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.