Earthquake detection probabilities and completeness magnitude in the northern margin of the Ordos Block

The assessment of the completeness of earthquake catalogs is a prerequisite for studying the patterns of seismic activity.In traditional approaches,the minimum magnitude of completeness(MC)is employed to evaluate catalog completeness,with events below MC being discarded,leading to the underutilization of the data.Detection probability is a more detailed measure of the catalog's completeness than MC;its use results in better model compatibility with data in seismic activity modeling and allows for more comprehensive utilization of seismic observation data across temporal,spatial,and magnitude dimensions.Using the magnitude-rank method and Maximum Curvature(MAXC)methods,we analyzed temporal variations in earthquake catalog completeness,fi nding that MC stabilized after 2010,which closely coincides with improvements in monitoring capabilities and the densifi cation of seismic networks.Employing the probability-based magnitude of completeness(PMC)and entire magnitude range(EMR)methods,grounded in distinct foundational assumptions and computational principles,we analyzed the 2010-2023 earthquake catalog for the northern margin of the Ordos Block,aiming to assess the detection probability of earthquakes and the completeness of the earthquake catalog.The PMC method yielded the detection probability distribution for 76 stations in the distance-magnitude space.A scoring metric was designed based on station detection capabilities for small earthquakes in the near fi eld.From the detection probabilities of stations,we inferred detection probabilities of the network for diff erent magnitude ranges and mapped the spatial distribution of the probability-based completeness magnitude.In the EMR method,we employed a segmented model fi tted to the observed data to determine the detection probability and completeness magnitude for every grid point in the study region.We discussed the sample dependency and low-magnitude failure phenomena of the PMC method,noting the potential overestimation of detection probabilities for lower magnitudes and the underestimation of MC in areas with weaker monitoring capabilities.The results obtained via the two methods support these hypotheses.The assessment results indicate better monitoring capabilities on the eastern side of the study area but worse on the northwest side.The spatial distribution of network monitoring capabilities is uneven,correlating with the distribution of stations and showing signifi cant diff erences in detection capabilities among diff erent stations.The truncation eff ects of data and station selection aff ected the evaluation results at the edges of the study area.Overall,both methods yielded detailed descriptions of the earthquake catalog,but careful selection of calculation parameters or adjustments based on the strengths of diff erent methods is necessary to correct potential biases.

Geochronology and geological significance of the strata of the Neoproterozoic Nanhua System,SW North China Craton

A set of low-grade clastic metamorphic and carbonate rocks,and greenschists outcropping in the southwestern(SW)margin of the North China Craton(NCC),was originally classified as the Paleoproterozoic Xiong’er Group according to stratigraphic correlation.To verify the age,this paper carried out detrital zircon U–Pb LA-ICP-MS dating of low-grade clastic metamorphic rocks exposed in the Changqing area at the SW margin of the Ordos Block in the SW part of the NCC.Results from detrital zircon dating indicate that the metamorphic and carbonate rocks can be classified into the Neoproterozoic Nanhua System,which is the only Nanhua System stratum in this block so far,and it probably could provide new clues to Rodinia break-up and Snowball Earth of the NCC.The nine peak ages of the low-grade clastic metamorphic rocks reflected its relatively complex provenance,and almost all major geological events experienced by the NCC basement since the Neoarchean,but some age peaks were difficult to correspond to that of the NCC,indicating that the southwestern part of the Ordos Block was also affected by the Qinling and Qiliang orogenic belts during Nanhua System of Neoproterozoic.Combined with provenance analysis,it was revealed that the current southwest boundary of the Ordos Block was the previous southwest boundary of the Ordos Block during the Qingbaikou-Nanhua Period of the Neoproterozoic.

Crustal P-wave velocity structure in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and insights into crustal deformation

The transitional area between the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Ordos Block and Alxa Block, also being the northern segment of the North-South Seismic Belt, is characterized by considerably high seismicity level and high risk of strong earthquakes. In view of the special tectonic environment and deep tectonic setting in this area, this study used two seismic wide-angle reflection/refraction cross profiles for double constraining, so as to more reliably obtain the fine-scale velocity structure characteristics in both the shallow and deep crust of individual blocks and their boundaries in the study area, and further discuss the seismogenic environment in seismic zones with strong historical earthquakes. In this paper, the P-wave data from the two profiles are processed and interpreted, and two-dimensional crustal velocity structure models along the two profiles are constructed by travel time forward modeling. The results show that there are great differences in velocity structure, shape of intra-crustal interfaces and crustal thickness among different blocks sampled by the two seismic profiles. The crustal thickness along the Lanzhou-Huianbu-Yulin seismic sounding profile （L1） increases from -43 km in the western margin of Ordos Block to -56 km in the Qilian Block to the west. In the Ordos Block, the velocity contours vary gently, and the average velocity of the crust is about 6.30 km s^-1; On the other hand, the velocity structures in the crust of the Qilian Block and the arc-like tectonic zone vary dramatically, and the average crustal velocities in these areas are about 0.10 km s^-1 lower than that of the Ordos Block. In addition, discontinuous low-velocity bodies （LVZ1 and LVZ2） are identified in the crust of the Qilian Block and the arc-like tectonic zone, the velocity of which is 0.10-0.20 krn s^-1 lower than that of the surroundings. The average crustal thickness of the Ordos Block is consistently estimated to be around 43 km along both Profile L2 （Tongchuan-Huianbu-Alashan left banner seismic sounding profile） and Profile L1. In contrast to the gently varying intra-crustal interfaces and velocity contours in the Ordos Block along Profile L 1, which is a typical structure characteristic of stable cratons, the crustal structure in the Ordos Block along Profile L2 exhibits rather complex variations. This indicates the presence of significant structural differences in the crust within the Ordos Block. The crustal structure of the Helan Mountain Qilian Block and the Yinchuan Basin is featured by ＂uplift and depression＂ undulations, showing the characteristics of localized compressional deformation. Moreover, there are low-velocity zones with altemative high and low velocities in the middle and lower crust beneath the Helan Mountain, where the velocity is about 0.15-0.25 km s^-1 lower than that of the surrounding areas. The crustal thickness of the Alxa Block is about 49 kin, and the velocity contours in the upper and middle-lower crust of the block vary significantly. The complex crustal velocity structure images along the two seismic sounding profiles L1 and L2 reveal considerable structural differences among different tectonic blocks, their coupling relationships and velocity structural features in the seismic zones where strong historical earthquakes occurred. The imaging result of this study provides fine-scale crustal structure information for further understanding the seismogenic environment and mechanism in the study area.