STUDY ON PALEOEARTHQUAKES ALONG THE JINGHE SECTION OF BOLOKENU-AQIKEKUDUKE FAULT

The Bolokenu-Aqikekuduk fault zone(B-A Fault)is a 1 000km long right-lateral strike-slip active fault in the Tianshan Mountains. Its late Quaternary activity characteristics are helpful to understand the role of active strike-slip faults in regional compressional strain distribution and orogenic processes in the continental compression environment, as well as seismic hazard assessment. In this paper, research on the paleoearthquakes is carried out by remote sensing image interpretation, field investigation, trench excavation and Quaternary dating in the Jinghe section of B-A Fault. In this paper, two trenches were excavated on in the pluvial fans of Fan2b in the bulge and Fan3a in the fault scarp. The markers such as different strata, cracks and colluvial wedges in the trenches are identified and the age of sedimentation is determined by means of OSL dating for different strata. Four most recent paleoearthquakes on the B-A Fault are revealed in trench TC1 and three most recent paleoearthquakes are revealed in trench TC2. Only the latest event was constrained by the OSL age among the three events revealed in the trench TC2. Therefore, when establishing the recurrence of the paleoearthquakes, we mainly rely on the paleoearthquake events in trench TC1, which are labeled E1-E4 from oldest to youngest, and their dates are constrained to the following time ranges: E1(19.4±2.5)~(19.0±2.5)ka BP, E2(18.6±1.4)~(17.3±1.4)ka BP, E3(12.2±1.2)~(6.6±0.8)ka BP, and E4 6.9~6.2ka BP, respectively. The earthquake recurrence intervals are(1.2±0.5)ka, (8.7±3.0)ka and(2.8±3)ka, respectively. According to the sedimentation rate of the stratum, it can be judged that there is a sedimentary discontinuity between the paleoearthquakes E2 and E3, and the paleoearthquake events between E2 and E3 may not be recorded by the stratum. Ignoring the sedimentary discontinuous strata and the earthquakes occurring during the sedimentary discontinuity, the earthquake recurrence interval of the Jinghe section of B-A Fault is ~1~3ka. This is consistent with the earthquake recurrence interval(~2ka)calculated from the slip rate and the minimum displacement. The elapsed time of the latest paleoearthquake recorded in the trench is ~6.9~6.2ka BP. The magnitude of the latest event defined by the single event displacement on the fault is ~M_W7.4, and a longer earthquake elapsed time indicates the higher seismic risk of the B-A Fault.     

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.     

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...     

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.     

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.     

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     

地震失稳的滑动－弱化模式与大地震复发间隔估计

在考虑地震失稳的滑动－弱化特征后，研究了估计大地震重复间隔的问题，建议了一种计算大地震重复间隔的方法，给出了计算复发间隔的公式。同时，应用这个方法计算了海原断裂带、华山山前断裂带、贺兰山东麓断裂带和小江西支断裂带的８级大震复发间隔，它们分别为３４６６年、２０４３年、２６８８年和９７５年。这些数值与古地震研究给出的实际古地震复发间隔甚为一致，说明建议的计算方法可以应用于活动断裂地震复发时间和地震危险性的估计。     

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.     

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.     

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。     

相对蠕滑速率与特征地震复发间隔的估计——以小江断裂带为例

将特征地震之间的次级地震产生的位移看作相对蠕滑速率,推导了相对蠕滑速率的估算公式,进而分析了次级地震对特征地震复发间隔的影响,从而可以更好地与古地震资料对比以得到可靠的特征地震重复间隔     

Research on paleoearthquakes in Jiuxian trenches across Nankou-Sunhe fault zone in Changping County of Beijing plain

An abundance of the phenomena of tectonic deformation and paleoseismic events of different times and their recurrent interval, as well as coseismic vertical displacements is exposed in Jiuxian trenches across the Nankou-Sunhe fault zone in Changping County. The research result shows three paleoearthquakes occurring during the Holocene. They were dated as 10643 ± 250 a B.P.-9706 ± 1235 a B.P., 7894±150 a B.P.-7640 ± 650 a B.P., and 3987±100 a B.P.-3670 ± 310 a B.P., respectively. The coseismic vertical displacements are 1.0 m, 2.0 m, and 2.0 m, respectively. From a statistical formula of relation between historic earthquake magnitudes and surface seismic dislocations in North China, the magnitudes of these paleoearthquakes are inferred to be in a range from M 7.7 to M 7.9. The research shows that the Holocene fault activity in the plain can be traced in the trenches according to the micro-geomorphic features. Many micro-structural phenomena are also found in these trenches. Identification of the paleoearthquakes in the Nankou-Sunhe fault zone during the Holocene time is of significance for assessment of future seismic risk in Beijing area.     

Dynamic simulation of interactions between major earthquakes on the Xianshuihe fault zone

The authors firstly evaluate the strain accumulation rate of the Xianshuihe fault zone based on earth- quake activity. We calculated the stress and seismic moment accumulation rate for each subsection of the Xianshuihe fault zone based on the distribution of geological slip rate and GPS survey results. According to the results, we get the recurrence intervals of characterized earthquakes on each sub- section respectively. A three-dimensional finite element model for western Sichuan is constructed to discuss the earthquakes triggering among major earthquakes (M>6.7) that occurred along the Xianshuihe fault zone since 1893. The calculated Coulomb failure stress changes (ΔCFS) show that 5 of the 6 earthquakes with Ms>6.7 were triggered by positive ΔCFS. The interactions between major earthquakes not only influence recurrence intervals of characterized earthquakes on each subsection, but also change recurrence behavior of major earthquakes along the whole fault zone.     

漳县活动断裂带的古地震研究

本文介绍了作者对西秦岭北缘断裂带漳县段古地震事件的调查研究结果。该段断裂自晚更新世至全新世以来活动强烈,在全新世早期和中期各发生一起古地震事件,其大震重复间隔为5000年左右。     

大凉山断裂带北段石棉断裂的古地震

大凉山断裂带是大型走滑断裂鲜水河-小江断裂系的重要组成部分,其活动性是认识和探讨青藏高原东南缘现今地震活动和构造变形机制的重要基础资料.相较于中段和南段,关于大凉山断裂带北段活动性的相关研究成果,尤其是古地震资料非常缺乏.文中基于野外地质地貌调查,在石棉断裂联合村处开挖了一组(2个)探槽,揭露出断裂全新世活动的直接证据...     

Recurrence characteristics of late-quaternary strong earthquakes on the major active faults along the northern border of Ordos block

Through study on trenches, analysis of recurrence characteristics and recurrence interval cluster/gap of strong earthquakes along the major active faults on the northern border of Ordos block, we found 62 paleoearthquakes that occurred in the late Quaternary, including 33 earthquakes occurring in the Holocene. The recurrence characteristics of the paleoearthquakes are different at three levels, segments, faults, and fault zones. The strong seismic sequence on the independent segments is mostly characterized by long- and short-interval recurrences, while that on the faults and in fault zone is characterized clearly by random and cluster recurrences. Results of the moving window test indicate that the probabilities of "temporal cluster or gap", caused by random coincidence as opposed to intersegment contagion, are 64% and 70% for the Serteng piedmont fault and for the south-border fault of Wula Mountains, respectively, no clear interaction among the segments of each fault; while the probability is 26.8% for the whole fault zone, suggesting a clear interaction among the faults of this fault zone. These recurrence characteristics may imply an effect of the entire block motion on the recurrence of strong earthquakes. Moreover, the elapsed time for the Wujumeng Pass-Dongfeng Village segment of Serteng piedmont fault and the Tuzuo Banner-Wusutu and the Hohhot segments of Daqingshan piedmont fault has exceeded the average recurrence interval, hence these three segments may be the possible places for future strong earthquakes.     

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.     

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.     

Recurrence characteristics of late-quaternary strong earthquakes on the major active faults along the northern border of Ordos block

Through study on trenches, analysis of recurrence characteristics and recurrence interval cluster/gap of strong earthquakes along the major active faults on the northern border of Ordos block, we found 62 paleoearthquakes that occurred in the late Quaternary, including 33 earthquakes occurring in the Holocene. The recurrence characteristics of the paleoearthquakes are different at three levels, segments, faults, and fault zones. The strong seismic sequence on the independent segments is mostly characterized by long- and short-interval recurrences, while that on the faults and in fault zone is characterized clearly by random and cluster recurrences. Results of the moving window test indicate that the probabilities of “temporal cluster or gap”, caused by random coincidence as opposed to intersegment contagion, are 64% and 70% for the Serteng piedmont fault and for the south-border fault of Wula Mountains, respectively, no clear interaction among the segments of each fault; while the probability is 26.8% for the whole fault zone, suggesting a clear interaction among the faults of this fault zone. These recurrence characteristics may imply an effect of the entire block motion on the recurrence of strong earthquakes. Moreover, the elapsed time for the Wujumeng Pass-Dongfeng Village segment of Serteng piedmont fault and the Tuzuo Banner-Wusutu and the Hohhot segments of Daqingshan piedmont fault has exceeded the average recurrence interval, hence these three segments may be the possible places for future strong earthquakes.     

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.