Estimation of the stress levels in the focal region before and after the 2001 M=8.1 Western Kunlun Mountain Pass earth-quake

Introduction A great earthquake of M=8.1 occurred at 17h26min14.7s (Beijing time) on November 14, 2001 on the eastern Kunlun fault, near Bukadaban mountain peak with an elevation of about 6 866 m in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibetan) Plateau of western China. The micro-epicenter is at a site of 36.2°N, 90.9°E, and the macro-epicenter is at a site of 35.6°N, 94.1° E, about 300 km west to the Kunlun Mountain Pass.This event is the largest one since 1951 in China, and yet the first su-per-st…     

Crustal Deformation Background Simulation of the Kekexili M_S8.1 Earthquake Happening in 2001

Using the GPS velocity data from 27 stations around the Eastern Kunlun fault as constraints,we first invert the slip velocities of the Eastern Kunlun fault,the north boundary fault of the Qaidam basin,the Mani-Yushu fault and the Margai Caka fault before the Kekexili MS8.1 earthquake with a 3-D elastic half-space dislocation model. The deformation field calculated from the slip movement of these faults can be considered the deformation background field of the earthquake. Based on the deformation background field with tectonic implications,we have obtained the strain field and earthquake moment accumulation field. The results show that there are two obvious high moment accumulation rate regions,one of which is the Dongdatan-Xidatan segment of the Eastern Kunlun fault where the M_S8.1 earthquake occurred in 2001.     

Paleomagnetic results of the Cretaceous marine sediments in Tongyouluke, southwest Tarim

Southwest Tarim (hereafter SW Tarim) is one of afew areas that well developed Cretaceous marinesedimentary rocks in China [1]. The Cretaceous marinesediments are stretched in front area along the Tian-shan and Kunlun Mountains. Toward the center ofTarim Basin, the Cretaceous sediments are buried bygreat thickness of Tertiary and Quaternary sedimentswith little exposure. Compared with the Cretaceousterrestrial strata of north Tarim, the Cretaceous marinestrata of SW Tarim continue and d…     

Characteristics of chlorine isotope distribution and analysis on sylvinite deposit formation based on ancient salt rock in the western Tarim Basin

The Tarim Basin, located in Xinjiang (Fig. 1), is the largest deposit basin with an area of about 560000 km2 in China. From late Triassic period to early Miocene, two huge subbasins developed, named the Kuqa sub-basin at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in the north and the Shaqa subbasin at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains in the south of the Tarim Basin. During the late Cretaceous to early Tertiary period, the Paleo-me- diterranean seawater repetitively invaded into the Shaqa subbas…     

Crustal structure of northeastern Tibet inferred from receiver function analysis

Sponsored by National Science & Technology Committee, the cooperation between China Academy of Geoscience and Institute of Geophysics and Tectonics, University Joseph, France conducted a lithospherical experiment using 40 Minititan 3-component and 13 CEIS 1-component seismometers along the road from Gonghe to Yushu in Qinghai Province during 5 months after June, 1998. The interested area is on the north of Bangong- Nujiang fault, the east of Qaidam basin, the south of Center Qilian fault and the west of Longmenshan fault. And the profile across most tectonic parts of Eastern Tibet such as Southern Qilian, Eastern Kunlun fault, Bayan Har terrane, Jinshajiang suture (Figure 1), which is the first seismological profile across Eastern Tibet (Qinghai-Tibet) and will be beneficial on the comparison with the results of its center parts, especially on the understanding of the effect of the thousands-kilometer-faraway collision between Eurasia Plate and Indian Plate on the uplifting of south and north part of Eastern Kunlun fault, and on the thickening of crust and the feature of deep structure of Qilian mountain on the north of Tibet Plateau.     

Relocation of the 2012 M s6.6 Xinjiang Xinyuan earthquake sequence

正At 05:07 AM on June 30,2012(Beijing time),an Ms6.6earthquake(hereafter referred to as Xinyuan earthquake)occurred at the junction of Xinyuan County,Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture and Hejing County,Bayinguoleng Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.The location of the main shock determined by China Earthquake Network Center is 43.4°N,84.8°E and focal depth is 7 km.By the end of 08:00 AM on     

Seismicity anomalies before the great earthquake of M_S=8.1 in the Kunlun Pass and its significance to earthquake prediction

Introduction The MS=8.1 earthquake occurred in west of the Kunlun Pass on November 14, 2001. It is the greatest earthquake occurred in China since the last half of the century and is an important event in recent seismic history of China. Some specialists consider that the earthquake occurred in the area where the earthquake monitoring capability is lowest in Chinese mainland; no striking precursory seismicity was found. The study on the precursory seismicity before the earthquake has not b…     

Tectonic evolution of the Western Kunlun orogenic belt in northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau:Evidence from zircon SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb geochronology

The Western Kunlun Range in northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is composed of the North Kunlun Terrane,the South Kunlun Terrane and the Karakorum-Tianshuihai Terrane. Here we report zircon SHRIMP and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages of some metamorphic and igneous rocks and field observations in order to pro-vide a better understanding of their Precambrian and Palaeozoic-early Mesozoic tectonic evolution. Based on these data we draw the following conclusions: (1) The paragneisses in the North Kunlun Terrane are likely of late Mesoproterozoic age rather than Palaeoproterozoic age as previously thought,representing tectonothermal episodes at 1.0―0.9 Ga and ～0.8 Ga. (2) The North Kunlun Terrane was an orogenic belt accreted to the southern margin of Tarim during late Mesoproterozoic to early Neopro-terozoic,the two episodes of metamorphisms correspond to the assemblage and breakup of Rodinia respectively. (3) The Bulunkuole Group in western South Kunlun Terrane,which was considered to be the Palaeoproterozoic basement of the South Kunlun Terrane by previous studies,is now subdivided into the late Neoproterzoic to early Palaeozoic paragneisses (khondalite) and the early Mesozoic metamorphic volcano-sedimentary series; the paragneisses were thrust onto the metamorphic vol-cano-sedimentary series from south to north,with two main teconothermal episodes (i.e.,Caledonian,460―400 Ma,and Hercynian-Indosinian,340―200 Ma),and have been documented by zircon U-Pb ages. (4) In the eastern part of the South Kunlun Terrane,a gneissic granodiorite pluton,which intruded the khondalite,was crystallized at ca. 505 Ma and metamorphosed at ca. 240 Ma. In combination with geochronology data of the paragneiss,we suggest that the South Kunlun Terrane was a Caledonian accretionary orogenic belt and overprinted by late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic arc magmatism.     

Study on the Horizontal Deformation Strain Field in the Central and Northern Parts of Yunnan Province

Based on the horizontal deformation field and the strain field derived from the GPS data over the period of 1999～2001 in the Yunnan area, the characteristics of deformation and strain in the northern part of Yunnan Province have been studied. The results indicate that the central part of the studied area is rather stable with little crustal displacement, while the western and eastern parts are active with larger displacement. The strain field reveals that the orientations of the principal compressive strain axis of the crust and the sub-blocks in the area are NW-SE, while the orientations of the principal tensile strain axis is NE-SW. In the studied area, the tensile strain is predominatly in the northern part and the compressive strain is predominatly in the central and southern parts. The stretching direction of the shear-strain contour is basically consistent with the strike of the active fault. The strain and stress fields of the fault activity are related to the structure where the fault is located, while the activity properties of the faults are different.     

Investigation on the Site of the 2003 South Bomi （Tibet） MsS. 7 Earthquake

An earthquake with magnitude of 5.7 took place on Aug. 18, 2003 in the Nyingchi Region, Tibet. The macroseismic epicenter was located in the unpopniated high mountain area, 13 km south of Zhamo town, Bond County. The seismic intensity in the meizoseismal region was Ⅶ degree. The Ⅶ and Ⅵ areas were 2000 km^2 and 11000 km^2 , respectively. This seismic event is related to the movements of the Lhari fault trending in the NW direction and the ZhamoManiweng fault trending in the NE direction. As a result of this earthquakes, the buildings in the areas were badly damaged.     

Seismogenic Structure of the 1411 Southern Damxung (Damdoi) Earthquake with M=8 in Tibet

The seismogenic structure of the 1411 southern Damxung(Damdoi)earthquake with M=8 in Tibet is discussed in detail in this paper.It is pointed out that the Nyainqentanglha southern pediment fault is the seismogenic one of the 1411 southern Damxung(Damdoi)earthquake with M=8,and the macroepicenter is located at the intersection of the extensional shear fault within Nasego-Garbogo pull-apart basin and the secondary strike-slipping fault with larger amplitude of neotectonic activity at the southwestern side of the basin.Besides,there is obvious anomaly of the geophysical fields in the seismic area,indicating that occurrence of 1411 southern Damxung(Damdoi)earthquake with M=8 was not only controlled by the superstructure but also the background of deep-seated structure.     

Discovery of Paleogene palynological assemblages from the Wanbaogou Group-complex in western part of the Eastern Kunlun orogenic belt and its geological significance

The studied region is located in the Northern Qing- hai-Tibet Plateau, the southern fringe of the Qaidam Basin, about 80 km south away from Golmud City of Qinghai Province (Fig. 1). The Eastern Kunlun oro- genic belt tectonically belongs to a joint zone between the Paleo-Asian Tectonic Domain and the Tethyan- Himalayan Tectonic Domain. Owing to the repeated tectonic movements, its geological structures have become much complicated and the degrees of defor- mation, metamorphism and disl…     

GPS Observation and Study on Recent Crustal Movement in the Northeastern Area of Pamir,Xinjiang

Calculation of repeated observation data at the densified GPS monitoring network in northeastern area of Pamir together with data from IGS stations in the peribphyery of the area yielded the movement rate of more than 40GPS station sites in the area,and,hence,the recent crustal deformation rate pattern and time series of fiductial GPS stations in the area were obtained.The result indicates that the principal movement direction of the GPS station sites is NNW,basically diagonal to the strike of Tianshan fold belt,i.e.a normal compression occurs in the Tianshan region.The movement pattern near Jiashi and its southwestern zone is some different from that of station sites in their surrounding areas,indicating a certain relation of tectonic deformation in Jiashi area to seismic activity during last years.The movement rate of station sites in the periphery of Taim basin less varies and its direction is basically consistent It indicates less or basically no deformation within Tarim basin.     

Analysis of the tidal gravity observations in Three Gorges reservoir area

The comparative observations of the tidal gravity in Three Gorges reservoir area, recorded with the LCR-ET20 gravimeter from Institute of Geodesy and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and the DZW-9 gravimeter from Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, are introduced. High-accuracy tidal gravity pa-rameters in this area are obtained, and the scale factor of the DZW-9 gravimeter is also estimated at a value of ?(756.06±0.05)×10?8 m?s?2V?1. The observed residuals of the corresponding instruments are investigated. Nu-merical results indicate that the long-term drift of the DZW-9 gravimeter appears a linear characteristic, and the observed accuracy is of the same order comparing with that of the LCR-ET20 gravimeter. The results given in the paper can provide with an effective reference model of the tidal gravity correction to the ground based and space geodesy.     

Tomographic study of the deep tectonics in the Yecheng-Shiquanhe area of the Tibetan Plateau

The profile crossing the west Kunlun region cov-ers the area between the Tarim Basin and the Kara-korum Fault, which is the highest (~5000 m a.s.l.) andthe most narrow part (400—500 km from north tosouth) of the Tibetan Plateau, thus attracting great at-tention of the geological community because of itsunique tectonic features. The Geological Bureau of Xinjiang Uygur Auton-omous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS) carried out mineral exploration and geologicalmapping in th…     

Rupture process of the 2015 Pishan earthquake from joint inversion of InSAR,teleseismic data and GPS

An earthquake of Mw6.4 occurred in Pishan County in Xinjiang Province, northwestern Tibetan Plateau, on July 3,2015. The epicenter was located on an active blind thrust system located at the northern margin of the Western Kunlun Mountain Orogenic Belt southwest of the Tarim Basin. We constructed a shovel-shaped fault model based on the layered-crust model with reference to the seismic reflection profile, and obtained the rupture process of the earthquake from the joint inversion of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar(InSAR) measurements, far-field waveform data, and Global Positioning System(GPS) data. The results show that the seismic fault dips southward with a strike of 109°, and the rupture direction was essentially northward. The fault plane rupture distribution is concentrated, with a maximum recorded slip of 73 cm. The main features of the fault are as follows: low inclination angle(25°–10°), thrust slip at a depth of 9–13 km, rupture propagation time of about 12 s, no significant slip in soft or hard sedimentary layers at 0–4 km depth and propagation from the initial rupture point to the surrounding area with no obvious directionality. The InSAR time-series analysis method is used to determine the deformation rate in the source region within 2 years after the earthquake, and the maximum value is ~17 mm yr-1 in the radar line-of-sight direction. Obvious post-earthquake deformation is evident in the hanging wall, with a similar trend to the coseismic displacement field. These results suggest that the Pishan earthquake has not completely released the accumulated energy of the region, given that the multilayer fold structure above the blind fault is still in a process of slow uplift since the earthquake. Post-earthquake adjustment models and aftershock risk analysis require further study using more independent data.     

Co-seismic Slip Distribution of the 2001 Kokoxili Earthquake Inverted by the GPS Data

INTRODUCTIONThe Kokoxili earthquake,which ruptured the East Kunlun fault in northern Tibet on November14,2001,is the largest earthquake that has occurred on the Chinese continent in the past50yearsever since the Moto,TibetM8.0earthquake of August15,1950.The macro hypocenter of thisearthquake is located in the north of Bukadaban Peak at36.2°N,90.9°E,MS=8.1(ChineseSeismological Network),or the west of Bukadaban Peak at36.01°N,90.49°E,MW=7.9(USGSNEIC),or near the Kusai Lake …     

A Discussion of Some Problems Concerning the Tosonhu Lake Ms7.5 Earthquake in 1937

The East Kunlun active fault zone, which lies in the valley of the Kunlun Mountains above an elevation of 4,000 meters, is an important active fault zone in the Northeast Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau. The 1937, the Tosonhu lake M_S7.5 earthquake occurred in the eastern segment of the East Kunlun active fault zone. Four field investigations were launched on this seism in 1963, 1971, 1980, and between 1986 and 1990. However, due to different extents of the investigations, four different conclusions have been gained. Concerning the length aspect of the surface rupture zone of this earthquake, the unanimous consensus is that its eastern end lies in the west side of the main Ridge of the A'nyêmaqên Mountains, but opinions about the western end and the location of the macro-epicenter are different. Based on investigation and comprehensive study, a series of scientific problems like geometric and kinetic characteristics, the length of the rupture zone, the maximum sinistral horizontal displacement and the macro-epicenter were re-evaluated. We believe that the total length of this earthquake's surface deformation zone is at least 240km; the western end of the zone is at the west of Wusuwuwoguole; the maximum sinistral horizontal displacement is 8m to the west of Baerhalasha gully on the east side of Sanchakou; the maximum vertical displacement is 3.5m in the south of Sanchakou and the macro-epicenter is in Sanchakou.     

Variation of Seismic Frequency in the Yunnan Region After the Indonesia Earthquake With Ms8.7

The seismic frequency increased significantly in the Yunnan region after the Indonesia earthquake with M_S8.7 on December 26, 2004. This was estimated by analyzing the seismic frequency ratio between the influenced and normal times, the spatial distribution characteristics of the increased seismic frequency, the temporal-spatial distribution and types of seismic swarms. Seismic frequency increased at 71.3% of the statistical sites in the Yunnan area. The maximal increase ratio is 18.2.     

Seismic intensity investigation of the 2001 M=6.0 Yajiang-Kangding earthquake and discussion on its background of seismogenic structures

Introduction According to the determination of the state seismic station network, a strong earthquake with magnitude of 6.0 occurred at 08h09min, February 23, 2001 (Beijing Time) in the mountainous area of Garze, Sichuan Province in southwest China. The epicenter is at 101?6E, 29?4N. The seismic region is just located on combining part among six counties. After the occurrence of the earthquake, an investigating team from the Seismological Bureau of Sichuan Province started off to the sei…