Seismites in the Dasheng Group: New evidence of strong tectonic and earthquake activities of the Tanlu Fault Zone

More than 80 layers of seismites were recognized from the Early Cretaceous Dasheng Group in the Mazhan and Tancheng graben basins in the Tanlu Fault Zone, eastern China. The responsible seismic events took place about 110–100 Ma in the Early Cretaceous. The fault zone was affected at the time by strong tectonics, due to tension-related stretching and scattered squeezing by strike-slip faults. These tectonic activities induced a series of strong earthquakes with Richter magnitudes(M) of 5–8.5. The earthquakes affected saturated or semi-consolidated flood and lake sediments, and produced intra-layer deformations by several processes, including liquefaction, thixotropy, drop, faulting, cracking, filling and folding, which resulted in the formation of various soft-sediment deformation structures, such as dikes and veins of liquefied sand, liquefied breccias, liquefied homogeneous layers, load structures, flame structures, ball-and-pillow structures, boudinage, diapirs, fissure infillings, a giant conglomerate wedge, and syn-sedimentary faults. The seismites are new evidence of tectonic and seismic activities in the Tanlu Fault Zone during the Early Cretaceous; the series of strong seismic events that can be deduced from them must be considered as a response to the destruction of the North China Craton.     

由地壳速度结构判断郯庐断裂带江苏段未来大震位置

用多震相地震走时成像法反演郯庐断裂带鲁苏皖段及邻区三维地壳速度结构。一些地区如郯庐断裂带临沭到定远及以东地区在中地壳的20~25km出现低速层,一些地区莫霍面埋深有变化。浅层速度结构的分段与断裂活动的分段相一致,表明新沂到泗洪是活动断裂的闭锁段。对比1668年山东郯城8级地震区和研究区的深部速度结构,结合与郯庐带相交的断裂、地震活动、活动断裂的闭锁段、中地壳低速层及莫霍面深度变化,综合判断郯庐断裂带江苏段未来可能发生大震的地区为33.4°~34.1°N,118.2°~118.8°E,重点是宿迁、沭阳、泗阳和泗洪。震级估计可达8级。     

STUDY ON THE LATEST ACTIVITY OF WUYUNSHAN-HEFEI FAULT IN HEFEI BASIN,THE WESTERN BRANCH OF THE TANLU FAULT ZONE

Tanlu fault zone is the largest strike-slip fault system in eastern China. Since it was discovered by aeromagnetics in 1960s, it has been widely concerned by scholars at home and abroad, and a lot of research has been done on its formation and evolution. At the same time, the Tanlu fault zone is also the main seismic structural zone in China, with an obvious characteristic of segmentation of seismicity. Major earthquakes are mostly concentrated in the Bohai section and Weifang-Jiashan section. For example, the largest earthquake occurring in the Bohai section is M7.4 earthquake, and the largest earthquake occurring in the Weifang-Jiashan section is M8.5 earthquake. Therefore, the research on the active structure of the Tanlu fault zone is mainly concentrated in these two sections. With the deepening of research, some scholars carried out a lot of research on the middle section of Tanlu fault zone, which is distributed in Shandong and northern Jiangsu Province, including five nearly parallel fault systems, i.e. Changyi-Dadian Fault(F₁), Baifenzi-Fulaishan Fault(F₂), Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃), Tangwu-Gegou Fault(F₄) and Anqiu-Juxian Fault(F₅). They find that the faults F₃ and F₅ are still active since the late Quaternary. In recent years, we have got a further understanding of the geometric distribution, active age and active nature of Fault F₅, and found that it is still active in Holocene. At the same time, the latest research on the extension of F₅ into Anhui suggests that there is a late Pleistocene-Holocene fault existing near the Huaihe River in Anhui Province. The Tanlu fault zone extends into Anhui Province and the extension section is completely buried, especially in the Hefei Basin south of Dingyuan. At present, there is little research on the activity of this fault segment, and it is very difficult to study its geometric structure and active nature, and even whether the fault exists has not been clear. Precisely determining the distribution, active properties and the latest active time of the hidden faults under urban areas is of great significance not only for studying the rupture behavior and segmentation characteristics of the southern section of the Tanlu fault zone, but also for providing important basis for urban seismic fortification. By using the method of shallow seismic prospecting and the combined drilling geological section, this paper carries out a detailed exploration and research on the Wuyunshan-Hefei Fault, the west branch fault of Tanlu fault zone buried in Hefei Basin. Four shallow seismic prospecting lines and two rows of joint borehole profiles are laid across the fault in Hefei urban area from north to south. Using ¹⁴C, OSL and ESR dating methods, ages of 34 samples of borehole stratigraphic profiles are obtained. The results show that the youngest stratum dislocated by the Wuyunshan-Hefei Fault is the Mesopleistocene blue-gray clay layer, and its activity is characterized by reverse faulting, with a maximum vertical offset of 2.4m. The latest active age is late Mesopleistocene, and the depth of the shallowest upper breaking point is 17m. This study confirms that the west branch of Tanlu fault zone cuts through Hefei Basin and is still active since Quaternary. Its latest activity age in Hefei Basin is late of Middle Pleistocene, and the latest activity is characterized by thrusting. The research results enrich the understanding of the overall activity of Tanlu fault zone in the buried section of Hefei Basin and provide reliable basic data for earthquake monitoring, prediction and earthquake damage prevention in Anhui Province.     

A multi-scale 3-D crust velocity model in the Hefei-Chao Lake area around the southern segment of Tanlu Fault Zone

Regional high-precision velocity models of the crust are an important foundation for examining seismic activity, seismogenic environments, and disaster distribution characteristics. The Hefei-Chao Lake area contains the main geological units of Hefei Basin, with thick sediments and the Chao Lake depression. Several major concealed faults of the southern NNE-trending Tanlu Fault Zone cross this area. To further explore the underground distribution characteristics of the faults and their tectonic evolutionary relationship with adjacent tectonic units, this study used ambient noise data recorded by a seismic array deployed in Hefei City and Chao Lake, constructing a 3-D velocity model at the depth of 1–8 km. Then a multi-scale high-resolution 3-D velocity model of this area was constructed by this new upper crustal velocity model with the previous middle and lower crustal model. The new model reveals that a high-velocity belt is highly consistent with the strike of the Tanlu Fault Zone, and a low-velocity sedimentary characteristic is consistent with the Hefei Basin and Chao Lake depression. The distribution morphology of high and low velocity bodies shows that the sedimentary pattern of Hefei-Chao Lake area is closely related to the tectonic evolution of the Tanlu Fault Zone since the Mesozoic. This study also identifies multiple low-velocity anomalies in the southeastern Hefei City. We speculate that strong ground motion during the 2009 Feidong earthquake (magnitude of 3.5) was related to amplification by the thick sediments in the Hefei Basin. We also discuss further applications of multi-scale high-resolution models of the shallow layer to strong ground motion simulations in cities and for earthquake disaster assessments.     

R值在华东地区地震预测中的研究

利用华东地区1970年以来的地震目录,对华东地区、郯庐断裂带100km范围、2007年度划定为地震危险区的苏鲁皖交界地区及安徽地区,以地震活动性参数群体异常变化项目数为参量,进行相应的均值之差与标准差统计分析,提取其变化率R（李永莉等,2003）,即通过统计计算地震活动性参数异常项目月变化率R值,观察R值变化特征。结果发现,华东地区、安徽地区中强震前R值异常表现为中短期异常特征,郯庐断裂带100km范围内及本年度划定为危险区的苏鲁皖交界地区,R值异常表现为中长期异常特征。     

NEW EVIDENCES OF HOLOCENE ACTIVITY IN THE JIANGSU SEGMENT OF ANQIU-JUXIAN FAULT OF THE TANLU FAULT ZONE

Anqiu-Juxian Fault is an important fault in the Tanlu fault zone, with the largest seismic risk, the most recent activity date and the most obvious surface traces. It is also the seismogenic fault of the Tancheng M8 1/2 earthquake in 1668. There are many different views about the southern termination location of surface rupture of the Tancheng earthquake and the Holocene activity in Jiangsu segment of this fault. Research on the latest activity time of the Jiangsu segment of Anqiu-Juxian Fault, particularly the termination location of surface rupture of the Tancheng earthquake, is of great significance to the assessment of its earthquake potential and seismic risk. Based on trench excavation on the Jiangsu segment of Anqiu-Juxian Fault, we discuss the time and characteristics of its latest activity. Multiple geological sections from southern Maling Mountain to Chonggang Mountain indicate that there was an ancient seismic event occurring in Holocene on the Jiangsu segment of Anqiu-Juxian Fault. We suggest the time of the latest seismic event is about(4.853±0.012)~(2.92±0.3)ka BP by dating results. The latest activity is characterized by thrust strike-slip faulting, with the maximum displacement of 1m. Combined with the fault rupture characteristics of each section, it is inferred that only one large-scale paleo-earthquake event occurred on the Jiangsu segment of Anqiu-Juxian Fault since the Holocene. The upper parts of the fault are covered by horizontal sand layers, not only on the trench in the west of Chonggang mountain but also on the trench in Hehuan Road in Suqian city, which indicates that the main part of the Jiangsu segment of Anqiu-Juxian Fault was probably not the surface rupture zone of the 1668 Tancheng M8 1/2 earthquake. In short, the Jiangsu segment of Anqiu-Juxian Fault has experienced many paleo-earthquake events since the late Pleistocene, with obvious activity during the Holocene. The seismic activities of the Jiangsu segment of Anqiu-Juxian Fault have the characteristics of large magnitude and low frequency. The Jiangsu segment of Anqiu-Juxian Fault has the deep tectonic and seismic-geological backgrounds of big earthquakes generation and should be highly valued by scientists.     

ANALYSIS ON STRUCTURAL FEATURES:INSIGHTS FROM SATELLITE-DERIVED GRAVITY MODEL AND SEISMIC PATTERN

In this paper, based on a large number of cumulative observational data from the seismic monitoring network in China, we grid the research area to calculate the density values at each grid node and convert the qualitative earthquake epicenter distribution to quantitative seismic pattern. Minimum magnitude of completeness(M_C)is determined by magnitude-rank analysis, which provides lower limit earthquake and original time. New satellite-derived gravity model v23.1, which is based on satellites CryoSat-2 and Jason-1 data, is used to determine the Bouguer gravity anomaly derived from free-air gravity anomaly and elevation database sets SRTM30, and ultimately, the complete Bouguer correction is obtained. In this paper, the Xingtai earthquake zone and Tanlu fault zone (Anhui segment) are selected for case study. Bouguer gravity anomaly presents a NE-trending U-shaped narrow strip in the Xingtai earthquake zone, and its location is consistent with Shulu Fault Basin. Grid density value contours are restricted by the U-shaped strip, and the extreme value of seismic activity density lies in the bottom of the U-shaped strip as shown in the cross section. The results of Bouguer gravity anomaly and upward continuations to the different heights show good linearity and gradient in the Tanlu fault zone (Anhui segment); and both long-axis direction of seismic pattern and nodal plane strike of seismogenic fault from focal mechanism solutions trend NNE. In short, the Tanlu fault zone(Anhui segment)is a large deep-seated fault that still has the ability to control seismic activity along it. Based on the measured gravity and magmatic data, using the edge detection TDX method to interpret the concealed boundary of the Anqing M4.8 earthquake near the Tanlu fault, and combining with the results from deep seismic reflection profiles of the study area, we discussed the causative fault of the Anqing earthquake.     

EVIDENCE OF HOLOCENE ACTIVITY DISCOVERED IN ANHUI ZIYANGSHAN SEGMENT OF TANLU FAULT ZONE

Anqiu-Juxian Fault(F₅) is the latest active fault in the eastern graben of the middle segment of the Tanlu fault zone. In recent years, the research results of F₅ in Jiangsu Province are abundant, and it is found that Holocene activity is prevalent in different segments, and the movement pattern is dominated by dextral strike-slip and squeezing thrust. The Anhui segment and the Jiangsu segment of the Tan-Lu fault zone are bounded by the Huaihe River. Previous studies have not discussed the extension and activity of F₅ in the south of the Huaihe River in Anhui Province. This paper chooses the Ziyangshan segment of Tanlu fault zone in the south of the Huaihe River as the breakthrough point, which is consistent with the linear image feature of extension of F₅ in Jiangsu Province. Through the remote sensing image interpretation, geological and geomorphological investigation and trench excavation, we initially get the following understanding:(1)The linear structural features of the Ziyang segment are clear, and the fault is developed on the gentle slope of the Mesozoic red sandstone uplift along the Fushan-Ziyangshan, which is the southern extension of the Anqiu-Juxian Fault(F₅); (2)The excavation of the Zhuliu trench reveals that the late Pleistocene clastic layers are interrupted, and the late late Pleistocene to early Holocene black clay layers are filled along the fault to form black fault strips and black soil-filled wedges, indicating that the latest active age of the fault is early Holocene; (3)The excavation of Zhuliu trench reveals that there are at least 3 paleo-earthquake events since the Quaternary, the first paleo-seismic event is dated to the early and middle Quaternary, and the 2nd paleo-seismic event is 20.10~13.46ka BP, the age of the third paleo-seismic event is(10.15±0.05)~(8.16±0.05)ka BP. These results complement our understanding of the late Quaternary activity in the Anhui segment of the Tanlu fault zone, providing basic data for earthquake monitoring and seismic damage prevention in Anhui Province.     

THE NEW ACTIVITY OF TAN-LU FAULT ZONE IN SEGMENT OF DAHONGSHAN SINCE LATE QUATERNARY

The relationship between the latest activity of active fault and seismic events is of the utmost importance. The Tan-lu fault zone in eastern China is a major fault zone, of which the active characteristics of the segments in Jiangsu, Shandong and Anhui has been the focus of research. This study takes the Dahongshan segment of the Tanlu Fault in Sihong County as the main research area. We carried out a detailed geological survey and excavated two trenches across the steep slope on the southwest side of the Dahongshan. Each trench shows fault clearly. Combining the comparative analysis of previous work, we identified and cataloged the late Quaternary deformation events and prehistoric earthquake relics, and analyzed the activity stages and behavior of this segment. Fault gonge observed in the trench profiles shows that multiple earthquake events occurred in the fault. The faulting dislocated the Neogene sandstone, black gravel layer and gray clay layer. Brown clay layer is not broken. According to the relations of dislocated stratums, corresponding ¹⁴C and OSL samples were collected and dated. The result indicates that the Dahongshan segment of the Tanlu Fault has experienced strong earthquakes since the late Quaternary. Thrust fault, normal fault and strike-slip fault are found in the trenches. The microscopic analysis of slices from fault shows that there are many stick-creep events taking place in the area during the late Quaternary. Comprehensive analysis shows that there have been many paleoearthquakes in this region since the late Quaternary, the recent active time is the late Pleistocene, and the most recent earthquake event occurred in(12~2.5ka BP). The neotectonic activity is relatively weak in the Anhui segment(south of the Huaihe River)of Tanlu fault zone. There are difficulties in the study of late Quaternary activity. For example, uneven distribution of the Quaternary, complex geological structure, larger man-made transformation of surface and so on. The progressive research may be able to promote the study on the activity of the Anhui segment of Tanlu fault zone.     

郯庐断裂带江苏段东地堑边界断层第四纪活动性

郯庐断裂带东地堑边界断层在断裂带演化过程和现今构造格局中都是重要断层,对该边界断层的第四纪活动性研究有助于了解郯庐断裂带的演化历史和地震活动性,而有关该边界断层第四纪活动性研究较少且至今尚无定论。本文通过浅层地震勘探和钻孔联合剖面相结合的方法,针对郯庐断裂带江苏段东地堑两边界断层开展系统的断层第四纪活动性研究,结果显示,昌邑-大店断裂(F_1)第四纪以来未见构造运动证据,白芬子-浮来山断裂(F_2)在第四纪早期曾发生有关活动,晚更新世以来未见活动迹象。     

郯庐断裂中段两侧坳陷的新生代构造-热演化特征

郯庐断裂带两侧分布众多的坳陷,其构造－热演化历史对于这些含油气坳陷的油气成藏起到重要的作用.本文利用镜质组反射率和磷灰石裂变径迹古温标模拟计算了郯庐断裂带中段两侧6个坳陷120口单井的热演化历史,在此基础上得到各坳陷新生代的地温梯度演化特征.总体上,郯庐断裂两侧坳陷的古地温梯度在新生代是逐渐降低的,在古近纪较高而新近纪仅比目前的地温梯度略高;结合构造沉降史的恢复结果,认为其反映了研究区由断陷向坳陷转化的构造演化特征.根据各坳陷古地温梯度的演化模拟结果,距离郯庐断裂带不同位置的坳陷其古热场特征存在差异.位于断裂带内的辽河盆地、渤中和昌潍坳陷古热场较高(第三纪初期的地温梯度达到57～59 ℃/km),且辽河盆地和昌潍坳陷在第三纪地温梯度一直处于较高的状况,而渤中坳陷新近纪时期的较低地温梯度是由于其大的构造沉降所致.远离郯庐断裂带的冀中和临清坳陷的古热场及其演化程度均是较低的,第三纪初期的地温梯度分别为53 ℃/km和50 ℃/km.由此推测郯庐断裂带在第三纪以来的活动性对其两侧地区热场的影响较大.郯庐断裂带两侧坳陷地温场的差异在宏观上受控于郯庐断裂的演化,在局部地区受控坳(盆)断裂等构造的影响.     

Lateral variation in Moho depth around the southern Tanlu fault zone and its adjacent area

We estimated Moho depth beneath the southern Tanlu fault zone and its adjacent area using common-conversion-point(CCP)stacking of receiver fun-ctions,which were computed from teleseismic records of the CEArray.Our estimated Moho depth matches well with 2-D profiles derived from active-source deep seismic reflection surveys,suggesting that the calculated the Moho depth map is likely accurate beyond the 2-D profiles.Overall,the estimated Moho depth map showed a high spatial correlation with tectonic provinces,i.e.,Moho topographic boundaries are in good agreement with geological boundaries.Beneath the Dabie orogenic belt and the mountainous areas in southern Anhui Province,the Moho lies relatively deep,and there is an obvious difference in Moho depth between the two sides of this segment of the Tanlu fault.We further selected four depth profiles with dense instrumentation to show Moho depth changes across different tectonic blocks in the study area.We saw two step-like changes in Moho depth beneath the Xiangfan-Guangji and Gushi-Feizhong,which run parallel along the WNW-ESE direction and delineate the southern and northern bounds of the northern Dabie orogenic belt,which is likely the suture zone between the North China Block and South China Block.Crust beneath the northeast corner of the study area is significantly thinner than other areas,which is consistent with the crustal detachment model proposed for suturing between the North and South China blocks in the region east to the Tanlu fault.     

2021年11月17日江苏大丰海域MS5.0地震震源深度对比分析

选取江苏测震台网震中距2°以内18个地震台站记录清晰的波形资料,使用单纯形、LocSAT、HypoSAT地震定位方法,分别采用华南速度模型、郯庐断裂带中南段速度模型以及IASP91全球速度模型,重新测定江苏大丰海域M_S5.0地震震源深度,对获取的深度值进行对比分析。结果表明:3种地震定位方法测定的震源深度结果接近,约为11 ± 2 km;HypoSAT定位方法计算结果较为稳定,IASP91、郯庐断裂带中南段模型均适用于该区域震源深度计算。      

华北地区的背景地震活动及区域未来强震危险性

华北地区的历史强震活动非常频繁。 然而, 自1998年张北M_S6.2地震以来, 该地区已经经历了10多年的地震平静期, 中强震平静现象比较突出。 本文利用1970年至2009年的小震资料, 对华北地区的背景地震活动进行分析, 给出了地震活动性参数b值、 最大震级以及强震复发间隔和强震年平均发生概率的空间分布。 b值空间分布表明, 山西构造带的运城地区, 郯庐断裂带的宿迁地区以及太行山块体内部的石家庄地区的b值较低。 地震活动性参数的综合空间图像表明华北地区的地震活动主要受区域深部动力因素所控制。     

郯庐断裂带鲁苏沂沭段对汶川地震波的隔震效应

郯庐断裂带鲁苏沂沭段由几务平行的深大断裂构成。地震波传播通过郯庐断裂带会产生多次的反射与折射,适当的条件下会产生断层隔震效应。本文报告了江苏地区在汶川地震中的人员反应,根据弹性波传播理论分析了江苏境内的汶川地震记录。分析结果表明,郯庐断裂带在嘉山以北为郯庐断裂带鲁苏沂沭段,几条平行的深大断裂有隔震效应,汶川与嘉山南侧的连线形成一条地震动屏蔽线。在此线以北,郯庐断裂带鲁苏沂沭段阻碍了地震波的传播,其东侧,紧邻郯庐断裂带并为郯庐断裂带屏蔽的强震观测台如宿迁台、新沂台和淮安台都没有触发,这表明了郯庐断裂带对地震波的隔震作用。     

Expansion of the Cathaysian Oldland through the Ordovician-Silurian transition:Emerging evidence and possible dynamics

Located northwest of the Jiangshan-Shaoxing Fault Zone,western and northwestern Zhejiang and northeastern Jiangxi provinces experienced major changes in bio-and litho-facies and paleogeography through the Ordovician-Silurian transition (late Katian,Hirnantian,and early Rhuddanian),as manifested by stratigraphic,paleontologic and synecologic records.Three geographic units under consideration are South,Central,and North areas.The western margin of the South area was occupied by the Huaiyu Mountains,whereas th...     

沂沭断裂带安丘-莒县断裂安丘-朱里段几何结构与活动特征

安丘-莒县断裂是沂沭断裂带最主要的活动断裂,对强震的发生具有明显的控制作用。该断裂的安丘—朱里段由南流段、双官—眉村段和朱里段3条右阶斜列的次级断裂所组成,以右旋走滑活动为主,兼有正断或逆冲活动分量;其最新活动时代推断为晚更新世—全新世早期。根据断裂活动性的最新研究成果,认为在莒县至昌邑之间安丘-莒县断裂仍是占主导地位的活动断裂,与公元前70年安丘7级地震的发生具有密切关系     

郯庐断裂带鲁苏皖段构造应力场及分段特征研究

利用Snoke方法求解和收集得到的77次中小地震的震源机制解资料, 采用Gephart应力张量反演方法, 获得了郯庐断裂带鲁苏皖段构造应力场, 最大主压应力方位角为80°, 最小主压应力方位角为172°, 最大、 中等和最小主压应力倾角分别为15°、 65°和19°, 反映了研究区处于近EW向水平作用和近NS向的水平拉张作用环境下。 根据地震活动、 地质构造及震源机制解差异, 我们将郯庐断裂带鲁苏皖段分5个区段开展研究, 结果显示: 5个分区应力场存在局部差异, 最大主压应力方位角处于63°～88°之间, 从北往南总体方向成顺时针偏转的趋势。 跨郯庐断裂带两侧的应力场研究结果显示, 从西到东最大主压应力方向有一个逆时针偏转的趋势, 西侧最大主压应力方向更接近EW向, 东侧更接近NE向, 郯庐断裂带内处于两侧的过渡地段。     

NEW EVIDENCES FOR LATE QUATERNARY ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTHERN SEGMENT OF THE YISHU-TANGTOU FAULT,THE TAN-LU FAULT ZONE,AND ITS TECTONIC IMPLICATION

The Tan-Lu Fault Zone(TLFZ), a well-known lithosphere fault zone in eastern China, is a boundary tectonic belt of the secondary block within the North China plate, and its seismic risk has always been a focus problem. Previous studies were primarily conducted on the eastern graben faults of the Yishu segment where there are historical earthquake records, but the faults in western graben have seldom been involved. So, there has been no agreement about the activity of the western graben fault from the previous studies. This paper focuses on the activity of the two buried faults in the western graben along the southern segment of Yishu through combination of shallow seismic reflection profile and composite drilling section exploration. Shallow seismic reflection profile reveals that the Tangwu-Gegou Fault(F₄)only affects the top surface of Suqian Formation, therefore, the fault may be an early Quaternary fault. The Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)has displaced the upper Pleistocene series in the shallow seismic reflection profile, suggesting that the fault may be a late Pleistocene active fault. Drilling was implemented in Caiji Town and Lingcheng Town along the Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)respectively, and the result shows that the latest activity time of Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)is between(91.2±4.4)ka and(97.0±4.8)ka, therefore, the fault belongs to late Pleistocene active fault. Combined with the latest research on the activity of other faults along TLFZ, both faults in eastern and western graben were active during the late Pleistocene in the southern segment of the Yishu fault zone, however, only the fault in eastern graben was active in the Holocene. This phenomenon is the tectonic response to the subduction of the Pacific and Philippine Sea Plate and collision between India and Asian Plate. The two late Quaternary active faults in the Yishu segment of TLFZ are deep faults and present different forms on the surface and in near surface according to studies of deep seismic reflection profile, seismic wave function and seismic relocation. Considering the tectonic structure of the southern segment of Yishu fault zone, the relationship between deep and shallow structures, and the impact of 1668 Tancheng earthquake(M=8(1/2)), the seismogenic ability of moderate-strong earthquake along the Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F₃)can't be ignored.     

The low seismic activity of the Korean Peninsula surrounded by high earthquake countries

Although the Korean Peninsula is locatednear several great earthquake regions suchas NE China and SW Japan, it has neversuffered from catastrophic earthquakes forthe last 2000 years according to historicaland instrumental records. We investigatedthe low seismicity of Korea based on thehypothesis of the Baikal-Korea Plate (BKP)or Amurian Plate movement which isinitiated by the Baikal Rift Zone spreadingin a southeastward motion with acounter-clockwise rotation due to thecollision of the Indian Plate against theEurasian Plate. Many disastrous earthquakesof NE China, SW Japan and Sakhalin releaselarge amounts of seismic energy along theboundary of the Baikal-Korea Plate. It isnecessary to compute the released seismicenergy along the presumed boundary of theBaikal-Korea Plate compared to the KoreanPeninsula in order to estimate themicro-plate boundary. The total energyreleases (1900–1999) from the majordisastrous earthquakes (M6.0) alongthe Baikal-Korea plate are about10³–10⁴ times as much as theKorean Peninsula (M3.0). The focalmechanisms for the intra-continentalearthquakes near and/or along theBaikal-Korea Plate boundary of NE China, SW Japan, Sakhalin and Mongolia mostlyrepresent the horizontal motions of theright-lateral strike slip type, indicatingthat the Baikal-Korea Plate is acounter-clockwise and transcurrent motion. The relative displacement vectors of GPS(global positioning system) also indicatedthat the Baikal-Korea Plate movescounter-clockwise around the KoreanPeninsula. These factors may indicate thatthe Korean Peninsula is not located at thePlate boundary, but just within a margin ofthe Baikal-Korea Plate which movessoutheastward with a counter-clockwiserotation from the Baikal Rift Zone in NEAsia. Therefore there is no enoughaccumulated strain to generate largeearthquakes in the Korean Peninsula and itmakes the Korean Peninsula free fromseismic hazard of large catastrophicearthquakes.