The Uplift of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt and Subsidence of the West Sichuan Foreland Basin

Based on fission track dating of apatite, and measurement of vitrinite reflectance of rock samples from the Longmenshan (Longmen Mountain)area and the West Sichuan foreland basin and computer modelling it is concluded that (l)the Songpan-Garze fold belt has uplifted at least by 3-4 km with an uplift rate of no less than 0.3-0.4 mm/a since 10 Ma B.P.; (2) the Longmenshan thrust nappe belt has uplifted at least by 5-6 km with an uplift rate of more than 0.5- 0.6 mm /a since 10 Ma B.P.; (3) the Longmenshan detachment belt has uplifted by 1 - 2 km at a rate of 0.016-0.032 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (4) the West Sichuan foreland basin has uplifted by 1.7-3 km at a rate of 0.028-0.05 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (5) the uplift rate of the area on the west side of the Beichuan-Yingxiu-Xiaoguanzi fault for the last 10 Ma is 40 times as much as that on its east side; (6) the uplifting of the the Songpan - Garze fold belt and the subsidence of the West Sichuan foreland basin 60 Ma ago exhibit a mirro-image correlation, i.e. the rapid uplifting of the the Songpan-Garze fold belt was corresponding to the rapid subsidence of the basin;the Songpan-Garze fold belt has uplifted at a much greater rate than the West Sichuan foeland basin in the last 60 Ma;and (7) the palaeogeothermal gradient was 25℃ /km in the West Sichuan foreland basin.

Cenozoic Denudation and Vertical Faulting History of the Central Segment of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt

Objective The uplift process and uplift mechanism of the Tibetan Plateau has been a research focus among geologists in recent years. This work put emphasis on the Cenozoic exhumation histories of the blocks bounded by the major faults at the central segment of the Longmenshan thrust belt, and the vertical faulting history, including the starting time and the total vertical displacement, of the major faults. Then we quantitatively established a complete active process for the central segment of the Longmenshan thrust belt, combining with the previous geophysical data in the deep and geologcial data. This study is critical for deeply and completely understanding the Cenozoic uplift history of the Longmenshan, and also provides thermochronology constraints to the different models for the uplift of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.

An alternative interpretation for the map expression of "abrupt" changes in lateral stratigraphic level near transverse zones in fold-thrust belts

The map expression of ＂abrupt＂ changes in lateral stratigraphic level of a thrust fault has been traditionally interpreted to be a result of the presence of （1） a lateral （or oblique） thrust-ramp, or （2） a frontal ramp with displacement gradient, and/or （3） a combination of these geometries. These geometries have been used to interpret the structures near transverse zones in fold-thrust belts （FTB）. This contribution outlines an alternative explanation that can result in the same map pattern by lateral variations in stratigraphy along the strike of a low angle thrust fault. We describe the natural example of the Leamington transverse zone, which marks the southern margin of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Oquirrh basin with genetically related lateral stratigraphic variations in the North American Sevier FTB. Thus, the observed map pattern at this zone is closely related to lateral stratigraphic variations along the strike of a horizontal fault. Even though the present-day erosional level shows the map pattern that could be interpreted as a lateral ramp, the observed structures along the Leamington zone most likely share the effects of the presence of a lateral （or oblique） ramp, lateral stratigraphic variations along the fault trace, and the displacement gradient.

Structural characteristics and implications on oil/gas accumulation in north segment of the Longmenshan piedmont,northwestern Sichuan Basin,SW China

By integrating surface geology,seismic data,resistivity sections,and drilling data,the structural deformation characteristics of the frontier fault of thrust nappes were delineated in detail.The frontier fault of thrust nappes in northwest Scihuan Basin is a buried thrust fault with partial exposure in the Xiangshuichang-Jiangyou area,forming fault propagation folds in the hanging-wall and without presenting large-scale basin-ward displacement along the gypsum-salt layer of the Triassic Jialingjiang Formation to the Triassic Leikoupo Formation.The southwestern portion of the frontier fault of thrust nappes(southwest of Houba)forms fault bend folds with multiple ramps and flats,giving rise to the Zhongba anticline due to hanging-wall slip along the upper flat of the Jialingjiang Formation.In contrast,the northeastern portion of the frontier fault of thrust nappes(northeast of Houba)presents upward steepening geometry,leading to surface exposure of Cambrian in its hanging-wall.With the frontier fault of thrust nappes as the boundary between the Longmenshan Mountain and the Sichuan Basin,the imbricated structural belt in the hanging-wall thrusted strongly in the Indosinian orogeny and was reactivated in the Himalayan orogeny,while the piedmont buried structural belt in the footwall was formed in the Himalayan orogeny.In the footwall of the frontier fault of thrust nappes,the piedmont buried structural belt has good configuration of source rocks,reservoir rocks and cap rocks,presenting good potential to form large gas reservoirs.In comparison,the hanging-wall of the frontier fault of thrust nappes north of Chonghua has poor condition of oil/gas preservation due to the surface exposure of Triassic and deeper strata,while the fault blocks in the hanging-wall from Chonghua to Wudu,with Jurassic cover and thicker gypsum-salt layer of the Jialingjiang formation,has relative better oil/gas preservation conditions and thus potential of oil/gas accumulation.The frontier fault of thrust nappes is not only the boundary between the Longmenshan Mountain and the Sichuan Basin,but also the boundary of the oil/gas accumulation system in northwestern Sichuan Basin.

Crustal Stress State and Seismic Hazard along Southwest Segment of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt after Wenchuan Earthquake

The crustal stress and seismic hazard estimation along the southwest segment of the Longmenshan thrust belt after the Wenchuan Earthquake was conducted by hydraulic fracturing for in-situ stress measurements in four boreholes at the Ridi, Wasigou, Dahegou, and Baoxing sites in 2003, 2008, and 2010. The data reveals relatively high crustal stresses in the Kangding region （Ridi, Wasigou, and Dahegou sites） before and after the Wenchuan Earthquake, while the stresses were relatively low in the short time after the earthquake. The crustal stress in the southwest of the Longmenshan thrust belt, especially in the Kangding region, may not have been totally released during the earthquake, and has since increased. Furthermore, the Coulomb failure criterion and Byerlee＇s law are adopted to analyzed in-situ stress data and its implications for fault activity along the southwest segment. The magnitudes of in-situ stresses are still close to or exceed the expected lower bound for fault activity, revealing that the studied region is likely to be active in the future. From the conclusions drawn from our and other methods, the southwest segment of the Longmenshan thrust belt, especially the Baoxing region, may present a future seismic hazard.

The coseismic displacements of the 2013 Lushan Mw6.6 earthquake determined using continuous global positioning system measurements

Based on Continuous GPS （CGPS） observation data of the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China （CMONOC） and the Sichuan Continuous Operational Reference System （ SCCORS）, we calculated the horizontal coseismic displacements of CGPS sites caused by the 2013 Lushan Mw 6.6 earthquake. The resuits indicate that the horizontal coseismic deformations of CGPS stations are consistent with thrust-compression rupture. Furthermore, the sites closest to the epicenter underwent significant coseismic displacements. Three network stations exhibited displacements greater than 9 mm （ the largest is 20.9 mm at SCTQ） , while the others were displaced approximately 1 -4 mm.

Multi-level decollement zones and detachment deformation of Longmenshan thrust belt,Sichuan Basin,southwest China

As is well known that many decollement layers were developed in the Longmenshan thrust belt,Si-chuan Basin,China. Through field investigation,explanation of seismic profiles and analysis of the balanced sections,we can divide the decollement zones into 3 categories: (1) the deep level decolle-ment zones,including the crust-mantle decollement layer,intracrustal decollement layer,and presinian basal decollement layer. The main structural styles of their deformation are the crust-mantle decoup-ling detachment deformation,the basal ductile shear deformation,etc.; (2) the middle level decollement zones,including the Cambrian-Ordovician decollement layer,the Silurian decollement layer,etc.,the main structural styles of their deformation are the isopachous fold,the angular fold,the saddle struc-ture,and the combination styles of them; and (3) the shallow level decollement zones,including the Xujiahe Formation decollement layer of Upper Triassic and the Jurassic decollement layers,the main structural styles of their deformation are the thrust-nappe tectonic,the pop-up,the triangle zone ,the duplex,etc. Multi-level decollement zones not only made the Longmenshan thrust belt develop many different deformation styles from deep place to shallow place,but also made some local areas have the superimposition of the tectonic deformation apparently. This study indicates that the multi-level de-collement zones have a very important effect on the shaping and evolution of the Longmenshan thrust belt.

荥经-峨眉地区上三叠统物源变化及对扬子板块西缘构造活动的启示

碎屑岩物源研究是当今地质学研究的热点,利用多种物源研究方法可以全面揭示碎屑岩的源岩信息,揭示源区构造古地理格局的变化。三叠纪期间,扬子板块西缘由被动大陆边缘转变为挤压构造带,引起了显著的古地理格局和沉积体系的变化,但目前对这一转变过程仍缺乏研究。本文综合利用砂岩颗粒成分统计、电子探针测试重矿物成分和碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄方法,研究了荥经-峨眉地区上三叠统碎屑岩物源转变时间,并结合其他地区物源研究探讨了扬子板块西南缘的物源变化过程。结果显示,上三叠统马鞍塘组的砂岩主要由石英和长石组成;电气石主要来自贫锂的花岗岩类和相关伟晶岩、细晶岩,其次来自富铝贫钙变质碎屑岩;铬尖晶石来自具有洋岛和大火成岩省背景的基性-超基性火山岩;碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄的主要分布在730~850Ma范围内。上三叠统须家河组的砂岩由石英、岩屑和长石组成,具有再旋回造山带物源;电气石大部分来自富铝贫钙、贫铝贫钙的变质碎屑岩,小部分来自贫锂的花岗岩类和相关伟晶岩、细晶岩;铬尖晶石主要来自具岛弧背景的橄榄岩;碎屑锆石U-Pb年龄主要分布在200~300Ma、400~500Ma、650~850Ma、1750~1950Ma和2400~2600Ma年龄段。综合分析表明,马鞍塘组的物源为康滇构造带的新元古代花岗质结晶基底,并包含少量新元古代中酸性火山岩、变质碎屑岩和二叠纪基性-超基性火山岩;须家河组的物源包括松潘-甘孜褶皱带的三叠系浊积岩、花岗岩类以及龙门山断裂带的上古生界碎屑岩与新元古界基底。马鞍塘组与须家河组之间的物源转变,表明扬子板块西缘的松潘-甘孜褶皱带和龙门山断裂带取代康滇构造带成为新的地貌高部位和主要剥蚀区,这一古地理格局的转变发生于马鞍塘组沉积之后,即晚三叠世的卡尼期与诺利期之间或诺利期期间。

Emplacement age and tectonic implications of the brecciated limestone at the edge of the Longmenshan klippe

The Longmenshan thrust belt(LMTB) is one of the best natural laboratories for thin-skinned tectonics and has developed a series of NE-SW trending fold-and-thrust structures represented by a series of nappes and klippes, exemplified by the Tangbazi and Bailuding klippe. However, the timing and emplacement mechanism of these klippes are still in dispute. Three possible mechanisms have been proposed:(1) a Mesozoic-Cenozoic southeastward thrusting,(2) a Cenozoic gravity gliding, and(3) glacial deposition. Almost all of these klippes are tectonic and overlaid on folded Late Triassic sandstone except the Tangbazi klippe, which is located in the center of the LMTB and has a narrow tail extending southeastward and covering Jurassic-Quaternary rocks. This geometric relationship is considered the most important stratigraphic evidence to support the post-Cenozoic emplacement of the Longmenshan klippe. Our structural and petrological observations show that the rocks at the front of the Tangbazi and Bailuding structures are brecciated limestone, which is assumed to have been generated by a gravitational collapse and is not characteristic of the massive Permian strata. Artemisia pollen, which has been exclusively recognized in post-Late Eocene strata in Central Asia, was found in the matrix of this brecciated limestone. Therefore, our discovery indicates that the brecciated limestone was deposited after the Late Eocene rather than during the Permian as annotated on the geological map. In contrast, unbrecciated, massive Permian limestone overlaid on the folded Late Triassic rocks. Hence, the anomalous relationship of Permian strata overlaying Late Triassic rocks cannot be evidence of Cenozoic emplacement. According to currently recognized bulk strata relationships, we can only be sure that the klippe was emplaced in the post Late Triassic. The petrological characteristics of the brecciated limestone show that it was crumbled before the re-sedimentation of the breccia, implying that the LMTB might have experienced a rapid uplift during the Late Eocene.

芦山地震发震构造及其与汶川地震关系讨论

芦山地震发生在巴彦喀拉块体与华南块体之间龙门山推覆构造带南段。野外考察表明,芦山地震在震中区没有形成具有构造地质意义的地震地表破裂带,仅在各山前陡坡地带出现平行于山麓陡坡的张性地裂缝、山地基岩崩塌、滑坡等边坡震动失稳现象和震动引起的砂土液化现象。重新定位的芦山地震余震分布、震源机制解和地表构造地质等分析表明,芦山地震的发震断层为一条现今尚未出露地表、其上断点仍埋藏在地下9km以下地壳中的一条盲逆断层,走向212°,倾向NW,倾角38°±2°,上断点以上至地表的构造变形符合断层扩展背斜模型。根据汶川地震和芦山地震的余震空间分布、地震破裂过程、深浅构造关系等差异反映出它们是分别发生在龙门山推覆构造带中段和南段的两次独立地震破裂事件。

5·12汶川地震地表破裂基本参数的再论证及其构造内涵分析

地震地表破裂基本参数是反演地震破裂过程的基本约束条件和预测其他活动断层地震危险性不可缺少的物理量.以野外地表破裂带重要观测点全站仪或差分GPS仪实测数据为基础,结合高分辨率遥感资料解译、先存断层陡坎构造地貌标志的识别、以及地形测绘资料的考证等,重新论证了5·12汶川地震地表破裂带展布样式、长度、最大同震位移值等基本参数.结果表明,地震地表破裂带长度可达240 km,最大垂直位移为6.5±0.5 m,最大右旋走滑位移4.9 m,基于倾角向下变缓逆断层模型推测汶川地震在龙门山推覆构造带中段产生了最大～7 m的地壳缩短量,说明青藏高原东缘横向逆断层为将高原内部东向水平运动转换为高原隆升的转换构造,这一研究结果有助于深化认识青藏高原东缘隆升机理.

四川盆地西部须家河组砂岩组分及其古地理探讨

以四川盆地西部上三叠统须家河组的砂岩组分为基础,详细分析该期研究区古地理的演化。在现有分层的基础上,按照Gazzi-Dickinson计点法,对研究区上三叠统须家河组的砂岩薄片进行统计、分析,并根据Dickinson等人的研究思路,对各段砂岩作以QmFLt,QpLvLs为端元成分的砂岩三角投影图。结果表明:在QmFLt图上,砂岩投点从须二段开始落于过渡再旋回和岩屑再旋回分区上,须三、须四段投点结果更加明显;在QpLvLs图上,砂岩投点也是从须二段开始落于褶皱—逆掩带分区上的,到须三、须四段投点结果也更加明显。结合研究区的沉积相特征,分析表明:龙门山逆冲带在须二期开始了逆冲推覆,并开始为研究区提供了沉积物质,研究区也从须二期开始演化形成川西前陆盆地;须三期,龙门山逆冲推覆体进一步强烈的运动,并开始成为研究区的主要物源区;须四期,受安县运动的影响,龙门山逆冲推覆体褶皱成山,研究区真正进入了以陆相沉积环境为主的演化期。

龙门山冲断带北段构造解析及有利区带预测

结合最新油气勘探资料,解剖龙门山冲断带北段的构造几何学形态及其形成过程,并在此基础上预测有利的油气勘探领域。龙门山北段地区经历中—新生代多期构造挤压的叠加改造作用:晚三叠世时期挤压逆冲作用形成主体冲断褶皱构造,强烈的褶皱和冲断变形在龙门山北段前缘均有发育;后期遭受以基底卷入的大型褶曲为特征的晚新生代构造改造。在两期构造变形作用下,龙门山冲断带北段形成东西分带、南北分段的构造格局,由造山带向盆地方向依次发育逆冲推覆体、准原地冲断、原地隐伏冲断等构造单元,并在南北走向上表现出不同的剖面组合。在多个构造单元中,浅层推覆体之下,晚期形成的原地或准原地断块和褶皱构造具有很大的油气勘探潜力。

关于汶川地震发震机制

2008年5月12日汶川8级地震的发震断层是四川龙门山逆冲带的前锋灌县—安县断层,或此断层附近新产生相同产状的断层。发震断层走向NE倾向NW,逆冲兼右行平移。汶川地震的发震机制是印藏陆-陆碰撞后,印度次大陆活塞状嵌入欧亚板块造成青藏高原东部向SEE方向近水平挤压,在龙门山冲断带前锋向东南逆冲到四川盆地,构造应力积累和释放的结果。汶川地震演示了一个青藏高原东缘龙门山隆起的构造模型,即其经由龙门山冲断带的地壳冲断作用和缩短作用而隆升。这与Burchfiel的模型不同,该模型认为龙门山上升是由于韧性下地壳流受到四川盆地高强度地壳阻挡而上涌所致。这两种模型可能各有其适用时间阶段,然而本文的模型是不可或缺的,因汶川地震已显示了它的真实性。

汶川8.0级地震陡坎(北川以北段)探槽的记录特征

汶川8.0级地震在龙门山中央断裂(北川-映秀断裂)上形成了长度约240km的地震地表破裂带,同时在前山断裂(灌县-江油断裂)上形成了长约72km的地震地表破裂带。我们在中央断裂北段(北川以北)的地震陡坎上开挖探槽,揭露了本次地震的构造变形特征,同时通过对探槽内所揭露地层的相互关系的讨论,以及邻近区域内地貌面的对比,认为该段断裂在本次汶川8.0级地震之前可能还存在一次震级相当的地震事件,其发生时间至少早于该区域内T1阶地形成的最新年龄3000 a。

四川盆地西北部栖霞组天然气差异成藏过程

四川盆地西北部中二叠统栖霞组天然气勘探近期获得重大突破,揭示出一个难得的冲断带-盆地系统不同构造区差异成藏典型实例。为及时总结成藏规律以供其他同类地质背景地区参考,也为下步勘探部署提供依据,本文主要从包裹体地球化学特征角度,结合其他成藏地质条件,开展了差异成藏过程研究。结果表明,以矿山梁、河湾场为代表的冲断带栖霞组储层充填大量沥青以及酸性流体沉淀矿物石英,经历了两期油气充注与一期破坏,含气性差。相比而言,以双鱼石为代表的冲断前锋带与以九龙山为代表的前缘隆起带储层沥青均欠发育,且以碱性流体沉淀矿物方解石充填为主,前者经历了两期油气充注,后者只经历了一期油气充注,含气性均相对较好。稳定保持是研究区大气藏形成的主要原因,冲断带前锋与前缘隆起随造山带推覆挤压应力减弱,虽然深大断裂欠发育导致深部下寒武统烃源岩供烃受限,但可以形成中二叠统腐泥腐殖混合型烃源岩的自生自储,稳定的构造环境有利于油气成藏后的稳定保持。盆山结合部凹陷区的深层—超深层油气勘探工作值得加以关注。

龙门山北段冲断前锋构造带特征

龙门山构造带北段大致从广元到安县一带,其冲断前锋构造带由北向南主要包括矿山梁、天井山、青林口和中坝等典型背斜构造。野外地质事实和地震剖面构造解释证实,龙门山北段前锋构造带中广泛发育了晚三叠世和新生代两期挤压构造变形,但在各背斜构造表现出不同变形特征。矿山梁和天井山构造表现为一个双重构造:浅层是一个晚三叠世形成的断层转折褶皱;深层则是新生代形成的多个逆冲岩片叠置所构成的隐伏堆垛背斜构造。青林口和中坝构造主体表现为叠瓦状逆冲,构造前锋是深部隐伏的断层转折褶皱和断层传播褶皱。从整体上看,龙门山北段冲断前锋构造带变形表现为上覆早期构造变形之下隐伏后期逆冲构造,从而形成双层结构。在龙门山北段前锋构造深部的隐伏冲断构造中可以进行油气勘探。

青藏高原东缘变形机制的讨论：来自数值模拟结果的限定

青藏高原东缘的地壳结构是两种主流青藏高原隆升模式争辩的焦点之一.中下地壳流曾经被认为是高原东缘隆升的主要构造驱动力,但是中上地壳之间低阻低速层的发现及其与2008 MS8.0汶川地震良好的对应关系表明,高原东缘具有向东刚性挤出的可能性.然而大部分关于龙门山断裂的数值模拟仍建立在下地壳流的基础上,仅将低阻低速层作为断裂的延续或是弱化地壳物性参数的软弱层,而非能够控制块体滑动的"解耦层",也没有考虑到刚性块体变形中的断裂相互作用.本文建立了包含相互平行的龙门山断裂与龙日坝断裂的刚性上地壳模型,用极薄的低阻低速层作为块体滑动的解耦带,采用速率相关的非线性摩擦接触有限元方法,基于R最小策略控制时间步长,计算了在仅有侧向挤压力作用下,低阻低速层对青藏高原东缘的刚性块体变形和断裂活动的作用.计算结果显示,低阻低速层控制了刚性块体的垂直变形和水平变形分布特征.在侧向挤压力的持续作用下,在低阻低速层控制下的巴颜喀拉块体能够快速隆升,而缺乏低阻低速层的四川盆地隆升速度和隆升量均极小,隆升差异集中在龙门山断裂附近,使其发生应力积累乃至破裂.龙日坝断裂被两侧的刚性次级块体挟持着一起向南东方向运动,但该断裂的走滑运动分解了绝大部分施加在块体边界上的走滑量,使得相邻的龙门山次级块体的走滑分量遽然减少,也使得龙门山断裂表现出以逆冲为主,兼有少量走滑的运动性质.本文所得的这些计算结果显示了在缺乏中下地壳流,仅在低阻低速层解耦下刚性块体隆升过程及相关断裂活动,提供了青藏高原东缘刚性块体挤出的可行性,为青藏高原东缘隆升机制的研究讨论提供了重要依据.

川西-龙门山盆山系统走向差异演化的变形、隆升和沉积记录及关键构造变革期讨论

综合利用露头构造解析、地震剖面解释、锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹年龄和沉降-沉积等资料,对川西-龙门山盆山系统沿走向的构造变形、差异隆升-剥蚀和沉积记录进行系统梳理,探讨龙门山冲断带和川西前陆盆地系统的走向差异演化特征及其关键构造变革期。受控于本身的地质结构差异及周缘多个构造带的多期交互作用,龙门山冲断带和川西前陆盆地在构造、隆升和沉积等方面都表现出明显的走向差异。龙门山冲断带自北向南总体上具有韧性减弱、脆性增强、构造定型时间变新的趋势,龙门山北段和盆地北部定型于燕山期,而龙门山中、南段和盆地南部定型于喜马拉雅期。中生代期间,龙门山北段隆升较快;而新生代期间,龙门山中、南段隆升较快。川西前陆盆地同样表现出南北差异隆升的特点,北部隆升较早,大约在45 Ma B.P.;而南部隆升较晚,在20~25 Ma B.P.。川西(北)前陆盆地的沉降中心经历了4次明显的迁移,即从晚三叠世的龙门山中段前缘向东北迁移,中侏罗世到大巴山-米仓山前缘,晚侏罗世-早白垩世向西迁移至米仓山-龙门山北段前缘,于晚白垩世-新生代期间再次向南迁移到龙门山中-南段前缘。龙门山冲断带和川西前陆盆地的走向差异演化表现为印支期向南递进扩展、燕山早-中期南北分异和燕山晚期-喜马拉雅期北隆南降。龙门山冲断带和川西前陆盆地经历了晚三叠世、中侏罗世、早白垩世和古近纪4个关键构造变革期。晚三叠世构造变革期包括龙门山水下隆起和海相前陆盆地(马鞍塘组上部至小塘子组)、龙门山局部隆升和海陆过渡相前陆盆地(须家河组第二至第三段)以及龙门山全面隆升和陆相前陆盆地(须家河组第四至第五段)三大阶段,主要受控于扬子构造域并受秦岭构造域的强烈影响。中侏罗世构造变革表现为扬子构造域向秦岭构造域的转变;早白垩世构造变革表现为秦岭构造域向青藏高原构造域的转变;古近纪构造变革表现为川西前陆盆地由沉积向剥蚀状态的转变。

龙门山逆断裂带中段的构造地貌学研究

龙门山逆断裂带中段由３条主要的逆断裂带组成，根据构造地貌学特征和地震活动性推测，其第四纪活动性自南西向北东方向递减，表现出明显的分段性。其中灌县－江油断裂控制了山地与平原或山地与丘陵区的分界以及第四系的厚度，根据这一特征可知该断裂的活动性自南向北，在大邑、灌县和彭县一带最强，绵竹次之，安县至江油最弱。断裂活动的分段性可能受龙门山北部南北向岷山隆起的控制。由于新构造活动分布在３条断裂上，所以区内以６级以下的中小地震活动为主。