GiT-based structural geologic feature analysis of the southern segment of Longmenshan fault zone for earthquake evidence

The Longmenshan fault is a thrust fault which runs along the base of the Longmen Mountains in Siehuan province, southwestern China. The southern segment of the fault had two distinct responses to the Ms 8 Wenehuan and Ms 7 Lushan earthquakes. This study determines characteristics of the structural geology of the Longmenshan fault to evaluate how it influenced the two aforementioned earthquakes. This research was done within a Geo- information Technologies （GiT） environment based on multi-source remote sensing and crustal movement data extracted from the Global Positioning System （GPS）. The spatial distribution of the southern segment of the Longmenshan fault zone was comprehensively analyzed to study both earthquakes. The study revealed that the Wenehuan and Lushan earthquakes occurred on two relatively independent faults. In addition, there was a nearly constant-velocity crustal movement zone between the two epicenters that probably had a compressive stress with slow motion. Furthermore, the central fault and a mountain back fault gradually merged from north to south. The Lushan earthquake of the Wenchuan earthquake. was not an affershock The research showed that fault zones within 30-50 km of State Highway 318 are intensive and complex. In addition, crustal movement velocity decreased rapidly, with a strong multi-directional shear zone. Thus, activity in that zone was likely stronger than in the northern part over the medium to long term.

The Dynamic Characteristics of Strain Fields and Crustal Movement before the Wenchuan Earthquake (M_S=8.0)

In this paper, we analyze the crustal movements, strain field changes and large scale dynamic characteristics of horizontal deformation before the Wenchuan earthquake （ Ms = 8.0） using GPS data obtained from the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China. The following issues are discussed. First, the strain fields of the Longmeushan fault zone located at the epicenter show slow accumulation, because of the tectonic dynamics process subjected to the eastward movement of the Bayan Har block. Second, the different movements between the Longmenshan fault and South China block are smaller than the errors of GPS observation. Third, the high value of compressive strain （2004 - 2007） is located at the epicenter, which shows that the local squeezing action is stronger than before. Fourth, the data from GPS reference stations in the Chinese Mainland show that crustal shortening is faster than before in the north-eastern direction, which is part of the background of the local tectonic dynamics increase in the Longmenshan fault zone.

The Focal Mechanism Solutions of the M_S 8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake in Sichuan on May 12,2008 and Some of Its Aftershocks

The focal mechanism solutions of the Wenchuan earthquake （Ms8.0） of May 12, 2008 and some of its aftershocks occurring up to December I0, 2008 are determined with lower semisphere of equal-projection and first motion sign data of P waves from regional and distant stations. The focal mechanism solutions of the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake are： Nodal plane I：strike 5°, dip angle 48°, slip angle 39°; Nodal plane II： strike 247°, dip angle 62°, slip angle 131°; P axis azimuth 309°, plunge 8°, T axis azimuth 208°, plunge 54°, B axis azimuth 44°, plunge 35% Combining geological tectonics and spatial distribution of aftershocks, nodal plane II can be identified as a seismogenic fault. According to focal mechanism solutions, the fault activity that triggered the huge earthquake is reverse thrusting. The main rupture surface is S67°W, basically identical to the fault strike on which the earthquake occurred. The main compression stress P axis is N51°W, which is basically the same as the direction of the regional tectonic stress field. According to the results of focal mechanism solutions of aftershocks, the aftershocks occurring in the southern and northern sections of the Longmenshan fault zone have predominant orientations and are obviously different. For the main shock and the early aftershocks occurring on the southern section of the Longmenshan fault, the rupturing is mainly characterized by reverse-dip slip with some strike-slip, and over time, the aftershocks migrated towards the northern section. The rupturing in the source is mainly characterized by strike-slip with some reverse-dip slips. The stress field is controlled by the main shock stress field in the southern section of the Longmenshan tectonic zone, while it is controlled by the main shock stress field and regional stress field in the northern section of the Longmenshan tectonic zone.

Relation between structural evolution of the Longmenshan orogenic zone and sedimentation of its foreland basin

In order to determine the area for oil and gas exploration in China’s north Sichuan basin,we have divided the time during which the Longmenshan foreland basin was formed into five periods,based on the sedimentary response relationship of the foreland basin to structural evolution: 1) a late Triassic Noric period;2) an early-Middle Jurassic period;3) a late Jurassic to early Cretaceous period;4) a late Cretaceous to Paleogene-Neogene period and 5) the Quaternary period. As well,we analyzed the sedimentary environment and lithologic features of every basin-forming period. The results show that there are several favorable source-reservoir-cap assemblages in our study area,making it a major region for future oil and gas exploration in China’s northern Sichuan basin.

Analysis on Tectonic Movement of the Longmenshan Fault Zone before the Wenchuan M_S 8. 0 Great Earthquake

On the basis of elastic rebound theory,using the horizontal velocity field of the Chinese mainland calculated from GPS data during three observation periods from 1999 to 2007,the velocity components that are parallel and plumb to the fault zone are calculated respectively for different periods,and then relative ground movements of two sides of the fault zone are analyzed with power function fitting and graphics. The results show that the relative ground movement shows right-lateral shear deformation before the Wenchuan MS8. 0 earthquake,and at the same time the movement was hindered by the Longmenshan fault zone. Thus,this result has positive significance for distinguishing the elastic strain energy accumulation and deformation anomaly in an earthquake preparation process,and for conducting further research on earthquake prediction.

Slip Rates of the Major Faults on the Mid-southern Section of the North-South Seismic Belt Calculated from the Block Theory

In this paper, using the 1999 ~ 2007 GPS velocity field data, and by choosing the optimal block model, we obtained the deformation models applicable to the boundary zones of major blocks and the slip rates of block boundary faults on the mid-southern segment of the North-South Seismic Belt. The results show that： on the Longmenshan fault zone, the tensional and compressive slip rate is small on the Baoxing-Wenchuan segment, about 0. 5 ~ 1.8mm·a^-1, and the rate is relatively significant on the segment of the Wenchuan--Maoxian, as 1.8 ~3.8mm·a^-1; on the Xianshuihe fault belt, there is a certain difference in spatial distribution between the tensional slip rag.e and strike-slip rate： the tensional slip rate （ 8. lmm^a-1） is bigger than the sinistral strike-slip rate （ 4.8mm·a^-1） at the north of the Luhuo region; the tension and compression slip rate is basically the same as the strike-slip rate at Luhuo-Dawu; the Dawu-Kangding section presents a trend of decreased strike-slip rate and increased tensional slip rate; the Kangding-ghimian segment shows a strike-slip nature; the strike-slip rate is significantly greater than the tension/compression rate on the Xiaojiang fault zone; the slip rate on the Red River fault zone shows obvious spatial segmentation, the slip rate is smaller in its northwest part, but with a certain amount of tensional/compression component, 4. 7mm·a^-1 on the Jingdong segment. The segment east of Jingdong （ western Gejiu） is mainly of strike-slip, with a slip rate of 4. 5mm·a^-1.

Tectonic Features of the M_S8.0 Wenchuan Earthquake and Its Aftershocks

The M8.0 Wenchuan earthquake occurred on the Longmenshan fault zone. Based on field investigation of the surface rupture and focal mechanism study of the aftershocks, we discuss the geological relationship of the main, secondary and triggered ruptures. The main rupture is about 200km long and can be divided into the south part and the north part. The south part consists of two parallel fault zones characterized by reverse faulting, with several parallel secondary ruptures on the hanging wall of the main fault, and the north part is a single main fault zone characterized by lateral strike-slip and reverse faulting. Compared to a 300km long aftershock distribution, the surface rupture only occupies 200km, and the remaining lOOkm on the northeast of the main rupture was triggered by aftershocks. Study on the ruptures of this earthquake will be useful for studying the earthquake risk evolution on the Longmenshan fault system.

被遗忘的角落:畅春园遗迹恩佑寺、恩慕寺山门考

提及五园,人们最熟悉的莫过于"颐和园"和"圆明园"。但是畅春园才是清朝历代帝王园林居住惯例的源头,它以最自然古朴的面貌给人以清新脱俗的景观,这种追求自然朴素的造园风格影响了在其之后落成的避暑山庄和圆明园等皇家宫苑。恩佑寺、恩慕寺山门是清代皇家园林畅春园仅存的遗迹,本文旨在通过对恩佑寺、恩慕寺山门的历史沿革和山门构造的考证,对清代帝王以孝治天下的理念、清代皇家寺庙的规制以及畅春园的兴衰有所了解,并希望以此引起人们对山门价值的进一步发掘及保护现状的关注和重视。

Water-enhanced plastic deformation in felsic rocks

Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),we measured water contents in quartz and feldspar for four kinds of felsic rocks,i.e.,undeformed granite,banded granitic gneiss,fine-grained felsic mylonite,and fine-grained quartz-mica schist,collected from Pengguan Complex and Kangding Complex in the Longmenshan tectonic zone,Sichuan,China.The absorbance spectra suggest that water in coarse-grained quartz and feldspar of undeformed granite and banded granitic gneiss occurs mainly as hydroxyl in crystal defects,and water in most of fine-grained quartz and feldspar of felsic mylonite is molecular water in inclusions and liquid-type water in grain boundaries,but in some cases it still occurs as hydroxyl in crystal defects.Water content of quartz in undeformed granite is 0.001 wt%-0.009 wt %,and that of feldspar 0.005 wt%-0.02 wt%.The banded granitic gneiss shows water contents of 0.002 wt%-0.011 wt% in quartz and 0.012 wt%-0.036 wt% in feldspar.Quartz ribbon and feldspar ribbon in fine-grained felsic mylonite show that their water contents are similar to those of coarse-grained quartz and feldspar in granite,0.002 wt%-0.011 wt%,and 0.004 wt%-0.02 wt%,respectively.Water contents of fine-grained quartz and feldspar are respectively 0.004 wt%-0.02 wt% and 0.012 wt%-0.06 wt%.Water content of quartz in fine-grained quartz-mica schist is 0.007 wt%-0.15 wt%.Water-bearing minerals display much higher water contents than those of nominally anhydrous minerals,and the percentage of water-bearing minerals in felsic rocks increases with the strain of rocks.These new data indicate that hydroxyl in crystal defects has basically not been released during the shear deformation,and on the contrary,the increase in molecular water in inclusions and liquid-type water in grain boundaries as well as water-bearing minerals after shear deformation leads to a significant increase of the water content in deformed rocks.Based on data of creep tests,it is inferred here that the fine-grained mylonites with more water have much lower strength than that of the weakly deformed coarse-grained rocks in the middle crust,and this indicates that trace amount of water significantly helped develop the ductile shear zone.

The crustal structures of the central Longmenshan along and its margins as related to the seismotectonics of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake

In 2010,a 500-km-long wide-angle reflection/refraction seismic profile was completed,running northwest from the central Sichuan Basin.This profile orthogonally crosses the meizoseismal area of great Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008,which occurred in the central part of the Longmenshan.The profile also passes through the northwestern Sichuan Plateau,along which a new deep seismic sounding observation system was set up that was much improved over previous datasets and enabled abundant observations to be recorded.Seismic wave phase records that reflect the structural characteristics of different tectonic blocks,especially the complicated phase features associated with the Wenchuan earthquake,were calculated and analyzed in detail.A 2D crustal P-wave velocity model for the orogenic belt in the central Longmenshan and its margins was determined,and crustal structure differences between the stable Sichuan Basin and the thickened northwestern Sichuan Plateau were characterized.Lithological variations within the upper and lower crust in the interior of the plateau,especially a great velocity decrease and plastic rheological properties associated with strong lithologic weakening in lower crust,were detected.From west to east in the lower crust beneath the orogenic belt lying between the Sichuan Basin and the northwestern Sichuan Plateau,a giant shovel-like upwelling is observed that dips gently in the lower part and at higher angles in the upper part;this is inferred to be related to the fault systems in the central Longmenshan.An upwelling in the upper-middle crust along the eastern margin of the orogenic belt is associated with steeply dipping thrusts that strongly uplift the upper crust and crystalline basement beneath a central fault system in the Longmenshan.The data,combined with an understanding of the regional tectonic stress field and previous geological results,enable a discussion of basin-and-range coupling,orogenic tectonics,the crustal fault system,and the seismogenic tectonic environment of the central Longmenshan along the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

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.

Crustal P-wave velocity structure of the Longmenshan region and its tectonic implications for the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

The P-wave velocity structure of the crust in the Longmenshan region has been imaged by seismic travel time tomography us ing local and regional first P-wave arrivals recorded from 2000 to 2008. The tomographic model provides a way to analyze the deep tectonics of the Longmenshan fault belt and the tectonic implications for the 2008 Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake. The P-wave velocity images indicate that the initial rupture site and focal depth of the Wenchuan earthquake, together with the di rection of rupture propagation, closely relate to the crustal structure of the Longmenshan region. The Pengguan massif to the west of the Longmenshan fault belt is characterized by high velocity anomalies, suggesting that the crust has a strong strain strength that can accumulate large stresses over a long period. The Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake is located at the southwestern end of the Pengguan massif and the western edge of the Sichuan Basin. The collision between the Pengguan massif and the Sichuan Basin becomes the primary reason for the occurrence of the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake. To the north of Wenchuan, the occurrence and propagation of rupture benefit from low velocity anomalies along the Longmenshan fault belt; whereas to the south of Wenchuan, the brittle rupture can occur with more difficulty in relatively weak crust with low velocities. This may be one of the reasons for the absence of aftershocks to the south of Wenchuan, and the rupture induced by the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake propagating from the north to the south along the Longmenshan fault belt. The deep geodynamics of the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake may occur due to the discrepancy of crustal structures on the two sides of the Longmenshan fault belt. Ductile deformation and crustal flow can easily occur in the weak middle-lower crust beneath the Songpan-Garze orogenic belt. The eastward movement of the Tibetan Plateau is obstructed by the rigid lithosphere of the Sichuan Basin, and then the thick ening of the middle-lower crust and vertical deformation occur in the crust of the Longmenshan fault belt. In addition, the down-warping of the Moho and the basement thrusting onto the range front induced crustal deformation and strain accumula tion, which provided the potential energy to trigger the occurrence of the Ms8.0 Wenchuan earthquake.