阿尔金断裂东端的旋转构造及其动力学意义

在阿尔金主断裂与祁连山北缘断裂的交汇部位，发育一个反时针旋转构造——照壁山旋转构造，它是新构造运动期阿尔金断裂左行走滑运动的结果。结合前人资料，对照壁山旋转构造变形及其发育过程进行了初步分析，认为阿尔金断裂与祁连山北缘断裂的构造转换是通过旋转构造变形来实现的。沿阿尔金断裂一系列旋转构造的存在和青藏高原东北缘旋转构造的发育表明，伴随青藏高原北部物质绕喜马拉雅东构造结的顺时针旋转运动，使旋转构造成为高原北部边缘带转换、吸收构造变形的重要表现形式。     

阿尔金走滑断裂带昌马段的电性结构样式及构造意义

阿尔金断裂带东段走滑速率沿断裂走向方向存在明显的流失现象,有关阿尔金断裂带的影响范围及走滑速率变化的机制需要有更多的深部结构证据来提供支撑.本文以阿尔金断裂带昌马段为窗口,获取了4条横穿阿尔金断裂带及相邻地区的大地电磁测深剖面.二维电性剖面显示在阿尔金断裂带北侧中上地壳以连续的高阻体为主,而南侧祁连山内部的深部电性结构在横向上有较为复杂的变化.这一点与区域构造背景相对应,即北侧的塔里木盆地东缘依然具有较好的整体性,南侧的祁连山是青藏高原北缘生长的最前端,变形强烈.在断裂带的结构特征上,阿尔金断裂带沿走向方向的切割深度在昌马盆地西侧发生了显著的降低,与阿尔金断裂带相对应的电性边界在这里向南偏移了约15 km,对应F18断裂,并与昌马盆地相接.祁连山北部的断裂带,包括昌马断裂、旱峡—大黄沟断裂总体呈现出低角度南倾的样式,切过高阻异常体的顶部.虽然昌马盆地可以起到连接断裂带的阶区的作用,将部分阿尔金断裂的走滑分量转移到盆地南侧的昌马断裂上,但是昌马断裂的走滑速率从西向东是增加的,东侧的走滑速率甚至大于阿尔金断裂沿走向方向的流失分量.我们认为在青藏高原北部主要断裂带的活动还是受印度—欧亚板块碰撞引起的远程挤压效应的影响,包括阿尔金断裂以及祁连山内部系列断层都处于斜向挤压应力环境.在这种基本构造模式下,阿尔金断裂、断裂F18、昌马盆地、昌马断裂构成了一个局部的走滑速率分解-转换-吸收体系,对局部应力状态产生影响.     

PALEOSEISMOLOGY ON THE YEMAHE SEGMENT OF THE YEMAHE-DAXUESHAN FAULT REVEALED BY TRENCH STUDY

A series of NWW striking faults are obliquely intersected by the NEE striking Altyn Tagh fault zone in the western Qilian Mountains. These faults were mostly active in late Quaternary and play an important role in accommodating regional lateral extrusion by both reverse and sinistral slip. Detailed studies on late Quaternary activity, tectonic transformation, paleoseismology, and strain partitioning not only significantly affect our recognition on seismogenic mechanism and zones of potential large earthquakes, but also provide useful information for exploring tectonic deformation mechanism in the northern Tibetan plateau. The Danghenanshan Fault, Yemahe-Daxueshan fault, and Altyn Tagh Fault form a triplet junction point at southwest of Subei county. The Yemahe-Daxueshan fault is one important branch fault in the western Qilian Mountains that accommodated eastward decreasing slip of the Altyn Tagh Fault, which was active in late Holocene, with a length up to 170km. Based on geometry and late Quaternary activity, the Yemahe-Daxueshan fault was subdivided into 3 segments, i.e. the Subei fault, Yemahe fault and Daxueshan Fault. The Yemahe Fault has the most prominent appearance among them, and is dominated by left-lateral slip with a little normal component. The heights of fresh scarps on this fault are only several tens of centimeters. We dug 2 trenches at the Zhazhihu site, and cleaned and reinterpreted one trench of previous studies. Then we interpreted trench profiles and paleoseismic events, and collected ¹⁴C and Optical Stimulated Luminescence samples to constrain event ages. Finally, we determined 3 events on the Yemahe fault with ages(6 830±30) a BP-(6 280±40) a BP, (5 220±30) a BP, (2 010±30) a BP, respectively. The elapsed time of most recent earthquake is(2 010±30) years before present, which is very close to the recurrence interval, so the possibility of major earthquakes on the Yemahe fault is relatively large.     

A PRELIMINARY RESEARCH ON THE RIGHT-LATERAL STRIKE-SLIP CHARACTERISTICS AND THE STRUCTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NORTHERN KUANTANSHAN FAULTS,HEXI CORRIDER,BASED ON HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGERY

The sinistral strike-slip characteristic of the Altyn Tagh Fault gradually disappears near the Jiuxi Basin at the west end of Hexi Corridor, and the Kuantanshan Fault and the northern marginal fault of Heishan on its east are thrust structures. There are two faults distributed in the north of Kuantanshan, namely, the Taerwan-Chijiaciwo Fault and the Ganxiashan Fault, both are featured with obvious activity. Predecessors thought that the Taerwan-Chijiaciwo Fault is a thrust fault with low movement rate, but there is few detailed study on its horizontal motion. Is there horizontal strike-slip movement in the northern marginal fault of Kuantanshan? This issue has an important significance to further explore the structural transformation mode between the Altyn Tagh strike-slip faults and the northern thrust faults in the north margin of Qilianshan. Using high resolution remote sensing images and field work, such as combining with UAV SfM photogrammetry, the paper studies the strike-slip characteristics of the Taerwan-Chijiaciwo Fault and Ganxiashan Fault on the northern margin of Kuantanshan, and get two preliminary understandings:(1) The northern marginal fault of Kuantanshan is an active right-lateral strike-slip fault with thrust component, the horizontal to vertical dislocation ratio is about 3-4 times. Based on the statistics of dislocation amount of the gullies and terraces along the north marginal Kuantanshan fault, it is preliminarily estimated that the late Pleistocene right-lateral strike-slip rate is about 0.2-0.25 mm/a and the Holocene right-lateral strike-slip rate is about 0.5-1.5 mm/a. (2) The main driving force to the tectonics at the western end of Hexi Corridor, where the northern marginal fault of Kuantanshan locates, comes from the northward extrusion of the Qilian Mountains, which results in the right-lateral strike-slip of the northern marginal fault of Kuananshan and the thrust movement of several faults inside the Jiuxi Basin. The effect of the Altyn Tagh Fault on other tectonic structures is not obvious in this region.     

The shoshonitic volcanic rocks at Hongliuxia: Pulses of the Altyn Tagh fault in Cretaceous?

Two periods of magma activities, i.e. 106–112 Ma shoshonitic eruption and 82 Ma trachytic intrusion, are recognized at the intersection of the Altyn Tagh fault and the northern marginal fault of the Qilian terrane, northeast of the Tibetan Plateau, which were previously considered to be Quaternary magma activities. The two rock-types have significant differences in mineral assemblage and chemical composition, and formed during two different pulses of magma activity. The Cretaceous magma activities and deformation in or near the Altyn Tagh fault zone suggest a possibly tectonic reactivation after the intense activity of the fault during Indusinian.

     

远震P波层析成像研究阿尔金断裂带东端及其邻区深部结构

本文利用"中国地震科学台阵探测——南北地震带北段"项目在内蒙古阿拉善西部及甘肃西北部地区布设的80个流动宽频带地震仪及16个固定台站,于2013年10月—2015年6月所记录的787个远震事件,采用波形相关方法拾取了共49052个高质量的P波走时残差数据,并利用Fast-Marching远震走时层析成像方法,反演获取了研究区下方的三维P波速度结构.结果显示:阿尔金断裂带东段、祁连山、北山地区下方地壳结构表现为低速异常特征,具有明显的造山带构造特征;阿拉善地体下方地壳结构表现为高速异常特征,为典型的大陆地壳结构特征;阿拉善地块沿着青藏高原北边界逆冲断裂(NBT)南向俯冲,其在祁连山造山带下与北向俯冲的柴达木岩石圈形成了面对面的碰撞接触关系;阿尔金断裂带的末端并没有北东向延伸到阿拉善块体,而是受到刚性的阿拉善岩石圈阻挡沿着其南缘断裂带继续向东发展.     

THE LATE QUATERNARY TECTONIC DEFORMATION REVEALED BY THE TERRACES ON THE BAIYANG RIVER IN THE NORTHERN QILIAN MOUNTAINS

The Qilian Mountains, as a major orogenic belt in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, is the forefront of the expansion of the plateau to the northeast, where thrusts and folds dominate tectonic deformation. The Baiyang River starts from the inner Qilian Mountains, flowing northward across various structures, and finally into the Jiuxi Basin. This work focused on exhaustive investigations to the terraces on this river to characterize the Late Quaternary tectonic deformation in this region. The results show that (1)these river terraces on the Baiyang River are segmented, of which multiple levels developed at steep terrains and anticlines in the basin. Bounded by the Niutou Mountains, mainly 2-3 and 4-5 levels of terraces formed in the upper and lower reaches, respectively. (2)The longitudinal profiles along the river suggest a vertical motion rate of the Changma fault as (0.32±0.09)mm/a and crustal shortening rate (0.12±0.09)mm/a. There was no vertical activity since the formation of T₅ surface (13ka)on the Hanxia-Dahuanggou fault. At the terrace T₅ (9ka)on the Laojunmiao anticline, fold uplift amounts (6.55±0.5)m and shortening amounts (3.47±0.5)m, yielding uplift and shortening rates (1.23±0.81)mm/a and (0.67±0.44)mm/a, respectively. The Baiyang River anticline began to be active about 300ka with uplift and shortening rates (0.21±0.02)mm/a and (0.14±0.03)mm/a, respectively since 170ka. (3)In the Qilian Mountains, there were two different deformation characteristics in response to the expansion of the Tibetan plateau. Shear deformation dominates the inner Qilian Mountains, which is manifested as lateral extrusion of blocks. In the northern margin of Qilian Mountains and Jiuxi Basin, the deformation is dominated by compression, expressing crustal shortening and uplift, and the shortening within the basin accounts about half of the total deformation.     

Crustal structure across the Altyn Tagh Range at the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and tectonic implications

We present new seismic refraction/wide-angle-reflection data across the Altyn Tagh Range and its adjacent basins. We find that the crustal velocity structure, and by inference, the composition of the crust changes abruptly beneath the Cherchen fault, i.e., ∼100 km north of the northern margin of the Tibetan plateau. North of the Cherchen fault, beneath the Tarim basin, a platform-type crust is evident. In contrast, south the Cherchen fault the crust is characterized by a missing high-velocity lower-crustal layer. Our seismic model indicates that the high topography (∼3 km) of the Altyn Tagh Range is supported by a wedge-shaped region with a seismic velocity of 7.6–7.8 km/s that we interpret as a zone of crust–mantle mix. We infer that the Altyn Tagh Range formed by crustal-scale strike-slip motion along the North Altyn Tagh fault and northeast–southwest contraction over the range. The contraction is accommodated by (1) crustal thickening via upper-crustal thrusting and lower-crustal flow (i.e., creep), and (2) slip-parallel (SW-directed) underthrusting of only the lower crust and mantle of the eastern Tarim basin beneath the Altyn Tagh Range.     

2015年尼泊尔强震序列对中国大陆的应力影响

基于2015年尼泊尔地震序列的破裂模型及均匀弹性半空间模型,计算了该地震序列传递到中国西藏境内发生在定日县地震和聂拉木县地震的应力.2015年尼泊尔地震序列导致定日县地震和聂拉木地震节面和滑动方向的库仑应力增加(2~3)×103 Pa和(2.4~3.1)×105 Pa,表明这两个地震受到尼泊尔地震序列的触发.其次,我们计算了2015年尼泊尔地震序列在中国大陆及其附近主要活动断层上产生的库仑应力变化.喜马拉雅主山前逆冲断裂和青藏高原内部的拉张正断层上的库仑应力有较大的增加,而青藏高原的走滑断裂,如阿尔金断裂、东昆仑断裂、玉树玛曲断裂、班公错断裂西部、嘉黎断裂的库仑应力有较大的降低.天山南北两侧的断裂库仑应力降低.而华北及东北、华南地区的库仑应力变化几乎可以忽略不计.最后,计算了该地震序列造成的水平应力变化.水平面应力在2015年尼泊尔地震序列北向(青藏高原大部和新疆区域)增加(拉张),而在地震序列东侧的西藏南部和川滇地区南部降低(压缩),在华北和东北仅有少许增加,在华南地区有少许降低.在中国西部,主压应力表现为以2015年地震序列为圆心的向外辐射状,而主张应力方向与同心圆切线方向大体一致.水平主压应力方向在东北地区为北东向,在华北地区为北东东向,在华南地区为南东东向.这种模式与现今构造应力场方向相似,表现了2015尼泊尔地震序列所代表的印度板块和欧亚板块的碰撞是中国大陆构造变形的主要动力来源.     

台湾-阿尔泰地学断面阿尔金-龙门山剖面的地壳纵波速度结构

通过分析阿尔金—龙门山地学断面的地震资料,建立了该剖面的地壳纵波速度结构。研究结果表明,阿尔金北侧的塔里木盆地地区莫霍面为50km,而在其南侧的祁连地块莫霍面突然加深至73km,在柴达木盆地莫霍面又抬升至58km左右,然后,在松潘甘孜地块莫霍面降至70km,并呈现为台阶状向龙门山方向抬升到60km左右,最低速层,而在其南部地区则没有低速层出现,推测低速层为地壳中部的局部熔融物质,阿尔金—龙门山剖面上的两个莫霍面坳陷区分别与祁连地块和松潘—甘孜地块上的两个莫霍面坳陷区相对应,指示出这个两个地块具有较深的山根,青藏高原北部的巨厚地壳很可能是由于中生代以来发生的印度板块与亚洲板块碰撞时受到来自东西及南北方向的挤压,使地壳缩短所致。     

GPS观测及断裂晚第四纪滑动速率所反映的青藏高原北部变形

断裂晚第四纪滑动速率及现今GPS观测揭示了青藏高原向北扩展与高原边缘隆升的运动特征.主要断裂晚第四纪滑动速率及跨断裂GPS应变速率的结果表明,青藏高原北部边缘的断裂以低滑动速率（＜10 mm/a）为主,特别是两条边界断裂：阿尔金断裂和海原—祁连山断裂.两条主要边界断裂上的滑动速率分布显示了断裂间滑动速率转换及调整特征.阿尔金断裂自95°E以西的8～12 mm/a稳定滑动速率,向东逐渐降低到最东端的约1～2 mm/a,而海原断裂自哈拉湖一带开始发育后滑动速率为1～2 mm/a,到祁连一带（101°E以东）增大到相对稳定的4～5 mm/a,直到过海原后转向六盘山一带,滑动速率降低到1～3 mm/a,甚至更低.滑动速率的变化及分布特征显示,阿尔金断裂滑动主要是通过祁连山内部隆起及两侧新生代盆地变形引起的缩短来吸收的,海原—祁连山断裂的低滑动速率及沿断裂运动学特征表明断裂尾端的陇西盆地变形及六盘山的隆起是断裂左旋走滑速率的主要吸收方式.这一变形特征表明,青藏高原北部边缘的变形模式是一种分布式的连续变形,变形发生自高原内部,边界断裂的走滑被高原内部变形所吸收.     

阿尔金断裂带东段距今20ka以来的滑动速率

阿尔金断裂带作为青藏高原北部边界 ,其走滑量和走滑速率一直为地学界所关注 ,对这样一条大陆内部巨型走滑断裂带的滑动速率进行研究 ,对于了解阿尔金断裂带左旋走滑和青藏高原北部隆升之间的耦合关系 ,具有重要意义。在阿尔金断裂带东段的疏勒河口以西 ,阿尔金断裂错断了几条规模相近的河流阶地和洪积扇 ,形成典型的走滑断层断错地貌。通过对这些典型断错地貌点的地貌观测和年代学研究 ,得到阿尔金断裂带东段石堡城以东疏勒河以西自 2 0kaBP以来的滑动速率约为 4～ 5mm/a。自 50kaBP以来 ,阿尔金断裂带东段断层平均滑动速率具有较高的时间、空间一致性 ,约为 4～ 6mm/a ,表明利用河流阶地和洪积扇位错作为断层走滑位移标志计算断层滑动速率 ,具有较高的可信度     

基于小震定位与震源机制解信息的阿尔金断裂带东段构造转换研究

阿尔金断裂带东段地区的造转换及其动力学机制研究一直是地学工作者关注的焦点.本文利用双差定位法获取研究区域2008—2017年间6013次地震事件的精确定位数据;整理筛选前人震源机制解36个,并采用P/S波振幅比方法计算获得221个以及CAP方法获得25个震源机制解信息.选择野马河—大雪山断裂作为研究区构造转换研究的突破口,综合小震定位数据与震源机制解信息,并开展野外地质调查进行验证,清晰刻画出该断裂的深部构造形态以及现今的运动特征：由阿尔金断裂带向祁连山方向过渡,断层产状由近直立逐渐转变为倾向南,倾角变缓,震源机制解由走滑性质为主转变为逆冲性质为主,是一个连续渐变的过程,为研究区的构造转换研究提供了直接证据.     

利用GPS观测资料分析2008年于田Ms7.3地震的同震位移及震后形变

2008年3月21日新疆于田发生Ms7.3级地震.本文通过处理、分析GPS数据,得到破裂断层北侧100 km附近的同震位移及震后形变信息.在观测区域GPS点监测到10 mm左右的同震位移,其中最大为南向14 mm,东向5 mm.同震位移呈现一致性的东南向运动特征,证实于田地震存在显著的左旋走滑分量.震后台站向西南方向运...     

Did the Altyn Tagh fault extend beyond the Tibetan Plateau?

The pre-Miocene northeastern termination of Altyn Tagh fault is a critical outstanding problem for understanding the mechanics of Cenozoic deformation resultant from the Indo-Asian collision and mechanisms of Tibetan Plateau formation. Structures beyond the widely accepted NE end of the Altyn Tagh fault, near the town of Yumen, are needed in order to accommodate strike-slip deformation related to plate-like lateral extrusion tectonics, but structures with the necessary slip magnitudes and histories have not been identified. We report on a series of newly recognized and documented E to ENE-striking faults within the Alxa block, NE of the Tibetan Plateau, that are visible on remotely sensed images and confirmed by field studies. These structures are demonstrably left-lateral faults based on offset geology and kinematic indicators such as striae and s-c fabrics in fault gouge. The faults have post-Cretaceous offsets of at least tens to possibly > 150 km, but limited post-Miocene displacement, constrained by offset sedimentary basins. These characteristics suggest that strike-slip faults of the Alxa region have a similar structural history as the central-eastern Altyn Tagh fault and can provide a mechanism for accommodating Oligocene-Early Miocene extrusion along the Altyn Tagh fault.     

Tectonics of Precambrian basement of the Tarim craton

The Altyn Tagh Mountain is the main area where the Precambrian basements of Tarim craton are exposed. There are two ophiolitic belts in Altyn Tagh: one belt is exposed in the northern margin of Altyn Tagh whose formation age is about (829±60) Ma, the other is situated along the southern margin of Altyn Tagh and has a formation age of about (1449±270) Ma. This paper proposes a simple tectonic model for the Precambrian basement of Tarim craton established from ophiolites in Altyn Tagh area. The south Tarim block had amalgamated with Qaidam block during about 1400-1500 Ma along the present Altyn fault, while the south Tarim-Qaidam united block was still separated from the north Tarim block by an ocean. The united block of south Tarim and Qaidam collided with north Tarim block along the zone of high positive anomaly of central Tarim, Hongliugou and Lapeiquan in about 800 Ma. So since the Sinian (beginning at 800 Ma) there has been an integrated basement for Tarim craton.     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ABOUT SLIP RATE OF MIDDLE SEGMENT OF THE NORTHERN QILIAN THRUST FAULT ZONE SINCE LATE QUATERNARY

The Fodongmiao-Hongyazi Fault belongs to the forward thrust fault of the middle segment of northern Qilian Shan overthrust fault zone, and it is also the boundary between the Qilian Shan and Jiudong Basin. Accurately-constrained fault slip rate is crucial for understanding the present-day tectonic deformation mechanism and regional seismic hazard in Tibet plateau. In this paper, we focus on the Shiyangjuan site in the western section of the fault and the Fenglehe site in the middle part of the fault. Combining geomorphic mapping, topographic surveys of the deformed terrace surfaces, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide dating and radiocarbon (¹⁴C) dating methods, we obtained the average vertical slip rate and shortening rate of the fault, which are ~1.1mm/a and 0.9~1.3mm/a, respectively. In addition, decadal GPS velocity profile across the Qilian Shan and Jiudong Basin shows a basin shortening rate of~1.4mm/a, which is consistent with geological shortening rates. Blind fault or other structural deformation in the Jiudong Basin may accommodate part of crustal shortening. Overall crustal shortening rate of the Jiudong Basin accounts for about 1/5 of shortening rate of the Qilian Shan. The seismic activity of the forward thrust zone of Tibetan plateau propagating northeastward is still high.     

阿尔金断裂西部邻区的上地幔各向异性研究

本文利用横波分裂方法对北京大学于田流动台阵记录的SKS震相进行分析,获到了阿尔金断裂西部及邻区的上地幔各向异性参数.分析结果显示,快波偏振方向在整个研究区基本呈近E-W向,与研究区内阿尔金断裂的走向几乎一致,分裂延迟时间在0.93~1.20s之间.综合研究区附近前人横波分裂研究结果,我们认为,在印度和欧亚大陆板块碰撞作用下,青藏高原北部上地幔软流圈物质向北流动,遇到塔里木盆地"克拉通"较厚岩石圈阻挡并发生了旋转,向东西两侧流动,导致在青藏高原和塔里木盆地边界地带软流圈上地幔橄榄岩中晶格沿近E-W向优势排列.这一模式显示阿尔金断裂可能是一个岩石圈尺度的大型走滑断裂:它既控制近地表的上地壳构造运动,同时也影响了上地幔软流圈物质的流动.另外,在向塔里木盆地内部延伸的台站也观测到显著的各向异性和近EW向的快波偏振方向.这些结果表明塔里木盆地"克拉通"岩石圈的中、下部分在南部边界被青藏高原北部上地幔软流圈流动"热侵蚀"而损失一部分,导致青藏高原软流圈向东西两侧的流动已经延伸到塔里木盆地内部.本文的研究结果揭示克拉通岩石圈"活化"不仅可以在垂直方向发生(如,岩石圈拆沉或软流圈上涌导致的热侵蚀),也可以在水平方向上发生,即软流圈的水平流动对克拉通岩石圈边界的热侵蚀作用.     

VISCOELASTIC STRESS TRANSFER BETWEEN 2008 AND 2014 YUTIAN M7 EARTHQUAKES,XINJIANG

Two earthquakes with magnitude larger than 7.0 occurred in 2008 and 2014 on the southwestern end of the Altyn Tagh Fault, which is located in the northwestern borderland of Tibetan plateau. Occurrences of these two earthquakes provide important insights into regional geodynamics and potential seismic risk. Layered viscoelastic model is employed in the paper to study the interaction between these two events. We find that most of aftershocks were triggered by coseismic stress produced by the 2008 Yutian earthquake, and the effect of this earthquake is insignificant on the occurrence of the 2014 Yutian earthquake. However, stress transfer by viscoelastic relaxation of postseismic deformation is in favor of occurrence of the 2014 Yutian earthquake. The coseismic and postseismic stress transfer produced by the 2014 Yutian earthquake leads to stress increasing on the western segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault. Since the occurrence time of the last major earthquake on the western segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault is tens of years ago, it should have accumulated large moment deficit on the fault segment. The Altyn Tagh Fault should be considered as a fault with high potential seismic risk.     

Slip Rate on the Altyn Tagh Fault on the West of the Cherchen River (Between 85°～85°45′E) Since Late Quaternary

Because of the significance to the formation and evolution of the Tibetan plateau, the displacement and slip rate of the Altyn Tagh fault have been topics full of disputation. Scientists who hold different opinions on the evolution of Tibet insist on different slip rates and displacements of the fault zone. In the article, study is focused on the late Quaternary slip rate of the Altyn Tagh fault west of the Cherchen River (between 85°E and 85°45'E). On the basis of high resolution SPOT images of the region, three sites, namely Koramlik, Aqqan pasture and Dalakuansay, were chosen for field investigation. To calculate the slip rate of the fault, displacement of terraces was measured on SPOT satellite images or in situ during fieldwork and thermo-luminescence (TL) dating method was used. To get the ages of terraces, samples of sand were collected from the uppermost sand beds that lie just under loess. The method for calculating slip rate of fault is to divide the displacement of terrace risers by the age of its neighboring lower terrace. The displacement of rivers is not considered in this article because of its uncertainties. At Koramlik, the slip rate of the Altyn Tagh fault is 11.6±2.6mm/a since 6.02±0.47ka B.P and 9.6±2.6mm/a since 15.76±1.19ka B.P. At Aqqan pasture, about 30km west of Koramlik, the slip rate is 12.1±1.9mm/a since 2.06±0.16 ka B.P. At Dalakuansayi, the slip rate of the fault is 12.2±3.0mm/a since 4.91±0.39ka B.P. Hence, we get the average slip rate of 11.4±2.5mm/a for the western part of the Altyn Tagh Fault since Holocene. This result is close to the latest results from GPS research.