Tectonics and Seismicity of the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon Region

The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon region is located in the frontal zone of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis, where neo-tectonics and seismicity are intensive and closely related to each other. In the region, two sets of fault structures have developed, striking NNE-NE and NWW-NW, respectively. Investigation shows that they differ markedly in terms of scope, property, active times and intensity. The NWW-NW trending faults are large in size, and most are thrust and thrust strike-slip faults, formed in earlier times. The NEE-NE-strike faults are relatively small in size individually, with concentrated distribution, constituting the NNE-trending shear extensional fault zone, which is relatively younger with evident late Quaternary activities. Strong earthquakes occur mainly in the areas or zones of intensive differential movement of the Himalayas, e.g. along the deep and large fault zones around the crustal blocks. Most earthquakes of M≥7.0 are closely related to tectonics, where large-scale Holocene active faults are distributed with complicated fault geometry, or the faults of multiple directions intersect. Among them, earthquakes of M≥7.5 have occurred on the NW and NE-trending faults with a greater strike-slip component in the fault tectonic zones.

Geometric Structure and Tectonic Activities of Wanquan Fault,Hebei Province

Based on detailed investigations and prospecting,this paper describes the geometrical characteristics and tectonic activities of Wanquan fault in northwest of Beijing. This fault strikes mainly northeast or northeast to north,dipping southeast,and extends over a length of 15km. It is a major geological and geomorphological margin,controlling the neotectonic movement in this region. On the southeast side of Wanquan fault are the Late Quaternary unconsolidated deposits,forming a basin or deposition; but on the other side is Mesozoic volcano debris,forming lower-mountains and hills. Wanquan fault is a mid- to-high-angle normal fault dipping southeast. This fault was more active in the Quaternary. Since the middle-late part of the alate Pleistocene,the average rate with vertical slip of a single fault is over 0. 03 ～ 0. 3mm /a,but the fault has multiple slipping surfaces,and a total rate with vertical slip will be estimated.

Upper mantle anisotropy of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis and surrounding regions from shear wave splitting analysis

Polarization analysis of teleseismic data has been used to determine the XKS(SKS,SKKS,and PKS)fast polarization directions and delay times between fast and slow shear waves for 59 seismic stations of both temporary and permanent broadband seismograph networks deployed in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis(EHS)and surrounding regions.The analysis employed both the grid searching method of the minimum tangential energy and stacking analysis methods to develop an image of upper mantle anisotropy in the EHS and surrounding regions using the newly obtained shear wave splitting parameters and previously published results.The fast polarization directions are oriented along a NE-SW azimuth in the EHS.However,within the surrounding regions,the fast directions show a clockwise rotation pattern around the EHS from NE-SW,to E-W,to NW-SE,and then to N-S.In the EHS and surrounding regions,the fast directions of seismic anisotropy determined using shear wave splitting analysis correlate with surficial geological features including major sutures and faults and with the surface deformation fields derived from global positioning system(GPS)data.The coincidence between structural features in the crust,surface deformation fields and mantle anisotropy suggests that the deformation in the crust and lithospheric mantle is mechanically coupled.In the EHS,the coherence between the fast directions and the NE direction of the subduction of the Indian Plate beneath the Tibetan Plateau suggests that the lithospheric deformation is caused mainly by subduction.In the regions surrounding the EHS,we speculate that a westward retreat of the Burma slab could contribute to the curved anisotropy pattern.The Tibetan Plateau is acted upon by a NE-trending force due to the subduction of the Indian Plate,and also affected by a westward drag force due to the westward retreat produced by the eastward subduction of the Burma slab.The two forces contribute to a curved lithospheric deformation that results in the alignment of the upper mantle peridotite lattice parallel to the deformation direction,and thus generates a curved pattern of fast directions around the EHS.