By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages: (1) the formation stage (T3x) of the miniatur...By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages: (1) the formation stage (T3x) of the miniature of Longmen Mountain, early Indosinian movement, and Anxian tectonic movement created the Longmen Mountain; (2) the stable tectonic stage (J1) where weaker tectonic movement resulted in the Longmen Mountain thrust belt being slightly uplifted and slightly subsiding the foreland basin; (3) the intense tectonic stage (J2-3), namely the early Yanshan movement; (4) continuous tectonic movement (K-E), namely the late Yanshan movement and early Himalayan movement; and (5) the formation of Longmen Mountain (N-Q), namely the late Himalayan movement. During those tectonic deformation stages, the Anxian movement and Himalayan movement played important roles in the Longmen Mountain's formation. The Himalayan movement affected Longmen Mountain the most; the strata thrust intensively and were eroded severely. There are some klippes in the middle part of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt because a few nappes were pushed southeastward in later tectonic deformation.展开更多
Field investigation and seismic section explanation showed that the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt has obvious differential deformation: zonation, segmentation and stratification. Zonation means that, from NW to NE, th...Field investigation and seismic section explanation showed that the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt has obvious differential deformation: zonation, segmentation and stratification. Zonation means that, from NW to NE, the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt can be divided into the Songpan- Garz~ Tectonic Belt, ductile deformation belt, base involved thrust belt, frontal fold-thrust belt, and foreland depression. Segmentation means that it can be divided into five segments from north to south: the northern segment, the Anxian Transfer Zone, the center segment, the Guanxian Transfer Zone and the southern segment. Stratification means that the detachment layers partition the structural styles in profile. The detachment layers in the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt can be classified into three categories: the deep-level detachment layers, including the crust-mantle system detachment layer, intracrustal detachment layer, and Presinian system basal detachment layer; the middle-level detachment layers, including Cambrian-Ordovician detachment layer, Silurian detachment layer, etc.; and shallow-level detachment layers, including Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation detachment layer and the Jurassic detachment layers. The multi-level detachment layers have a very important effect on the shaping and evolution of Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt.展开更多
Investigation of the deep geophysical structure of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and its relation to the Wenchuan Earthquake is important for the study of earthquakes.By using magnetotelluric sounding profiles o...Investigation of the deep geophysical structure of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and its relation to the Wenchuan Earthquake is important for the study of earthquakes.By using magnetotelluric sounding profiles of the Luqu-Zhongjiang and Anxian-Suining; seismic sounding profiles of the Sichuan Maowen-Chongqing Gongtan,the Qinghai Huashi Gorge-Sichuan Jianyang,and the Batang-Zizhong; and magnetogravimetric data of the Longmen Mountains region,the deep geophysical structure of the Songpan-Ganzi block,the western Sichuan foreland basin,and the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and their relation was discussed.The eastward extrusion of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau thrusts the Songpan-Ganzi block upon the Yangtze block,which obstructs the eastward movement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The Maoxian-Wenchuan,Beichuan-Yingxiu,and Anxian-Guanxian faults of the Longmen Mountains fault belt dip to northwest with different dip angles and gradually converge in the deeper parts.Geophysical structure suggests that an intracrustal low-velocity,low-resistivity,and high-conductivity layer is common between the middle and upper crust west of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt but not in the upper Yangtze block.The Sichuan Basin has a thick low-resistance sedimentary layer on a stable high-resistance basement; moreover,there are secondary paleohighs and depression structures at the lower part of the western Sichuan foreland basin with characteristic of high magnetic anomalies,whereas the Songpan-Ganzi block has a high resisitivity cover of upper crust and continues to a low-resistance layer.Considering the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt as the boundary,there are Bouguer gravity anomalies of "one belt between two zones." Thus,we infer that there is a corresponding relation between the inferred crystalline basement of the Songpan block and the underlying basin basement of the Longmen Mountains fault belt.Furthermore,there may be an extensive ancient Yangtze block,which is west of the Ruoergai block.In addition,the crust-mantle ductile shear zone under the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt is the main fault,whereas the Beichuan-Yingxiu and Anxian-Guanxian faults at the surface are earthquake faults.The Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake might be attributed to the collision of the Yangtze block and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The eastward obduction of the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and eastward subduction of its deeper part under the influence of the collision of the Indian,Pacific,and Philippine Plates with the Eurasia Plate might have caused the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt to cut the Moho and extend to the middle and upper crust; thus,creating high stress concentration and rapid energy release zone.展开更多
We applied the material balance principle of the denudation volume and sedimentary flux to study the denudation-accumulation system between the Longmen Mountains (Mts.) and the foreland basin. The amount of sediment...We applied the material balance principle of the denudation volume and sedimentary flux to study the denudation-accumulation system between the Longmen Mountains (Mts.) and the foreland basin. The amount of sediment in each sedimentation stage of the basin was estimated to obtain the denudation volume, erosion thickness and deposit thickness since the Late Triassic Epoch, to enable us to recover the paleoelevation of the provenance and the sedimentary area. The results show the following: (1) Since the Late Triassic Epoch, the elevation of the surface of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted from 0 m to 2751 m, and the crust of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted by 9.8 km. Approximately 72% of the materials introduced have been denuded from the mountains. (2) It is difficult to recover the paleoelevation of each stage of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin quantitatively by the present-day techniques and data. (3) The formation of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin consisted of three stages of thrust belt tectonic load and three stages of thrust belt erosional unload. During tectonic loading stages (Late Triassic Epoch, Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous-Miocene), the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was lower (approximately 700-1700 m). During erosional unloading stages (Early and Middle Jurassic, Middle Cretaceous and Jiaguan, Late Cenozoic), the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was high at approximately 2000-2800m.展开更多
Longmen Mountain located at the boundary between the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau,representing the steepest gradient of any edges of the plateau.Three endmember models of uplift process and mechanism have been pr...Longmen Mountain located at the boundary between the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau,representing the steepest gradient of any edges of the plateau.Three endmember models of uplift process and mechanism have been proposed,including crustal thickening,crustal flow,and crustal isostatic rebound.Here we use coeval sedimentary sequences in the foreland basin to restraint uplift process and mechanism in the Longmen Mountain.The more than 10,000 m thick Late TriassicQuaternary strata filled in this foreland basin and can be divided into six megasequences that are distinguished as two distinct types.The first type is the wedge-shaped megasequences which are sedimentary response of strong active thrust loading events,characterized by a high rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,coarsening-upward succession and a dual-sourced sediment supply.This type includes Late Triassic,Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous to Paleogene megasequences.The second type is the tabular megasequences,characterized by the low rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,finingupward succession,and a single-sourced sediment supply,which is sedimentary response of isostatic rebound and erosion unloading.This type includes the Early to Middle Jurassic,Middle Cretaceous and Neogene to Quaternary megasequences.Basing on sedimentary,active tectonic,geomorphic evidence,we infer that the direction has been reversed from SSWdirected sinistral strike-slip to NNE-directed dextral strike-slip during 40-3.6 Ma,and since 3.6 Ma,the Longmen Mountain thrust belt belong to times of isostatic rebound and erosional unloading with NNEdirected dextral strike-slip.This suggests that crustal isostatic rebound is a primary driver for uplift and topography of the present Longmen Mountain.The Wenchuan(Ms8.0) earthquake,which ruptured a large thrust fault with NNE-directed dextral strikeslip along the range front,is an active manifestation of this crustal isostatic rebound process with dextral strike-slipping and shortening.This process may be the cause for the Wenchuan Earthquake and the apparent paradox of high relief,little shortening,the relative dearth of historical seismicity in the region.展开更多
In order to reveal the nature of the segmentation of Longmen Mountains Thrust Belt caused by the three nappes (Jiaoziding, Jiudingshan, and Baoxing Nappe), several methods are applied in this paper, including field in...In order to reveal the nature of the segmentation of Longmen Mountains Thrust Belt caused by the three nappes (Jiaoziding, Jiudingshan, and Baoxing Nappe), several methods are applied in this paper, including field investigation, seismic explanation and balanced crossed section, etc. Results of research reveal that nappes in Longmen Mountains vary in geometry, kinematics, and dynamics. Jiaoziding Nappe has generally behaved in a ductile manner, whereas Jiudingshan Nappe has been rigid, and the rheology of Baoxing Nappe has been intermediate between that of the other two nappes. The development of nappes has resulted in tectonic segmentation of Longmen Mountains: the main structural style of the northern segment is thrust faulting, with Jiaoziding Nappe representing a giant syncline. Given its ductility, it absorbed lots of stress, with the least amount of tectonic shortening in the SE part of the nappe. In the middle segment, the deformation is controlled by the rigid Jiudingshan Nappe, whose frontal area records lots of tectonic shortening. Deformation in the southern segment is intermediate in character between that of the other two segments, characterized by horizontal zonation, as demonstrated by fault development, and vertical stratification, which indicates that fault development was controlled by lithology.展开更多
There is a cross-cutting relationship between the E-W trending structures and the NE- trending structures in the northern Longmen-Micang Mountains region, which reflects possible regional tectonic transition and migra...There is a cross-cutting relationship between the E-W trending structures and the NE- trending structures in the northern Longmen-Micang Mountains region, which reflects possible regional tectonic transition and migration. Apatite fission track (AFT) analyses of 15 samples collected from this area yield apparent ages varying from 30.3±4.2 Ma to 111.7±9.0 Ma and confined-track-lengths ranging from 10.6±0.3 pm to 12.4±0.1 μm. Four specific groups were identified on the basis of the Track Age Spectrum Calculation (TASC) patterns, i.e., 143-112 Ma, 93.6-88 Ma, 42-40 Ma and -25.6 Ma. These age groups correspond to the spatial distributions of datasets and may represent four tectonic events. Together with the regional deformation patterns, the four age groups are interpreted to indicate tectonic superposition, transition and migration during the Meso-Cenozoic with the following possible order: (1) the Micang Mountains belt was dominated by the E-W trending structure during 143-112 Ma; (2) the contraction of the Longmen Mountains belt from the NW to the SE during 93.6-88 Ma led to the superposition of the NE-trending structures over the E-W trendinding structures; (3) dextral strike-slip shear dominated the Longmen Mountains belt at 42-40 Ma; (4) westward migration of the active tectonic belt occurred from 93.6-25.6 Ma in a break-back sequence in the northern Longmen Mountains belt. The Late Cenozoic tectonics in the northern Longmen Mountains belt are characterized by the dextral strike-slip shear and the occurrence of westward break-back sequence of deformations. As a result, north-south differences in deformations along the Longmen Mountains belt were intensified since the Miocene time and strains were mainly accumulated in the hinterland of the Longmen Mountains instead of being propagated to the foreland basin.展开更多
Through field geological investigation and seismic interpretation of the Longmen (龙门) Mountain thrust belt, we summarized the following structural styles: thrust belt, fault-related fold (fault bend fold, fault ...Through field geological investigation and seismic interpretation of the Longmen (龙门) Mountain thrust belt, we summarized the following structural styles: thrust belt, fault-related fold (fault bend fold, fault propagation fold, and fault decollement fold), pop-up, triangle zone, duplex, superimposed fold, ductile deformation structures, reverse thrust fault, klippe, decollement structure,etc.. These structural styles have evident distribution characteristics; they had zonation and segmentation in plane. The zonation presents as the thrust nappe tectonic zone to the west of Tongjichang (通济场) fault, fault-related folds between Tongjichang fault and Guankou (关口) fault, and low and mild folds to the east of Guankou fault. The segmentation is evidenced as the scale of reverse thrust faults was minor between Tongjichang No. 1 fault and Tongjichang No. 2 fault. The distance between these two faults became long in the Daynanbao (大园包) structure, and there developed typical fault propagation fold and pop-up between these two faults. Furthermore, the structures had stratifi-cation in profile. The salt layer of T21 provided good conditions for the formation and development of large listric thrust faults; the thrust fault slipped in the salt layer and formed decollement structures and fault-related fold. At the same time, there formed duplex and reverse thrust faults between the two decollement layers.展开更多
Through field geological survey, the authors found that abundant thrust faults developed in the Longmen (龙门) Mountain thrust belt. These faults can be divided into thrust faults and strike-slip faults according to...Through field geological survey, the authors found that abundant thrust faults developed in the Longmen (龙门) Mountain thrust belt. These faults can be divided into thrust faults and strike-slip faults according to their formation mechanisms and characteristics. Furthermore, these faults can be graded into primary fault, secondary fault, third-level fault, and fourth-level fault according to their scale and role in the tectonic evolution of Longmen Mountain thrust belt. Each thrustfault is such as composed of several secondary faults, Qingchuan (青川)-Maowen (茂汶) fault zone is composed of Qiaozhuang (乔庄) fault, Qingxi (青溪) fault, Maowen fault, Ganyanggou (赶羊沟) fault, etc.. The Longmen Mountain thrust belt experienced early Indosinian movement, Anxian (安县) movement, Yanshan (燕山) movement, and Himalayan movement, and the faults formed gradually from north to south.展开更多
This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies (IGA), steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift a...This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies (IGA), steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift and extrusion of lower crustal flow in the Longmen Shan Mountains (the LMS). Firstly, The high positive IGA zone corresponds to the LMS orogenic belt. It is shown that abrupt changes in IGA correspond to zones of abrupt change of topography, crustal thickness and rock density along the LMS. Secondly, on the basis of the Airy isostasy theory, simulations and inversions of the positive IGA were conducted using three-dimensional bodies. The results indicated that the LMS lacks a mountain root, and that the top surface of the lower crust has been elevated by 11 km, leading to positive IGA, tectonic load and density load. Thirdly, according to Watts's flexural isostasy model, elastic deflection occurs, suggesting that the limited (i.e. narrow) tectonic and density load driven by lower crustal flow in the LMS have led to asymmetric flexural subsidence in the foreland basin and lifting of the forebulge. Finally, based on the correspondence between zones of extremely high positive IGA and the presence of the Precambrian Pengguan-Baoxing complexes in the LMS, the first appearance of erosion gravels from the complexes in the Dayi Conglomerate layer of the Chengdu Basin suggest that positive IGA and lower crustal flow in the LMS took place at 3.6 Ma or slightly earlier.展开更多
Pn-wave velocity and anisotropy beneath the western Sichuan and adjacent region are inverted by a tomography method using arrival data from earthquakes recorded by the Sichuan Earthquake Network. It is followed by an ...Pn-wave velocity and anisotropy beneath the western Sichuan and adjacent region are inverted by a tomography method using arrival data from earthquakes recorded by the Sichuan Earthquake Network. It is followed by an analysis of the uppermost mantle structure of the Longmen Mountain region and the deep tectonics of the Ms8.0 earthquake in Wenchuan. Our results reveal a prominent velocity contrast across the Longmenshan fault: low velocities in the Songpan-Ganzi mountain range and high velocities in the Sichuan basin. They indicate that the Songpan-Ganzi mountain range is underlain by a weak uppermost mantle, which is easy to create ductile flow, whereas the Sichuan basin has a mechanically strong uppermost mantle. These features reflect a difference of the lithospheric mantle beneath tectonically active mountain range and stable basin. The boundary between the high and low velocities is coincident with the Longmenshan fault. Bordered by Wenchuan, the northern part of the boundary is parallel to the fault belt and aftershock distribution, but the southern part of the boundary deviates from the fault belt and is bent toward the Sichuan basin. The Ms8.0 earthquake in Wenchuan is located at the flexural part between them, where a strong heterogeneity is shown in the velocity variation across and parallel to the boundary. This area is reasonably believed as a potential location for regional stress accumulation and release in the Longmen Mountain region, reflecting a prominent character in the deep structure around Wenchuan. Pn-wave anisotropy reveals the mantle flow that is consistent with the eastward movement of the Tibetan Plateau. This process provided deep dynamic sourse for tectonic deformation in the Longmen Mountain region and for the occurrence of the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake, but it is clearly affected by the strong lithosphere of the Sichuan basin. There is no correlation between the Pn-wave anisotropy and the Longmenshan fault, hence, this fault system is only restricted within the crust. However, the mantle flow beneath the southeastern Tibetan Plateau shows a clockwise rotation along the Xianshuihe fault. We infer that these two fault systems may be controlled by different deep dynamics.展开更多
The Longmen Mountains and adjacent regions on the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau can be divided into three tectonic units: the eastern Songpan—Garzê fold belt, the Longmen Mountains (Longmen Shan) Thrust...The Longmen Mountains and adjacent regions on the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau can be divided into three tectonic units: the eastern Songpan—Garzê fold belt, the Longmen Mountains (Longmen Shan) Thrust—Nappe belt and the Western Sichuan foreland basin that occupies the western part of the Sichuan basin. The Longmen Shan Thrust—Nappe belt is subdivided by six northwest\|dipping major listric thrusts, with accompanying duplexes and imbricate fans, into five large\|scale nappes (Chen & Wilson, 1996). In the inner Longmen Shan, the nappe units have incorporated both Mesoproterozoic basement and Sinian (Neoproterozoic) to Triassic cover sequences as “thick\|skinned" horses. Whereas, in the frontal Longmen Shan, Sinian to Cretaceous cover sediments have been stripped from the basement as “thin\|skinned" fold and thrust sheets, including extensively distributed klippen structures. Pre\|thrusting extension during Devonian to middle Late Triassic times resulted in syndepositional normal faults. Structural inversion of these faults initiated the “Peng Xian—Guan Xian basement complex", Jiuding Shan and Tangwangzhai nappes, during an early episode of the Indosinian Orogeny (Norian to Rhaetian). This was followed by episodic thrusting during latest Triassic to Early Cretaceous times to develop the Guan Xian—An Xian and Southeastern Marginal nappes that have incorporated sediments from the neighbouring foreland basin into the frontal part of the Thrust—Nappe belt. Differential thrusting occurred across the Thrust—Nappe belt during a Late Miocene reactivation of the pre\|existing faults.展开更多
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No.40672143,40472107,and 40172076)the National Major Fundamental Research and Development Project (grant No.2005CB422107 and G1999043305)+1 种基金the Development Foundation of Key Laboratory for Hydrocarbon Accumulation of Education Ministry (grant No.2003-03)the Project of Southwestern Exploration and Development Division Company,SINOPEC (GJ-51-0602).
文摘By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages: (1) the formation stage (T3x) of the miniature of Longmen Mountain, early Indosinian movement, and Anxian tectonic movement created the Longmen Mountain; (2) the stable tectonic stage (J1) where weaker tectonic movement resulted in the Longmen Mountain thrust belt being slightly uplifted and slightly subsiding the foreland basin; (3) the intense tectonic stage (J2-3), namely the early Yanshan movement; (4) continuous tectonic movement (K-E), namely the late Yanshan movement and early Himalayan movement; and (5) the formation of Longmen Mountain (N-Q), namely the late Himalayan movement. During those tectonic deformation stages, the Anxian movement and Himalayan movement played important roles in the Longmen Mountain's formation. The Himalayan movement affected Longmen Mountain the most; the strata thrust intensively and were eroded severely. There are some klippes in the middle part of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt because a few nappes were pushed southeastward in later tectonic deformation.
基金support from:National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no.40672143,40472107,40172076)National Major Fundamental Research and Development Project (Grant no.2005CB422107,G1999043305)+1 种基金Development Foundation of Key Laboratory for Hydrocarbon Accumulation of Education Ministry (Grant no.2003-01)Project of Southern Exploration and Development Division Company,SINOPEC (2003-04).
文摘Field investigation and seismic section explanation showed that the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt has obvious differential deformation: zonation, segmentation and stratification. Zonation means that, from NW to NE, the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt can be divided into the Songpan- Garz~ Tectonic Belt, ductile deformation belt, base involved thrust belt, frontal fold-thrust belt, and foreland depression. Segmentation means that it can be divided into five segments from north to south: the northern segment, the Anxian Transfer Zone, the center segment, the Guanxian Transfer Zone and the southern segment. Stratification means that the detachment layers partition the structural styles in profile. The detachment layers in the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt can be classified into three categories: the deep-level detachment layers, including the crust-mantle system detachment layer, intracrustal detachment layer, and Presinian system basal detachment layer; the middle-level detachment layers, including Cambrian-Ordovician detachment layer, Silurian detachment layer, etc.; and shallow-level detachment layers, including Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation detachment layer and the Jurassic detachment layers. The multi-level detachment layers have a very important effect on the shaping and evolution of Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40839909, No. 41274077 and No. 41274078)
文摘Investigation of the deep geophysical structure of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and its relation to the Wenchuan Earthquake is important for the study of earthquakes.By using magnetotelluric sounding profiles of the Luqu-Zhongjiang and Anxian-Suining; seismic sounding profiles of the Sichuan Maowen-Chongqing Gongtan,the Qinghai Huashi Gorge-Sichuan Jianyang,and the Batang-Zizhong; and magnetogravimetric data of the Longmen Mountains region,the deep geophysical structure of the Songpan-Ganzi block,the western Sichuan foreland basin,and the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and their relation was discussed.The eastward extrusion of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau thrusts the Songpan-Ganzi block upon the Yangtze block,which obstructs the eastward movement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The Maoxian-Wenchuan,Beichuan-Yingxiu,and Anxian-Guanxian faults of the Longmen Mountains fault belt dip to northwest with different dip angles and gradually converge in the deeper parts.Geophysical structure suggests that an intracrustal low-velocity,low-resistivity,and high-conductivity layer is common between the middle and upper crust west of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt but not in the upper Yangtze block.The Sichuan Basin has a thick low-resistance sedimentary layer on a stable high-resistance basement; moreover,there are secondary paleohighs and depression structures at the lower part of the western Sichuan foreland basin with characteristic of high magnetic anomalies,whereas the Songpan-Ganzi block has a high resisitivity cover of upper crust and continues to a low-resistance layer.Considering the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt as the boundary,there are Bouguer gravity anomalies of "one belt between two zones." Thus,we infer that there is a corresponding relation between the inferred crystalline basement of the Songpan block and the underlying basin basement of the Longmen Mountains fault belt.Furthermore,there may be an extensive ancient Yangtze block,which is west of the Ruoergai block.In addition,the crust-mantle ductile shear zone under the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt is the main fault,whereas the Beichuan-Yingxiu and Anxian-Guanxian faults at the surface are earthquake faults.The Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake might be attributed to the collision of the Yangtze block and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The eastward obduction of the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and eastward subduction of its deeper part under the influence of the collision of the Indian,Pacific,and Philippine Plates with the Eurasia Plate might have caused the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt to cut the Moho and extend to the middle and upper crust; thus,creating high stress concentration and rapid energy release zone.
基金the Project of the National Natural Science Foudation of China (Grant No.41372114,41340005,41172162,40972083)
文摘We applied the material balance principle of the denudation volume and sedimentary flux to study the denudation-accumulation system between the Longmen Mountains (Mts.) and the foreland basin. The amount of sediment in each sedimentation stage of the basin was estimated to obtain the denudation volume, erosion thickness and deposit thickness since the Late Triassic Epoch, to enable us to recover the paleoelevation of the provenance and the sedimentary area. The results show the following: (1) Since the Late Triassic Epoch, the elevation of the surface of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted from 0 m to 2751 m, and the crust of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted by 9.8 km. Approximately 72% of the materials introduced have been denuded from the mountains. (2) It is difficult to recover the paleoelevation of each stage of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin quantitatively by the present-day techniques and data. (3) The formation of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin consisted of three stages of thrust belt tectonic load and three stages of thrust belt erosional unload. During tectonic loading stages (Late Triassic Epoch, Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous-Miocene), the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was lower (approximately 700-1700 m). During erosional unloading stages (Early and Middle Jurassic, Middle Cretaceous and Jiaguan, Late Cenozoic), the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was high at approximately 2000-2800m.
基金supported by the China National Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 40841010,40972083,41172162)CGS Foundation (Grant No.1212011121268)Foundation from State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation (Grant No. SK-0801)
文摘Longmen Mountain located at the boundary between the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau,representing the steepest gradient of any edges of the plateau.Three endmember models of uplift process and mechanism have been proposed,including crustal thickening,crustal flow,and crustal isostatic rebound.Here we use coeval sedimentary sequences in the foreland basin to restraint uplift process and mechanism in the Longmen Mountain.The more than 10,000 m thick Late TriassicQuaternary strata filled in this foreland basin and can be divided into six megasequences that are distinguished as two distinct types.The first type is the wedge-shaped megasequences which are sedimentary response of strong active thrust loading events,characterized by a high rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,coarsening-upward succession and a dual-sourced sediment supply.This type includes Late Triassic,Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous to Paleogene megasequences.The second type is the tabular megasequences,characterized by the low rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,finingupward succession,and a single-sourced sediment supply,which is sedimentary response of isostatic rebound and erosion unloading.This type includes the Early to Middle Jurassic,Middle Cretaceous and Neogene to Quaternary megasequences.Basing on sedimentary,active tectonic,geomorphic evidence,we infer that the direction has been reversed from SSWdirected sinistral strike-slip to NNE-directed dextral strike-slip during 40-3.6 Ma,and since 3.6 Ma,the Longmen Mountain thrust belt belong to times of isostatic rebound and erosional unloading with NNEdirected dextral strike-slip.This suggests that crustal isostatic rebound is a primary driver for uplift and topography of the present Longmen Mountain.The Wenchuan(Ms8.0) earthquake,which ruptured a large thrust fault with NNE-directed dextral strikeslip along the range front,is an active manifestation of this crustal isostatic rebound process with dextral strike-slipping and shortening.This process may be the cause for the Wenchuan Earthquake and the apparent paradox of high relief,little shortening,the relative dearth of historical seismicity in the region.
文摘In order to reveal the nature of the segmentation of Longmen Mountains Thrust Belt caused by the three nappes (Jiaoziding, Jiudingshan, and Baoxing Nappe), several methods are applied in this paper, including field investigation, seismic explanation and balanced crossed section, etc. Results of research reveal that nappes in Longmen Mountains vary in geometry, kinematics, and dynamics. Jiaoziding Nappe has generally behaved in a ductile manner, whereas Jiudingshan Nappe has been rigid, and the rheology of Baoxing Nappe has been intermediate between that of the other two nappes. The development of nappes has resulted in tectonic segmentation of Longmen Mountains: the main structural style of the northern segment is thrust faulting, with Jiaoziding Nappe representing a giant syncline. Given its ductility, it absorbed lots of stress, with the least amount of tectonic shortening in the SE part of the nappe. In the middle segment, the deformation is controlled by the rigid Jiudingshan Nappe, whose frontal area records lots of tectonic shortening. Deformation in the southern segment is intermediate in character between that of the other two segments, characterized by horizontal zonation, as demonstrated by fault development, and vertical stratification, which indicates that fault development was controlled by lithology.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40702035)the National Science and Technology Special Project of China(Grant No.2011ZX05003-002)the Key Project of Petro China Company Limited(Grant No.2011B-0401)
文摘There is a cross-cutting relationship between the E-W trending structures and the NE- trending structures in the northern Longmen-Micang Mountains region, which reflects possible regional tectonic transition and migration. Apatite fission track (AFT) analyses of 15 samples collected from this area yield apparent ages varying from 30.3±4.2 Ma to 111.7±9.0 Ma and confined-track-lengths ranging from 10.6±0.3 pm to 12.4±0.1 μm. Four specific groups were identified on the basis of the Track Age Spectrum Calculation (TASC) patterns, i.e., 143-112 Ma, 93.6-88 Ma, 42-40 Ma and -25.6 Ma. These age groups correspond to the spatial distributions of datasets and may represent four tectonic events. Together with the regional deformation patterns, the four age groups are interpreted to indicate tectonic superposition, transition and migration during the Meso-Cenozoic with the following possible order: (1) the Micang Mountains belt was dominated by the E-W trending structure during 143-112 Ma; (2) the contraction of the Longmen Mountains belt from the NW to the SE during 93.6-88 Ma led to the superposition of the NE-trending structures over the E-W trendinding structures; (3) dextral strike-slip shear dominated the Longmen Mountains belt at 42-40 Ma; (4) westward migration of the active tectonic belt occurred from 93.6-25.6 Ma in a break-back sequence in the northern Longmen Mountains belt. The Late Cenozoic tectonics in the northern Longmen Mountains belt are characterized by the dextral strike-slip shear and the occurrence of westward break-back sequence of deformations. As a result, north-south differences in deformations along the Longmen Mountains belt were intensified since the Miocene time and strains were mainly accumulated in the hinterland of the Longmen Mountains instead of being propagated to the foreland basin.
基金supported by the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China (Nos. 40472107, 40172076)the Major Fundamental Research and Development Project (No. 2005CB422107)+1 种基金the Open Project of Key Laboratory for Hy-drocarbon Accumulation Mechanism (No. 2003-03)the Project of Southwest Division Company, SINOPEC (No. GJ-51-0602)
文摘Through field geological investigation and seismic interpretation of the Longmen (龙门) Mountain thrust belt, we summarized the following structural styles: thrust belt, fault-related fold (fault bend fold, fault propagation fold, and fault decollement fold), pop-up, triangle zone, duplex, superimposed fold, ductile deformation structures, reverse thrust fault, klippe, decollement structure,etc.. These structural styles have evident distribution characteristics; they had zonation and segmentation in plane. The zonation presents as the thrust nappe tectonic zone to the west of Tongjichang (通济场) fault, fault-related folds between Tongjichang fault and Guankou (关口) fault, and low and mild folds to the east of Guankou fault. The segmentation is evidenced as the scale of reverse thrust faults was minor between Tongjichang No. 1 fault and Tongjichang No. 2 fault. The distance between these two faults became long in the Daynanbao (大园包) structure, and there developed typical fault propagation fold and pop-up between these two faults. Furthermore, the structures had stratifi-cation in profile. The salt layer of T21 provided good conditions for the formation and development of large listric thrust faults; the thrust fault slipped in the salt layer and formed decollement structures and fault-related fold. At the same time, there formed duplex and reverse thrust faults between the two decollement layers.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 40672143, 40472107, 40172076)the National Basic Research Program of China (Nos. 2005CB422107, G1999043305)+1 种基金Development Foundation of Key Laboratory for Hydrocarbon Accumulation of the Ministry of Education of China (No. 2003-03)Project of the South-west Petroleum Natural Gas Subcompany of SINOPEC (No. GJ-51-0602)
文摘Through field geological survey, the authors found that abundant thrust faults developed in the Longmen (龙门) Mountain thrust belt. These faults can be divided into thrust faults and strike-slip faults according to their formation mechanisms and characteristics. Furthermore, these faults can be graded into primary fault, secondary fault, third-level fault, and fourth-level fault according to their scale and role in the tectonic evolution of Longmen Mountain thrust belt. Each thrustfault is such as composed of several secondary faults, Qingchuan (青川)-Maowen (茂汶) fault zone is composed of Qiaozhuang (乔庄) fault, Qingxi (青溪) fault, Maowen fault, Ganyanggou (赶羊沟) fault, etc.. The Longmen Mountain thrust belt experienced early Indosinian movement, Anxian (安县) movement, Yanshan (燕山) movement, and Himalayan movement, and the faults formed gradually from north to south.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41372114,41502116,41340005,41172162,40972083,40841010)a research project of the National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation(Grant No.SK-0801)
文摘This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies (IGA), steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift and extrusion of lower crustal flow in the Longmen Shan Mountains (the LMS). Firstly, The high positive IGA zone corresponds to the LMS orogenic belt. It is shown that abrupt changes in IGA correspond to zones of abrupt change of topography, crustal thickness and rock density along the LMS. Secondly, on the basis of the Airy isostasy theory, simulations and inversions of the positive IGA were conducted using three-dimensional bodies. The results indicated that the LMS lacks a mountain root, and that the top surface of the lower crust has been elevated by 11 km, leading to positive IGA, tectonic load and density load. Thirdly, according to Watts's flexural isostasy model, elastic deflection occurs, suggesting that the limited (i.e. narrow) tectonic and density load driven by lower crustal flow in the LMS have led to asymmetric flexural subsidence in the foreland basin and lifting of the forebulge. Finally, based on the correspondence between zones of extremely high positive IGA and the presence of the Precambrian Pengguan-Baoxing complexes in the LMS, the first appearance of erosion gravels from the complexes in the Dayi Conglomerate layer of the Chengdu Basin suggest that positive IGA and lower crustal flow in the LMS took place at 3.6 Ma or slightly earlier.
基金supported by the State Key Labora-tory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection,Chengdu University of Technology (Grant No.DZKJ-0803)
文摘Pn-wave velocity and anisotropy beneath the western Sichuan and adjacent region are inverted by a tomography method using arrival data from earthquakes recorded by the Sichuan Earthquake Network. It is followed by an analysis of the uppermost mantle structure of the Longmen Mountain region and the deep tectonics of the Ms8.0 earthquake in Wenchuan. Our results reveal a prominent velocity contrast across the Longmenshan fault: low velocities in the Songpan-Ganzi mountain range and high velocities in the Sichuan basin. They indicate that the Songpan-Ganzi mountain range is underlain by a weak uppermost mantle, which is easy to create ductile flow, whereas the Sichuan basin has a mechanically strong uppermost mantle. These features reflect a difference of the lithospheric mantle beneath tectonically active mountain range and stable basin. The boundary between the high and low velocities is coincident with the Longmenshan fault. Bordered by Wenchuan, the northern part of the boundary is parallel to the fault belt and aftershock distribution, but the southern part of the boundary deviates from the fault belt and is bent toward the Sichuan basin. The Ms8.0 earthquake in Wenchuan is located at the flexural part between them, where a strong heterogeneity is shown in the velocity variation across and parallel to the boundary. This area is reasonably believed as a potential location for regional stress accumulation and release in the Longmen Mountain region, reflecting a prominent character in the deep structure around Wenchuan. Pn-wave anisotropy reveals the mantle flow that is consistent with the eastward movement of the Tibetan Plateau. This process provided deep dynamic sourse for tectonic deformation in the Longmen Mountain region and for the occurrence of the Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake, but it is clearly affected by the strong lithosphere of the Sichuan basin. There is no correlation between the Pn-wave anisotropy and the Longmenshan fault, hence, this fault system is only restricted within the crust. However, the mantle flow beneath the southeastern Tibetan Plateau shows a clockwise rotation along the Xianshuihe fault. We infer that these two fault systems may be controlled by different deep dynamics.
文摘The Longmen Mountains and adjacent regions on the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau can be divided into three tectonic units: the eastern Songpan—Garzê fold belt, the Longmen Mountains (Longmen Shan) Thrust—Nappe belt and the Western Sichuan foreland basin that occupies the western part of the Sichuan basin. The Longmen Shan Thrust—Nappe belt is subdivided by six northwest\|dipping major listric thrusts, with accompanying duplexes and imbricate fans, into five large\|scale nappes (Chen & Wilson, 1996). In the inner Longmen Shan, the nappe units have incorporated both Mesoproterozoic basement and Sinian (Neoproterozoic) to Triassic cover sequences as “thick\|skinned" horses. Whereas, in the frontal Longmen Shan, Sinian to Cretaceous cover sediments have been stripped from the basement as “thin\|skinned" fold and thrust sheets, including extensively distributed klippen structures. Pre\|thrusting extension during Devonian to middle Late Triassic times resulted in syndepositional normal faults. Structural inversion of these faults initiated the “Peng Xian—Guan Xian basement complex", Jiuding Shan and Tangwangzhai nappes, during an early episode of the Indosinian Orogeny (Norian to Rhaetian). This was followed by episodic thrusting during latest Triassic to Early Cretaceous times to develop the Guan Xian—An Xian and Southeastern Marginal nappes that have incorporated sediments from the neighbouring foreland basin into the frontal part of the Thrust—Nappe belt. Differential thrusting occurred across the Thrust—Nappe belt during a Late Miocene reactivation of the pre\|existing faults.