Neotectonic Indications from the Western and Southern Deserts of Iraq

The Iraqi Western and Southern deserts are part of the Iraqi Stable Shelf (Inner Platform) that belongs to the Arabian Plate. Therefore, both deserts lack tectonic forms like folds and faults;however, very rarely faults and regional lineaments can be seen in both deserts. Although both deserts are tectonically stable, tens of Neotectonic indications can be seen everywhere in both deserts. Among those indications are: Straight valleys, perpendicular valley bendings, sinkholes aligned along straight lines, dislocated valleys, knickpoints within valleys aligned along straight lines, regional lineaments, anomalous valley shapes, trends, and types, dissected alluvial fans. We have used existing geological maps of different scales and Esri World Imagery to recognize those Neotectonic indications. All those recognized features are excellent indications that both the Iraqi Western and Southern deserts are tectonically not stable. Accordingly, new terminology is suggested instead of the Stable Shelf (Inner Platform) which is the “Less Disturbed Shelf”.

Control of neotectonic movement on hydrocarbon accumulation in the Kuqa Foreland Basin,west China

Neotectonic movement refers to the tectonic movement that has happened since the Cenozoic, which is the latest movement. It has the most important influence on the basins in west China, especially on the hydrocarbon accumulation in the western foreland basins. We determined the time of neotectonic movement in the Kuqa Foreland Basin, which began from the Neogene, and analyzed the patterns of movement, which were continuous and fast subsidence in the vertical direction and intense lateral compression. The structure styles are that the faulting is weakened and the folding is strengthened gradually from north to south. We studied the control of neotectonic movement on the hydrocarbon accumulation process and model in the Kuqa Foreland Basin with basin simulation technique. The largest subsidence rate of the Kuqa Foreland Basin reached 1,200 m/Ma during the neotectonic movement, leading to rapid maturing of source rock within 5 Ma and a large quantity of hydrocarbon being generated and expelled. The thick neotectonic strata can form high quality reservoirs with the proved gas and oil reserves accounting for 5% and 27% of the total reserves, respectively. 86% of the structural traps were formed in the neotectonic movement period. The faults formed during the neotectonic movement serve as important migration pathways and they exist in the region where the hydrocarbon reservoirs are distributed. Abnormally high pressure caused by the intense lateral compression, thick neotectonic strata deposition and rapid hydrocarbon generation provide driving force for hydrocarbon migration. The accumulation elements match each other well over a short period, leading to many large gas fields formed later in the Kuqa Foreland Basin.

New Discovery of Holocene Activity along the Weixi-Qiaohou Fault in Southeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its Neotectonic Significance

Objective The lateral extrusion eastward of the Tibetan Plateau leads to the formation of the Sichuan–Yunnan block, which is the most representative active block in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, characterized by strong and frequent seismicity(Li Ping et al., 1975; Zhang Peizhen et al., 2003; Li Yong et al., 2017). Its eastern boundary is composed of sinistral faults including the Xianshuihe, Xiaojiang faults, etc., and the western

Neotectonics of Boroujerd Area, SW Iran by Index of Active Tectonics

Boroujerd area has located in the border zone of Zagros mountain and Sanandaj-Sirjan belt in the southwest Iran. Six geomorphic indices were calculated in the study area. Through averaging these indices we obtain index of active tectonics (Iat). The values of the index were divided into classes to define the degree of active tectonics. Therefore, relative tectonic activity was calculated and their values were classified and analyzed in two groups. Regions were identified as low and moderate levels. In analyzing data and combining them with tectonic setting the results were often associated and justified with regional geology. Our results show that the highest value has located along faulted area, which shows 3 classes of relative tectonic activity (moderate level). Also, other values have located along folded area (low level). Therefore, middle part of study area (sub-basin No. 4) is showing the more active uplifting related to surroundings region (sub-basin No. 1, 2 and 3). In other words, sub-basin No. 4 has got the more active uplifting by quaternary movements of several faults such as Doroud fault.

Strong Earthquake Activity and Its Relation to Regional Neotectonic Movement in Sichuan-Yunnan Region

Based on analyzing space inhomogeneous image of strong earthquake activity, the image of source rupture and the mechanical property of the source fault in Sichuan-Yunnan region, the relations among the strong earthquake activity, active fault, modern movement status of active blocks and structural background of the deep media have been discussed, and the characteristics of strong earthquake activity and possible mechanism have been also discussed.

The neotectonic deformation and earthquake activity in Zhuanglang river active fault zone of Lanzhou

Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, China Seismological Bureau, Lanzhou 730000, China 2) Institute of Geology, China Seismological Bureau, Beijing 100029, China

Neotectonics of Kashaf Rud River, NE Iran by Modified Index of Active Tectonics (MIAT)

Kashaf rud river is located in border zone of East Alborz and Kopet Dagh physiographic provinces in the north east Iran. Geomorphic indices are useful tools to show the neotectonic regimes. These indices have got the advantage of being calculated from Arc GIS and remote sensing packages over large area as a useful tool to identify geomorphic anomalies possibly related to active tectonics. In this research, seven geomorphic indices (stream-gradient index, valley floor width-valley height ratio, mountain-front sinuosity, drainage basin asymmetry, hypsometric integral, drainage basin shape and transverse topographic symmetry factor) were calculated along the Kashaf rud river. Then, based on a new index or modified index of active tectonics (Miat) values that calculated by average of seven geomorphic indices, relative tectonic activities levels were revealed. The low class of Miat is mainly in the sub-basins of No. 6, 10, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24 & 28 while the rest of the study area has moderate tectonic activities in the other sub-basins. Our results show that the moderate value has located along faulted area, which shows 2 class of relative tectonic activity. These faults have been formed above an old suture zone between Cimmerian and Eurasian plates.

The Formation of the Qarhan Saline Lakes as Viewed in the Light of Neotectonic Movement

Investigations on stratigraphy, geomorphology and neotectonic movement in the Eastern Kunlun Moun-tains show that there existed a series of ancient lakes, including some saline lakes. in the studied region about30,000 years ago, They were distributed south of the middle Kunlun fault. from the middle-upper reaches of thepresent Narin Gol River in the west to the Alag Lake-Tosou Lake in the east. Of these the ancient Narin GolLake and Kunlun Lake were mainly recharged by the hot water related to valcanos. so the B, Li and K con-tents are relatively high. The neotectonic movement that commenced at 30.000 a B.P. caused the river system in the EasternKunlun Mountains to invade southwards. as a result the ancient lake water was captured to recharge theQarhan area. Therefore, the hot springs related to recent volcanism and faulting on the southern bank of theupper reaches of the Narin Gol River became an important source of saline materials for the Qarhan Lake.

Evaluation of Neotectonic Signature Using Morphometric Indicators: Case Study in Nefza, North-West of Tunisia

Neotectonic activity can be deduced from stream network patterns and as an outcome of its evolution. The objective of this study is to investigate the use of the stream network morphology and morphometric methods to assess neotectonic signatures in Nefza region situated in North-West of Tunisia. For this aim, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), hydrographic layers extracted from Nefza topographic map (1/25,000), lithology and tectonic lineament parameters extracted from the geologic map (1/50,000) were used. The objective of this paper is to map structural and lithological discontinuities of the study area, by the morphostructural analysis of the topography extracted of DEM as well as the drainage anomalies. This work allowed the characterization of discontinuities of lithologic and structural origin. The previously conducted studies in the study area, confirm that is crossed by lineaments at several directions E-W, N-S, NE-SW and NW-SE. Based on the results obtained from this study regarding the correlation between tectonic and hydrographic network, we can highlight a regional rejuvenation tendency of the most mapped lineaments.

STAGES OF THE NEOTECTONIC MOVEMENT IN THE MENYUAN BASIN, QINGHAI PROVINCE

The Menyuan Basin is a structural basin located inside the Qilianshan Mountains, the northern edge of Qinghai—Tibet Plateau, the surface of which is about 3000m ASL. To the south of this basin is the Dabanshan Mountain and to the north, the Lenglongling Mountain, which are 4000m ASL.. The neotectonic movement within this area is intense and can be divided into 6 stages.1 The basic data for identifying the stages of the neotectonic movement (1) Deformation of Tertiary deposit: Of the Tertiary system, only Baiyanghe Formation exists in the studied area, distributing at the boundary and under the bottom of the basin with Quaternary deposits discontinuously overlying it. Baiyanghe Formation has been intensely offset and folded, the folding dose not appear in Quaternary deposits. Its exact age remains unknown.(2) Deformation of Quaternary deposits: Most of Quaternary deposits belong to glacial and fluvial deposits, which have been offset and uplifted or sunk by neotectonic movement.(3) Deformation of the geomorphic surfaces: In the studied area exist many types and many orders of geomorphic surfaces, including 2 orders of planation surfaces, 3 orders of glacial platforms, 3 orders of river terraces and 2 orders of alluvial fans. Their ages are dated or comparatively estimated. All of them have been offset and uplifted or subsided by neotectonic movement. They are the time scales for dividing the stages of neotectonic movement.

Seismicity and neotectonic uplift in the Augrabies Falls National Park,Namaqualand,Northern Cape,South Africa

Gneissic rocks in the Augrabies Falls National Park are part of the Proterozoic Namaqua-Natal mobile belt. Finding neotectonic evidence in old terranes is always not an easy task. In South Africa, the mid-Miocene is believed to be the beginning of neotectonics. This study investigated the occurrence and recurrence of earthquake activity, occurrence of faulting, jointing, uplift, and potholes in the gneisses cropping out around the Augrabies Falls area that may account for neotectonics. A historic seismic event obtained from the United States Geological Survey （USGS）, and seismic epicenters downloaded in October 2015 from IRIS earthquake browser and overlaid on a satellite image with digitised faults and lineaments, indicates that the area is seismically active and is a zone of seismic risk. Potholes occurring today on a dry surface at approximately 613 m above sea level are a direct conse- quence of the Griqualand-Transvaal neotectonic uplift, which generated a major fault along which water flows continuously. It is concluded that the Augrabies Falls National Park area is a zone of neotectonics. This zone should not be considered for the storage of nuclear wastes. Keywords

NEOTECTONICS ALONG THE EASTERN MARGIN OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU: INFERENCES FROM BEDROCK RIVER INCISION PATTERNS

The topographic margin of the Tibetan Plateau adjacent to the Sichuan Basin is one of the World’s most impressive continental escarpments, rising from ～600 meters in the basin to peak elevations exceeding 6km across a horizontal distance of only 50～60km. Despite this relief, recent geodetic results (King et al., 1997; Chen et al., 1999) indicate that active shortening across this margin of the plateau is <3mm/a, and is within uncertainty of zero. Recent geodynamic models for active deformation in eastern Tibet (Royden et al., 1997) explain this discrepancy as a consequence of flow of lower crust from beneath the central plateau. These models predict relatively high rates of rock uplift in the near absence of horizontal shortening. Rivers along this margin of the plateau are actively incising into bedrock and afford the opportunity to better resolve the distribution of rock uplift along the margin.

SEA LEVEL RISE OF THE ZHUJIANG RIVER DELTA AND NEOTECTONICS

A linear regression analysis of 28 selected tide-gauge stations of the Zhujiang Estuary shows that there has been a tendency of local sea level rise at a rate of 2.028 mm per year. The origin of the variation is significantly attributed to the local tectonic movement of discrepant fault-block. Based on this, four types of relative local sea level changes are classified. According to calculation, half of the fertile land, or 800 km2 of the delta plain will have been submerged by sea water by about 2040. This will yield a significant influence on the economic construction and human activities.

Possibilities of mapping neotectonic elements based on the interpretation of space images:A study of Fergana Depression

For the current geological mapping of individual territories,remote sensing and geographic information system(GIS)technologies are widely used.Taking the Fergana depression as an example,this paper aims to determine the possibilities of using remote sensing materials for mapping structural and geomorphological elements.Landsat-8 satellite imagery obtained on 11 spectral channels was used to highlight the decoding features.Fault zones,lineament zones,various uplifts,depressions,and structural material complexes of different ages were identified.Based on the in-depth analysis of geological and geophysical data,a geological schematic map of the Fergana depression was developed.Using geological landscape and automated methods for deciphering space images,the main neotectonic elements of the Fergana depression were identified:the southern step,northern marginal slope,central graben-syncline,flexurefault zones,local anticlinal zones,individual uplifts/depressions,and local shear zones.The results show a neotectonic map of the study area,which can be used as a tectonic basis for prospecting,seismic zoning mapping,and geological engineering development.

Features and mechanism of neotectonic deformation of the Xishan fault system west of Urumqi

We have made careful field investigation and trench exploration to the Xishan fault system in west of Urumqi, and an integrated analysis in conjunction with data of deep seismic sounding. Our result suggests that under the SN-oriented compressive stress, the Xishan block moves steadily toward the Tianshan Mountains in south, resulting in southward thrust-slip and crustal shortening, particularly the southward thrust of the Xishan fault which serves as the main boundary in south. North of the Xishan fault are the Wangjiagou fault and Jiujiawan fault which are the secondary faults associated with the Xishan fault in generation. Both faults have slippage along horizons during the uplift of the Xishan block, and the Jiujiawan fault has also a component of normal faulting due to the influence of the Bogeda nappe structure. These two faults accommodate the fold deformation of the hanging wall of the Xishan fault, thus the Xishan fault-bounded swell is characterized by monocline. All secondary faults of the Xishan fault system constitute a common seismogenic structural system, so that their seismic hazards should be considered in an equal manner.

NEW PROGRESS ON THE STUDY OF NEOTECTONIC MOVEMENT ON THE NORTHWESTERN TIBETAN PLATEAU

Various data obtained from Karakorum-West Kunlun Mts in recent years showed that the northem Tibetan Plateau has been intensely uplifted since early Pleistocene and it is being in a violent rising stage. A total amplitude is estimated to be about 3100~3600 m which is similar to the Himalayas. Mean annual uplift rate along the Yecheng-Shiquanhe highway is computed to be 4.2 mma-1, and the highest rate, 8 mma-1 and 9 mma-1 appears in the Karakorum and on the northem flank of West Kunlun Mts. Recent investigntions along the Faults of the Altyn-Tagh and the Karakorum showed that these faults are very active in Holocene time in features of lateral slip (hundreds of metres) and vertical displacemat (several to dozens metres).According to the results of study on Cenozoic volcanism in the Kunlun Mts, the Quatemary volcanic eruptions are responsive to the southward intraplate subduction from the Tarim Basin which infers that on-going mantle delamination and decollement conpensation melt may exist beneath the northem Tibetan Plateau.

Magnetic fabric and geomorphic characteristic of Neotectonic activity along strike direction of North Almora Thrust,Kumaun Lesser Himalaya,India

Structurally,the North Almora Thrust(NAT),is placed in the northern proximity of the Almora Nappe(AN)in the Kumaun Lesser Himalaya.The NAT is characterized by the presence of a zone of mylonitic rocks of basal Saryu Formation(1800±100 Ma)in the hanging wall and the metasedimentaries of Inner Lesser Himalayan rocks as the footwall block.The NAT has been dextrally offset by two estabilished maj or faults i.e.Saryu River Fault(SRF)in Saryu Valley and Dwarahat-Chaukhutia Fault(DCF)in Ramganga valley.In present study,we identified four new faults,based on field study,geomorphic landform and magnetic fabric analysis.These faults are N-S trending Pancheshwar Fault,NE-SW Rameshwer Fault,NNE-SSW trending Kosi Fault,and NNE-SSW trending Gagas Fault(GF).Our results show that the zone is bound by cross cutting relation with NAT and these fault zones are comparatively more active than other regions.Furthermore,we suggest that the steep and NW-SE orientation of magnetic foliation within the NAT zone is a result of NE-SW oriented progressive regional compression.The magnetic foliations represent the unseen internal foliations in the rocks developed due to preferred alignment of magnetic minerals and can be found through the Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility(AMS)study.Variation in the alignment of the field and magnetic foliations are developed due to superimposed brittle deformation along the faults over the pre-existing field foliations.Magnetic foliations represent the impact of last stage deformation and significant to find brittle deformation and finite strain in the rocks of the study area.The lowering of anisotropy(Pj)away from the fault zone represents distribution of strain across the NAT zone.AMS fabric confirms the presence of faults developed across the NAT zone and also explains the deformation pattern along these faults.The geomorphic anomalies and steepness changes across the NAT zone are correlated with active deformation along the NAT and associated transverse faults.

Morphometric Analysis of Kakoi River Watershed for Study of Neotectonic Activity Using Geospatial Technology

Morphometric analysis is defined as the quantitative measurement of landscape shape. Morphometric studies of a watershed helps the researcher to compare different landform and calculate the geomorphic indices that may be useful for identifying a particular characteristic such as the level of neotectonic activity in a watershed. The present study has been carried out in Kakoi River Watershed which is a part of Lower Subansiri River Basin in Assam. The study area is geo-dynamically unstable region characterized by active faults, continuing crustal movements and complicated structural region which fall under the seismic zone V of India. In recent century, the Lower Suabsiri River Basin has gone tremendous morphological changes due to active tectonics activities. After the Assam Earthquake of 1950, some of the rivers like Subansiri and its tributaries Dirgha, Kadam and Kakoi suddenly changed their channels giving birth to new channels. The present study is to examine the neotectonic domains and the changes of river course. The geomorphic indices such as Hypsometric Integral (HI), Elongation ratio (Re), Asymmetry Factor (AF), Stream-length Gradient Index (SI), Mountain Front Sinuosity (Mfs), Basin shape index (Bs), Ratio of Valley floor width to Valley Height (Vf) and Channel sinuosity (S) etc. have been studied from remote sensing data. The results shows that the study area is under active tectonic area based on Vf (0.301), Rl (0.461), Bs (3.6), Sl (165.73) and other parameters such as S (1.38) and Mfs (2.02) indicated as moderate active tectonic region. Utilization of geospatial technology and remote sensing data in the present study becomes more reliable and helpful in analyzing, monitoring and understanding the landform changes in a watershed.

Neotectonic Evidences of Rejuvenation in KaurikChango Fault Zone, Northwestern Himalaya

Neotectonic investigations using morphotectonic parameters such as basin asymmetry, drainage anomalies, digital data interpretation and geomorphic field evidences were carried out in Satluj river valley downstream of Khab in the Kaurik Chango Fault (KCF) zone. The study reveals the presence of a northsouth trending fault which is similar to the KCF. Unpaired, tilted terraces, V shaped valleys, deep gorges and lakes are the manifestations of fault movement in the area. Presence of deformation structures preserved in the palaeolake profile at Morang indicates that the area has also been seismically active in the past. In this paper we present a conceptual model of the formation of lakes in KCF zone. Morphometric analysis was carried out with the help of Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) and field investigations.

The relationship between the earthquakes of Ningbo area and the Neotectonic movement

On the basis of analysis of historic earthquakes, seismicity, Neotectonics and fault activity in Ningbo area, we estimate its seismotectonic environment and evaluate its seismic risk. This study gives an example of engineering seismology in weak seismicity areas of the eastern part of China.