Marine Active Fault Exploration and Paleoearthquake Research

Marine active fault exploration and paleoearthquake research are still a gap in China. The paper gives a review on major research methods and new progress made abroad, including submarine survey boat, seismic reflection and acoustic reflection. Through detailed studies of offset history of 10 ka to 30 ka, it is possible to determine paleoearthquake recurrent intervals and elapsed time since last major earthquake. It is suggested that active fault exploration can be carried out by acoustic exploring method in large earthquake region of Bohai Sea. Paleoearthquake activity history can be revealed and earthquake risk in the future can be predicted.

Paleoearthquake Studies along the Nalinlaka Fault of the Late Pleistocene in Lhasa,Tibet

As the most import fault of the Late Pleistocene in the Lhasa area,the Nalinlaka fault is a left-lateral thrust fault,striking NWW,dipping SSW with a high dip angle,and extending over 33km.According to studies on the latest strata on the Nalinlaka fault zone,this fault zone has been obviously active since the Late Pleistocene and the movement left behind some geomorphologic phenomena on the earth's surface,especially at the sites of the gully west of Cijiaolin and around Xiecun village.For example,some rivers,ridges and terraces are displaced,forming beheaded gullies and fault escarps.The horizontal displacements since the Late Pleistocene at the above two places are 54m ～ 87m,20m ～ 67m,respectively.Based on studies on the 4 trenches along the fault using the progressive constraining method,we conclude that there might have been 5 paleoearthquake events along the Nalinlaka fault since 70ka B.P.,the ages of each paleoearthquake are 68.53,54.40,< 41.23,21.96,9.86ka B.P.,and the average recurrence interval is 14.67ka.Because of the limits of trenches and earthquake events exposed by each trench,no single trench completely revealed all 5 events.There may therefore be some errors in determining the upper and lower limits of some events in this article.

Paleoearthquake Investigation along the Chenghai Fault Zone since~500 ka,Southeast Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

The Chenghai fault zone is located in the Sichuan–Yunnan rhombus block,which is surrounded by the Honghe River,Xianshuihe–Xiaojiang,and Jinsha River fault zones.As a mid-continental active fault,it is one of the most important seismogenic fractures in the southeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau.Geological seismic study is an important supplement to the historical seismic record;therefore,identification of paleoearthquake events in this region is of great significance to reveal the pattern and mechanism of earthquake development.In this study,detailed investigation has been carried out on the earthquake traces that formed in the Quaternary sediments in the Jinsha River section of the Chenghai fault zone,and samples for dating chronology testing were also collected.Many paleoearthquake traces were discovered in the field,including earthquake fissions,dammed lake sediments and landslides,earthquake-generated rock falls,seismic faults,and sand liquefaction veins.The collected samples were tested using optically stimulated luminescence,electron-spin resonance,and U-series methods.A total of 68 chronological samples were dated,combined with the results of field investigations,and 10 large paleoearthquake events were discovered in this region since 500 ka,which are at approximately 450,400,345,300,250,190,155,105,75,and 25 ka.Ten tectonic activity periods that produced multiple paleoearthquake events were identified since 500 ka.This study identifies paleoearthquake events in longer scales,larger spaces,and more extensive sediments,which provides new perspectives and new ideas for paleoearthquake research.

A recent paleoearthquake on Qingfengling seismic fault of Tanlu fault zone

Introduction The Tanlu fault zone lies in the eastern China, which is an important huge active fault with a long history. It has experienced a complex generation and evolution process and affects significantly the regional structure, paleogeography, magma activity, minerogenesis and earthquake activity in the area. With a length of 2 400 km, the fault zone consists of 2-4 or more parallel faults of 10-40 km in width, cutting through different geotectonic elements in the eastern China （FANG et al, 1986）. On July 25 in 1668, an extraordinarily large earthquake of M=8.5 occurred on the Changyi-Dadian fault （F1） that is an embranchment of Tanlu fault zone, resulting in a surface rupture with a total length of 130 km （LI et al, 1994; CHAO et al, 1995）. The paleoseismic study reveals that 3 events with a magnitude equal to 8 occurred on the Changyi-Dadian fault. The recent event occurred 3 500 a ago and the reoccurrence interval is about 3 500 a （LIN and GAO, 1987）. During the Tancheng earthquake （on July 25, 1668）, the Anqiu-Juxian fault was not ruptured, which was a Late Pleistocene active fault （ZHENG et al, 1988; GAO et al, 1988; CHAO et al, 1994） and was doubted as the seismogenic fault of the M=7.0 Anqiu earthquake occurred in 70 BC by certain geologists （CHAO et al, 1994）.

Preliminary Study on Paleoearthquake Chronology on the Northern Liulengshan Piedmont Fault in Yangyuan, Hebei Province, China

The northern Liulengshan piedmont fault is located along the southern margin of the Yangyuan basin and represents a dip-slip normal fault,generally NEE-trending and NNW-dipping.Landforms offset by the fault are fairly developed and well preserved in the Dushanpu area of Yangyuan County,Hebei Province.Two trenches were excavated in front of a scarp of the northern Liulengshan piedmont fault at Dushanpu and two paleoseismic events were revealed in the trenches,from which several samples were collected for dating.The samples were dated using the IRSL dating technique.The preliminary result shows the possible ages of the two paleoseismic events.

Primary study on regional paleoearthquake recurrence behavior

Based on detailed studies of paleoearthquakes along major active faults in the transition area between the north eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau and the Ordos block, this paper discusses temporal and spatial distribution of paleoearthquakes and their regional recurrent behavior. The regional paleoarthquake recurrence model in the area exhibits features of temporal and spatial clustering, which may be divided into two kinds. One has a time span about 300 years, and the other has about 1 000 years.

Study on Holocene Paleoearthquakes in Xizhang Trench on the Jiaocheng Fault Zone,Shanxi Province

Xizhang trench is located 10 km northwest of Taiyuan city, Shanxi Province, in front of a NNW-trending scarp of 4.6m height on the northern segment of the Jiaocheng fault zone. The dimensions of the trench are 108m in length, 8m in width, and 10m in depth. There are 18 horizons revealed in the trench. The upper strata are sandy loam; the upper strata of the downthrown block of the fault are gravels, the lower ones are an interbed of brown loam and sandy loam. The strata on the upthrown block of the fault are sandy loam containing gravel. The trench shows 3 fault planes, and the upper offset point on the fault plane is 1.5m below the ground surface, the newest dislocated stratum is （3.74±0.06） ka BP. The trench reveals a lot of deformation traces, such as fault planes, dislocated strata, colluvial wedges and formation tilting. The relationship between strata and faults in the trench shows that 3 paleoearthquake events have occurred at the Jiaocheng fault zone since the Early Holocene, they are about （3.74±0.06）- （3.06±0.26）ka BP, （8.35±0.09）ka- （3.74±0.06）ka BP, and（ 10.66±0.85） - （8.35±0.09）ka BP. The average interval among the events is 2.6 - 3.6ka. The minimum coseismic vertical displacements of the 3 events are 3.0m, 2.5m and 3.2m, respectively. The significance of Xizhang trench is that the Jiaocheng fault used to be active thousands of years ago, though there is no M ≥ 7.0 earthquake recorded in historical documents. Evidence of new Jiaocheng fault zone activity during the Holocene is important for the earthquake safety assessment of Taiynan city in the future.

The Study of Paleoearthquakes on the Weihe Fault Zone

It is indicated by historical records and the exploratory trench on the Weihe fault that the Yaodian-Zhangjiawan segment of the Weihe fault zone has experienced a historical earthquake and 3 paleoearthquake events in the past 9110a. The historical earthquake, namely, event Ⅳ, occurred between 1487 and 1568 AD. The date of paleoseismic event Ⅰ is （9110 ＋ 90） a, and the ages of events Ⅱ and Ⅲ are unknown. The coseismic vertical displacement of events Ⅰ, Ⅱ and Ⅲ is 0.5m, 0.5m and 0.2m, respectively. The exploratory trench also indicates that the Yaodian-Zhangjiawan segment of the Weihe fault was active in the Holocene.

Study on Paleoearthquakes of the Eastern Liupanshan Piedmont Fault Zone

Based on trench excavation and detailed field investigation, the authors have ascertained that 6 paleoearthquake events have occurred in the Haizixia area of the Eastern Liupanshan Piedmont fault zone since 46Ka B.P. The recurrence time of 6 events were about 15000a, 20250a, 14750a, 12150a, 8550a and 4000a B.P., respectively, the recurrence intervals were about 15000a, 5500a, 2600a, 3600a and 4550a, respectively. According to M-D empirical relations, the vertical dislocation of events 1 and 2 corresponded to the dislocation of the earthquake with M8.0; the vertical dislocation of events 3-6, was corresponded to the dislocation of earthquakes with M6.5~7.5.

Late Quaternary Activity and Paleoearthquakes along the Nanyukou Segment of the Northern Piedmont Fault of Wutai Mountain

The northern piedmont fault of Wutai Mountain is located at the north of the Shanxi Graben system, which is the dominating fault of the south boundary of the Fanshi-Daixian depression. This paper discusses the fault activity and paleoearthquakes around the Nanyukou segment of the northern piedmont fault of Wutai Mountain during the late Quaternary through field investigation along the fault, measuring geomorphic deformation and excavating trenches at some important sites. From Nanyukou to the southwest of Shanhui, we find obviously dislocated alluvial fans, with strong neotectonic movement at these sites. Since nearly 20ka, the vertical average slip rate is 1.55mm/a to 2.0mm/a. However,since nearly 6ka,it has reached as high as 2.3mm/a, which is twice that on other segments. 2 trenches were excavated around Nanyukou with 6 events discovered. The referenced ages of the events are before 7600a, 6700a - 7600a, 5321a - 5575a, 4400a - 5400a,420Oa-4400a and after 1600a B.P. with approximate recurrence interval 1400a. The latest event is likely to be the earthquake occurring at 512 A. D. ,so it is necessary to do further work to verify this in the future.

Paleoearthquake rupture behavior and recurrence of great earthquakes along the Haiyuan fault, northwestern China

The Haiyuan fault is a major seismogenic fault in north-central China where the 1920 Haiyuan earthquake of magnitude 8.5 occurred, resulting in more than 220000 deaths. The fault zone can be divided into three segments based on their geometric patterns and associated geomorphology. To study paleoseismology and recurrent history of devastating earthquakes along the fault, we dug 17 trenches along different segments of the fault zone. Although only 10 of them allow the paleoearthquake event to be dated, together with the 8 trenches dug previously they still provide adequate information that enables us to capture major paleoearthquakes oc- curring along the fault during the past geological time. We discovered 3 events along the eastern segment during the past 14000 a, 7 events along the middle segment during the past 9000 a, and 6 events along the western segment during the past 10000 a. These events clearly depict two temporal clusters. The first cluster occurs from 4600 to 6400 a, and the second occurs from 1000 to 2800 a, approximately. Each cluster lasts about 2000 a. Time period between these two clus- ters is also about 2000 a. Based on fault geometry, segmentation pattern, and paleoearthquake events along the Haiyuan fault we can identify three scales of earthquake rupture: rupture of one segment, cascade rupture of two segments, and cascade rupture of entire fault (three segments). Interactions of slip patches on the surface of the fault may cause rupture on one patch or ruptures of more than two to three patchs to form the complex patterns of cascade rupture events.

Using borehole core analysis to reveal Late Quaternary paleoearthquakes along the Nankou-Sunhe Fault,Beijing

The Nankou-Sunhe Fault is a buried active normal fault that traverses the urban area of Beijing.Its seismic risks have caused considerable concerns.This paper studies paleoearthquakes along this fault by analyzing and correlating bore-hole cores obtained from triple-tube coring,incorporating experience acquired from trenching.As a result,a model for identifying earthquake-derived colluvium by sediment-core analysis is proposed.Triple-tube coring technique is useful to collect continuous undis-turbed soil core near the Nankou-Sunhe Fault.By identifying fault-scarp colluviums,determining cumulative displacement,and analysing stratum thickening on the hanging wall,we are able to establish a preliminary paleoearthquake sequence consisting of 13 surface-rupturing events since 60 ka.The seismic history can be divided into three periods based on different recurrence intervals.Between 60 and 40 ka,three earthquakes occurred with recurrence interval of ～10 ka.From 40 to 25 ka,there were six earthquakes with the recurrence interval of about 2.5 ka.In the last 25 ka,four earthquakes have taken place with the recurrence interval varying considerably.The recurrence interval between the last three events is ～5 ka.Smaller recurrence intervals correspond to stages of faster fault slip.The coseismic displacement of a single event is 0.8 to 2.2 m,average 1.4 m,largely equivalent to moment magnitudes 6.7-7.1.This study demonstrates the feasibility of bore-hole drilling in investigating paleoearthquakes along normal faults.It also suggests that closely spaced boreholes with continuous undisturbed cores are essential for reconstructing the complete paleoearthquake sequence.

Colluvial wedges associated with pre-historical reverse faulting paleoearthquakes

Colluvial wedges collapsed from fault scarp can also be used to study reverse faulting paleoearthquakes. Generating processes of reverse faulting colluvial wedges are much more complex than those associated with normal faulting earthquakes. Reverse faulting colluvial wedge is also in triangle shape, and dies away from the fault. Contact between the fault and the colluvial wedge may be a simple straight reverse fault or a combination of an erosive surface in the upper part and a reverse fault in the lower part. Contents and grain sizes increase near the fault and along the base of a colluvial wedge. Based on examples from the piedmont reverse fault and fold along the northern Tainshan, we studied characteristics of reverse faulting colluvial wedges, and discussed the generating processes of reverse faulting colluvial wedges. Reverse faulting generates an unstable scarp hanging in the air immediately after an earthquake. Fallen material deposits along the base of newly formed fault scarp. Erosive

Research on paleoearthquakes in Jiuxian trenches across Nankou-Sunhe fault zone in Changping County of Beijing plain

An abundance of the phenomena of tectonic deformation and paleoseismic events of different times and their recurrent interval, as well as coseismic vertical displacements is exposed in Jiuxian trenches across the Nankou-Sunhe fault zone in Changping County. The research result shows three paleoearthquakes occurring during the Holocene. They were dated as 10643 ± 250 a B.P.—9706 ± 1235 a B.P., 7894±150 a B.P.—7640 ± 650 a B.P, and 3987+100 a B.P.—3670 ± 310 a B.P, respectively. The coseismic vertical displacements are 1.0 m, 2.0 m, and 2.0 m, respectively. From a statistical formula of relation between historic earthquake magnitudes and surface seismic dislocations in North China, the magnitudes of these paleoearthquakes are inferred to be in a range fromM 7.7 toM 7.9. The research shows that the Holocene fault activity in the plain can be traced in the trenches according to the micro-geomorphic features. Many micro-structural phenomena are also found in these trenches. Identification of the paleoearthquakes in the Nankou-Sunhe fault zone during the Holocene time is of significance for assessment of future seismic risk in Beijing area.

New Progress in Paleoearthquake Studies of the East Sertengshan Piedmont Fault, Inner Mongolia, China

The two eastern segments of the Sertengshan piedmont fault have moved considerably since the Holocene. Several paleoseismic events have occurred along the fault since 30 ka BP. Pa- leoearthquake studies have been advanced by digging new trenches and combining the results with the findings of previous studies. Comprehensive analyses of the trenches revealed that 6 paleoseismic events have occurred on the Kuoluebulong segment since approximately 30 ka BP within the following successive time periods： 19.01-37.56, 18.73, 15.03-15.86, 10.96, 5.77-6.48, and 2.32 ka BP. The analyses also revealed that 6 paleoseismic events have occurred on the Dashetai segment since approximately 30 ka BP, and the successive occurrence times are 29.07, 19.12-28.23, 13.92-15.22, 9.38-9.83, 6.08--8.36, and 3.59 ka BP. The results indicate that quasi-periodic recurrences occurred along the two segments with an approximate 4 000 a mean recurrence interval. The consistent timing of the 6 events between the two segments indicates that the segments might conform to the cascade rupturing model between the two segments. As recorded by a large number of Chinese historical texts, the latest event on the Kuoluebulong segment is the historical M 8.0 earthquake occurred on November U, 7 BC.

Holocene slip rate and paleoearthquake records of the Salt Lake segment of the Northern Zhongtiaoshan Fault, Shanxi Province

The Northern Zhongtiaoshan Fault is a major deep fault at the southern margin of the Yuncheng Basin. There have been few studies on the fault, and the historical earthquakes are few and weak. However, the intensity of activity on the fault should never be underestimated. Through interpretations of aerial images, topography measurements and excavation of trenches, this paper studied the fault distribution, the surface deformation and the activity of the normal fault south of Salt Lake near the city of Yuncheng. By tracing faults in the three trenches, it was found that there had been at least three large paleoseismic events, at 1–3.5, 3.6–4.4 and 7.4–8.8 ka BP. Employing 14 C dating, we determined the same gravel layers in the uplifted side and downthrown side. Making differential Global Positioning System measurements of the vertical difference and topographic profile, we obtained the mean slip rate of the Northern Zhongtiaoshan Fault since 24.7 ka BP(0.75±0.05 mm/a). Using the results of relevant studies, we calculated the possible vertical fault displacement of one earthquake(2.35 m) and obtained the recurrence interval of characteristic earthquakes as 2940–3360 a after dividing the displacement by the mean slip rate.

Recurrence of paleoearthquakes on the southeastern segment of the Ganzi-Yushu Fault,central Tibetan Plateau

Although there are many earthquake relics preserved in the southeast segment of the Ganzi-Yushu Fault in the central Tibetan Plateau,the recurrence regularity of paleoearthquakes is not yet clear.This work studies paleoearthquakes on this fault segment since the Holocene through geomorphic investigation and trench excavation.The results show that sinistral dislocation of the T3/T2 terrace boundary is up to 80 m at the Cuoa Township.A 1.5 m-high fault scarp extends 3 km near the Renguo Township.A number of paleoearthquakes are exposed in trenches at two places,respectively.In combination with historical records,our work has identified 5 or 6 paleoearthquakes on this fault segment since last 5600 years.The occurrence times and recurrence intervals of these paleoearthquakes are estimated by 14C dating on strata in the trenches.Our analysis shows that these paleoearthquakes do not exhibit evident periodicity,but instead show a clustering characteristic.From 5600 a to present,seismicity of the southeastern segment of the Ganzi-Yushu Fault has two active periods and one quiet period,and the present-day time is just in the second active epoch.The recurrence intervals of each active epoch are different:1000-1300 a in the first one,534 a in the second one.

A palaeoearthquake event and its age revealed by the travertine layer along the Litang fault in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

The Litang fault(LTF),located in the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,is known for its high level of present-day seismicity,whereas its Pleistocene activity has been scarcely documented.This study focused on a tract of banded travertine deposits precipitated from thermal waters along the NW–SE-trending LTF trace.The role of travertine deposits in recording neotectonic activity has been studied by identifying their internal structure.Typical soft-sediment deformation structures observed within the banded travertines include micro folds,liquefied breccia,and liquefied diapirs.These deformed structures,which are restricted to a single unit separated unconformably by undeformed layers,can be traced for tens of meters,indicating that they were formed by seismic shaking triggered by LTF activity.The deformation of the banded travertine layers is attributed to the combined effects of seismic shaking,liquefaction,and fluidization,and it can be related to a paleo earthquake event with a magnitude of MS>5.The U-series ages obtained from the banded travertine deposits perturbed by the earthquakes are in the range of 130.59–112.94 ka,indicating an important fault-assisted neotectonic activity that occurred during the Middle–Late Pleistocene.Analysis of such structures,in combination with the use of U-series dating methods,can yield a reliable timing of neotectonic activity and provide new evidence for under-standing the seismotectonic setting of the Litang area.

Late Quaternary Large Earthquakes on the Western Branch of the Xiaojiang Fault and Their Tectonic Implications

The Xiaojiang fault is a major active left-lateral fault along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.The largest historical earthquake in Yunnan Province, with a magnitude 8 and a mean coseismic left-lateral displacement of ~ 6.9 m, occurred on the western branch of the Xiaojiang fault.Studying this fault is important in understanding current deformation and kinematic characteristics of the Tibetan Plateau.Activities and stretches have been well undertaken on the Xiaojiang fault, while paleoseismic research work is always the weak link on this fault.To investigate the paleoseismic history and large earthquake activity of the Xiaojiang fault, we opened a large trench at the northern edge of Caohaizi sag pond on the western branch of the Xiaojiang fault.Six paleoseismic events have been identified, and named E1 through E6 from the oldest to the youngest.Charcoal and woods are abundant, 20 samples were dated to constrain the ages of the paleoseismic events at 40 000–36 300 BC, 35 400–24 800 BC, 9 500 BC–AD 500, AD 390–720, AD 1120–1620 and AD 1750–present.We associate the youngest event E6 with the 1833 M8 earthquake.Events E4, E5 and E6 show a continuous record of the western strand of the Xiaojiang fault in the late Holocene, with a average recurrence interval of 370–480 yr.Large earthquake recurrence in the late Holocene is far less than the recurrence of 2000–4000 yr posed in previous studies.Thus, the seismic hazard on the Xiaojiang fault should be reevaluated.Furthermore, the irregular recurrence of large earthquakes on the Xiaojiang fault and other faults in the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang system, indicates the uneven southeastward extrusion of the Sichuan-Yunnan block along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.