Study on Shear Wave Velocity Structure and Velocity Ratio Beneath Ordos Block and Its Eastern and Southern Margins

Using pure S wave fitting method, we studied the shear wave velocity structures under the Ordos block and its eastern and southern marginal areas. The results show that the velocity structure beneath Yulin station in the interior of Ordos block is relatively stable, where no apparent change between high and low velocity layers exists and the shear wave velocity increases steadily with the depth. There is a 12km thick layer at the depth of 25km under this station, with an S wave velocity (V S=3.90km/s) lower than that at the same depth in its eastern and southern areas (V S≥4.00km/s). The crust under the eastern margin of Ordos block is thicker than that of the Yulin station, and the velocity structures alternate between the high and low velocity layers, with more low velocity layers. It has the same characteristic as having a 10km-thick low velocity layer (V S=3.80km/s) in the lower crust but buried at a depth of about 35km. Moreover, we studied the V P/V S ratio under each station in combination with the result of P wave velocity inversion. The results show that, the average velocity ratio of the Yulin station at the interior of Ordos block is only 1.68, with a very low ratio (about 1.60) in the upper crust and a stable ratio of about 1.73 in the mid and lower crust, which indicates the media under this station is homogenous and stable, being in a state of rigidity. But at the stations in the eastern and southern margins of the Ordos block, several layers of high velocity ratio (about 1.80) have been found, in which the average velocity ratio under Kelan and Lishi stations at the eastern margin is systemically higher than that of the general elastical body waves (1.732). This reflects that the crust under the marginal areas is more active relatively, and other materials may exist in these layers. Finally, we discussed the relationship among earthquakes, velocity structures beneath stations and faults.

Timing of uplift and evolution of the Lüliang Mountains,North China Craton

This study analyses evidence for reformed basin development and basin-mountain coupling associated with devel- opment of the Ordos Basin and the Laliang Mountains, China. Gaining an improved understanding of the timing and nature of uplift and evolution of the Ltiliang Mountains is important for the reconstruction of the eastern sedimentary boundary of the Ordos Basin （a major petroliferous basin） as well as for providing insight into the evolution and breakup of the North China Craton （NCC）. Based on systematic sampling for fission track analysis, it is suggested that the main phase of uplift of the Laliang Mountains occurred since later part of the Early Cretaceous. Three evolutionary stages of uplift and development are identified： slow initial uplift （120-65 Ma）, accelerated uplift （65-23 Ma）, and intensive uplift （23 Ma to present）, with the ma- jority of the uplift activity having occurred during the Cenozoic. The history of uplift is non-equilibrium and exhibits complex- ity in temporal and spatial aspects. The middle and northern parts of the Ltiliang Mountains were uplifted earlier than the southern part. The most intensive episode of uplift activity commenced in the Miocene and was associated with a genetic cou- pling relationship with the eastern neighboring Cenozoic Shanxi Grabens. The uplifting and evolutionary processes of the Ltiliang Mountains area since later part of the Early Cretaceous share a unified regional geodynamic setting, which was ac- companied by uplift of the Mesozoic Ordos Basin and development of the neighboring Cenozoic Shanxi Grabens. Collectively, this regional orogenic activity is related principally to the far-field effects of both the compression sourced from the south- western Tibet Plateau and westward subduction of the Pacific Plate in Cenozoic.