The geological structure background and the crustal structure in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau

The geological structure background, the crustal structure and the shape of Moho in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau are studied. Based on artificial seismic sounding profile as well as geological data. The main results are summarized as follows: (1) The geotectonic subdivisions and the characteristics of main deep and large faults in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau are presented; (2) The general features of the Moho are obtained mainly based on artificial seismic sounding data; (3) There exists well corresponding relation between surface faults and some features of the Moho, which suggests that such complex crustal structure might be the preparation environment of strong earthquakes.

Numerical simulation of temporal and spatial evolution of fold-thrust belts in the northern and northeastern margins of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Fold-thrust belts are common structural styles under the background of long-term regional tectonic shortening.The northern and northeastern margins of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are located on the edge of the growth and expansion of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.Since nearly 10 Ma,some significant and typical fold thrust belt have been formed.The spatial-temporal evolution of these fold-thrust belts and the characteristics of surface deformations are significant issues in geodynamics.In this paper,we use the elastoplastic finite element model with considering the contact nonlinearity to study the spatialtemporal evolution of the fold-thrust belts in the northern and northeastern margins of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,with particular attention to the details of the relationship between the depth and the shallow,the spatialtemporal order,and the characteristics of the surface deformation,etc.,in order to make a relatively complete mechanical interpretation of the spatial-temporal evolution of the foldthrust belts in the northern and northeastern margins of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from the perspective of geodynamics.

Investigation of plateau basin crustal structures and thickening mechanisms in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau

This paper uses deep seismic sounding （DSS） data to contrast and analyze the crustal structures of three plateau basins （Songpan-Garze, Qaidam, Longzhong） in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang （Tibetan） plateau, as well as two stable cratonic basins （Ordos, Sichuan） in its peripheral areas. Plateau basin crustal structures, lithological variations and crustal thickening mechanisms were investigated. The results show that, compared to the peripheral stable cratonic basins, the crystalline crusts of plateau basins in the northeastern margin are up to 10 15 km thicker, and the relative medium velocity difference is about 5% less. The medium velocity change in crustal layers of plateau basin indicates that the upper crust undergoes brittle deformation, whereas the lower crust deforms plastically with low velocity. The middle crust shows a brittle-to-plastic transition zone in this region. Thickening in the lower crust （about 5 10 km）, and rheological characteristics that show low- medium velocity （relatively reduced by 7%）, suggest that crustal thickening mainly takes place in lower crust in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. The crust along the northeastern margin shows evidence of wholesale block movement, and crustal shortening and thickening seem to be the main deformation features of this region. The GPS data show that the block motion modes and crustal thickening in the Tibetan plateau is closely related to the peripheral tectonic stress field and motion direction of the Indian plate. The Mani-Yushu- Xianshuihe fold belt along the boundary between the Qiangtang block and the Bayan Har block divides the different plateau thickening tectonic environments into the middle-western plateau, the northeastern margin and the southeastern plateau.

Formation and Evolution of the Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic Ruo'ergai Basin,Northeastern Margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Middle Triassic Ladinian-Upper Triassic Norian series in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Ruo’ergai basin of Songpan area is characterized of large thick shallow marine-deep marine fine grained clastic.The strata are regionally unconformable between each adjacent two of the Middle-Late Triassic fine grained clastic,the Jurassic coal-containing clastic,the Cretaceous-Paleogene variegated coarse clastic。

Modeling the Dynamic Gravity Variations of Northeastern Margin of Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau by Using Bicubic Spline Interpolation Function

In this paper, the spatial-temporal gravity variation patterns of the northeastern margin of Qinghal-Xizang （Tibet） Plateau in 1992 - 2001 are modeled using bicubic spline interpolation functions and the relations of gravity change with seismicity and tectonic movement are discussed preliminarily. The results show as follows： ① Regional gravitational field changes regularly and the gravity abnormity zone or gravity concentration zone appears in the earthquake preparation process; ②In the significant time period, the gravity variation shows different features in the northwest, southeast and northeast parts of the surveyed region respectively, with Lanzhou as its boundary;③The gravity variation distribution is basically identical to the strike of tectonic fault zone of the region, and the contour of gravity variation is closely related to the fault distribution.

Seismic Strain Energy Release of Active Faults in the Southeastern Margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Using the methods of the Gutenberg magnitude energy empirical formula and the Benioff seismic strain energy release curve,we make a systematic study on seismic strain energy release of historical earthquakes in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau since 1500.This paper provides a periodic table of the earthquake strain energy release in the fault zones and the fault block areas.The study shows that seismic strain energy release is strong in the east and south,and weak in the west and north.The overall seismic strain energy release of the Yushu-Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system is consistent with the quasi-periodic pattern.The seismic cycle of some fault zones and fault block areas shows synchronization to a certain extent.The risk cannot be ignored in the current large release period of seismic strain energy in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.Local seismic risk analysis shows that seismic risk is very high on the Anninghe-Zemuhe and Xiaojiang fault zones.These dangerous zones need follow-up research.In future,it is necessary to combine different research methods to improve the reliability of seismic risk assessment.

Gravity evidence of underplating in the northeastern margin area of Qinghai-Tibet plateau

Based on leveling data in 1972 -2011 and relative-gravity data in 1993 -2011, we obtained a longterm vertical crustal-deformation rate of 1.62mm/a and a relative-gravity variation rate of 0.62 × 10^-8 ms^-2a^-1 for the northeastern margin area of Qinghai-Tibet plateau. After removing the contributions from the observed vertical movement and inferred surface denudation, we obtain a gravity-variation rate of 0.73 × 10^-8 ms^-2a^-1 attributable to the mass changes beneath the crust. This positive change suggests that the total mass under the observation stations was gradually increasing. We consider this result to be the gravitational evidence of underplating beneath the study area, and propose that the underplating was caused by collision betwen the Indian plate and Tibetan plateau and by gravitation-potential induced deviatoric stress.

Moho反射波噪声干涉方法及其在青藏高原东北缘地壳结构成像的应用初探

基于南北地震带北段布设的密集流动地震台阵的连续波形记录,采用台阵噪声干涉技术获得了青藏高原东北缘Moho面PmP反射波,利用已有的区域三维地壳速度模型,采用沉积层校正方法建立研究区域的三维地壳初始模型,进而对噪声互相关函数进行基准面校正,然后采用共中心点叠加方法获得了研究区的地壳厚度分布.结果显示,青藏高原东北缘及周边不同块体地壳厚度差异显著,沿青藏高原北东向的扩展方向,地壳厚度逐渐变薄.祁连造山带中、西段地壳厚度约55~65 km,西秦岭造山带地壳厚度从西至东从53 km左右减小至42 km上下,阿拉善块体地壳厚度约50 km,鄂尔多斯块体西缘地壳厚度约40~45 km.六盘山断裂、海原断裂与天景山断裂附近呈现局部的地壳增厚,并且出现脉冲状Moho面反射震相,表明断裂带附近可能存在速度跃变较大的Moho面结构.祁连山北缘断裂出现叠置的反射震相,推测下地壳的逆冲形成了此类Moho结构.

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.

华北克拉通中西部及周边地区瑞利面波相速度方位各向异性

利用“中国科学台阵探测”项目的密集流动台站以及区域固定台站的地震面波记录,采用程函面波成像方法,得到了华北克拉通中西部及周边地区14~100 s周期高分辨率的瑞利面波相速度方位各向异性分布图像.结果显示,鄂尔多斯块体内部中长周期(20~100 s)为大范围高速和弱各向异性分布特征,但在块体西南部区域各向异性明显增强,向东可一直延伸至108°E附近.我们认为,受青藏高原影响,鄂尔多斯块体西南部岩石圈已发生明显变形,高原扩张对鄂尔多斯块体的影响超出了止于六盘山逆冲推覆带的传统认识.在鄂尔多斯块体内部,长周期(80~100 s)的相速度显示高速区向中部和东南部区域收缩,各向异性强度在高速区外围明显增强,揭示了块体边界带的岩石圈在后期构造活动过程中已遭受不同程度的变形改造,厚度发生了不同程度的减薄.山西断陷带北部大同火山区附近,在20 s以上周期为显著低速异常,不同周期段各向异性存在明显差异,我们推测该区不同深度的各向异性差异与鄂尔多斯块体东北部岩石圈不同深度的几何形态以及青藏高原远程挤压效应有关.山西断陷带中南部区域,在20~60 s周期显示高速和近EW向快波方向,与鄂尔多斯块体中东部高速区具有较好的连续性,认为该区岩石圈仍保留部分原有华北克拉通岩石圈的属性.青藏高原东北缘地区不同周期相速度表现为明显的低速异常,快波方向呈现较为一致的NWW-SEE向分布特征,揭示了在高原下方壳幔介质变形连续一致,符合岩石圈垂直连贯变形模式.

2023年12月18日甘肃省积石山6.2级地震的控震构造及特征

2023年12月18日23时59分在甘肃省临夏州积石山县发生6.2级地震,造成了严重人员伤亡,及时了解此次地震的发震构造及其特征,对于分析区域未来强震危险性具有重要意义。综合区域地震构造、地质、震源机制、地震烈度和余震重定位等资料,对此次地震的控震构造及特征进行综合分析后认为,此次强震是发生在西宁—兰州断块内部的一次北北西向逆冲断层作用事件,距震中最近的拉脊山逆冲断裂带构成了此次地震的控震构造。该断裂带处于北西向日月山右旋走滑断层与北西西向西秦岭北缘左旋走滑断层交汇部位,整体呈北西至北北西向弧形展布,包含了南缘与北缘两条倾向相反的分支断裂带。震中位置、余震及烈度分布等数据指示此次地震的具体发震断层为拉脊山北缘逆冲断裂带南段的东支断层带,余震分布和极震区范围等符合逆断层型地震的上盘效应特征,但是否引起同震地表变形,还需进一步的现场调查确定。综合研究认为,此次积石山地震是在印度与欧亚板块持续陆陆碰撞作用下,青藏高原东北缘的西宁—兰州断块沿海原左旋走滑断裂向东侧向滑移过程中,在北东向挤压构造应力场下,引发日月山断层与西秦岭北缘断层构成的区域共扼走滑断裂系交汇挤压部位发生逆断层活动的结果。此次强震进一步指示青藏高原东缘的向东挤出构造体系仍是近年来我国陆内强震活动的主要控震构造,并警示应重视活断层相对发育的断块内部城镇密集区的强震灾害风险。

柴北缘骆驼泉剖面新生代地层磁组构特征及其构造意义

青藏高原东北部新生代构造演化对理解高原隆升和变形模式具有重要意义,而目前对于该地区挤压应力方向转变过程仍存在很大争议.本文对柴北缘逆冲带北西部骆驼泉剖面新生代地层开展系统磁组构(本文特指磁化率各项异性)研究,以揭示该地区挤压应力方向的转变特征.系统岩石磁学结果表明,骆驼泉剖面新生代样品中主要磁性矿物是顺磁性组分和赤铁矿以及少量磁铁矿.通过对磁组构特征分析及其与古水流方向对比表明,骆驼泉剖面新生代地层磁组构主要为初始变形磁组构,可用于指示沉积成岩时期的挤压应力方向.磁组构结果揭示,骆驼泉地区挤压应力方向在上干柴沟组下部沉积时期为NNE-SSW向,而上干柴沟组上部和油砂山组沉积时期转变为NE-SW向.结合柴北缘逆冲带已有磁组构结果指出,该地区早期N-S向或NNE-SSW向挤压应力可能与印度—欧亚板块早新生代以来近N-S向碰撞挤压过程有关,指示印度—欧亚碰撞的挤压应力自下干柴沟组下部沉积时期就已传播至高原东北部地区;而后期NE-SW向挤压应力方向与该地区现今GPS揭示的上地壳运动方向一致,可能与该时段高原东北部巨型走滑断裂构造体系(尤其是阿尔金断裂)有关.此外,柴北缘逆冲带新生代挤压应力方向转变在其北西部起始于上干柴沟组下部沉积时期,而南东部起始于上油砂山组下部沉积时期,与地震反射剖面揭示的断裂活动等地质证据共同揭示柴北缘逆冲带新生代的构造活动自靠近阿尔金断裂的北西部向南东部传播和扩展.综合分析青藏高原东北部地区挤压应力方向转变和其他地质证据发现,挤压应力方向转变显示出自柴北缘逆冲带北西部向东、西和南向扩展特征,与阿尔金断裂在上干柴沟组下部-上油砂山组下部沉积时期剪切应力集中于断裂本身,而上油砂山组下部沉积以来开始散布于高原东北部内部地区的两阶段走滑活动相关.

基于背景噪声成像研究海原—六盘山地区地壳三维速度结构及其构造意义

海原—六盘山地区地处青藏高原东北缘,是青藏块体东北向挤压的前缘地带,地质构造活动活跃,历史上曾发生过多次7级以上地震.但该区域已多年未发生6级以上强震,是一个具有发生强震危险性的地震空区.精细的速度结构能够为认识海原—六盘山地区的构造活动性和地震危险性提供帮助.本文以布设在该区域的50个流动台站和38个固定台站为基础,提取Rayleigh波相速度频散曲线,通过面波直接成像方法获得了研究区地壳三维精细横波速度结构,再结合区域2010年至2023年地震精定位的结果,得到以下认识:(1)研究区以海原—六盘山断裂为分界线,东西两侧结构差异显著.东侧鄂尔多斯块体浅部以大范围的低速沉积层为主,对应较低的地震活动性;西侧为高速异常,对应较高的地震活动性.(2)精定位结果显示,大部分地震发生在高低速异常体边界线上,分布特征与地表构造单元表现出较好的一致性.(3)六盘山和鄂尔多斯西缘靠近西秦岭北缘断裂带呈现明显的高速异常,推测该区域地处祁连造山带,反映了深部致密的基底结晶.(4)海原—六盘山地区的地壳厚度自南西向北东逐渐减薄,且在本研究区域的中下地壳未发现低速异常体“通道”.

青藏高原东北缘清水河流域地貌特征及其构造意义

新生代以来,受印度板块与欧亚板块剧烈碰撞汇聚的影响,青藏高原快速隆起,其构造变形不断向北东扩展、挤出,造就了清水河流域及其周缘独特的构造地貌格局。通过对清水河流域构造地貌的研究,可以揭示新生代晚期以来青藏高原东北缘变形机制和地貌演化过程。本文基于30 m分辨率DEM数据,利用ArcGIS 10.2软件对清水河流域地貌参数进行提取,精确计算了22条子流域的河长坡降指标(SL)及Hack剖面、面积-高程积分(HI)、流域不对称度(AF)以及盆地延伸率(Re)这4种地貌形态指数,定量获取了清水河流域的地貌形态特征,再结合4个参数求得各子流域的相对活动构造指数(Iat),对研究区的相对构造活动性程度进行分析。得到以下结论:(1)研究区SL值分布在70.1~353.9之间,表明整个流域内构造活动性存在区域差异且整体活动变形程度较高;(2)受海原断裂带和香山-天景山断裂带的影响,研究区西岸流域HI和AF指数的平均值大于东岸,Re指数的平均值小于东岸,表明西岸构造活动性大于东岸;(3)研究区相对活动构造指数(Iat)处于第一、二级的面积达到80%,主要分布在西岸,表明整个流域的构造活动性强烈,且展现由东向西活动性逐渐增强的趋势。同时结合相关地质资料综合评估流域构造活动状态,并据此对河流发育阶段以及构造运动进行分析。

六盘山地区新生代构造演化:来自锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹的证据

青藏高原的隆升与扩展不仅导致欧亚大陆内部发生强烈的构造变形,亦对高原周缘的地貌格局及气候变化产生了重大影响.青藏高原东北缘新生代以来的隆升时代与响应过程一直备受争议,而界定青藏高原东北缘构造带隆升时序是解决争议的关键之一.本研究围绕青藏高原东北缘,在陇中盆地、六盘山褶皱逆冲带和鄂尔多斯地块西南缘地区进行了磷灰石和锆石裂变径迹测试分析和热史模拟.测试分析结果表明研究区样品的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄范围分布于136~16 Ma,裂变径迹的长度范围介于11.9~13.3μm;锆石裂变径迹年龄结果为258~79 Ma,但多数样品的年龄介于160~99 Ma;热史模拟结果揭示了研究区新生代以来至少经历了两期隆升和冷却降温事件,即始新世期间(55~30 Ma)和中中新世(17~12 Ma)以来.始新世期间(55~30 Ma)发生的隆升事件可能是印度大陆与欧亚大陆陆陆碰撞远程效应的直接响应,表明印度与欧亚大陆碰撞之初或不久,其应力即已传导至东北缘边界;中中新世(17~12 Ma)以来的隆升剥露冷却事件奠定了青藏高原东北缘现今构造格局.

基于“人与生物圈”保护理念的甘肃兴隆山保护区管理有效性评估

自然保护地管理有效性评估是实现保护目标的重要手段。基于管理、生态和社会经济等多维度进行的自然保护地管理有效性评估有助于优化自然保护地的设计和管理,从而满足不断发展的需求。基于世界生物圈保护区十年评估构建自然保护地管理有效性评估框架及指标体系,以青藏高原东北缘的甘肃兴隆山国家级自然保护区为研究对象开展了管理有效性评估及分析。结果表明,兴隆山自然保护区管理有效性评分为82.68分,其管理有效性较高,但仍存在需要改进的问题。在管理基础、生态有效性、保护职能、发展职能和治理职能5项评估内容中,保护职能得分率最高(89.12%),发展职能得分率最低(78.72%)。护林员对基础设施与人员配置的评分显著较低;周边社区对经济发展、社区治理等指标评分显著较低。兴隆山自然保护区的管理主要存在资金保障问题,其管理实践受预算限制且收入与创收能力均较低,社区治理发展程度较低,科研能力和性别平等方面也存在不足。在未来的自然保护地管理中,建议兴隆山自然保护区等青藏高原东北缘区域的自然保护地加强社区治理、扩大资金来源、并积极建立自然保护地网络,政府也应从未来资金方面提供自然保护地与科研单位建立长期合作关系的支持,切实提高保护水平与管理有效性。

Crustal structure of northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau by receiver function inversion

Using seismic data of about one year recorded by 18 broadband stations of ASCENT project, we obtained 2547 receiver func- tions in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The Moho depths under 14 stations were calculated by applying the H-x domain search algorithm. The Moho depths under the stations with lower signal-noise ratio （SNR） were estimated by the time delay of the PS conversion. Results show that the Moho depth varies in a range of -40--60 kin. The Moho near the Haiyuan fault is vague, and its depth is larger than those on its two sides. In the Qinling-Qilian Block, the Moho becomes shallower gradually from west to east. To the east of 105~E, the average depth of the Moho is 45 km, whereas the west is 50 km or even deeper. Combining our results with surface wave research, we suggest a boundary between the Qinling and the Qilian Mountains at around 105~E. S wave velocities beneath 15 stations have been obtained through a linear inversion by using Crust2.0 as an ini- tial model, and the crustal thickness that was derived by H-x domain search algorithm was also taken into account. The results are very similar to the results of previous active source studies. The resulting figure indicates that low velocity layers devel- oped in the middle and lower crust beneath the transition zone of the Tibet Block and western Qinling, which may be related to regional faults and deep earth dynamics. The velocity of the middle and lower crust increases from the Songpan Block to the northeastern margin of Tibetan Plateau. Based on the velocity of the crust, the distribution of the low velocity zone and the composition of the curst （Poisson＇s ratio）, we infer that the crust thickening results from the crust shortening along the direc- tion of compression.

Influence of mantle convection to the crustal movement pattern in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau based on numerical simulation

Based on the recent observations about the movement and rheological structure of the lithosphere and deformation pattern of the crust, we developed a three-dimensional finite element model for the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.The model considered the impacts of both external and internal conditions, including mantle convection, gravitational potential energy and block interactions. We compared the simulated surface movement rates to the observed GPS velocities, and the results revealed that crustal movement gradually decreased toward the edge of the plateau. The factors controlling this pattern are the interactions of adjacent blocks, gravitational potential energy of the plateau, and also mantle convection as well. Additionally,according to the observation that there was an apparent difference between the horizontal movement rate of the lithosphere and convective velocity of the underlying mantle, and also based on the results of seismic anisotropy studies that suggest different strengths and deformation regimes of the lithosphere in different tectonic blocks, we proposed that the impact of mantle convection on the lithosphere may have varied in space, and introduced a parameter named mantle convection intensity factor in numerical simulations. Our simulation results show consistent surface movement rates with GPS observations, which further supports the viewpoint of seismic anisotropy studies, i.e., the degree of coupling between the crust and mantle varies significantly among different blocks.

Dextral strike-slip of Sanguankou-Niushoushan fault zone and extension of arc tectonic belt in the northeastern margin of the Tibet Plateau

The kinematic characteristics of the Sanguankou-Niushoushan fault（SGK-NSSF） are of great significance to the understanding of the extension of the arc tectonic belt in the northeastern margin of the Tibet Plateau. Using field surveys and various data collection methods, including large-scale geological mapping, measurement of typical topographies, and dating of sedimentary strata, it was determined that the SGK-NSSF exhibits obvious dextral strike-slip characteristics and thus is not a sinistral strike-slip fault, as believed by previous researchers. The results of this study show that the geological boundaries for the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras were all dextrally dislocated by the fault, with the faulted displacements being similar. The maximum strike-slip displacement of the fault, after elimination of topographic effects, was found to be 961±6 m. The Sanguankou fault at the northern section exhibits obvious characteristics of more recent activities, with a series of small gullies having undergone synchronized dextral writhing after traversing the fault. The average horizontal slip rate of the fault since the late Quaternary was determined to be approximately 0.35 mm/a. The pre-existing fold structures formed during the late Pliocene were dislocated by the fault and became ex situ, indicating that dextral strike-slip of the fault could not have occurred prior to the late Pliocene. The maximum displacements and average slip rates were used to estimate the onset time of the dextral strike-slip activities of the fault as being after 2.7 Ma. In this study, the understanding of previous researchers concerning the extension in the northeastern margin of the Tibet Plateau was combined with analyses of the successive relationships between fold deformations and fault activities. This led to the finding that the extension in the northeastern margin of the Tibet Plateau reached the vicinity of the SGK-NSSF during the late Pliocene（~2.7 Ma）, causing regional uplift and fold deformations of the strata there. During the early Quaternary, the northeastern compression of the Tibet Plateau and the counterclockwise rotation of the Ordos block collectively resulted in the dextral strike-slip activities of the SGK-NSSF. This then formed the foremost margin of the arc tectonic belt extension in the northeastern margin of the Tibet Plateau.

Numerical simulation of tectonic stress and strain rate fields in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau in association with major fault zones

A series of large strike-slip and thrust faults have developed in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau since the Late Cenozoic,with strong and active tectonic activity and frequent occurrences of large earthquakes.Modulation of regional tectonic stress distribution,strain fields,and seismic hazards has not been well studied.This study introduces a three-dimensional viscoelastic finite element numerical model to calculate crustal stress and strain rate fields under current tectonic loading.The preliminary results show that the direction of the horizontal principal compressive stress rate and compressive horizontal principal strain rate in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau rotate clockwise as a whole,and this rotation is more significant in the southeast direction because of the block of the Alxa and the Ordos blocks.The NE-SW horizontal principal compressive stress rate and SE horizontal tensile stress rate dominate the entire study region.The maximum value of the horizontal principal compressive strain rate at a depth of 0 km in the model is approximately 4×10^(-8)yr^(-1)near the East Kunlun fault and is smaller in the stable Alxa and Ordos blocks at approximately 1×10^(-8)yr^(-1).The calculated regional stress state is in good agreement with the actual focal mechanism solution,indicating that strike-slip and thrust stress fields dominate the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.The Altyn Tagh,East Kunlun,and Haiyuan faults demonstrate that the maximum shear strain rate gradually decreases eastward,and the decrease in the maximum shear strain rate value is absorbed by orogenic uplift and crustal shortening at its boundaries.The western section of the Altyn Tagh fault,west-to-middle sections of the East Kunlun fault,and west-to-middle sections of the Haiyuan fault will have high seismic hazards in the future.