On the Kinematic Characteristics and Dynamic Process of Boundary faults of the Nansha Ultra-crust Layer-Block

Abstract The Nansha ultra-crust layer-block is confined by ultra-crustal boundary faults of distinctive features, bordering the Kangtai-Shuangzi-Xiongnan extensional faulted zone on the north, the Baxian-Baram-Yoca-Cuyo nappe faulted zone on the south, the Wan'an-Natuna strike-slip tensional faulted zone on the west and the Mondoro-Panay strike-slip compressive faulted zone on the east. These faults take the top of the Nansha asthenosphere as their common detachmental surface. The Cenozoic dynamic process of the ultra-crust layer-block can be divided into four stages: K2-E21, during which the northern boundary faults extended, this ultra-crust layer-block was separated from the South China-Indosinian continental margin, the Palaeo-South China Sea subducted southwards and the Sibu accretion wedge was formed; E22-E31, during which the Southwest sub-sea basin extended and orogeny was active due to the collision of the Sibu accretion wedge; E32-N11, during which the central sub-sea basin extended, the Miri accretion wedge was formed and “A-type” subduction of the southern margin of the north Balawan occurred; N12-the present, during which large-scale thrusting and napping of the boundary faults in the south and mountain-building have taken place and the South China Sea stopped its extension.

Application of Schlumberger transverse profiling method to detecting a strike fault

Because it is difficult to detect a strike fault, its physical properties are discussed in this paper. Using physical simulation, numerical modeling and the in situ data, the differences between the apparent resistivity of low resistivity model obtained by transverse profiling method （TPM） whose electrode array is vertical to the profile and those by longitudinal profiling method （LPM） whose electrode array is parallel to the profile are analyzed, respectively. Our results show that the former has much marked amplitudes of anomaly. Therefore, TPM can be used to detect a strike fault more effectively and locate it more precisely, and is expected to be a new approach for detecting a sliding fault.

Regional Fault Systems of Qaidam Basin and Adjacent Orogenic Belts

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the regional fault systems o f Qaidam basin and adjacent orogenic belts. Field investigation and seismic interp retation indicate that five regional fault systems occurred in the Qaidam and ad jacent mountain belts, controlling the development and evolution of the Qaidam b asin. These fault systems are: (1)north Qaidam Qilian Mountain fault system; (2 ) south Qaidam East Kunlun Mountain fault system; (3)Altun strike slip fault s ystem; (4)Elashan strike slip fault system, and (5) Gansen Xiaochaidan fault s ystem. It is indicated that the fault systems controlled the orientation of the Qaidam basin, the formation and distribution of secondary faults within the basi n, the migration of depocenters and the distribution of hydrocarbon accumulation belt.

The Epi－continental arc of Southeast China and relevant earthquakes

Epi continental arc system is a series of arcuate structures along coastlines of the mainland and behind the island arc system on the margin of the Northwest peri Pacific region. Epi continental arc is similar to the island arc in geometery and kinematics, but it was characterised by an arcuate fracture zone and compensated front sag, basic volcanic activity, shallow earthquake belt and the latest active tectonics. The eastern China continent is dominated by the coastal epi continental arc of Southeast China. Its front arc is situated along the coastline of Zhejiang, Fujian and eastern Guangdong provinces which is convex to SE. The left NW trending flank extended along the NW trending coast line of northern Jiangsu and traversed Shangdong Peninsula to northern Hebei and Shanxi provinces; and the right E W trending flank along the western Guangdong, southern Guangxi, northern Hainan coastlines extended to northern Hanoi. This arc controlls activities of the most modern intense earthquakes in eastern China continents. The compressing thrust type earthquakes occurred along the front arc, especially the 'collison belt', and the strike slip type earthquakes along the both flanks sinistral and dextral strike slip faults respectively. Earthquakes of epi continental arc type is characterised by segmentation in space and periodicity in time.

Analysis of the Impact of Source Region Structures on Seismological Parameter Scanning

By taking moderate-strong earthquakes in South,North and West China as the research subjects and taking into consideration the fault strikes in these regions,this paper selects 8 kinds of seismology indexes with clear physical significance and strong independence to carry out spatial scanning of the parallel,vertical and oblique slip of fault along the fault strike.Based on the size of correlation coefficients between the scanning curve and source region curve we quantitatively analyze the difference between scan results among different slip modes and study the impact of fault strike in different tectonic divisions on scanning results and variation rules of seismological parameters.The results show that not only does the change of spatial parameters have a great influence on seismological parameter scanning,but so does the fault strike in the source region.This paper presents the optimum condition parameters with least spatial influencing scanning scope for different magnitude seismology indexes and analyzes the possible influence of fault strike on seismological parameter scanning results.

Research on the seismotectonics of the Jan－uary 17，1995 Hanshin M7．2 earthquake

Based on the geological tectonics, aftershock activity, earthquake surface rupture and peak ground motion, the geometric and dynamic characteristics of seismogenic tectonics about the 1995 Hanshin earthquake are analysed. Nojima fault and Rokko fault have the same trending direction, but opposite dips. Their rising and falling plates are in symmetrically diagonal distribution. The two faults can be defined as thrust strike slip faults and constitute a pivotal strike slip fault. The earthquake just occurred at the pivot, which is the seismotectonics for the earthquake to develop and occur. The pivotal movement along a strike slip fault often leads to the occurrence of large earthquakes, whose dynamic process can be demonstrated by the stress analysis on the torsion of a beam with rectangle section. The displacement of earthquake surface rupture, aftershock density and peak acceleration change in a certain range of epicentral distance just similar as the shear stress changes from the center to the sides in the rectangle section. The distribution characteristics of the heaviest damage areas are also discussed in the article from the aspects of special geological tectonics and seismotectonic condition. The result obtained from the article can be applied not only to realizing the potencial earthquake sources in middle long time, but also to build reasonably the prediction model about earthquake hazard.

The Active Yakutat （Kula？） Plate and Its Southcentral Alaska Megathrust and Intraplate Earthquakes

Alaska geology and plate tectonics have not been well understood due to an active Yakutat plate, believed to be part of the remains of an ancient Kula plate, not being acknowledged to exist in Alaska. It is positioned throughout most of southcentral Alaska beneath the North American plate and above the NNW subducting Pacific plate. The Kula？ plate and its eastern spreading ridge were partially ＂captured＂ by the North American plate in the Paleocene. Between 63 Ma and 32 Ma, large volumes of volcanics erupted from its subducted N-S striking spreading ridge through a slab window. The eruptions stopped at 32 Ma, likely due to the Pacific plate fiat-slab subducting from the south beneath this spreading ridge. At 28 Ma, magmatism started again to the east; indicating a major shift to the east of this ＂refusing to die＂ spreading ridge. The captured Yakutat plate has also been subducting since 63 Ma to the WSW. It started to change to WSW fiat-slab subduction at 32 Ma, which stopped all subduction magmatism in W and SW Alaska by 22 Ma. The Yakutat plate subduction has again increased with the impact/joining of the coastal Yakutat terrane from the ESE about 5 Ma, resulting in the Cook Inlet Quaternary volcanism of southcentral Alaska. During the 1964 Alaska earthquake, sudden movements along the southcentral Alaska thrust faults between the Yakutat plate and the Pacific plate occurred. Specifically, the movements consisted of the Pacific plate moving NNW under the buried Yakutat plate and of the coastal Yakutat terrane, which is considered part of the Yakutat plate, thrusting WSW onto the Pacific plate. These were the two main sources of energy release for the E part of this earthquake. Only limited movement between the Yakutat plate and the North American plate occurred during this 1964 earthquake event. Buried paleopeat age dates indicate the thrust boundary between the Yakutat plate and North American plate will move in about 230 years, resulting in a more ＂continental＂ type megathrust earthquake for southcentral Alaska. There are, therefore, at least two different types ofmegathrust earthquakes occurring in southcentral Alaska： the more oceanic 1964 type and the more continental type. In addition, large ＂active＂ WSW oriented strike-slip faults are recognized in the Yakutat plate, called slice faults, which represent another earthquake hazard for the region. These slice faults also indicate important oil/gas and mineral resource locations.