GEOMETRIC STRUCTURAL FEATURE OF THE TANGDONG FAULT IN THE SOUTHEASTERN MARGIN OF TAIHANG MOUNTAIN: BASED ON SHALLOW SEISMIC EXPLORATION AND 3D MODELING

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2025.06.20240015

Abstract

Abstract:

Accurate characterization of shallow fine-scale geometric structures in active faults is critically important for earthquake disaster prevention, mitigation efforts, and advancing our understanding of seismic mechanisms. Integrated approaches combining artificial seismic exploration with three-dimensional structural modeling provide powerful capabilities for revealing detailed spatial architectural characteristics of buried fault systems. This study investigates the Tangdong buried active fault along the seismically significant southeastern margin of the Taihang Mountains, employing advanced geophysical methods to elucidate its complex geometric configuration and kinematic behavior.
High-resolution imaging was achieved through a targeted small-spacing shallow reflection seismic exploration survey. A comprehensive array of 10 survey lines spanning a cumulative length of 28km yielded high-quality seismic reflection datasets. Advanced data processing techniques, including noise attenuation and velocity analysis, were applied to generate optimal high-resolution seismic profiles. These profiles enabled detailed structural interpretation of fault geometry and displacement characteristics. Subsequently, a geometrically constrained 3D fault model was constructed using the SKUA-GOCAD software platform, facilitating comprehensive spatial analysis of the fault system.
Key findings reveal the Tangdong Fault as a high-angle normal fault with a dominant North-Northeast(NNE)strike direction. Significant along-strike segmentation characterizes its shallow architecture: the northern segment features a bifurcated structure comprising two distinct subsidiary faults(F_3-1 and F_3-2). In contrast, south of Weixian Town, these faults converge into a single strand(F_3-2). Shallow dip angles exhibit considerable spatial variation, ranging from approximately 55° to 80°. Notably, the central segment between survey line L6(Panshitou Xincun) and line L7(north of Gangpo Village)displays a relatively gentler dip angle compared to adjacent segments, resulting in a distinctive saddle-shaped geometric configuration.
Clear spatial partitioning of recent activity is observed between the subsidiary faults. South of survey line L6, contemporary deformation is predominantly localized on Fault F_3-2, whereas north of L6, activity is exclusively manifested on F_3-1. Integration of deeper-penetration petroleum seismic profiles confirms the fault's listric geometry, characterized by a steep upper section that progressively shallows with depth. The eastern(F_3-1) and western(F_3-2)branches converge and merge into a unified fault plane at approximately 1.8km depth. The 3D structural model further validates this geometric configuration near line L4 in Weixian Town and effectively visualizes the along-strike dip variations.
These comprehensive findings provide fundamental insights into the three-dimensional geometry, segmentation patterns, and kinematic behavior of the Tangdong active fault. The integrated methodology significantly enhances our understanding of neotectonic deformation processes, offering critical scientific support for fault avoidance zoning, seismic hazard assessment, and earthquake risk mitigation strategies in this tectonically active region. This robust methodological framework establishes a transferable approach for characterizing concealed active fault systems in analogous tectonic settings globally.

Key words: Tangdong Fault, showllow seismic, three-dimensional modeling, geometric structure feature, reflection seismic profile

摘要： 分析活动断层的浅层精细几何结构, 对于防震减灾和地震机理研究具有重要意义。对断层的人工地震探测和三维模型构建, 能够详细揭示活动断层的空间构造特征。文中针对太行山东南缘的汤东隐伏活动断裂, 利用小道距浅层反射地震勘探方法, 布测了10条总长28km的高质量反射地震数据, 通过数据处理获取了高分辨率的反射地震剖面, 开展了断层详细解译, 并基于SKUA-GOCAD软件平台进行了三维建模。结果表明, 汤东断裂为NNE走向的高角度正断层, 在北段其浅层由2支断层组成, 在南段(卫贤镇以南)合并为单一断层; 汤东断裂在浅层的倾角变化范围较大, 约为55°~80°; 与北段和南段相比, 中段(盘石头新村L6和岗坡村北L7测线之间)的倾角相对较缓, 形成了一个马鞍形的断层几何结构; 汤东断裂2条分支断层出现明显的分区性和分段性, L6测线以南的最新活动表现在断层F_3-2 上, 而以北的最新活动只表现在F_3-1 上。石油地震反射剖面给出的深部结构显示, 汤东断裂具有上陡下缓的特征, 东、西2支断层在深部约1.8km处收敛合并, 为典型的铲型正断层。这些认识对于理解汤东活动断层的空间展布和运动特性至关重要, 并将为该地区的活动断层避让、地震风险评估和防震减灾工作提供重要的科学依据。

关键词: 汤东断裂, 浅层地震, 三维建模, 几何结构特征, 反射地震剖面

CAI Ming-gang, PENG Bai, LU Ren-qi, ZHANG Yang, LIU Guan-shen, XU Fang, TAO Wei, ZHANG Jin-yu, HAO Chong-tao. GEOMETRIC STRUCTURAL FEATURE OF THE TANGDONG FAULT IN THE SOUTHEASTERN MARGIN OF TAIHANG MOUNTAIN: BASED ON SHALLOW SEISMIC EXPLORATION AND 3D MODELING[J]. SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY, 2025, 47(6): 1667-1687.

蔡明刚, 彭白, 鲁人齐, 张扬, 刘冠伸, 徐芳, 陶玮, 张金玉, 郝重涛. 太行山东南缘汤东断裂浅层几何结构特征--基于浅层地震勘探与三维建模[J]. 地震地质, 2025, 47(6): 1667-1687.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig. 1 Topography, geomorphology, and tectonic division map of active fault detection target area in Hebi City(Fig. 1c modified from WANG Zhi-shuo, 2017).

Fig. 2 Geological characteristics and location of seismic reflection profiles in target region of active fault detection.

Fig. 3 Cenozoic Lithologic and stratigraphic column of the Tangyin Graben.

Table1 Shallow seismic data acquisition and observation system parameters

项	类别	参数
设备型号	仪器型号	Geode DZ200
	震源型号	M18/612HD
	检波器主频/Hz	60
震源激发	扫描频率/Hz	10~120或8~90
	扫描长度/s	12
	最大出力/kN	225
记录	采样间隔/ms	0.5
	记录长度/ms	2000
观测系统	探测方向	WE或EW
	道间距/m	2
	炮间距/m	6或8
	接收道数	240
	偏移距范围/m	10~488或0~318
	覆盖次数	40或30

Fig. 4 Comparison of seismograms before(a) and after(b)de-noising processing.

Fig. 5 Shallow seismic reflection stacking profile interpretation of lines L3.

Fig. 6 Shallow seismic reflection stacking profile interpretation of lines L1, L4 and L2.

Fig. 7 Shallow seismic reflection stacking profile interpretation of lines L5, L6 and L7.

Fig. 8 Shallow seismic reflection stacking profile interpretation of lines L8, L9 and L10.

Fig. 9 3D structure and model of the Tangdong Fault.

Fig. 10 Depth contour maps of T1 and TN layers of the Tangdong Fault.

Fig. 11 Interpretation map of oil seismic profile across the Tangyin Graben.

Table2 T1 interface of the east and west branches of the Tangdong Fault

断裂	测线名称
	L1	L2	L3	L4	L5	L6	L7	L8	L9	L10
F_3-2	√	×	√	√	√		×	×	×	√
F_3-1					×	×	√	√	√	√

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