Discussion on the Abnormally Low Active Fault Slip Rate of the M_S 8. 0 Wenchuan Earthquake

Based on the collection of active fault slip rate data of large intra-continental shallow thrust earthquakes occurring in the triangular seismic region of the East Asia continent,a preliminary analysis has been performed with results showing that the Wenchuan,Sichuan, China earthquake ( MS = 8.0) of May 12,2008 occurred on the Longmenshan Mountain active fault with an abnormally low slip rate.

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.

Revisiting Late Quaternary Slip-rate along the Maqu Segment of the Eastern Kunlun Fault, Northeast Tibet

The Late Quaternary slip rate along the Maqu segment of the eastern Kunlun Fault was estimated using a combination of high-resolution remote sensing imagery interpretation, field observations and differential Global Positioning System（GPS） measurements of offset river terraces, and 14 C dating of snail shells collected from offset risers. The results show that the left-slip rate along the segment is 3–5 mm/a, and that the vertical slip rate is 0.3–0.5 mm/a. Both the horizontal and vertical slips on the segment remain consistent over a distance of ~100 km. It means that no slip gradient as previously suggested occurred along the Maqu segment, and which thus might behave as an independent seismogenic fault. Judging from multiple relationships among young terrace offsets, we infer that co-seismic surface rupture produced by a characteristic earthquake with a magnitude of Ms7.0–7.5 on the Maqu fault could generate a horizontal slip of 4.5–5 m and a vertical slip of 0.45–0.5 m, with a corresponding ratio（Dh/Dv） of about 9. Two surface rupture events must have occurred over the past 3300 years, the latest one possibly between 1485 cal BP and 1730 cal BP.

The slip rate and strong earthquake recurrence interval on the Qianning-Kangding segment of the Xianshuihe fault zone

The geometry of the Qianning-Kangding segment of the Xianshuihe fault zone is quite complex, and it is composed of four secondary-faults, i.e., the Yalahe fault, Selaha-Kangding fault, Zeduotang fault and Moxi fault. On this segment, three strong earthquakes with M(7.0 occurred in 1725, 1786 and 1955, respectively. Based on a study of fault landform and geochronology (14C and Thermoluminesense), this paper documents the average horizontal slip rates during the late-Quaternary on all the secondary-faults of the Qianning-Kangding segment as follows: Yalahe fault: (2.0(0.2) mm/a; Selaha-Kangding fault: (5.5(0.6) mm/a; Zeduotang fault: (3.6(0.3) mm/a; Moxi fault: (9.9(0.6) mm/a. The results from the investigation of surface ruptures of historical earthquakes, coseismic-slip and paleo-earthquakes show that the strong-earthquake recurrence intervals are thousands of years on the Yalahe fault, and 230 to 350 years on the Selaha-Kangding and Zeduotang faults. In the next one hundred years, the recurrence of a strong-earthquake on these faults appears impossible. However, the strong-earthquake recurrence interval on the Moxi fault is about 300 years. Up to now, it has been 214 years since the last earthquake (magnitude 7) occurred in 1786, therefore, this fault is now approaching the condition favorable for the next strong earthquake recurrence.

Uniform Strike-Slip Rate along the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang Fault System and Its Implications for Active Tectonics in Southeastern Tibet

Recent studies on the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system suggest that the Late Quaternary strike-slip rate is approximately uniform along the entire length of the fault zone, about 15±2 mm/a. This approximately uniform strike slip rate strongly supports the clockwise rotation model of the southeastern Tibetan crust. By approximating the geometry of the arc-shaped Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system as a portion of a small circle on a spherical Earth, the 15±2 mm/a strike slip rate corresponds to clockwise rotation of the Southeastern Tibetan Block at the （5.2±0.7）×10^-7 deg/a angular velocity around the pole （21°N, 88°E） relative to the Northeast Tibetan Block. The approximately uniform strike slip rate along the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system also implies that the Longmeushan thrust zone is not active, or at least its activity has been very weak since the Late Quaternary. Moreover, the total offset along the Xiaushuihe-Xiaojiang fault system suggests that the lateral extrusion of the Southeastern Tibetan Block relative to Northeastern Tibetan Block is about 160 km and 200-240 km relative to the Tarim-North China block. This amount of lateral extrusion of the Tibetan crust should have accommodated about 13-24% convergence between India and Eurasia based on mass balance calculations. Assuming that the slip rate of 15±2 mm/a is constant throughout the entire history of the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system, 11±1.5 Ma is needed for the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system to attain the 160 km of total offset. This implies that left-slip faulting on the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system might start at 11±1.5 Ma.

Slip Rate of Yema River–Daxue Mountain Fault since the Late Pleistocene and Its Implications on the Deformation of the Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

The slip rate of Yema River-Daxue Mountain fault in the western segment of Qilian Mountains was determined by the dated offset of river risers or gullies. Results indicate that the left-lateral fault slip rate is 2.82± 0.20 mm/a at Dazangdele site, 2.00 ± 0.24 mm/a at Shibandun site, and 0.50± 0.36 and 2.80±0.33 mm/a at two sites in Zhazihu. The ideal average slip rate of the whole fault is 2.81 ± 0.32 mm/a. The lower slip rate confirms part of the displacement of Altyn Tagh fault was transformed into an uplifting of the strap mountains in the western segment of Qilian Mountains, whereas another part transformed into sinistral displacement of Haiyuan fault. This study illustrates that the slip of large strike-slip faults in the northeastern margin of the plateau transforms into crust thickening at the tip of the fault without large-scale propagation to the outer parts of the plateau.

Geomorphic Evidence for and Rate of Sinistral Strike-slip Movement Along Northwest-trending Faults in Chaoshan Plain

Two sets of active faults,northwest-and northeast-trending faults,are developed in the Chao-shan Plain of East Guangdong.After detailed interpretation of aerophotos,we have found outthat there is the clear phenomenon of sinistral dislocation of drainage system on the Huang-gang-shui fault and part of Fengshun-Shantou fault.Field investigation confirmed that the geo-morphic bodies along the two faults have undergone displacement.Large-scale topographicmapping was made at three displaced sites and samples for age dating were collected from thegeomorphic booies.Calculation indicates that the average rate of sinistral strike-slip movementin the Holocene time amounts to 1.11±0.09～2.69±0.24mm/a along the Huanggangshuifault and 3.26±0.26mm/a along the Fengshun-Shantou fault.These two more active NW-trending faults extend into sea area,where they intersect the NE-trending strongly active Nius-han Island-Xiongdi Isle-Nanpeng Isles fault at a depth of 40～50m in water.The intersection isa location favorable

SLIP RATE AND RECURRENCE INTERVAL OF STRONG EARTHQUAKE OF QIANNING—KANGDING SEGMENT ON XIANSHUIHE FAULT

Located on the western of Sichuan, the east border of Tibet plateau, Xianshuihe fault is a significant strong earthquake zone. From Huiyuansi pull\|apart basin in Qianning, Xianshuihe fault can be divided two segments\|NW section and SE section: the construction of the former is single and a main fault; the construction of the latter is complex and composed by three parallel faults, its main fault is named as Selaha—Kangding fault, which distributes along Jinlongsi, Sehala, Mugecuo and Kangding. Yalahe fault, located at the NE direction of the main fault, and Zeduotang fault, located at the SW direction of the main fault, are all secondary faults, which are 9～13km away from the main fault. At the south of Kangding, the segment of Xianshuihe fault is a single main section, called as Moxi fault. On the basis of recent researching results, this paper mainly discusses the slip rate and recurrence interval of strong earthquake of the SE segment (Qianning—Kangding) on Xianshuihe.

Paleoseismological Study of the Late Quaternary Slip-rate along the South Barkol Basin Fault and Its Tectonic Implications,Eastern Tian Shan,Xinjiang

The easternmost Tian Shan lies in eastern Xinjiang, Central Asia. The South Barkol basin fault（SBF） in the northern part of the easternmost Tian Shan is a major tectonic structure in this orogenic region. The late Quaternary activity, paleoseismology, and deformation characteristics of the fault provide important clues for understanding the tectonic process of the eastern Tian Shan orogen and implementing seismic mitigation. Through interpretation of high-resolution satellite images, unmanned aerial vehicle measurements, and detailed geological and geomorphic investigations, we suggest that the fault exhibits clear left-lateral slip along its western segment. Paleoseismic trenches dug near Xiongkuer reveal evidence of six large paleoearthquakes. The four latest paleoearthquakes were dated： the oldest event occurred at 4663 BC–3839 BC. Data on the horizontal offsets along the probable 1842 Barkol earthquake coseismic rupture suggest clear multiple relationships between cumulative offsets and possible ~4 m of coseismic left-lateral slip per event. From the cumulative offsets and 14 C sample ages, we suggest an average Holocene left-lateral slip rate of 2.4–2.8 mm/a on the SBF, accounting for ~80% of lateral deformation within the entire eastern Tian Shan fault system. This result is comparable with the shortening rate of 2–4 mm/a in the whole eastern Tian Shan, indicating an equal role of strike-slip tectonics and compressional tectonics in this orogen, and that the SBF may accommodate substantial lateral tectonic deformation.

Activity Features and Slip Rate of the Lingwu Fault in Late Quaternary

The I ingwu fault is in the eastern boundary of the southern section of Yinchuan graben. It hasa close relation to seismicity in the Lingwu-Wuzhong region.Few researches have been done.In this Paper,on the basis of tee data obtained from field investigation,the activity features inLate Quaternary have been discussed.The vertical displacement and its slip rate have been alsoestimated.The fault is 48km in length,being divided into 3 segments according to geologicaland topographical characteristics.The last rupture along its northern and middle segments wasoccurred in late of Late Pleistocene or early Holocene while that along the southern segmentwas occurred in midle Holocene.The vertical slip rate is estimated as 0.23～025mm/a sinceabout 66ka B.P.based on the vertical displacements of terracesⅠ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ and their ages.

Late Pleistocene-Holocene slip history of the Langshan-Seertengshan piedmont fault(Inner Mongolia,northern China) from cosmogenic ^(10)Be dating on a bedrock fault scarp

Offset geomorphic features and deformed late Quaternary strata indicate active deformation along the Langshan-Seertengshan piedmont fault （LSPF）, one of the most active faults in the Hetao fault zone in Inner Mongolia, North China. The widespread occurrence of bedrock fault scarps along the LSPF offers excellent opportunity to examine the faulting history. Using cosmogenic ^10Be exposure dating, we measured the exposure ages of the western Langshankou scarp, located in the middle segment of the LSPF. Our data revealed at least two earthquakes that occurred at 22.2±3.3 Ira and 7.2±2.4 ka, respectively. These events are consistent with previous paleoseismic trench studies. The regression of the relationship between the age and sampling height along the scarp yield a fault slip rate of 0.10 ±0.05/-0.06 mm/yr, which is significantly lower than the average post-late Pleistocene fault slip rate of ~1 mm/yr, as estimated from the offset of the T2 terraces by previous studies. This indicates that the slip of the LSPF may have been accommodated by other fault branches.

Yitong Graben:a Typical Petroliferous Strike-Slip Fault Depression of China

Although Yitong graben appears in a rift basin region of Eastern China , it is really not a rift basin but a strike-slip depression . Its features are as follows : (1 ) graben is controlled by both east and west boundary fauns without any relationship with Mono discontinuity figure ; (2 ) there is no alkalic or calc-alkalic igneous rocks in the layer of early and middle period of graben development ; (3 )west boundary fault is a typical strike-slip fault with some what of arc along the strike , and the fault depression locates in the concave of the arc . East boundary fault is a syndepostional normal fault with translational motion ; (4 ) graben has a long and narrow shape with four sags and three bulges alternating each other ; (5 ) the cross section of graben is asymmetric , high in the east and low in the west ; (6 )the lithofacies changes are quite fast in the cross section . Unconfonnities exist in some area of graben ; (7 )the angle between fault 2 and west boundary fault is a acute angle directing the opposite trend of the west side motion of boundary fault ; (8 )the extensional rate of graben is about 12% , less than the rate in Huabei (19%) and Liaohe (20 %)rift basin.

Faulting on the Anninghe fault zone,Southwest China in Late Quaternary and its movement model

The Anninghe fault is one of the significant earthquake-generating fault zones in the Southwest China. Local historical record shows that a M2≥7 strong earthquake occurred in the year of 1536. On the basis of the detailed air-photographic interpretation and field investigation, we have acquired the following knowledge： ① The average sinistral strike-slip rate since the Late Pleistocene is about 3～7 mm/a; ② There is important reverse faulting along the fault zone besides the main left-lateral strike-slip motion, and the shortening rate across the Anninghe fault zone due to the reverse faulting is about 1.7-4.0 mm/a. If the Xianshuihe fault zone is simply partitioned into the Anninghe and Daliangshan faults, we can also get a slip rate of 3-7 mm/a along the Daliangshan fault zone, which is the same as that on the Anninghe fault zone. Moreover, on the basis of our field investigation and the latest knowledge concerning the active tectonics of Tibetan crust, we create a dynamic model for the Anninghe fault zone.

Present-day tectonic activity along the central section of the AltynTagh fault derived from time series InSAR

The Altyn Tagh Fault(ATF) is a large-scale complex tectonic system. In this study, the present-day crustal deformation of the central section of the ATF(90.8E-91.58E) was obtained using 14 images on a descending track acquired between 2007 and 2010 from Advanced Land Observing Satellite(ALOS). To improve the accuracy of the interferograms, ALOS World 3 De30 m(AW3 D-30)Digital Surface Model(DSM) from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency was used in Small Baseline Subset(SBAS) Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar(InSAR) processing. The Line of Sight(LOS) deformation map show that there is an obvious zoning feature. With the main ATF as the boundary, the north block is concentrated around -35~ -60 mm, and the south block is concentrated around -9 ~ 11 mm. Based on the InSAR velocity map, we inverted for the strike-slip rate and locking depth of the fault using the twodimensional strike-slip fault buried-dislocation model. The inversion results for the strike-slip rate at three selected cross-section locations perpendicular to the ATF were 6.1 mm/a, 5.3 mm/a and 7.9 mm/a from west to east;the corresponding locking depths were 9.5 km, 6.8 km and 12.3 km from west to east.The location and trend of the fault obtained by inversion are coincides with the Xorkol seismic belt.

A challenge to the concept of slip-lines in extrusion tectonics

Wide-open V-shaped conjugate strike-slip faults in Asia are typically related to extrusion tectonics. However, the tectonic model based on the slip-line theory of plasticity has some critical problems associated with it. The conjugate sets of slip-lines in plane deformation, according to the theory of plasticity should be normal to each another but, in reality, the angles between the conjugate strike-slip faults, which are regarded as slip-lines in extrusion tectonics in the eastern Mediterranean, Tibet-middle Asia, China and the Indochina Peninsular regions, are always more than 90° （on average -110°） in the direction of contraction. Another problem is that the slip-line theory fails to explain how, in some cases, e.g., in the Anatolian area in the eastern Mediterranean, the extrusion rate is much higher than the indent rate. The two major problems are easy to solve in terms of the Maximum-Effective-Moment （MEM） Criterion that predicts that orientations of the shear zones are theoretically at an angle of 54.7° and practically at angles of 55°± 10° with the σ1- or contractional direction. The orientations of the strike-slip faults that accommodate extrusion tectonics are, therefore, fundamentally controlled by the MEM Criterion. When extrusion is along the MEM-orientations, the extruding rate is normally higher than the indenting rate.

Late Quaternary Tectonic Deformation of the Eastern End of the Altyn Tagh Fault

The Quaternary activity of the faults at the eastern end of the Altyn Tagh fault, including the Dengdengshan-Chijiaciwo, Kuantanshan and Heishan faults, was studied on the basis of interpretation of satellite images, trenching, geomorphologic offset measurements and dating. The Altyn Tagh fault has extended eastwards to Kuantanshan Mountain. The left-slip rates of the Altyn Tagh fault decreased through the Qilianshan fault and were transformed into thrust and folds deformation of many NW-trending faults within the Jiuxi basin. Meanwhile, under NE-directed compression of the Tibetan plateau, thrust dominated the Dengdengshan-Chijiaciwo fault northeast of the Kuantanshan uplift with a rate lower than that of every fault in the Jiuxi basin south of the uplift, implying that tectonic deformation is mainly confined to the plateau interior and the Hexi Corridor area. From continual northeastward enlargement of the Altyn Tagh fault, the Kuantanshan uplift became a triangular wedge intruding to the east, while the Kuantanshan area at the end of this wedge rose up strongly. In future, the Altyn Tagh fault will continue to spread eastward along the Heishan and Jintananshan faults. The results have implications for understanding the propagation of crustal deformation and the mechanism of the India-Eurasian collision.

LATE QUATERNARY FAULTING OF JIALI FAULT

Jiali fault is one of the major faults in southeastern Tibetan plateau. From Naqu to Jiali along which the field investigation has been done, the fault roughly extends in N60W direction and consists of three segments arranged in en echelon. From Luoermano to Esukongma (about 40km) where the fault is the northern boundary of the Sangdi basin that extend north\|south, late Quaternary surface ruptures have been found. Within this segment the creeks and gullies that cross the fault were offset and the displacements range from several meters to about 5km. The average slip rate during late Quaternary is about 10mm/a for this segment. An interesting phenomena is that the large displacement can only be found at those places where the fault is related to the basins that extend north\|south. Outside the basins, no convincing evidence has been found for late Quaternary surface ruptures and average slip rate for the whole fault is only about 3mm/a middle Pleistocene. It seems that these strike\|slip faults behave like a transform fault and the strike\|slip motion along them were a consequence of east\|west extension that creates the north\|south graben systems rather than the vice versa.

川西理塘-义敦断裂措普湖段第四纪晚期滑动速率与古地震序列

理塘-义敦断裂是川滇菱形块体内部一条延伸约130 km的全新世活动的左旋走滑断裂带,是川西理塘地区地震活动的重要控震构造,目前其北段的措普湖段研究程度相对较低。将理塘-义敦断裂措普湖段作为研究对象,运用野外勘察、高精度测绘、探槽与14C测年等方法对措普湖段进行滑动速率和古地震探究。开挖的2处探槽位于冬欧山坡麓处,通过识别探槽内断裂与地层的切割关系、地层沉积特征、断层运动性质等标志;共识别出4次古地震事件:事件Ⅰ发生于BC 3382±60 a之前;事件Ⅱ发生于BC 3382±60 a~BC 1094±51 a之间;事件Ⅲ与事件Ⅳ均发生于AD 1330±44 a之后。可以推断理塘-义敦断裂措普湖段具有大概率的古地震复发间隔为2.4 ka左右,不排除有小概率复发间隔0.4±0.3 ka的可能。理塘-义敦断裂措普湖段古地震事件与大毛垭坝段和理塘段古地震事件之间存在差异,但是不同分段断裂的地震活动性在全新世以来均表现出持续增强趋势。根据测绘断错地貌和末次冰期冰碛垄推算出晚更新世以来措普湖段平均滑动速率为4.15±0.5 mm/a,与理塘-义敦断裂第四纪晚期不同分支滑动速率处于同一量级水平。文章完善了理塘-义敦断裂的构造特征全貌和古地震、滑动速率等信息,有助于更好地理解该断裂及该地区地震活动史和构造变形模式,为今后地震的中长期预测提供更多的数据,同时也有助于川藏铁路沿线相关工程的地震风险评估。

The Research of the Activity of the Piedmont Fault on the Tangshankou Segment of the Yuguang Basin Southern Marginal Fault

The Yuguang basin is a half-graben basin in the basin-range tectonic zone in northwest Beijing,located at the northern end of the Shanxi graben system,and the Yuguang basin southern marginal fault( YBSMF) controls the formation of this basin. A linear fault escarpment has formed in the proluvial fan on the piedmont fault zone of the Tangshankou segment of YBSMF. A trench across this escarpment reveals three paleo-earthquake events on two active faults. One fault ruptured at about 9 ka for the first time,and then faulted again at about 7. 3 ka,causing the formation and synchronous activity of another fault.Finally,they faulted for the third time,but we cannot determine the faulting time due to the lack of relevant surface deposition. The accumulative vertical displacement of these three events is about 8. 1 m. We estimate that the average recurrence period of the piedmont fault is about 1. 7 ka,and the average slip rate of the piedmont fault is about1. 6 mm/a. We also estimate the reference magnitude of each event according to the empirical formula.