recurrence interval of 370~440a. Large earthquake recurrence in the late Holocene is less than the recurrence interval of~900a as proposed in the previous studies. Thus, the seismic hazard on the Xiaojiang Fault should be reevaluated. We excavated a large trench at Dafendi, about 30km away south of Caohaizi trench. Combining with previous paleoseismological research, it is found that the western branch of Xiaojiang Fault was likely to be dominated by segmented rupturing in the period from late of Late Pleistocene to early and middle Holocene, while it was characterized by large earthquakes clustering and whole segment rupturing since late Holocene.     

THE RESPONSE OF SAG POND SEDIMENT TO THE PALEOEARTHQUAKE EVENT ON THE XIADIAN FAULT ZONE

The wedge-shaped deposit formed in front of fault scarp is called colluvial wedge. Repeated faulting by faults may produce multiple colluvial wedges, each of which represents a paleoseismic event. When there are two or more colluvial wedges, the new colluvial wedge is in sedimentary contact with the fault, while the old ones are in fault contact with the fault. The shape of colluvial wedge is usually in the form of horizontal triangle, and the sedimentary facies is usually of binary structure. The overall grain size decreases gradually from bottom to top. Soil layer generally develops on the top, and different types of soil are developed under different climate or soil environments. Another deposit in front of fault scarp is the sag pond graben. The graben in front of sag pond is generally a set of sedimentary assemblages of colluvial facies, alluvial diluvial facies and swamp facies. The area close to the fault, especially the main fault, is of colluvial facies, while the area away from the fault is of alluvial and pluvial facies and marshy facies. In an accumulative cycle, the size of the deposit decreases from bottom to top, and soil layers develop on the top or surface. Multiple pile-ups may be a marker for identifying multiple faulting events. The pile-up strata such as colluvial wedge and fault sag pond can be used as identification markers for paleoseismic events. Colluvial wedge and sag pond, as the identification markers for paleoearthquake, have been well applied to practical research. However, there is still lack of detailed research on the lithological structure and genetic evolution in the interior of colluvial wedge and sag pond sediment, meanwhile, there is still a deficiency in the analysis of the completeness and the regional characteristics of paleoearthquake by using colluvial wedge and sag pond sediment. This paper discusses the method of identifying paleoearthquake by using sag pond sediments and colluvial wedge. We discuss the lithologic combination and sedimentary evolution of sag pond and choose the surface rupture zone of the 1679 M8.0 earthquake on the Xiadian Fault as the research area. In this paper, the distribution range and filling sequence of sag pond are analyzed, using borehole exploration. Four paleoearthquake events are identified since 25ka to 12ka, based on the sag pond sediments and colluvial wedge. The in situ recurrence interval of these seismic events is 480a, 510a, 7 630a and 2 830a, respectively. The lithologic combination and sedimentary evolution law of the sag pond sediments caused by an ancient earthquake are discussed. The sag pond distribution range and filling sequence are determined by the surface elevation survey and drilling exploration. The exploratory trench exposes the sag pond filling strata sequence and lithologic combination. Based on this, we analyze the three sedimentation stages of sag pond sediments formed by a paleoearthquake event near the earthquake fault. It is believed that the filling sequence is composed from bottom to top of the colluvial wedge, the erosion surface or unconformity surface, the fine detrital sediments(containing biological debris)and paleosols. For the fault-sag ponds formed by active faults, the paleoearthquakes occurred near the unconformity or erosion surface of the sediments of the fault-plug ponds. An ancient earthquake event includes the combination of organic deposits such as sediments, clastic deposits, bioclasts, burrow, plant roots and other organic deposits on the vertical scour surface or unconformity. The time interval between two paleoseismic events is defined by two adjacent unconformities(or scour surfaces). According to the vertical facies association and chronological test results of the sediments in the Pangezhuang trough of the Xiatan Fault, four paleo-seismic events are identified since the late Pleistocene period of 25~12ka BP, with recurrence intervals of 480a, 510a, 7 630a and 2 830a, respectively.     

西南天山东柯坪推覆系古地震初步研究

西南天山柯坪推覆系发育多排逆断裂-褶皱带,各排逆断裂-褶皱带的变形速率并不一致,古地震发生规律也可能具有不同特点.自汶川地震造成龙门山中央和前山两条断裂同时活动之后,对于如何判断多条逆断裂级联破裂的逆断裂古地震事件,是一个值得讨论的问题.文中通过对东柯坪塔格和萨尔干塔格两排逆断裂-褶皱带山前多期地貌面(冲洪积扇面)上发...     

祁连山北缘玉门—北大河断裂东段古地震特征

玉门—北大河断裂是酒西盆地南侧的一条重要的活动断裂, 断裂西起青草湾, 向东经老玉门市、 青头山、 大红泉, 止于北大河以东骨头泉一带, 长约80 km, 走向北西西, 倾向南, 倾角20°~60°。 玉门—北大河断裂为一条全新世活动的逆冲断裂, 断裂东段保留了地震破裂带遗迹, 通过野外断错地貌调查和探槽开挖, 揭示该破裂带形成于距今1.7±0.3 ka, 此前断裂在4.1±0.3~5.4±0.3 ka及8.4±1.0 ka还有过2次古地震事件, 利用经验公式和已有震例估算, 每次地震震级约为M7。     

A 26ka Continuous Stratigraphic Record of Surface Rupturing Earthquakes in Drill Logs Across the Xiadian Fault,Hebei Province,China

This paper deals wiah a new method for identification of long-term slip behavior of a conceaiedfault in a plain area from tectono-stratigraphic and chronological data obtained by drilling.Chronological determination and lithological analysis and correlation of sediments in stratigraphic colunms of drills NO.1 and No.2 at Dongliuhe Village on the hanging and foot walls ofXiadian fault allow us to quantitatively reconstruct the differential sedimentary history and vertical dislocation process on the hanging and foot walls of the fault since 26 ka BP and to set upa tectono-stratigraphic indicators for identifying paleoearthquakes.On this basis,taking theaccumulative vertical displacement of both sides of a fault to be a quantitative constraint,thestate before an abrupt dislocation in surface-rupturing earthquake can be reconstructed(de-ducting the later coseismic vertical displacement),then 11 surface-rupturing paleoseismic even-ts can be identified.A close correlation between recurrence behavior of surface     

THE NEW ACTIVITY OF TAN-LU FAULT ZONE IN SEGMENT OF DAHONGSHAN SINCE LATE QUATERNARY

The relationship between the latest activity of active fault and seismic events is of the utmost importance. The Tan-lu fault zone in eastern China is a major fault zone, of which the active characteristics of the segments in Jiangsu, Shandong and Anhui has been the focus of research. This study takes the Dahongshan segment of the Tanlu Fault in Sihong County as the main research area. We carried out a detailed geological survey and excavated two trenches across the steep slope on the southwest side of the Dahongshan. Each trench shows fault clearly. Combining the comparative analysis of previous work, we identified and cataloged the late Quaternary deformation events and prehistoric earthquake relics, and analyzed the activity stages and behavior of this segment. Fault gonge observed in the trench profiles shows that multiple earthquake events occurred in the fault. The faulting dislocated the Neogene sandstone, black gravel layer and gray clay layer. Brown clay layer is not broken. According to the relations of dislocated stratums, corresponding ¹⁴C and OSL samples were collected and dated. The result indicates that the Dahongshan segment of the Tanlu Fault has experienced strong earthquakes since the late Quaternary. Thrust fault, normal fault and strike-slip fault are found in the trenches. The microscopic analysis of slices from fault shows that there are many stick-creep events taking place in the area during the late Quaternary. Comprehensive analysis shows that there have been many paleoearthquakes in this region since the late Quaternary, the recent active time is the late Pleistocene, and the most recent earthquake event occurred in(12~2.5ka BP). The neotectonic activity is relatively weak in the Anhui segment(south of the Huaihe River)of Tanlu fault zone. There are difficulties in the study of late Quaternary activity. For example, uneven distribution of the Quaternary, complex geological structure, larger man-made transformation of surface and so on. The progressive research may be able to promote the study on the activity of the Anhui segment of Tanlu fault zone.     

Analysis of Paleoseismic Events of Dahuzhuang Trench at the Xiadian Fault

The Xiadian Fault is a very important concealed active fault in the Beijing Plain. It is the seismogenic fault of the Sanhe-Pinggu M_S8.0 earthquake in 1679. The ancient earthquake sequence in the long historical period is of great significance to understand accurately the activity characteristics of the fault and effectively reduce the earthquake disaster risk in Beijing. We have re-interpreted the Dahuzhuang trench, and identified three layers of buried paleosol, six collapsed wedges and one sand liquefaction event. Further, through the comparison with the landmark strata and paleo-earthquake events revealed by other trenches on the fault, an ancient earthquake sequence with a long historical period of the Xiadian Fault was established:since the 31ka, the Xiadian Fault has 11 occurrences of earthquake events (including the 1679 earthquake), and the average recurrence interval is about 2.8ka. The paleo-seismic sequence also shows that there is an ancient earthquake cluster period from 25ka to 15ka, and there are 5 strong earthquakes in the cluster period. The average recurrence interval is about 2.0ka, which reflects the phase difference of the Xiadian Fault activity.     

THE ACTIVITY FEATURES OF XIADIAN FAULT ZONE REVEALED BY RONGJIABAO TRENCH AND ITS PROBABILISTIC SEISMIC HAZARD EVALUATION

The time-dependent probabilistic seismic hazard assessment of the active faults based on the quantitative study of seismo-geology has the vital practical significance for the earthquake prevention and disaster management because it describes the seismic risk of active faults by the probability of an earthquake that increases with time and the predicted magnitude. The Poisson model used in the traditional probabilistic method contradicts with the activity characteristics of the fault, so it cannot be used directly to the potential earthquake risk evaluation of the active fault where the time elapsing from the last great earthquake is relatively short. That is to say, the present Poisson model might overestimate the potential earthquake risk of the Xiadian active fault zone in North China because the elapsed time after the historical M8 earthquake that occurred in 1679 is only 341a. Thus, based on paleoearthquake study and geomorphology survey in the field, as well as integrating the data provided by the previous scientists, this paper reveals two paleo-events occurring on the Xiadian active fault zone. The first event E₁ occurred in 1679 with magnitude M8 and ruptured the surface from Sanhe City of Hebei Province to Pinggu District of Beijing at about 341a BP, and the other happened in (4.89±0.68)ka BP(E₂). Our research also found that the average co-seismic displacement is ~(1.4±0.1)m, and the predicted maximum magnitude of the potential earthquake is 8.0. In addition, the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis of great earthquakes for Xiadian active fault zone in the forthcoming 30a is performed based on Poisson model, Brownian time passage model(BPT), stochastic characteristic-slip model(SCS)and NB model to describe time-dependent features of the fault rupture source and its characteristic behavior. The research shows that the probability of strong earthquake in the forthcoming 30a along the Xiadian active fault zone is lower than previously thought, and the seismic hazard level estimated by Poisson model might be overestimated. This result is also helpful for the scientific earthquake potential estimation and earthquake disaster protection of the Xiadian active fault zone, and for the discussion on how to better apply the time-dependent probabilistic methods to the earthquake potential evaluation of active faults in eastern China.     

海原断裂带刺儿沟古地震剖面炭屑~(14)C年龄及其意义

在青藏高原东北缘海原断裂带刺儿沟古地震剖面上不仅保存了地震活动的崩积楔遗迹,还发现多层炭屑以及与人类活动有关的铁渣、陶片等遗物,文中运用14C测年法和经红外释光照射后的绿光释光测年法(Post-IR OSL)分别对剖面上的炭屑、烘烤黏土、沉积物等样品进行年龄测定和比对,获得了各炭屑层和人类活动遗迹的年代。测定的人类活动遗迹年代与海原周缘历史记载的强震发生时间序列比对结果表明,刺儿沟人类活动遗迹的形成可能与历史地震无关,过去以炭屑年代作为地层年代来限定古地震发生的时代,建立的古地震事件时序的结果可能不正确,上述工作为进一步研究海原断裂带的强震复发规律和海原地区考古提供了重要的基础资料     

ACTIVITY FEATURES OF FAULTS AT THE EAST OF ZHANGSHAN ON THE MIDDLE SEGMENT OF TANLU FAULT ZONE

Given the scarcity of research on the activity of Xinyi-Sihong segment of the Tanlu Fault zone, this paper focuses on the Zhangshan segment where there are quite evident geomorphic features to complement the shortage of the research on the northern part of Xinyi-Sihong segment. This study enriches evidences for the late Quaternary activity and paleoseismological events on the Xinyi-Sihong segment. The Zhangshan segment is located at Xiaodian Town to Jintou Village of Suqian City, stretching towards NE for 7 kilometers with a dip angle of 60~80. Research of tectonic geomorphology shows that gullies in northern part of Zhangshan segment were evidently displaced, while in the southern, two NE-trending right-stepped fault scarps are developed, with an average height of 3 meters, which generally suggests that the fault was dominated by thrust and dextral motion. Two trenches were excavated in the southern part of Zhangshan segment, numbered Mayao trench 1 and Mayao trench 2. Both trenches reveal that:(1)within this segment, Tanlu Fault shows periodic fault activity, that is, normal faulting during Pliocene epoch while thrust faulting in Quaternary period; (2)an event occurred between 15.12ka BP to 11.82 BP; (3)the latest event possibly took place around 3 500 a BP. Based on integrated results of previous studies, we identify the dates of paleoseismic events on the Xinyi-Sihong segment as follows:more than 960 thousands years ago, early to middle period of late Pleistocene, (15.12~11.82)ka BP, (11.76±0.05)ka~(10.53±0.05)ka BP, (10.15±0.05)ka~(8.16±0.05)ka BP and 4 960~3 510a BP.