Mechanism of the reservoir impounding earthquakes at Hsinfengkiang and a preliminary endeavour to discuss their cause

After the filling up of the Hsinfengkiang Reservoir Kwangtung Province, seismicity was greatly increased. The majority of earthquakes occurred in the deep water gorge close to the dam, concentrated within a northwest belt. They are usually of shallow focal depths. A strong earthquake with magnitude 6.1 took place on March 19, 1962, about two and a half years since the impounding of the reservoir.

According to the results of analysis of data from geodetic leveling and the spectra of seismic waves, the fault parameters of the main shock were determined. The fault plane solutions of 150 small earthquakes, occurring within a period of 18 months before and after the main shock were determined from the amplitudes of the first motion of P wave. The directions of the earthquake generating stress of about 2000 small earthquakes were obtained by smoothing the first motion patterns. Displacement field and stress field in the rock bodies underneath the reservoir caused by the loading of the reservoir water were calculated. Variations of the velocity ratio of the P and S waves prior to the main shock and several strong aftershocks were analysed.

In consideration of the seismicity as well as the geological background, we endeavour to discuss the cause of reservoir impounding earthquakes at Hsinfengkiang. We have the opinion that the penetration of water along fissures becomes the most important cause of the main shock of March 19, 1962 at Hsinfengkiang.