Active folding along a rift-flank: The Catania region case history (SE Sicily)

In this paper a new kinematic and dynamic model on the Recent and active contractional deformation of the Catania region, eastern Sicily, is discussed. The study area represents one of the most seismically active region of the Mediterranean, located at the intersection between the front of the Sicily collision belt and the seismogenic Siculo-Calabrian Rift-Zone. The analysed contractional tectonics form an active triangle zone that originated from the tectonic inversion of a Lower-Middle Pleistocene extensional basin, which was located at the northern edge of the African foreland. The triangle zone consists of two antithetic ENE–WSW oriented thrust-ramps that show evidence of motion during the Holocene and bound a folded belt that involves alluvial deposits as young as 40 ka. These contractional structures represent the final product of the positive tectonic inversion of extensional features located, in the Hyblean Plateau in SE Sicily, along the flank of the active rift zone. The Late Quaternary motions along the inverted structures was accommodated to the west by a major N–S oriented left-lateral fault zone, which separates the active contractional domains from the adjacent sectors of the African margin. As a whole, the Late Quaternary contractional tectonics of SE Sicily have been related to a NW-verging crustal stacking, related to a Mantle intrusion beneath the Hyblean Plateau that developed as effect of the rift-flank deformation. The crustal lineaments, which compose the new kinematic model, represents potentially active seismogenic sources that might be considered in the frame of the seismotectonic picture of the Catania region.     

秦岭造山带与沉积盆地和结晶基底地震波场及动力学响应

秦岭-大别造山带横贯中国大陆中部,并将我国东部分为南北两部;即华北克拉通和扬子克拉通.在南、北相向运动力系驱动下构成了一个极为复杂的复合、叠加构造带、成矿带和地震活动带.同时导致了该地域异常变化的沉积建造和强烈起伏的结晶基底.然而对它们形成的地球物理边界场响应,岩相和结构的异常变化尚不清晰,特别对盆山之间的耦合响应更缺乏深层动力过程的理解.为此本文通过该区榆林-铜川-涪陵长1000 km剖面的地震探测和研究结果提出：（1）沉积建造厚度变化为4~10 km,结晶基底起伏强烈,幅度可达4~6 km;（2）一系列基底断裂将该区切割为南鄂尔多斯盆地和秦岭北缘前陆盆地、秦岭-大巴造山带和南缘前陆盆地与东北四川盆地,其中前陆盆地为秦岭北渭河盆地和秦岭南通江-万源盆地;（3）秦岭造山带是北部华北克拉通向南推挤、南部扬子克拉通向北推挤下隆升的陆内山体,并构筑了其南、北前陆盆地;（4）秦岭造山带的南、北边界并非是一条边界断层,而应是包括前陆盆地在内的组合界带;（5）秦岭与大巴弧形山系源于同一深部结晶基底,即同根生.这一系列的新认识对深化理解秦岭-大巴造山带形成的深层动力过程和演化机理及厘定扬子克拉通的真实北界具有极为重要的意义.     

Sedimentary evolution of a foreland basin from the northeastern Qilian Mountains based on the integration of geomorphological and luminescence dating of alluvial conglomerates and fluvial terrace sediments

Sedimentary deposits in the foreland basin of the northeastern Qilian Mountains are crucial documents recording tectonic activity and climate changes on the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, luminescence dating was used to date alluvial conglomerates and fluvial terrace sediments collected from the Beida River in the Jiuquan Basin, a foreland basin in the Hexi Corridor, northeastern Qilian Mountains. Detailed sedimentology and luminescence ages reveal that alluvial conglomerates accumulated from before 620 ka to 12 ka and that sediment accumulation rates increased at ∼330 ka and ∼35 ka, coinciding with the dates of two tectonic events (∼350 and ∼50 ka) and followed by climate cooling (from marine isotope stage (MIS) 9 to MIS 8 and from MIS 3 to MIS 2). This reveals that variations in the sediment accumulation rates are controlled by the coupling of tectonic uplift and climate cooling. The highest terrace (T7) that developed on the alluvial conglomerate base formed at ∼ 12 ka. The incision rate in the early Holocene was ∼2.1 mm/yr and increased to ∼14.6 mm/yr during the middle and late Holocene. The variations in the river incision rate provide geomorphic evidence for Holocene climate patterns in arid and semiarid areas. Luminescence dating offers a credible temporal framework for the deposits and reveals climate and tectonic effects on the evolution of the foreland basin, northeastern Qilian Mountains.     

青藏高原的隆升过程与地球动力学模型研究进展

综合对比、分析了现有青藏高原隆升过程和地球动力学模型相关成果，认为：（1）高原岩石圈以多圈层为特征，其内部层圈相互作用复杂，从而导致隆升过程和机制的复杂性以及构造演化的阶段性，高原的隆升是多种机制联合作用的产物，具有多阶段、非均一、不等速的特征；（2）现有地球动力学模式多力求用一种动力学体制对高原整体构造格架和成因演化进行解释，然而，高原的隆升过程、状态和动力学机制具有非线性、非周期性和无序性等特征，其隆升作用存在非线性效应；（3）以数值模拟为手段，开展物理与数学的定量模拟研究，建立组合动力学模型，是青藏高原隆升过程和地球动力学研究中有待深化的重要课题。     

西藏高原南北向裂谷研究意义

强烈遭受南北向挤压下的西藏高原上却发育了大量的正在活动着的东西向伸展构造，即裂谷系。特别是在挤压力最为集中的喜马拉雅碰撞弧的前方，拉萨地体内发育了大规模、有规律排列的近南北向裂谷系。目前，在拉萨地体内，开展了大量的地球物理探测和地质研究工作，如亚东——格尔木地学断面，INDETPH，中法合作项目等。鉴于当时的认识和科学研究目标，这些成果并没有把所有的裂谷系所发育的环境作为一个整体去研究。因此，裂谷系的深部过程及其原由还是知之甚少。本文在总结前人研究成果的基础上认为，从整个岩石圈流变学结构去研究藏南近南北向裂谷系将有助于去认识其产生这些裂谷系的深部动力学过程，进而能够更好地去认识西藏高原隆升的地球动力学过程。     

Fault rock analysis of the northern part of the Chelungpu Fault and its relation to earthquake faulting of the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake, Taiwan

Abstract   The 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan ( M _w = 7.6) produced a surface rupture along the north–south-striking Chelungpu thrust fault with pure dip-slip (east side up) and left lateral strike-slip displacements. Near-field strong-motion data for the northern part of the fault illustrate a distinct lack of the high-frequency seismic radiation associated with a large slip (10–15 m) and a rapid slip velocity (2–4 m/s), suggesting a smooth seismic slip associated with low dynamic frictional resistance on the fault. A drillhole was constructed at shallow depths in the possible fault zones of the northern part of the Chelungpu Fault, which may have slipped during the 1999 earthquake. One of the zones consists of a 20-cm-thick, unconsolidated fault breccia with a chaotic texture lacking both discrete slip surfaces (e.g. Riedel shears) and grain crushing. Other possible fault zones are marked by the narrow (less than a few centimeters) gouge zone in which clayey material intrudes into the damaged zone outside of the gouge zone. These characteristic fault rock textures suggest that the slip mechanisms at shallow levels during the earthquake involved either granular flow of initially unconsolidated material or slip localization under elevated pore pressure along the narrow clayey gouge zone. Because both mechanisms lead to low dynamic frictional resistance on the fault, the rapid seismic slip in the deep portions of the fault (i.e. the source region of strong-motion radiation) could have been accommodated by frictionless slip on the shallow portions of the fault. The combination of strong-motion data and fault rock analysis suggests that smooth slip associated with low dynamic friction occurred on both the deep and shallow portions of the fault, resulting in a large slip between the source region and the surface in the northern region.     

青藏高原地震活动特征及当前地震活动形势

青藏高原是我国现代构造活动和地震活动最强烈的地区,自有地震记录以来,在高原内记录到多达18次8级以上巨大地震和100余次7~7.9级地震,它们均发生在喜马拉雅板块边界构造带和板内断块区及其次级断块的边界活动构造带上.自1900年有地震仪器记录以来,青藏高原曾经历了3次地震活动丛集高潮,即1920-1937年,1947-1976年和1995-现在.在每次地震活动丛集期都形成以8级地震为核心的7级以上地震活动系列,它们分别是20世纪20-30年代的海原-古浪地震系列、50-70年代察隅-当雄地震系列和20世纪末期以来昆仑-汶川地震系列.每一个地震系列都有自己的主体活动区,最新的昆仑-汶川地震系列的主体活动区为巴颜喀喇断块.青藏高原地震活动高潮与全球M_w≥8.0巨大地震活动高潮紧密相关,昆仑-汶川地震系列与自2001年至今的全球最新地震活动高潮相对应,它们反映了两者的动力学联系.经过详细对比研究认为,它们至今均仍在延续之中,全球板块边界构造带8~9级地震和板内大陆断块区的7~8级地震都仍在连续发生.研究了全球和区域地震活动的相关关系及青藏高原地震活动的时空分布特征,指出了该区当前地震活动的总体形势,评价了其近期地震危险性,提出了加强地震监测的建议.     

Deep process of the collision and deformation on the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Revelation from investigation of the deep seismic profiles

The seismic investigation achievements from three kinds of methods have revealed the lithospheric structure and the deep process of deformation caused by collision. It is found that convergent collision and deep subduction of the continental lithosphere are in progress along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The deep process of due collision and deformation is different from that of oblique collision. It is revealed in the study that the deep process of the collision and deformation on the northern margin is different from that on the southern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.     

Tectonic uplift and sedimentary evolution of the Jiuxi Basin in the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau since 13 Ma BP

Sediments shed from the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, the Qilian Mountains, are widely deposited in the foreland basin, the Jiuxi Basin, archiving plenty of information about the mountain surface uplift and erosion history. The Laojunmiao section, 1960 m thick, representing the upper sequence of the Cenozoic basin sediments, is paleomagnetically dated to about 13-0 Ma BP. Detailed sedimentary study of this sequence has revealed five sedimentary facies associations which determine four stages of sedimentary environment evolution. They are: (I) the half-deep lake system before 12.18 Ma BP, (II) the shallow lake system between 12.18 and 8.26 Ma BP, (III) the fan delta dominated sedimentary system in dry climate between 8.26 and 6.57 Ma BP, and (IV) alluvial fan system since 6.57 Ma BP. The associated mountain erosion and uplift are suggested to have experienced three phases, that is, tectonic stable (13-8.26 Ma BP), gradual uplift (8.26-<4.96 Ma BP), and rapid intermittent uplift (>3.66-0 Ma BP). The uplift at ∼3.66 Ma BP is of great importance in tectonics and geomorphology. Since then, tectonic uplift and mountain building have been accelerated and become strong intermittent. At least three significant tectonic events took place with ages at <1.80-1.23, 0.93-0.84 and 0.14 Ma BP, respectively. Thus, the uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau is a complex process of multiple phases, unequal speed and irregular movements.

     

Structural and sedimentary records of the Oligocene revolution in the Western Alpine arc

The northwestwards-directed Eocene propagation of the Western Alpine orogen is linked with (1) compressional structures in the basement and the Mesozoic sedimentary cover of the European foreland, well preserved in the External Zone (or Dauphiné Zone) of the Western Alps and (2) tectono-sedimentary features associated with the displacement of the early Tertiary foreland basin. Three major shortening episodes are identified: a pre-Priabonian deformation D1 (N-S shortening), supposedly linked with the Pyrenean-Provence orogeny, and two Alpine shortening events D2 (N- to NW-directed) and D3 (W-directed). The change from D2 to D3, which occurred during early Oligocene time in the Dauphiné zone, is demonstrated by a high obliquity between the trends of the D3 folds and thrusts, which follow the arcuate orogen, and of the D2 structures which are crosscut by them. This change is also recorded in the evolution of the Alpine foreland basins: the flexural basin propagating NW-wards from Eocene to earliest Oligocene shows thin-skinned compressional deformation, with syn-depositional basin-floor tilting and submarine removal of the basin infill above active structures. Locally, a steep submarine slope scar is overlain by kilometric-scale blocks slided NW-wards from the orogenic wedge. The deformations of the basin floor and the associated sedimentary and erosional features are kinematically consistent with D2 in the Dauphiné foreland. Since ∼32 Ma, the previously subsiding areas were uplifted and the syntectonic sedimentation shifted westwards. Simultaneously, the paleo-accretionary prism, which developed during the previous, continental subduction stage, was rapidly exhumed during the Oligocene collision stage due to westward indentation by the Adriatic lithosphere, which likely enhanced the relief and erosion rate. The proposed palinspastic restoration takes into account this two-stage evolution, with important northward transport of the distal passive margin fragments (Briançonnais) involved in the accretionnary prism before the formation of the western arc, which now crosscuts the westward termination of the ancient orogen. By early Oligocene, the Ivrea body indentation, which was kinematically linked with the Insubric line activation, initiated the westward escape and the curvature of the arc was progressively acquired, as recorded by southward increasing counter-clockwise rotations in the internal nappes. We propose that the present N-S trend of the Ivrea lithospheric mantle indenter which appears roughly rectilinear at ∼15 km depth could be a relict of the western transform boundary of Adria during its northward Eocene drift. The renewed Oligocene Alpine kinematics and the related change in the mode of accomodation of Africa–Europe convergence can be correlated with deep lithospheric causes, i.e. partial detachment of the Tethyan slab and/or a change in motion of the Adria plate, and was enhanced by the E-directed rollback of the eastern Ligurian oceanic domain and the incipient Ligurian rifting.     

The structure of Circum-Tibetan Plateau Basin-Range System and the large gas provinces

Northward subduction of the Cenozoic Tethys ocean caused the convergence and collision of Eurasia-Indian Plates, resulting in the lower crust thickening, the upper crust thrusting, and the Qinghai-Tibet uplifting, and forming the plateau landscape. In company with uplifting and northward extruding of the Tibetan plateau, the contractional tectonic deformations persistently spread outward, building a gigantic basin-range system around the Tibetan plateau. This system is herein termed as the Circum-Tibetan Plateau Basin-Range System, in which the global largest diffuse and the most energetic intra-continental deformations were involved, and populations of inheritance foreland basins or thrust belts were developed along the margins of ancient cratonic plates due to the effects of the cratonic amalgamation, crust differentiation, orogen rejuvenation, and basin subsidence. There are three primary tectonic units in the Circum-Tibet Plateau Basin-Range System, which are the reactivated ancient orogens, the foreland thrust belts, and the miniature cratonic basins. The Circum-Tibetan Plateau Basin-Range System is a gigantic deformation system and particular Himalayan tectonic domain in central-western China and is comparable to the Tibetan Plateau. In this system, northward and eastward developments of thrust deformations exhibit an arc-shaped area along the Kunlun-Altyn-Qilian-Longmenshan mountain belts, and further expand outward to the Altai-Yinshan-Luliangshan-Huayingshan mountain belts during the Late Cenozoic sustained collision of Indo-Asia. Intense intra-continental deformations lead ancient orogens to rejuvenate, young foreland basins to form in-between orogens and cratons, and thrusts to propagate from orogens to cratons in successive order. Driven by the Eurasia-Indian collision and its far field effects, both deformation and basin-range couplings in the arc-shaped area decrease from south to north. When a single basin-range unit is focused on, deformations become younger and younger together with more and more simple structural styles from piedmonts to craton interiors. In the Circum-Tibetan Plateau Basin-Range System, it presents three segmented tectonic deformational patterns: propagating in the west, growth-overthrusting in the middle, and slip-uplifting in the east. For natural gas exploration, two tectonic units, both the Paleozoic cratonic basins and the Cenozoic foreland thrust belts, are important because hydrocarbon in central-western China is preserved mainly in the Paleozoic cratonic paleo-highs and the Meso-Cenozoic foreland thrust belts, together with characteristics of multiphrase hydrocarbon generation but late accumulation and enrichment.     

The Cenozoic mantle magmatism and motion of lithosphere on the north margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Geodynamic properties and evolution of the lithosphere on the north margin of the Tibetan Plateau are recently hot topics to geoscientists in the world. Have the northern plates been subducting underneath the Plateau? It is still an unsolved problem. One of the keys to solving this problem is to understand the genetic processes of Cenozoic magmas on the north margin of the Tibetan Plateau. However, there is no enough evidence supporting the subduction model. In contrast, a series of evidence indicates that collision-induced huge shearing faults and large-scale crust shortening played a main role in lithosphere motion on the north margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The mantle-derived igneous rocks strictly distribute at the intersections of large strike-slip faults on the north margin of the Plateau. Generation of magmas may be related to local extensional condition induced by strike-slipping faults, which lead to lithosphere gravitational instability and collapse, as well as upwelling of the deep hot material. Heat induced by shearing and carried by upwelling hot material may cause partial melting on H₂O-bearing mantle.     

冲绳海槽弧后张裂构造及其动力机制讨论

在总结、讨论冲绳海槽弧后张裂构造的地形地貌、地球物理场和动力背景特征的基础上,归纳出海槽北、中、南三段之间的差异,以及它们在陆坡、槽底、岛坡上的不同表现特征.槽底雁行排列的地堑及断层斜切入陆坡,伴随的断块隆眷作用往南加强,使得钓鱼岛一赤尾屿隆起带区别于其北边的陆架外缘隆起带,吕宋岛向台湾的碰撞挤压引起的旋张活动加强了海槽南段的地壳拉张,从北往南岛坡侧都可以追踪出双列岛孤特性.海槽内部构造现象不能为笼统的构造动力背景所能完全解释,需要对各个典型中央地堑的具体深入探测研究.鉴于地堑、地垒、断层以及它们所界定的构造单元和它们内部发生的岩浆作用各有特点,最后讨论了各个地段中央地堑的构造属性、动力要素的差异及变化规律,以期为海槽构造动力的进一步深入研究提供借鉴参考.     

Low temperature mud-explosion of Mt. Yaké, Prefs. Nagano-Gifu,Central Japan,on 17th June 1962 as an example of endogenous katamorphism of volcanic rock at the destructive stage of the volcano

Mt. Yaké or Yaké-daké is a dissected dome-shaped volcano mainly composed of the biotite bearing augite-hypersthene-hornblende andesite lavas extruded on the high mountain ridge consisting of the granite and hard Palaeozoic rocks between two prefectures Nagano and Gifu in the central part of Japan. It had been almost in dormant state only with weak fumarole activity on and around its summit dome since the former active period from 1907 to 1932. Incandescent lava emission has never been recorded in the historic age. On 17th June 1962 at about 21 h 55 m, a sudden explosion took place on the northern side of the dome. After successive explosions a fissure, about 700 m in length, was formed. On 19th from the northeast end of the fissure, milky hot water suspending muddy material flowed out. The mud flow ran down on the slope along the dry gully and poured into the Lake Taisyo-iké, about 2.5 km east of the vent. The lake was formed in 1915-eruption when a tremendous mud flow dammed up Azusagawa, the river running through the valley east of the volcano. Ejected blocks were deposited on the area within 1 km from the vent. Ash was deposited about 1 cm in thickness on the area about 4 km east of the volcano. Several mud flows poured into the Lake Taisyo-iké and the River Azusagawa. But no red-hot ejecta was observed during the present eruption, and temperature near the vent was lower than 100°C. Thus the present eruption is said to be low temperature phreatic explosions. In suspensoids of the hot water and in clayey matter deposited around the new vent are contained the montmorillonites, which hove never been found in the rocks exposed on the volcano in spite of the detailed investigation of the writers over 10 years. On the other hand, the mineral is not expected to be formed in the altered rocks under oxydized state on the surface. It was fine, at least no rain, before and during the explosions and the mud flow ran down along the dry gully. So the hot water was purely derived from the inner part of the volcano and the mud flow was not brought about by rain fall after deposition of ejecta on the volcano. The mud flow must have been formed endogenously under the volcano where the katamorphism of the rocks forming the volcano had advanced owing to chemical action of volcanic gas in the long period before the eruption.     

青藏高原南缘现今地球动力学研究

喜马拉雅构造带于新生代时期经历了两代受力条件截然不同的形变。早期造山挤压形变与造山后的引张形变、青藏高原和高喜马拉雅的大幅度抬升。大致低喜马拉雅范围即青藏高原南缘，现今构造活动与青藏高原和高喜马拉雅块断抬升相辅相成。流行的板块聚合动力学模式，即使早新生代发生过，晚新生代以来已经灯熄。东亚大陆现代形变与地震活动的驱动力不可能源于青藏高原南缘被动挤压，而是取决于与高原隆起相关的深部主动动力学过程     

Cenozoic basin development and its indication of plateau growth in the Xunhua-Guide district

The Xunhua, Guide and Tongren Basins are linked with the Laji Mountain and the northern West Qinling thrust belts in the Xunhua-Guide district. Basin depositional stratigraphy consists of the Oligocene Xining Group, the uppermost Oligocene-Pliocene Guide Group and the Lower Pleistocene. They are divided into three basin phases by unconformities. Basin phase 1 is composed of the Xining Group, and Basin phase 2 of the Zharang, Xiadongshan, Herjia and Ganjia Conglomerate Formations in the Guide Group, and Basin phase 3 of the Gonghe Formation and the Lower Pleistocene. Three basin phases all develop lacustrine deposits at their lower parts, and alluvial-braided channel plain depositional systems at upper parts, which constitute a coarsening-upward and progradational sequence. Basin deposition, paleocurrent and provenance analyses represent that large lacustrine basin across the Laji Mountain was developed and sourced from the West Qinling thrust belt during the stage of the Xining Group (Basin phase 1), and point-dispersed alluvial fan-braided channel plain deposition systems were developed beside the thrust and uplifted Laji Mountain and sourced from it, as thrusting migrated northwards during the stage of the Guide Group (Basin phase 2). Evolution of basin-mountain system in the study area significantly indicates the growth process of the distal Tibetan Plateau. The result shows that the Tibetan Plateau expanded to the northern West-Qinling at Oligocene (29–21.4 Ma) by means of northward folded-and-thrust thickening and uplifting and frontal foreland basin filling, and across the study area to North Qilian and Liupan Mountain at the Miocene-Pliocene (20.8–2.6 Ma) by means of two-sided basement-involved-thrust thickening and uplifting and broken foreland basin filling, and the distant end of Tibetan Plateau behaved as regional erosion and intermontane basin aggradational filling during the Pliocene and early Pleistocene (2.6–1.7 Ma).

     

ESR dating of late Cenozoic molassic deposits in the Jiuxi Basin

In the Hexi Corridor, foreland depression at the north periphery of the Tibetan Plateau, late Cenozoic sediments can be divided into the lacustrine to deltaic Red Bed. The unconformably overlying coarse fan-conglomerate was shed from the northern plateau. This remarkable alternation of sedimentary environment and discontinuity reflect intensive rise of the plateau. Moreover, this suite of coarse molasses is divided into two formations as the Yumen conglomerate and the Jiuquan Gravel by another angular discontinuity. Tentatively, we applied ESR dating on this suite of molassic deposits at the Laojunmiao Section in the Jiuxi Basin, west of the Hexi Corridor, which shows that the bottom of the Yumen conglomerate and the Jiuquan Gravel are about 3.4 and 0.9 Ma respectively, indicating that the northern plateau at least experienced two intensive tectonic movements at about 3.5 and 0.9 Ma.

     

Drainage migration and out of sequence thrusting in Bhalukpong,Western Arunachal Himalaya,India

In the foreland regions of the Western Arunachal Himalaya (WAH), geological studies along the Kameng river (between Tipi village and the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT)) reveal four levels of unpaired terraces and a paired terrace. In WAH, wrench deformation of HFT zone resulted in a SE propagation of the Balipara anticline and it is suggested that the Mikir high basement controls its orientation. Ages of terrace surfaces from Siwaliks suggest that since the Late Pleistocene, Kameng River migrated at a rate varying between ∼7.5 cm/yr in upper reaches and ∼13.5 cm/yr towards northeast due to HFT related uplift. In the Brahmaputra plains, luminescence ages of abandoned paleochannel deposits suggest eastward shifting of the Kameng river at an average rate of ∼1 m/yr. Field evidences between Bhalukpong and Tipi villages show Pliocene strath and Quaternary terrace surfaces, displaced by faults that do not correspond to the mapped faults in the foreland region. We interpret them as out-of-sequence thrusts (OOSTs). This is the first such report of OOST in the NE Himalaya. Presence of active OOST is inferred by similar age (∼1 ka) and differing incision rates of the surface of same terrace (T_2b) in adjacent locations. This suggests that OOSTs in the western Arunachal Siwalik are <1 ka. Average slip rate and horizontal shortening rate on OOST during the Holocene, are calculated as ∼12 mm/yr and 7 mm/yr respectively. Thus any estimation of Holocene shortening in the Siwalik therefore, needs to incorporate slip along the OOSTs given that it accommodates a significant amount of N-S compression of the Himalayan fold-and-thrust belt. The reason for OOST in the WAH Siwalik foreland is discussed in terms of the critical wedge dynamics arising from erosion via tectonics-climate interaction. We estimate a minimum slip rate of Siwalik as ∼27 mm/yr during the Holocene and suggest acceleration in shortening rates east of Bhutan.     

Late Cenozoic magnetic polarity stratigraphy in the Jiudong Basin,northern Qilian Mountain

Late Cenozoic sediments in the Hexi Corridor, foreland depression of the Qilian Mountain preserved reliable records on the evolution of the Northern Tibetan Plateau. Detailed magnetic polarity dating on a 1150 m section at Wenshushan anticline in the Jiudong Basin, west of Hexi Corridor finds that the ages of the Getanggou Formation, Niugetao Formation and Yumen Conglomerate are >11-8.6 Ma, 8.6-4.5 Ma and 4.5-0.9 Ma respectively. Accompanying sedimentary analysis on the same section suggests that the northern Tibetan Plateau might begin gradual uplift since 8.6-7.6 Ma, earlier than the northeastern Tibetan Plateau but does not suppose that the plateau has reached its maximum elevation at that time. The commencement of the Yumen Conglomerate indicates the intensive tectonic uplift since about 4.5 Ma.

     

龙门山断裂带南段错断晚更新世以来地层的证据

在野外实地考察基础上,研究人工开挖剖面并使用现代测年技术后,发现龙门山断裂带南段的前山断裂和中央断裂自晚更新世以来发生过强烈的活动。可以分辩出龙门山前山断裂南段大川- 双石断裂错断距今5-74 万a 以来的冲积层,垂直位移1-74m ;中央断裂南段五龙断裂在错断距今9 万a 左右的冲洪积地层后,被距今约7-85 万a 的坡积层覆盖,剖面上地层的垂直位移为0-73m