Neotectonics of the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau: New Geological Evidence for the Change from Early Pleistocene Transpression to Late Pleistocene-Holocene Strike-slip Faulting

We present in this paper some new evidence for the change during the Quaternary in kinematics of faults cutting the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. It shows that significant shortening deformation occurred during the Early Pleistocene, evidenced by eastward thrusting of Mesozoic carbonates on the Pliocene lacustrine deposits along the Minjiang upstream fault zone and by development of the transpressional ridges of basement rocks along the Anninghe river valley. The Middle Pleistocene seems to be a relaxant stage with local development of the intra-mountain basins particularly prominent along the Minjiang Upstream and along the southern segment of the Anninghe River Valley. This relaxation may have been duo to a local collapse of the thickened crust attained during the late Neogene to early Pleistocene across this marginal zone. Fault kinematics has been changed since the late Pleistocene, and was predominated by reverse sinistral strike-slip along the Minshan Uplift, reverse dextral strike-slip on the Longmenshan fault zone and pure sinistral strike-slip on the Anninghe fault. This change in fault kinematics during the Quaternary allows a better understanding of the mechanism by which the marginal ranges of the plateau has been built through episodic activities.

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

A quantitative research for present-time crustal motion in Fujian Province, China and its marginal sea── Synthetical analysis of GPS measurement, fault deformation survey, leveling and focal mechanism solution

Based on the Chinese mainland GPS network (1994~1996), Fujian GPS network (1995~1997), cross fault deformation network (1982-1998), precise leveling network (1973~1980) and focal mechanism solutions of the recent several tens years, we synthetically and quantitatively studied the present-time crustal motion of the southeast coast of Chinese mainland-Fujian and its marginal sea. We find that this area with its mainland together moves toward SE with a rather constant velocity of 11 .2±3.0 mm/a. At the same time, there is a motion from the Quanzhou bay pointing to hinterland, with a major orientation of NW, extending toward two sides, and with an average velocity of 3.0±2.6 mm/a. The faults orienting NE show compressing motions, and the ones orienting NW show extending motions. The present-time strain field derived from crustal deformation is consistent with seismic stress field derived from the focal mechanism solutions and the tectonic stress field derived from geology data. The principal stress of compression orients NW (NWW) - SE (SEE). Demarcated by the NW orienting faults of the Quanzhou bay and Jinjiang-Yongan, the crustal motions show regional characteristics f the southwest of Fujian and the boundary of Fujian and Guangdong are areas of rising, the northeast of Fujian are areas of sinking. The horizontal strain rate and the fault motion of the former are both greater than the later. The side-transferring motion of Hymalaya collision zone and the compression of the west pacific subduction zone affect the motion of the research area. The amount of motion affected by the former is larger than the later, but the former is homogeneous and the later is not, which indicates that the events of strong earthquakes in this region relate more directly with western pacific subduction zone.

Tectonic Phase Separation Applied to the Sudetic Marginal Fault Zone(NE part of the Czech Republic)

This study emphasizes the advantage of tectonic phase separation in determination of a tectonic evolution of complicated fault zones. The research focused on the Sudetic Marginal Fault Zone(SMFZ) –a 250 km long active fault zone with documented intraplate seismicity situated on the NE margin of the Bohemian Massif(the Czech Republic). The tectonic history of the SMFZ as well as its kinematic development has been rather complicated and not quite understood. A field structural investigation was carried out in extensive surroundings of the fault zone. The fault-slip data were collected in a number of natural outcrops and quarries with the aim at establishing a robust and field-constrained model for local brittle structural evolution of the studied area. A paleostress analysis was calculated using the collected fault-slip data inversion. The T-Tecto software was utilized for semiautomatic separation of the paleostress phases. Simultaneously three methods of data separation were employed:(1) the Gauss inverse method,(2) the Visualization of Gauss object Function, and(3) the frequency analysis. Within the fault zone multiphase movements were observed on various types of faults as well as wide range of the kinematic indicators orientations. The frequency analysis confirmed the multiphase history of the SMFZ. The calculated tectonic phases were divided according to their relative age as constrained by cross cutting relationships and, where observed, multiple striations on a single fault plane and classified from the oldest to the younger. Data separation and inversion usingT-Tecto software with the Gauss inverse method revealed four different stress phases which are 3 strike-slip stress regimes and one compressional regime. The strike-slip regimes are characterized by σ1 trending NW-SE(43), NNE-SSW(18), ENE-WSW(76) and the compressional one by σ1 trending W-E(26). First, compression occurred parallel to the SMFZ supposedly during the Variscan period. Second, compression at an angle of 60° to general direction of the SMFZ yielded right-lateral movement along the fault zone. This is considered to have occurred during the late-Variscan and post-Variscan period. Third, compression in the W-E direction with almost vertical extension led to reverse movement along the fault zone. This is considered to have occurred during Cenozoic. Fourth, compression almost perpendicular to the SMFZ led to left-lateral transpression along the SMFZ. This is considered to have occurred during Quaternary.

Fault activity characteristics in the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau before the Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake

Fault deformation characteristics in the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau before the Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake are investigated through time-series and structural geological analysis based on cross-fault observation data from the Qilian Mountain-Haiyuan Fault belt and the West Qinling Fault belt. The results indicate： 1） Group short-term abnormal variations appeared in the Qilian Mountain-Haiyuan Fault belt and the West Qinling Fault belt before the Menyuan Ms6.4 earthquake. 2） More medium and short-term anomalies appear in the middle-eastern segment of the Qilian Mountain Fault belt and the West Qinling Fault belt, suggesting that the faults＇ activities are strong in these areas. The faults＇ activities in the middle-eastern segment of the Qilian Fault belt result from extensional stress, as before the earthquake, whereas those in the West Qinling Fault belt are mainly compressional. 3） In recent years, moderate-strong earthquakes occurred in both the Kunlun Mountain and the Qilian Mountain Fault belts, and some energy was released. It is possible that the seismicity moved eastward under this regime. Therefore, we should pay attention to the West Qinling Mountain area where an Ms6-7 earthquake could occur in future.

Terraces and Tectonic Uplifts at Yandantu and Changcaogou on the Northern Margin Fault of Altun

The formation of strath and strath terrace is closely related to tectonic uplift in the drainage basin. Based on the investigation of straths at Yandantu and Changcaogou on the eastern segment of the northern margin fault of Altun, and in combination with the paleoclimatic data, the tectonic uplift since late Epipleistocene as revealed by stream terraces at the two places is discussed. At Yandantu, three levels of stream terraces(T 1, T 2 and T 3)have developed since 16ka BP, where T 1, T 3 and T 2 are fill terraces and the buried major straths are exposed. The ages of three treads are dated to be about 16.1ka BP, 12.8ka BP and 6.2ka BP, respectively. The three terraces reflect three tectonic uplift events, while the ages of the treads represent the occurrence time of these events. The stream is still beveling the bedrock and widening the channel at present, and the modern strath is being generated. The uplift rate is 4.8～4.5mm/a since 16.1 ka BP in this area. From 12.8ka B.P to 6.2ka BP, The uplift rate was 6.4mm/a. The uplift rate is 3.1mm/a since 6.2ka BP. At Changcaogou, four levels of stream terraces(T 1, T 2, T 3 and T 1′)have developed since 7ka BP. All of them are fill terraces. There are buried straths under the deposits. The buried major strath is exposed on T 3 and T 2 and the minor strath on T 1′and T 1. The ages of treads of the three terraces (T 3, T 2 and T 1′) are 7 ka BP, 3 ka BP and 2.5 ka BP, respectively. The four terraces reflect two uplift events induced by tectonic activities. One occurred in about 7 ka BP, and the other in 3ka BP. The uplift rate is 5.9mm/a since 7.0 ka BP at Changcaogou. From 7ka BP to 3ka BP, the uplift rate was 7.0mm/a, and since 3ka BP till now, the uplift rate is 4.7 mm/a.

The Research of the Activity of the Piedmont Fault on the Tangshankou Segment of the Yuguang Basin Southern Marginal Fault

The Yuguang basin is a half-graben basin in the basin-range tectonic zone in northwest Beijing,located at the northern end of the Shanxi graben system,and the Yuguang basin southern marginal fault( YBSMF) controls the formation of this basin. A linear fault escarpment has formed in the proluvial fan on the piedmont fault zone of the Tangshankou segment of YBSMF. A trench across this escarpment reveals three paleo-earthquake events on two active faults. One fault ruptured at about 9 ka for the first time,and then faulted again at about 7. 3 ka,causing the formation and synchronous activity of another fault.Finally,they faulted for the third time,but we cannot determine the faulting time due to the lack of relevant surface deposition. The accumulative vertical displacement of these three events is about 8. 1 m. We estimate that the average recurrence period of the piedmont fault is about 1. 7 ka,and the average slip rate of the piedmont fault is about1. 6 mm/a. We also estimate the reference magnitude of each event according to the empirical formula.

Present-day Block Movement and Fault Activity on the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

The geology and tectonics in the eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau are complex. The main tectonic framework is composed of blocks and faults. Using discontinuous global positioning system survey data for 2008–2014, the velocity field for the Eurasia reference framework was obtained. Based on the velocity field, the present-day velocities of the blocks and boundary faults were estimated. The results reveal that the movement rates of the Chuan-Qing, South China, Chuan-Dian and Indo-China blocks are（17.02±0.60） mm/a,（8.77±1.51） mm/a,（13.85±1.31） mm/a and（6.84 ± 0.74） mm/a, respectively, and their movement directions are 99.5°, 120.3°, 142.9° and 153.3°, respectively. All blocks exhibit clockwise rotation. The displacement rates of the Xianshuihe, Longmenshan, Anninghe, Zemuhe, Xiaojiang and Red River faults are（7.30±1.25–8.30±1.26） mm/a,（10.07±0.97–11.79±0.89） mm/a,（0.96±0.74–2.98±1.73） mm/a,（2.03±0.49–3.20±0.73） mm/a,（3.45±0.40–6.02±0.50） mm/a and（6.23±0.56） mm/a, respectively. The Xianshuihe, Anninghe, Zemuhe and Xiaojiang faults show leftlateral strike-slip movement, while the Longmenshan and Red River faults show right-lateral strikeslip. These characteristics of the blocks and faults are related to the particular tectonic location and dynamic mechanism.

柴达木盆地北缘断裂锡铁山-阿木尼克山段第四纪晚期古地震活动性

柴达木盆地北缘断裂带是青藏高原北部的一条区域性活动断裂带,构成了柴达木盆地北部和祁连山的边界断裂,研究其第四纪晚期古地震活动对于理解柴达木盆地北缘断裂带地震复发周期、地震危险性等具有重要意义。通过地质考察、遥感解译、探槽开挖及OSL地质测年、古地震期次分析等,对柴达木盆地北缘断裂(锡铁山-阿木尼克山段)古地震事件进行了研究。研究表明:探槽剖面共揭露了5次比较可靠的古地震事件,发震时间分别为:事件E1距今约60 a;事件E23.1±0.3~3.4±0.3 ka;事件E37.5±0.3~8.1±0.3 ka;事件E410.1±0.4~11.4±0.4 ka;事件E512.1±0.4~12.8±0.4 ka。利用古地震逐次限定法认为柴达木盆地北缘断裂(锡铁山-阿木尼克山段)地震复发周期为2.6~3.4 ka。阿木尼克山段最新离逝时间为60年前,锡铁山段最新离逝时间为3.1±0.3 ka,分析认为柴达木盆地北缘断裂锡铁山段未来遭遇破坏性地震的可能性大于阿木尼克山段。该结果可以更好地了解柴达木盆地北缘断裂的古地震期次、复发间隔等,对地震预报预测及评价该断裂未来地震危险性具有一定的指导意义。

2023年12月18日积石山6.2级地震的深浅变形构造分析

2023年12月18日甘肃积石山6.2级地震震源区及邻区绝对板块运动方向与岩石圈方位各向异性有很好的一致性,区域浅地表变形与上地壳各向异性反映的变形特征都出现明显的空间扰动,上地壳的局部不均匀变形和物性差异是积石山地震的深部发震构造背景。地震发生在积石山东缘断裂,该断裂长约30~40 km,短期内不具备发生相当震级或更大地震的深部蕴震构造条件。

Western fault zone of South China Sea and its physical simulation evidences

The western fault zone of the South China Sea is a strike-slip fault system and consists of four typical strike-slip faults. It is the western border of the South China Sea. The formation of the system is due to the extrusion of Indo - China Peninsula caused by the collision of India with Tibet and the spreading of the South China Sea in Cenozoic. There are five episodes of tectonic movement along this fault zone, which plays an important role in the Cenozoic evolution of the South China Sea. By the physical modeling experiments, it can be seen the strike-slip fault undergoes the sinistral and dextral movement due to the relative movement velocity change between the South China Sea block and the Indo - China block. The fault zone controls the evolution of the pull basins locating in the west of the South China Sea.

忻定盆地金山凸起东缘断裂展布及晚第四纪最新活动特征

通过野外地质地貌调查结合无人机航拍测量、地质雷达勘探及浅层地震勘探综合分析认为,金山凸起东缘断裂整体呈NE向展布,走向40°,北起忻口村一带,向SW经金山铺村西、前淤泥村西延伸至部落村以北,进而向SWS转折进入盆地区。经探槽开挖和年龄测试,该断裂段最新断错晚更新世早期地层。

Petroleum geology controlled by extensive detachment thinning of continental margin crust: A case study of Baiyun sag in the deep-water area of northern South China Sea

The relationships between crustal stretching and thinning,basin structure and petroleum geology in Baiyun deep-water area were analyzed using large area 3D seismic,gravity,magnetic,ocean bottom seismic(OBS),deep-water exploration wells and integrated ocean drilling program(IODP).During the early syn-rifting period,deep-water area was a half-graben controlled by high angle faults influenced by the brittle extension of upper crust.In the mid syn-rifting period,this area was a broad-deep fault depression controlled by detachment faults undergone brittle-ductile deformation and differentiated extension in the crust.In the late syn-rifting period,this area experienced fault-sag transition due to saucer-shaped rheology change dominated by crustal ductile deformation.A broad-deep fault depression controlled by the large detachment faults penetrating through the crust is an important feature of deep-water basin.The study suggests that the broad-deep Baiyun sag provides great accommodation space for the development of massive deltaic-lacustrine deposition system and hydrocarbon source rocks.The differentiated lithospheric thinning also resulted in the different thermal subsidence during post-rifting period,and then controlled the development of continental shelf break and deep-water reservoir sedimentary environment.The high heat flow background caused by the strong thinning of lithosphere and the rise of mantle source resulted in particularities in the reservoir diagenesis,hydrocarbon generation process and accumulation of deep-water area in northern South China Sea.

基于GNSS的西秦岭北缘断裂带现今活动特征研究

基于1999~2007年、2009~2013年、2013~2017年和2017~2021年共4期GNSS地壳运动速度场构建GNSS速度剖面,分析西秦岭北缘断裂带各次级断裂现今地壳差异运动特征,并进一步建立负位错模型反演获取各次级断裂现今闭锁程度与滑动亏损速率。结果表明:1)西秦岭北缘断裂带现今整体呈现出以左旋走滑为主、兼逆冲挤压的活动特征。2)1999~2007年,锅麻滩段和天水-宝鸡段整体处于强闭锁状态,漳县段和鸳凤段仅部分区段闭锁且闭锁程度较低,闭锁深度也较浅;2009~2013年,西秦岭北缘断裂带中段闭锁程度有所减弱,鸳凤段东部与天水-宝鸡段东部由较强闭锁转变为蠕滑状态,锅麻滩段和天水-宝鸡段中西部依然呈强闭锁状态;2013~2017年,西秦岭北缘断裂带整体处于较强闭锁状态,仅天水-宝鸡段东部呈蠕滑状态;2017~2021年,锅麻滩段中西部、漳县段、鸳凤段东部和天水-宝鸡段中部处于较强闭锁状态,鸳凤段中西部与天水-宝鸡段西部则呈蠕滑状态。3)各次级断裂滑动亏损速率整体分布特征与断裂闭锁程度基本一致。西秦岭北缘断裂带锅麻滩段和天水-宝鸡段中部现今处于较强闭锁状态,具有较强的应变能累积背景。

Paleoseismological Study of the Late Quaternary Slip-rate along the South Barkol Basin Fault and Its Tectonic Implications,Eastern Tian Shan,Xinjiang

The easternmost Tian Shan lies in eastern Xinjiang, Central Asia. The South Barkol basin fault（SBF） in the northern part of the easternmost Tian Shan is a major tectonic structure in this orogenic region. The late Quaternary activity, paleoseismology, and deformation characteristics of the fault provide important clues for understanding the tectonic process of the eastern Tian Shan orogen and implementing seismic mitigation. Through interpretation of high-resolution satellite images, unmanned aerial vehicle measurements, and detailed geological and geomorphic investigations, we suggest that the fault exhibits clear left-lateral slip along its western segment. Paleoseismic trenches dug near Xiongkuer reveal evidence of six large paleoearthquakes. The four latest paleoearthquakes were dated： the oldest event occurred at 4663 BC–3839 BC. Data on the horizontal offsets along the probable 1842 Barkol earthquake coseismic rupture suggest clear multiple relationships between cumulative offsets and possible ~4 m of coseismic left-lateral slip per event. From the cumulative offsets and 14 C sample ages, we suggest an average Holocene left-lateral slip rate of 2.4–2.8 mm/a on the SBF, accounting for ~80% of lateral deformation within the entire eastern Tian Shan fault system. This result is comparable with the shortening rate of 2–4 mm/a in the whole eastern Tian Shan, indicating an equal role of strike-slip tectonics and compressional tectonics in this orogen, and that the SBF may accommodate substantial lateral tectonic deformation.

2023年甘肃积石山6.2级地震发震构造浅析

2023年12月18日23时59分,甘肃临夏州积石山县发生6.2级地震,造成人员伤亡和财产损失。本次地震发生在青藏高原东北缘地区,受青藏高原向NE向扩展挤压作用的影响,区域发育两组较为典型的断裂构造:NWW向大型左旋走滑断裂带是活动块体运动边界,另一组NNW向右旋走滑断裂则发育在块体内部构成次级块体边界。此次积石山6.2级地震就发生在NWW向西秦岭北缘左旋走滑断裂带和NNW向日月山右旋走滑断裂带之间的大型挤压阶区内,初步判定其发震构造为以逆冲作用为主的拉脊山断裂带东南段的积石山东缘断裂。余震展布范围严格限制在黄河以南的积石山东麓大河家第三系盆地内,根据黄河以北拉脊山和以南的积石山山脊线及坡折带存在较大不连续性,且沿黄河南岸发育较明显的断层三角面等构造地貌特征,推测沿黄河发育有一条调节区内挤压变形差异的横向断裂。断裂切断拉脊山北缘断裂带东南段,使积石山东缘断裂成为一个长度不足40 km的独立活动段,判定原震区近期发生更大地震的可能性不大。

新疆克拉玛依乌尔禾张扭性走滑断裂特征及其控藏作用研究

乌尔禾沥青矿断裂带位于准噶尔盆地西北缘乌夏断裂带乌尔禾鼻隆之上,是一个小型左旋走滑断裂带。断裂带形成后未发生强烈改造,断裂带内发育沥青矿脉,露头地质条件好,且有三维地震覆盖,是研究走滑断裂特征和控藏作用的天然实验室。本文采用无人机三维立体建模技术,结合野外剖面实测,对乌尔禾沥青矿走滑断裂带野外剖面露头进行定量分析和解剖。结果表明,沥青矿断裂带共发育17条断层,主断层西北侧断层呈雁列状分布,东南侧断层呈马尾状,断裂带纵向呈负花状。研究表明,断层形成于燕山期左旋剪切应力场,受拉张应力影响,整体处于张扭环境,形成张扭性走滑断裂带。断层发育空腔和诱导裂缝,尤其主动盘裂缝更为发育,空腔的开度与油气侵染宽度呈正相关。结合塔里木盆地张扭性走滑断裂与油气藏关系分析,本文认为张扭性走滑断裂是良好的垂向油气运移通道,主动盘具有侧向输导作用,被动盘具有封堵作用,走滑断裂主动盘一侧圈闭是良好的油气聚集区域。

2023年甘肃积石山M_(S)6.2地震:一次逆冲为主的浅源强震

基于区域数字地震台网波形数据,在三维空间内利用波形拟合反演方法获得2023年12月18日甘肃积石山M_(S)6.2地震最佳震源机制解,结果表明:节面Ⅰ走向305°,倾角56°,滑动角61°;节面Ⅱ为走向169°,倾角43°,滑动角125°;矩震级M_(W)6.02。最佳拟合的空间精细位置为102.377°E,35.968°N,深度9 km。结果显示,地震破裂沿NW方向扩展。初步推断此次地震的发震断层面为节面Ⅱ,发震断层是拉脊山北缘断裂(积石山东缘断裂),是一次逆冲为主,兼少量走滑分量的浅源强震事件。

塔里木盆地塔东地区油气地质条件与有利地质体资源潜力

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