Co-seismic and cumulative offsets of the recent earthquakes along the Karakax left-lateral strike-slip fault in western Tibet

The 400 km-long Karakax left-lateral strike-slip fault is the westernmost segment of the Altyn Tagh fault. It separates northwestern Tibet to the south from the Tarim basin to the north. The western section of the Karakax fault exhibits clear co-seismic surface ruptures of past large earthquakes. Geomorphic offset measurements from the field and high-resolution Ikonos images along 1.5 km across the Sanshiliyingfang fan and along 55 km of the fault, range from 3 to 28 m, with distinct clusters at 6 ± 2(3), 14 ± 2, 19 ± 2 and 24 ± 3 m. The cluster of the smallest offsets around 6 m (full range from 3 to 10 m) distributed over a minimum length of 55 km, is attributed to the last largest surface rupturing event that testifies of the occurrence of a magnitude Mw 7.4-7.6 earthquake along the Karakax fault. We interpret the other offset clusters as the possible repetition of similarly sized events thus favoring a characteristic slip model for the Karakax fault. In a 3 m-deep trench dug across the active trace of the fault we can identify the main rupture strands of the last and penultimate events. The penultimate event horizon, a silty-sand layer, has been radiocarbon dated at 975-1020 AD (AMS ¹⁴C age). It is proposed that large Mw 7.4-7.6 events with co-seismic slip of about 6 m rupture the Karakax fault with a return time of about 900 years implying an average slip-rate of about 6-7 mm/years during the late Holocene. These results suggest that the Karakax fault is the largest left-lateral strike-slip fault at the rim of northwestern Tibet accommodating eastward movement of Tibet due to the India-Eurasia collision.     

Late Quaternary deformation and slip rates in the northern San Andreas fault zone at Olema Valley, Marin County, California

Quaternary sedimentary deposits along the structural depression of the San Andreas fault (SAF) zone north of San Francisco in Marin County provide an excellent record of rates and styles of neotectonic deformation in a location near where the greatest amount of horizontal offset was measured after the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake. A high-resolution gravity survey in the Olema Valley was used to determine the depth to bedrock and the thickness of sediment fill along and across the SAF valley. In the gravity profile across the SAF zone, Quaternary deposits are offset across the 1906 fault trace and truncated by the Western and Eastern Boundary faults, whose youthful activity was previously unknown. The gravity profile parallel to the fault valley shows a basement surface that slopes northward toward an area of present-day subsidence near the head of Tomales Bay. Surface and subsurface investigations of the late Pleistocene Olema Creek Formation (Qoc) indicate that this area of subsidence was located further south during deposition of the Qoc and that it has migrated northward since then. Localized subsidence has been replaced by localized contraction that has produced folding and uplift of the Qoc. This apparent alternation between transtension and transpression may be the result of a northward-diverging fault geometry of fault strands that includes the valley-bounding faults as well as the 1906 SAF trace. The Vedanta marsh is a smaller example of localized subsidence in the fault zone, between the 1906 SAF trace and the Western Boundary fault. Analyses of Holocene marsh sediments in cores and a paleoseismic trench indicate thickening, and probably tilting, toward the 1906 trace, consistent with coseismic deformation observed at the site following the 1906 earthquake.New age data and offset sedimentary and geomorphic features were used to calculate four late Quaternary slip rate estimates for the SAF at this latitude. Luminescence dates of 112–186 ka for the middle part of the Olema Creek Formation (Qoc), the oldest Quaternary deposit in this part of the valley, suggest a late Pleistocene slip rate of 17–35 mm/year, which replaces the unit to a position adjacent to its sediment source area. A younger alluvial fan deposit (Qqf; basal age 30 ka) is exposed in a quarry along the medial ridge of the fault valley. This fan deposit has been truncated on its western side by dextral SAF movement, and west-side-down vertical movement that has created the Vedanta marsh. Paleocurrent measurements, clast compositions, sediment facies distributions, and soil characteristics show that the Bear Valley Creek drainage, now located northwest of the site, supplied sediment to the fan, which is now being eroded. Restoration of the drainage to its previous location provides an estimated slip rate of 25 mm/year. Furthermore, the Bear Valley Creek drainage probably created a water gap located north of the Qqf deposit during the last glacial maximum 18 ka. The amount of offset between the drainage and the water gap yields an average slip rate of 21–30 mm/year. Finally, displacement of a 1000-year-old debris lobe approximately 20 m from its hillside hollow along the medial ridge indicates a minimum late Holocene slip rate of 21–25 mm/year. Similarity of the late Pleistocene rates to the Holocene slip rate, and to previous rates obtained in paleoseismic trenches in the area, indicates that the rates may not have changed over the past 30 ka, and perhaps the past 200–400 ka. Stratigraphic and structural observations also indicate that valley-bounding faults were active in the late Pleistocene and suggest the need for further study to evaluate their continued seismic potential.     

Late Quaternary faulting along the western margin of the Poronaysk Lowland in central Sakhalin, Russia

Sakhalin Island straddles an active plate boundary between the Okhotsk and Eurasian plates. South of Sakhalin, this plate boundary is illuminated by a series of M_w 7–8 earthquakes along the eastern margin of the Sea of Japan. Although this plate boundary is considered to extend onshore along the length of Sakhalin, the location and convergence rate of the plate boundary had been poorly constrained. We mapped north-trending active faults along the western margin of the Poronaysk Lowland in central Sakhalin based on aerial photograph interpretation and field observations. The active faults are located east of and parallel to the Tym–Poronaysk fault, a terrane boundary between Upper Cretaceous and Neogene strata; the active faults appear to have reactivated the terrane boundary at depth in Quaternary time. The total length of the active fault zone on land is about 140 km. Tectonic geomorphic features such as east-facing monoclinal and fault scarps, back-tilted fluvial terraces, and numerous secondary faults suggest that the faults are west-dipping reverse faults. Assuming the most widely developed geomorphic surface in the study area formed during the last glacial maximum at about 20 ka based on similarities of geomorphic features with those in Hokkaido Island, we obtain a vertical component of slip rate of 0.9–1.4 mm/year. Using the fault dip of 30–60°W observed at an outcrop and trench walls, a net slip rate of 1.0–2.8 mm/year is obtained. The upper bound of the estimate is close to a convergence rate across the Tym–Poronaysk fault based on GPS measurements. A trenching study across the fault zone dated the most recent faulting event at 3500–4000 years ago. The net slip associated with this event is estimated at about 4.5 m. Since the last faulting event, a minimum of 3.5 m of strain, close to the strain released during the last event, has accumulated along the central portion of the active strand of the Tym–Poronaysk fault.     

天景山断裂带晚第四纪左旋走滑运动速率确定及其空间分布特征

天景山断裂带是青藏高原东北缘一条重要的左旋走滑边界断裂,但是对该断裂左旋走滑运动速率的空间分布特征缺少足够的研究和认识.通过卫星影像解译和野外地质调查,我们在天景山断裂带中段滑动速率限定范围较宽泛的段落选择两个典型的断错地貌观察点,以期获得更为可靠的断裂晚第四纪滑动速率.首先,利用差分GPS和无人机摄影测量技术分别对孟家湾和崾岘沟两点的冲沟或河流阶地的左旋走滑位移量进行精确测量和恢复.然后,利用光释光测年技术对被断错地貌面的年龄进行限定.最后,在综合分析地貌标志物位移和地貌面年龄之间关系以及其形成演化过程,计算和讨论孟家湾和崾岘沟两个点的滑动速率,分别为(1.2±0.3)mm/a和(0.9±0.3)～(1.1±0.2)mm/a.通过与前人研究结果进行对比和分析,认为天景山断裂带晚第四纪左旋走滑运动速率在空间上较为稳定,约为1.1 mm/a.     

Late Quaternary Slip Rate of the Xiugou Segment,Eastern Kunlun Fault Zone

The Eastern Kunlun fault zone (EKLF) is a large left-lateral strike-slip fault, whose slip rate is meaningful to seismic hazard assessment and geodynamics of the Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies suggested that the late Quaternary average slip rate was stable and uniform (10~13 mm/a) in the central and western segment of the EKLF. But there were a few researches of accurate slip rate in the central segment on the EKLF. Therefore, we focused on an offset and well preserved alluvial fan from Xiugou basin, located in the east of Xidatan-Dongdatan, to make it clear. Moreover, we used high-resolution satellite images and digital elevation model extracted from SPOT7 stereo image pairs to restore the offset alluvial fan, and combined terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides method, including 13 quartz-rich samples from this fan surface, 1 quartz-rich sample from the main active channel bed and 1 ¹⁰Be depth profile from this fan edge to eliminate the ¹⁰Be concentration of inheritance accurately, with 1 optically stimulated luminescence sample to obtain the reliable age of this alluvial fan together. Referring to field observations, this alluvial fan was offset left-laterally by (1 862±103) m, and its age is (76.55±3.20)~(106.37±3.38) ka which can be determined through the actual geologic setting and improving chi-square test. Thus, we used the Monte Carlo method to obtain a left-lateral slip rate of (20.3+3.5/-2.3) mm/a with 68% confidence envelopes since the late Pleistocene in the Xiugou basin. As a result, combining with the results of previous studies, the left-lateral slip rate indicated that the obviously decreasing activity transferred from late Pleistocene to Holocene on the central segment of the EKLF.     

海原断裂干盐池探槽揭示非特征性古地震序列

海原断裂是青藏高原东北缘一条重要的陆内活动左旋走滑断裂,于1920年发生过里氏8?级特大地震,形成约230km的地表破裂带和高达10.2m的同震左旋位移。该断裂的大地震复发行为特征一直是地震地质学家关注的重点,然而现有的认识需要更多以精细沉积地层约束的古地震数据的验证。基于此,在海原断裂中段干盐池盆地成功开挖了数个大型三维探槽,揭露了清晰的韵律性、面状展布地层和丰富的古地震事件证据。在探槽上部2.5m厚的最新细粒沉积层序记录了AD 1500以来的3次地震事件。基于地层中~(14)C样品的结果和历史地震史料的考证,限定这3次地震事件分别对应于AD 1920年、AD 1760年(或1709年)和AD 1638年的地震,但其震级差别很大。除了最新一次地震,即1920年海原大地震的震级为8?级,其他2次地震事件的震级较小,均小于7级,说明海原断裂上伴生有地表破裂的地震不全是特征型地震事件。结果表明,古地震探槽中揭示的地震强度不一定相同,而且中等震级地震也可以产生地表破裂,其地层证据在合适的条件下,如无沉积间断、沉积速率大等环境能在地层中得到保存。     

Detrital zircon provenance evidence for large-scale extrusion along the Altyn Tagh fault

The question of whether or not the Altyn Tagh fault is a large-scale extrusion boundary is critical for understanding the role of lateral extrusion in accommodating the Indo-Asian convergence and in building the Tibetan Plateau. Oligocene conglomerate clasts in the eastern Xorkol basin are low-grade slate, phyllite, sandstone, dacite and carbonate, and associated paleocurrent indicators evince sediment derivation from the opposing side of the Altyn Tagh fault. Matching these clasts with similar basement rocks in the North Qilian and Tuolainanshan terranes requires post-Oligocene left-lateral offset of 380 ± 60 km on the eastern segment of the Altyn Tagh fault, suggesting large-scale extrusion along the fault in the Cenozoic (Yue, Y.J., Ritts, B.D., Graham, S.A., 2001b. Initiation and long-term slip history of the Altyn Tagh fault. International Geological Review 43, 1087–1094.). In order to further define this piercing point, the detrital zircon pattern of Oligocene sandstone from the Xorkol basin and the zircon ages of basement on the southern side of the fault were established by ion microprobe dating. Characterized by strong peaks between 850 and 950 Ma and the absence of Paleozoic and Mesozoic ages, the detrital zircon age pattern of the Oligocene sandstone matches the age distribution of zircon-bearing rocks of the Tuolainanshan terrane. This match requires 360 ± 40 km of post-Oligocene left-lateral displacement on the eastern segment of the Altyn Tagh fault, supporting as well as refining the previously reported lithology-based cross-fault match. At least one of the following three extrusion scenarios must have existed to accommodate this large offset: (1) northeastward extrusion along the Altyn Tagh–Alxa–East Mongolia fault, (2) eastward extrusion along the Altyn Tagh–North Qilian–Haiyuan fault, and (3) northeastward extrusion of northern Tibet as a Himalaya-scale thrust sheet along the North Qilian–Haiyuan fault. We prefer the first scenario inasmuch as rapidly growing evidence for Cenozoic strike-slip activity on the Alxa–East Mongolia fault and mid-Miocene exhumation of northern Tibet supports it.     

西秦岭北缘断裂带黄香沟段晚第四纪 活动表现与滑动速率*

文章对西秦岭北缘断裂带黄香沟段的沉积建造、构造地貌等开展了野外调查与研究。冲沟位错、断裂剖面、山脊位错、线性槽地、洪积扇变形与断塞塘等详细的构造地貌分析,显示断裂带在黄香沟段晚第四纪具有较强的活动性,以左旋走滑兼有倾滑分量为特征。根据其中两条晚更新世末期以来的冲沟左旋水平位错平均值30.5±3.0m,及其¹⁴ C限定的冲沟发生位错的年龄为13480±240aB.P.,获得断裂晚第四纪的水平滑动速率为2.3±0.2mm/a。 同时,由断裂位错洪积扇形成的1.05±0.30m垂直位移量,与该期洪积扇形成的¹⁴ C年龄3690±100aB.P. ,估算了断裂晚第四纪的垂直滑动速率为0.28±0.08mm/a。     

青海西南部乌丽活动断裂系的地质特征及灾害效应

乌丽活动断裂系发育于乌丽山地，是青藏高原北部重要的区域性活动构造体系，由乌丽北山活动断裂、乌丽盆缘活动断裂和乌丽南山活动断裂所组成，主要包括17条不同规模、不同性质的活动断层。大部分活动断层属左旋斜滑断层，部分活动断层为左旋走滑断层。据地质观测资料估算，典型活动断层全新世左旋走滑速度分量为1．2—3．5mm／a、垂直下滑速度分量为0．5—3．5mm／a。沿乌丽活动断裂系发育5条宽100—400m的构造裂缝带、大量串珠状冰丘群与少量移动冰丘，构造裂缝产生的高密度地表破裂和移动冰丘造成的地表拱曲变形是影响青藏铁路、公路线路工程安全的主要地质灾害。     

Field evidences from northern Dead Sea Fault Zone (South Turkey): New findings for the initiation age and slip rate

The left-lateral strike–slip Dead Sea Fault Zone (DSFZ) extends from the Red Sea in the south to the East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ) in the north. This study examines the northern part of the DSFZ around Amik Basin and presents surface and subsurface geological evidence for the Quaternary activity and initiation age of the northernmost DSFZ. The DSFZ extends N–S in the south of the Amik Basin where clear geological and morphological evidence exists for faulting. Geological observations around Amik Basin, analyses of borehole data and electrical resistivity profiles within the Amik Basin indicate that the activity of the northern DSFZ started after Pliocene in the Amik Basin. Subsurface data in the basin suggest that the DSFZ offsets a pre-Quaternary basin sinistrally by about 7.9 km. The offset pre-Quaternary basin suggests at least 4.94 ± 0.13 mm/year slip rate for the northern part of the DSFZ. The Karasu Fault Zone (KFZ) extends in an en-echelon pattern along the western margin of the Karasu Valley and it transfers the significant amount of slip from DSFZ to the EAFZ.     

Rate of strike-slip motion on the Amanos Fault (Karasu Valley, southern Turkey) constrained by K–Ar dating and geochemical analysis of Quaternary basalts

The left-lateral Amanos Fault follows a 200-km-long and up to 2-km-high escarpment that bounds the eastern margin of the Amanos mountain range and the western margin of the Karasu Valley in southern Turkey, just east of the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean Sea. Regional kinematic models have reached diverse conclusions as to the role of this fault in accommodating relative motion between either the African and Arabian, Turkish and African, or Turkish and Arabian plates. Local studies have tried to estimate its slip rate by K–Ar dating Quaternary basalts that erupted within the Amanos Mountains, flowed across it into the Karasu Valley, and have since become offset. However, these studies have yielded a wide range of results, ranging from 0.3 to 15 mm a⁻¹, which do not allow the overall role and significance of this fault in accommodating crustal deformation to be determined. We have used the Cassignol K–Ar method to date nine Quaternary basalt samples from the vicinity of the southern part of the Amanos Fault. These basalts exhibit a diverse chemistry, which we interpret as a consequence varying degrees of partial melting of their source combined with variable crustal contamination. This dating allows us to constrain the Quaternary slip rate on the Amanos fault to 1.0 to 1.6 mm a⁻¹. The dramatic discrepancies between past estimates of this slip rate are partly due to technical difficulties in K–Ar dating of young basalts by isotope dilution. In addition, previous studies at the key locality of Hacılar have unwittingly dated different, chemically distinct, flow units of different ages that are juxtaposed. This low slip rate indicates that, at present, the Amanos Fault takes up a small proportion of the relative motion between the African and Arabian plates, which is transferred southward to the Dead Sea Fault Zone. It also provides strong evidence against the long-standing view that its slip continues offshore to the southwest along a hypothetical left-lateral fault zone located south of Cyprus.     

曲江断裂南东段全新世滑动速率

高精度SPOT卫星影像和野外地质调查表明,曲江断裂南东段断错山前冲沟及河流Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级阶地,在探槽中见到断裂断错全新世地层,是一条右旋走滑的全新世活动断裂,兼有逆冲性质,断裂的最新活动是1970年通海7.8级地震。对曲江断裂典型走滑断错地貌进行研究,曲江断裂南东段在五街一带水平滑动速率为(3.36±0.1)mm/a,白林山一带水平滑动速率为(3.21±0.3)mm/a。     

Neotectonic and volcanic characteristics of the Karasu fault zone (Anatolia,Turkey): The transition zone between the Dead Sea transform and the East Anatolian fault zone

The Karasu Rift (Antakya province, SE Turkey) has developed between east-dipping, NNE-striking faults of the Karasu fault zone, which define the western margin of the rift and west-dipping, N–S to N20°–30°E-striking faults of Dead Sea Transform fault zone (DST) in the central part and eastern margin of the rift. The strand of the Karasu fault zone that bounds the basin from west forms a linkage zone between the DST and the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ). The greater vertical offset on the western margin faults relative to the eastern ones indicates asymmetrical evolution of the rift as implied by the higher escarpments and accumulation of extensive, thick alluvial fans on the western margins of the rift. The thickness of the Quaternary sedimentary fill is more than 465 m, with clastic sediments intercalated with basaltic lavas. The Quaternary alkali basaltic volcanism accompanied fluvial to lacustrine sedimentation between 1.57 ± 0.08 and 0.05 ± 0.03 Ma. The faults are left-lateral oblique-slip faults as indicated by left-stepping faulting patterns, slip-lineation data and left-laterally offset lava flows and stream channels along the Karasu fault zone. At Hacılar village, an offset lava flow, dated to 0.08 ± 0.06 Ma, indicates a rate of left-lateral oblique slip of approximately 4.1 mm·year^–1. Overall, the Karasu Rift is an asymmetrical transtensional basin, which has developed between seismically active splays of the left-lateral DST and the left-lateral oblique-slip Karasu fault zone during the neotectonic period.     

四川芦山2013年Ms7.0地震发震构造初步研究

2013年4月20日8时2分,四川龙门山断裂带的雅安芦山发生Ms7.0级地震,震中位于芦山县太平镇和双石镇之间,震源深度13～14km,震中最大烈度达IX级。震中区野外调查发现,尽管房屋建筑损坏较严重,但这次地震没有产生明显的地表破裂构造,仅见少量的地裂缝和喷砂冒水现象。高分辨率遥感图像解译、主余震分布、震源机制解等综合分析认为,该地震是龙门山断裂带西南段一次独立的破裂事件,属于逆冲型地震,沿双石-大川断裂中南段发生破裂,主破裂面西倾,倾角33°～43°,推断芦山地震与龙门山构造带底部滑脱带(13～19km)断坡构造活动有关。历史上,沿双石-大川断裂发生至少2次Ms6～6.5级地震,由此认为芦山地震是龙门山断裂带西南段特征型地震,与汶川地震不同。原地地应力测量和监测数据表明这是汶川地震后龙门山断裂带西南段应力释放的结果。     

青藏高原东北缘大陆岩石圈现今变形和位移

川青地块在地貌上为川西高原，亦是青藏高原东北边缘最重要的构造单元。新的GPS监测资料表明，在欧亚框架内，川青地块及其邻近的龙门山带和华南地块西缘的地壳运动水平速度，具有自西向东由25．66mm／a递变下降到6．99mm／a的总趋势。速度矢量表现出顺时针涡旋转动。川青地块内具有局部应变积累的非均一的区域剪切。横切鲜水河断裂带中段新的GPS量结果揭示，两侧地块间的平均左旋滑动速率约8mm／a；由于局部应变积累，断裂系南西侧的主断裂的移动速率为9．3mm／a，其间为拉分盆地和小的横向伸展断裂。鲜水河断裂系的左旋断裂滑动作用，调节了川青地块与／11滇地块之间的相对运动。     

Active faulting in the western Pyrénées (France): Paleoseismic evidence for late Holocene ruptures

We have identified a 50-km-long active fault scarp, called herewith the Lourdes Fault, between the city of Lourdes and Arette village in the French Pyrénées. This region was affected by large and moderate earthquakes in 1660 (Io = VIII–IX, MSK 64,), in 1750 (Io = VIII, MSK 64) and in 1967 (M_d = 5.3, Io = VIII, MSK 64). Most earthquakes in this area are shallow and the few available focal mechanism solutions do not indicate a consistent pattern of active deformation. Field investigations in active tectonics indicate an East–West trending and up to 50-m-high fault scarp, in average, made of 3 contiguous linear fault sub-segments. To the north, the fault controls Quaternary basins and shows uplifted and tilted alluvial terraces. Deviated and abandoned stream channels of the southern block are likely due to the successive uplift of the northern block of the fault. Paleoseismic investigations coupled with geomorphic studies, georadar prospecting and trenching along the fault scarp illustrate the cumulative fault movements during the late Holocene. Trenches exhibit shear contacts with flexural slip faulting and thrust ruptures showing deformed alluvial units in buried channels. ¹⁴C dating of alluvial and colluvial units indicates a consistent age bracket from two different trenches and shows that the most recent fault movements occurred between 4221 BC and 2918 BC. Fault parameters and paleoseismic results imply that the Lourdes Fault and related sub-segments may produce a M_W 6.5 to 7.1 earthquake. Fault parameters imply that the Lourdes Fault segment corresponds to a major seismic source in the western Pyrénées that may generate earthquakes possibly larger than the 1660 historical event.     

Late-Quaternary Slip Rate and Seismic Activity of the Xianshuihe Fault Zone in Southwest China

The Xianshuihe fault zone is a seismo-genetic fault zone of left-lateral slip in Southwest China. Since 1725, a total of 59 Ms ≥ 5.0 earthquakes have occurred along this fault zone, including 18 Ms 6.0–6.9 and eight Ms ≥ 7.0 earthquakes. The seismic risk of the Xianshuihe fault zone is a large and realistic threat to the western Sichuan economic corridor. Based on previous studies, we carried out field geological survey and remote sensing interpretation in the fault zone. In addition, geophysical surveys, trenching and age-dating were conducted in the key parts to better understand the geometry, spatial distribution and activity of the fault zone. We infer to divide the fault zone into two parts: the northwest part and the southeast part, with total eight segments. Their Late Quaternary slip rates vary in a range of 11.5 mm/a –(3±1) mm/a. The seismic activities of the Xianshuihe fault zone are frequent and strong, periodical, and reoccurred. Combining the spatial and temporal distribution of the historical earthquakes, the seismic hazard of the Xianshuihe fault zone has been predicted by using the relationship between magnitude and frequency of earthquakes caused by different fault segments. The prediction results show that the segment between Daofu and Qianning has a possibility of Ms ≥ 7.0 earthquakes, while the segment between Shimian and Luding is likely to have earthquakes of about Ms 7.0. It is suggested to establish a GPS or In SAR-based real-time monitoring network of surface displacement to cover the Xianshuihe fault zone, and an early warning system of earthquakes and post seismic geohazards to cover the major residential areas.     

阿尔金断裂带康西瓦段晚第四纪以来的左旋滑移速率及其大地震复发周期的探讨

在高分辨率Ikonos卫星影像（1m分辨率）分析基础上,结合野外考察和定量测量,详细研究了阿尔金断裂带西段康西瓦段三十里营房地区晚第四纪以来的变形特征,在三十里营房东侧塔尔萨依吉勒尕河下游地区,断裂切割了一系列发育完好的冲积扇和阶地。6级不同阶地陡坎和邻近冲积扇面上冲沟的左旋位错量分别为251±4m,250±5m,198±4m,22±2m,12±1m和约6m。T2表面的放弃年龄约10.9±0.2ka（10Be）所限定的位错量22²00m,得到左旋滑移速率为2¹8mm/a;而T4阶地的最大累积位错可能达500m,暗示的左旋滑移速率约4⁵mm/a。最近一次大地震造成的最新地貌左旋水平位错量约6m,该地震同震地表破裂带沿喀拉喀什河谷延伸长达100km,估算为Mw7.4地震,约12m的位错量可能是公元975¹020年（AMS14C）以来最近两次大地震的累积同震地表位错,约6m的特征滑移量暗示该地段发生类似约Mw7.4地震的复发周期约370⁵00 a。这些结果表明,在青藏高原北缘,阿尔金断裂带西段为大型的左旋走滑断裂,它吸收了印度/欧亚大陆碰撞产生的较大部分应变,并使高原西部物质向东运移。     

Fault scarps and deformation rates in Lazio–Abruzzo, Central Italy: Comparison between geological fault slip-rate and GPS data

We compare new and literature data concerning the integrated deformation rate since 18 ka for the central Apennines with deformation rate data derived from a 6-year GPS campaign. We constructed topographic profiles across the majority of the active faults in the area. We derived deformation rate data from displaced post-glacial sediments and slopes associated with the last major glacial retreat that occurred in the region about 18 kyr ago. Paleoseismic investigations in this region clearly show that offset of these features is the cumulative effect of repeated surface faulting earthquakes with magnitudes in the range 5.5 ≤ Ms ≤ 7.0. A cumulative throw-rate diagram, incorporating both our values and the values extracted from the literature (i.e., previously published trenching studies, scarp profiles and offset terraces), is presented providing a regional picture of the spatial deformation rate distribution in the central Apennines, during the latest Pleistocene and Holocene. By converting cumulative throw-rates into heave rates, we calculate maximum extension rates of ca. 2 mm/year at the location of the same transect where 6 ± 2 mm/year has been measured with GPS over 6 years. This discrepancy between geodetic and geological fault slip-rate data implies that we have to be cautious whenever we use GPS data for seismic hazard assessment purposes or when attempting to reconstruct the tectonic processes in an area, because geodetic data may be unrepresentative of the longer-term deformation rates. On the other hand, this discrepancy may provide insights into the mechanics of the seismic cycle. We discuss various scenarios that may explain the mis-match between long-term and short-term measurements.     

Seismogenic Structure of the April 20, 2013, Lushan Ms7 Earthquake in Sichuan

At 08:02 on April 20, 2013, a Ms7.0 earthquake occurred in Lushan, Ya'an, in the Longmenshan fault zone, Sichuan. The epicenter was located between Taiping Town and Shuangshi Town, Lushan County and the maximum earthquake intensity at the epicenter reached class IX. Field investigations in the epicenter area found that, although buildings were seriously damaged, no obvious surface rupture structure was produced, only some ground fissures and sand blows and water ejection phenomena being seen. An integrated analysis of high-resolution remote sensing image interpretation, mainshock and aftershock distribution, and focal mechanism solutions indicated that this earthquake was an independent rupturing event in the southwestern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone, belonging to the thrust-type earthquake. Ruptures occurred along the south-central segment of the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault and the principal rupture plane dipped SW at 33-43°. It is inferred that the Lushan earthquake might be related to the ramp activity of the basal detachment zone (13-19 km) of the Longmenshan fault zone. Historically, there occurred at least two Ms6-6.5 earthquakes along the Shuangshi-Dachuan fault zone; thus it is thought that the Lushan earthquake, different from the Wenchuan earthquake, was a characteristic one in the southwestern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone. In-situ stress measurements indicated the Lushan earthquake was the result of stress release of the southwestern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone after the Wenchuan earthquake. This paper analyzes the tectonic setting of the seismogenic structure of this earthquake.