Multi-level decollement zones and detachment deformation of Longmenshan thrust belt,Sichuan Basin,southwest China

As is well known that many decollement layers were developed in the Longmenshan thrust belt,Si-chuan Basin,China. Through field investigation,explanation of seismic profiles and analysis of the balanced sections,we can divide the decollement zones into 3 categories: (1) the deep level decolle-ment zones,including the crust-mantle decollement layer,intracrustal decollement layer,and presinian basal decollement layer. The main structural styles of their deformation are the crust-mantle decoup-ling detachment deformation,the basal ductile shear deformation,etc.; (2) the middle level decollement zones,including the Cambrian-Ordovician decollement layer,the Silurian decollement layer,etc.,the main structural styles of their deformation are the isopachous fold,the angular fold,the saddle struc-ture,and the combination styles of them; and (3) the shallow level decollement zones,including the Xujiahe Formation decollement layer of Upper Triassic and the Jurassic decollement layers,the main structural styles of their deformation are the thrust-nappe tectonic,the pop-up,the triangle zone ,the duplex,etc. Multi-level decollement zones not only made the Longmenshan thrust belt develop many different deformation styles from deep place to shallow place,but also made some local areas have the superimposition of the tectonic deformation apparently. This study indicates that the multi-level de-collement zones have a very important effect on the shaping and evolution of the Longmenshan thrust belt.     

Deformation processes in the shallow levels of an accretionary prism: The Mesozoic Torlesse Terrane, South Island, New Zealand

Abstract The deformation style of the Torlesse Terrane along the southern Kaikoura coast, South Island, New Zealand, records shallow level deformation processes within an accretionary prism during the Early Cretaceous. The beds exhibit complicated structural features resulting from multistage deformations in a lithological unit, that were intimately related with the dewatering and lithification of terrigenous sediments. The earliest phase of deformation throughout the transect studied was the development of pinch-and-swell structures and boudinage fabrics due to layer-parallel extension while the beds were poorly consolidated. This was followed locally by mesoscopic tight to close recumbent folding. The beds are cut locally by two phases of mudstone intrusions. The earlier phase was initiated by 'in situ' fluidization of mudstone layers, whereas the later phase represented intrusion of siliceous claystone probably derived from an overpressured decollement. Minor faults at high-angles to bedding by layer-normal shortening then disrupted the beds throughout the transect. The deformation was followed by formation of meso- and macroscopic scale open to gentle folds by layer-parallel shortening. Kilometer-scale differential stratal rotations were produced during the final main tectonic phase that occurred in association with post-accretion Neogene regional disturbance.     

Neogene deformation of the Kuqa-Tianshan Basin-range System

The Neogene deformation of the Kuqa-Tianshan Basin-range System is characterized by discrepancy in paleostress patterns on the basin-range boundary and in the basin interior, and by discrepancy in deformation styles of the basement and the cover. Measurement and paleostress reconstruction of the brittle faults display a stress pattern with NW-SE and/or NNW-SSE extension on the basin margin and NW-SE compression in the basin interior. The basement was cut into blocks separated by boundary faults and upthrusts that were recognized in the seismic reflection profile. The block-faulting could have caused vertical uplift of the basement and gravitational sliding in the overlying sedimentary cover. Theoretical calculation indicates two generations of potential decollement folds within the basin, with one being mudstone in the Triassic Huangshanjie formation and the other the Cenozoic salt-gypsum layers.     

High-resolution shallow seismic and ground penetrating radar investigations revealing the evolution of the Uemachi Fault system, Osaka, Japan

Abstract Ground penetrating radar (GPR) and high‐resolution shallow reflection seismic surveying were carried out to investigate the subsurface geology in and around the Uemachi Fault zone in the Yamato River area, Osaka, Japan. Shallow drilling in the area showed a major displacement event during the middle Pleistocene. The main Uemachi Fault plane could be clearly imaged on the seismic section, except for the most shallow 200 m. Several shallow normal fault planes with less displacement could be detected on both sides of the fault plane. GPR profiles confirmed the presence of several shallow normal faults within the area near the fault zone. These shallow faults could be followed in all of the GPR profiles crossing the fault zone. The integration of seismic section, GPR profiles and drilling data led to a conceptual model that explains the evolution of the Uemachi Fault system. The proposed model suggests the occurrence of several cycles of small vertical displacement along the deep part of the fault plane caused by the regional east–west compressional stress. The ductile nature of the shallow sedimentary cover and the absence of confining pressure in the shallow part allow for a considerable amount of plastic bending before failing in the shallow sedimentary layers. This bending generates stretching force within the shallow sedimentary cover, which in time, along with gravitational force, gives rise to the formation of the swarm of normal faults within the shallow layers near the fault zone. Some of the detected faults extend to a depth of less than 3 m below the ground surface, suggesting that the last tectonic activity along the fault plane may have occurred recently.     

Study on coupling between deep and shallow structures of Xingtai area and some significant questions

IntroductionIn order to gain a clear idea of the deep tectonic environment of Xingtai earthquake area,three wide-angle deep seismic renectionlrefraction profiles have been conducted through the are4they are Yuanshi--Ji'nan profile, Renxian--Wuqing profile and Tat' an--LongyaM inzhou profi I e.The Yuanshi--Ji'nan profile passes through the epicenter of the Ms=7.2 main shock andTat' ~ongyaO--X inzhou profi ie passes through the ep icenter of the Ms=6. 8 earthquake. Duringthe "Eighth Five-…     

THE CRUSTAL SHALLOW STRUCTURES AND FAULT ACTIVITY DETECTION IN XINYI SECTION OF TAN-LU FAULT ZONE

The Tan-Lu fault zone is the largest active tectonic zone in eastern China, with a complex history of formation and evolution, and it has a very important control effect on the regional structure, magmatic activity, the formation and distribution of mineral resources and modern seismic activity in eastern China. Xinyi City has a very important position as a segmental node in the Shandong and Suwan sections of the Tan-Lu fault zone. Predecessors have conducted research on the spatial distribution, occurrence and activity characteristics of the shallow crustal faults in the Suqian section of the Tan-Lu belt, and have obtained some new scientific understandings and results. However, due to different research objectives or limitations of research methods, previous researches have either focused on the deep crustal structure, or targeted on the Suqian section or other regions. However, the structural style and deep-shallow structural association characteristics of Xinyi section of Tan-Lu belt have not been well illustrated, nor its activity and spatial distribution have been systematically studied. In order to investigate the shallow crustal structure features, the fault activities, the spatial distribution and the relationship between deep and shallow structures of the Xinyi section of the Tan-Lu Fault, we used a method combining mid-deep/shallow seismic reflection exploration and first-break wave imaging. Firstly, a mid-deep seismic reflection profile with a length of 33km and a coverage number greater than 30 was completed in the south of Xinyi City. At the same time, using the first arrival wave on the common shot record, the tomographic study of the shallow crust structure was carried out. Secondly, three shallow seismic reflection profiles and one refraction tomography profile with high resolution across faults were presented. The results show that the Xinyi section of Tan-Lu fault zone is a fault zone composed of five concealed main faults, with a structural pattern of “two grabens sandwiched by a barrier”. The five main faults reveal more clearly the structural style of “one base between two cuts” of the Tan-Lu fault zone. From west to east, the distribution is as follows: on the west side, there are two high-angle faults, F₄ and F₃, with a slot-shaped fault block falling in the middle, forming the western graben. In the middle, F₃ and F₂, two normal faults with opposite dip directions, are bounded and the middle discontinuity disk rises relatively to form a barrier. On the east side, F₂ and F₁, two conjugate high-angle faults, constitute the eastern graben. The mid-deep and shallow seismic reflection profiles indicate that the main faults of the Xinyi section of Tan-Lu fault zone have a consistent upper-lower relationship and obvious Quaternary activities, which play a significant role in controlling the characteristics of graben-barrier structure and thickness of Cenozoic strata. The shape of the reflective interface of the stratum and the characteristics of the shallow part of the fault revealed by shallow seismic reflection profiles are clear. The Mohe-Lingcheng Fault, Xinyi-Xindian Fault, Malingshan-Chonggangshan Fault and Shanzuokou-Sihong Fault not only broke the top surface of the bedrock, but also are hidden active faults since Quaternary, especially the Malingshan-Chonggangshan Fault which shows strong activity characteristics of Holocene. The results of this paper provide a seismological basis for an in-depth understanding of the deep dynamics process of Xinyi City and its surrounding areas, and for studying the deep-shallow tectonic association and its activity in the the Xinyi section of the Tan-Lu Fault.     

中西部冲断带多尺度地球物理解释及其物理模拟实验

中西部冲断带形成于两古板块"镶嵌式"拼接成陆后的再冲断.多尺度地球物理资料解释表明,浅层构造变形具有"横向有序分带、垂向多属性分层、纵向差异分段"特征,深部构造变形表现为分层解耦和差异收缩,造山带与盆地的岩石圈在咬合冲断时强-弱层对置.本文利用物理模拟实验和延时摄影方法,基于"挤压-碰撞"模型正演了冲断带变形过程,实验结果表明：造山带仰冲盆地并相互拼接,前者冲起折返,后者前陆冲断;盆内滑脱层的存在会产生构造分层,上构造层的变形以断层相关褶皱为主,且扩展范围受控于滑脱层;上构造层的挤压缩短量比下构造层大,变形扩展更远;下构造层的变形以叠瓦构造和双重构造为主,其断层倾角由前陆向腹陆逐渐增大,断面由下凹变为上凸,断片由侧向叠置变为垂向叠置;高角度逆断层的变形经历了脆性变形、韧-脆性变形和韧性变形三个阶段.     

Lithospheric structure and faulting characteristics of the Helan Mountains and Yinchuan Basin:Results of deep seismic reflection profiling

The Helan Mountains and Yinchuan Basin(HM-YB) are located at the northern end of the North-South tectonic belt,and form an intraplate tectonic deformation zone in the western margin of the North China Craton(NCC).The HM-YB has a complicated history of formation and evolution,and is tectonically active at the present day.It has played a dominant role in the complex geological structure and modern earthquake activities of the region.A 135-km-long deep seismic reflection profile across the HM-YB was acquired in early 2014,which provides detailed information of the lithospheric structure and faulting characteristics from near-surface to various depths in the region.The results show that the Moho gradually deepens from east to west in the depth range of 40-48 km along the profile.Significant differences are present in the crustal structure of different tectonic units,including in the distribution of seismic velocities,depths of intra-crustal discontinuities and undulation pattern of the Moho.The deep seismic reflection profile further reveals distinct structural characteristics on the opposite sides of the Helan Mountains.To the east,The Yellow River fault,the eastern piedmont fault of the Helan Mountains,as well as multiple buried faults within the Yinchuan Basin are all normal faults and still active since the Quaternary.These faults have controlled the Cenozoic sedimentation of the basin,and display a "negative-flower" structure in the profile.To the west,the Bayanhaote fault and the western piedmont fault of the Helan Mountains are east-dipping thrust faults,which caused folding,thrusting,and structural deformation in the Mesozoic stratum of the Helan Mountains uplift zone.A deep-penetrating fault is identified in the western side of the Yinchuan Basin.It has a steep inclination cutting through the middle-lower crust and the Moho,and may be connected to the two groups of faults in the upper crust.This set of deep and shallow fault system consists of both strike-slip,thrust,and normal faults formed over different eras,and provides the key tectonic conditions for the basin-mountains coupling,crustal deformation and crust-mantle interactions in the region.The other important phenomenon revealed from the results of deep seismic reflection profiling is the presence of a strong upper mantle reflection(UMR) at a depth of 82-92 km beneath the HM-YB,indicating the existence of a rapid velocity variation or a velocity discontinuity in that depth range.This is possibly a sign of vertical structural inhomogeneity in the upper mantle of the region.The seismic results presented here provide new clues and observational bases for further study of the deep structure,structural differences among various blocks and the tectonic relationship between deep and shallow processes in the western NCC.     

ACTIVE FAULTS AND THEIR FORMATION MECHANISM IN THE EAST SEGMENT OF QIULITAGE ANTICLINE BELT,KUQA DEPRESSION

Based on geological and geomorphologic characteristics of the surface faults acquired by field investigations and subsurface structure from petroleum seismic profiles, this paper analyzes the distribution, activity and formation mechanism of the surface faults in the east segment of Qiulitage anticline belt which lies east of the Yanshuigou River and consists of two sub-anticlines:Kuchetawu anticline and east Qiulitage anticline. The fault lying in the core of Kuchetawu anticline is an extension branch of the detachment fault developed in Paleogene salt layer, and evidence shows it is a late Pleistocene fault. The faults developed in the fold hinge in front of the Kuchetawu anticline in a parallel group and having a discontinuous distribution are fold-accommodation faults controlled by local compressive stress. However, trenching confirms that these fold-accommodation faults have been active since the late Holocene and have recorded part of paleoearthquakes in the active folding zone. The fault developed in the south limb near the core of eastern Qiulitage anticline is a low-angle thrust fault, likely a branch of the upper ramp which controls the development of the eastern Qiulitage anticline. The faults lying in the south limb of eastern Qiulitage anticline are shear-thrust faults, which are developed in the steeply dipping frontal limb of the fault-propagation folds, and also characterized by group occurrence and discontinuous distribution. Several fault outcrops are discovered near Gekuluke, in which the Holocene diluvial fans are dislocated by these faults, and trench shows they have recorded several paleoearthquakes. The surface anticlines of rapid growth and associated accommodation faults are the manifestations of the deep faults that experienced complex folding deformation and propagated upward to the near surface, serving as an indicator of faulting at depth. The fold-accommodation faults are merely local deformation during the folding process, which are indirectly related with the deep faults that control the growth of folds. The displacement and slip rate of these surface faults cannot match the kinematics parameters of the deeper fault, which controls the development of the active folding. However, these active fold-accommodation faults can partly record paleoearthquakes taking place in the active folding zone.     

漳州盆地及其邻区地壳深部结构的探测与研究

漳州盆地及其邻区地处我国大陆东南沿海地震带中段。通过该地区高分辨率折射及宽角反射，折射地震探测剖面，获得了该区地壳几何结构与速度结构、地壳深浅部断裂的几何形态和构造关系等。结果表明，该区地壳分为上地壳和下地壳。上地壳的厚度为16．5～18．8km，下地壳厚度为12．0～13．0km。上地壳分为上下两部分。在上地壳下部有一个低速层，速度约为6．00km／s，低速层顶面深度为12．0km左右，厚度约为5．0km。下地壳也分为上下两部分。Moho界面的深度为29．0～31．8km。该区6条地壳浅部正断层大部分向地下延伸深度不超过4km，最大延伸深度达5km左右。据推测，浅部正断层下方有一条高倾角地壳深断裂带，该断裂带向下断至Moho面，向上断至上地壳下部低速层中。深浅部断裂构造不相连接。漳州盆地深浅部构造组合特征表明，九龙江断裂带是该区内一条特征明显、具有复杂深浅构造背景的深断裂带。这一深地震探测成果的获得，使得该地区深部资料解释的可靠性和探测精度比以往显著提高；对深浅部构造的组合可作统一解释，地壳的分层和结构特征更为确切和精细；首次发现上地壳的拉张性构造及铲式正断层组合特征，不仅有助于对漳州及其邻区地震危险性的综合判定，而且对深化东南沿海地震带深部动力学过程的认识具有重要意义。     

南天山及塔里木北缘构造带西段地震构造研究

南天山及塔里木北缘构造带位于帕米尔地区东北侧,地震活动强烈。文中通过地质构造剖面、深部探测资料和地震震源机制解资料,综合研究了该区的地震构造模型。结果认为,该区的构造活动主要表现为天山地块逆冲于塔里木地块之上。天山构造系统包括迈丹断裂及其前缘推覆构造;塔里木构造系统包括深部的塔里木北缘断裂、基底共轭断层和浅部的推覆构造。塔里木北缘断裂是发育于塔里木地壳内部的高角度断裂,其形成原因在于塔里木和天山构造变形方向的差异。塔里木北缘断裂为研究区大地震的主要发震构造,天山推覆构造和塔里木基底断裂系统均具有不同性质的中强地震发震能力     

Exploration and Research of Deep Crustal Structures in the Zhangzhou Basin and Its Vicinity

INTRODUCTIONThe Zhangzhou basinislocated onthe southeast coast of Fujian Province .Interms of geotectonicunits ,it lies in the east Fujian volcanic fault-depression zone between the Wuyi-Daiyun mountainupheaval zone and depression zone of Taiwan Straits of the south China block. In terms ofseismotectonics ,it islocatedinthe middle sectionof the southeasterncoastal seismic zone .In history,the area was influenced by repeated destructive earthquakes , and the seismic activity was closely…     

青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部深部地壳结构及其构造意义

青藏高原地壳变形加厚机制一直是地学界研究争论的热点问题.青藏高原目前仍然处在持续向外扩张之中,因此青藏高原的边界地带作为高原向外扩张的最前缘地区代表了高原最新的变形状态,是研究青藏高原地壳变形加厚的关键地区.本文以一条穿过青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部的深地震反射剖面为基础,结合前人地质、地球物理资料,通过细致的地质构造解译,获得青藏高原东北缘祁连山与酒西盆地结合部位地壳变形以壳内滑脱带为界上、下解耦.滑脱带位于壳内低速层的顶部,深度14~24 km.滑脱带之上的地壳部分以一系列南倾、北冲,并向下终止于滑脱带的逆冲断裂变形为主,指示了青藏高原向北的扩张方式;滑脱带之下的地壳以Moho面作为变形标志,指示了复杂的挤压缩短变形.据此我们推测上、下地壳的解耦缩短变形对青藏高原东北缘地壳的变形加厚起到了决定性的作用,甚至在整个青藏高原地壳的变形加厚过程中都起到了重要作用.     

Application of common reflection angle migration for imaging deformation structures in an inner accretionary wedge,Nankai Trough,Japan

To better image deformation structures within the inner accretionary wedge of the Nankai Trough, Japan, we apply common reflection angle migration to a legacy two-dimensional seismic data set acquired with a 6 km streamer cable. In this region, many seismic surveys have been conducted to study the seismogenic zone related to plate subduction. However, the details of the accreted sediments beneath the Kumano forearc basin are still unclear due to the poor quality of seismic images caused by multiple reflections, highly attenuated signals, and possibly complex geological structures. Generating common image gathers in the subsurface local angle domain rather than the surface offset domain is more advantageous for imaging geological structures that involve complex wave paths and poor illumination. By applying this method, previously unseen structures are revealed in the thick accreted sediments. The newly imaged geometric features of reflectors, such as the folds in the shallow part of the section and the deep reflectors with stepwise discontinuities, imply deformation structures with multiple thrust faults. The reflections within the deep accreted sediments (approximately 5 km) are mainly mapped to far angles (30°–50°) in the common reflection angles, which correspond to the recorded offset distances greater than 4.5 km. This result indicates that the far offset/angle information is critical to image the deformation structures at depth. The new depth image from the common reflection angle migration provides seismic evidence of multiple thrust faults and their relationship with the megathrust fault that is essential for understanding the structure and evolution of the Nankai Trough seismogenic zone.     

Contributions to a shallow aquifer study by reprocessed seismic sections from petroleum exploration surveys, eastern Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The US Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Drilling Company of Abu Dhabi, is conducting a 4-year study of the fresh and slightly saline groundwater resources of the eastern Abu Dhabi Emirate. Most of this water occurs in a shallow aquifer, generally less than 150 m deep, in the Al Ain area. A critical part of the Al Ain area coincides with a former petroleum concession area where about 2780 km of vibroseis data were collected along 94 seismic lines during 1981–1983. Field methods, acquistion parameters, and section processing were originally designed to enhance reflections expected at depths ranging from 5000 to 6000 m, and subsurface features directly associated with the shallow aquifer system were deleted from the original seismic sections. The original field tapes from the vibroseis survey were reprocessed in an attempt to extract shallow subsurface information (depths less than 550 m) for investigating the shallow aquifer.A unique sequence of reproccessing parameters was established after reviewing the results from many experimental tests. Many enhancements to the resolution of shallow seismic reflections resulted from: (1) application of a 20-Hz, low-cut filter; (2) recomputation of static corrections to a datum nearer the land surface; (3) intensive velocity analyses; and (4) near-trace muting analyses. The number, resolution, and lateral continuity of shallow reflections were greatly enhanced on the reprocessed sections, as was the delineation of shallow, major faults. Reflections on a synthetic seismogram, created from a borehole drilled to a depth of 786 m on seismic line IQS-11, matcheddprecisely with shallow reflections on the reprocessed section. The 33 reprocessed sections were instrumental in preparing a map showing the major structural features that affect the shallow aquifer system. Analysis of the map provides a better understanding of the effect of these shallow features on the regional occurrence, movement, and quality of groundwater in the concession area. Results from this study demonstrate that original seismic field tapes collected for deep petroleum exploration can be reprocessed to explore for groundwater.     

北京地区地壳精细结构的深地震反射剖面探测研究

长度100 km、NW向穿过三河—平谷8.0级地震区和北京地区主要断裂构造的深地震反射剖面,揭示了该区地壳精细结构图像和断裂的深浅构造特征.结果表明,该区地壳以TWT6～7 s左右的强反射带为界分为上地壳和下地壳,上地壳厚约18～21 km,下地壳厚约13～15 km.剖面TWT3～4 s以上,反射层位丰富,构造形态清晰,且在剖面上具有明显不同的构造特征;在三河—平谷地震区以西,剖面揭示了2～3组反射能量较强的反射震相和一系列错断基底面的断裂,在三河—平谷地震区以东,为一套自东向西倾伏的密集强反射层,这套反射具有典型的沉积盆地特征,盆地最深处约为8～9 km.剖面揭示的地壳深断裂倾角陡直,该断裂切割、扰动了下地壳物质和壳幔过渡带,向上延伸至上地壳,将地壳深部构造与浅部断裂联系在一起,构成了该区最主要的深浅构造特征.     

1966年邢台7.2级地震的动力学模型

根据较新的深地震反射资料，构造应力场和震机制等资料，建立了１９６６年邢台７．２级地震孕震区的平面和剖面的有限元模型，对平面和剖面模型在ＥＷ向水平外压力下的最大剪应力分布进行了计算，剪应力相对集中的部位和大震震源位置比较一致，提出了邢台７．２级地震的动力学模型，认为地震的孕育和发生可能需要深，浅部断层，壳内低速层和ＥＷ向水平压力的共同作用，虽然由震源机制和地震宏观烈度分布等资料可指出有具体的发震断层     

Transport network and flow mechanism of shallow ore-bearing magma in Tongling ore cluster area

The Tongling area is one of the most important ore cluster areas in the middle to lower Yangtze River metallogenic belt. The ore-forming process in Tongling region was mainly resulted from the me- dium-acidic magma intrusion activity during Yansha- nian epoch[1―4]. Lots of research of the structure sys- tem and intrusion series were carried out in recent decades and the following aspects were mainly fo- cused on: (1) Accurate determination of the petrologic structure, chemical composition a…     

西宁盆地浅层滑脱面与地震关系探讨

滑脱面空间特征的研究可以反映次级浅断裂与区域深断裂之间的构造关系, 在西宁盆地中, 第三纪地层在NNE向区域挤压应力作用下, 沿近NW向发生弯曲褶皱变形。 利用平衡剖面方法, 通过对垂直构造走向的一条剖面进行反演, 得到西宁盆地的滑脱面深度在4~5 km, 并向南倾, 与物探资料得到的盆地沉积盖层的底界位置和形态基本相同。 因此得出盆地沉积盖层的变形方式以柔皱褶曲为主, 并沿沉积盖层底界进行滑脱。 同时根据区域地震背景分析, 认为在西宁盆地浅滑脱的结构面不具备强震的发震条件。     

Deformation of “Villafranchian” lacustrine sediments in the Chisone Valley (Western Alps, Italy)

The Chisone Valley is located in the internal NW Alps, in the Pinerolese District, an area characterized by present low to medium seismicity. Fine-grained sediments (sand, silt and clay with interbedded gravel) crop out in the lower Chisone Valley: they were first interpreted as glaciolacustrine deposits, and then as a lacustrine infilling of the valley floor probably due to differential uplifting of the valley mouth. Review of this data, together with new field and palynological observations, lead us to refer the lacustrine deposits to approximately the Lower Pleistocene (Villafranchian). In many outcrops, the lacustrine deposits show strong soft-sediment deformation such as convolute laminations, water-escape structures and disrupted beds, some of them associated with folds and faults (cm to dm in size); only two sites show metric to decametric folds and faults trending E-W and N-S. Detailed structural analysis conducted along a recently exposed section (Rio Gran Dubbione site) shows several soft-sediment deformation features on the limbs of mesoscale folds. Because of their intimate structural association, the origin of these minor structures seems to be connected to synsedimentary activity on reverse and normal faults (m to dm in size) affecting the lacustrine deposits in the same locality. Soft-sediment deformation features can be interpreted as possible paleoseismites. If so, the present seismicity of the Pinerolese District, which is the major area of such activity in NW Italy, cannot be considered an isolated episode in the geological evolution of the region; even if there is no supporting evidence for continuous seismicity, the deformations in the lacustrine sediments of the Chisone Valley testify to Early Pleistocene seismic activity, probably related to the recent tectonic evolution of the internal side of the NW Alps.