CHARACTERISTICS OF HOLOCENE CATASTROPIC EVENT LAYERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH REGIONAL EARTHQUAKES IN THE SOUTHERN QINGSHUIHE BASIN, NINGXIA

doi:10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2025.04.20240110

Abstract

Abstract:

Reconstructing paleoseismic sequences using direct geological evidence from fault zones remains challenging in regions dominated by basement rocks, folded terrains, or loess-covered surfaces. In contrast, far-field sedimentary records—particularly those from fluvial and lacustrine facies—offer key advantages due to their continuity, sensitivity, and high temporal resolution, partially compensating for limitations in instrumental records, historical documents, and trench-based fault studies. As such, these sedimentary archives are essential for advancing the understanding of long-term fault activity and regional seismic hazards.

This study focuses on the Qingshuihe Basin, located at the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, where the Haiyuan-Liupanshan fault zone intersects the Xiangshan-Tianjingshan fault zone—a region of intense tectonic activity and frequent strong earthquakes. Despite prominent geomorphic expressions, thick loess cover and the absence of continuous marker beds hinder fault activity studies at trench or outcrop scales. To address this, we conducted a detailed survey of Holocene fluvial-lacustrine catastrophic event deposits in the southern Qingshuihe Basin, integrating stratigraphic interpretation, chronological constraints, and regional historical-seismological correlations to explore their links to regional seismic activity.

Three distinct catastrophic event layers were identified within the fluvial-lacustrine stratigraphy, exhibiting characteristics of sudden deposition, local sediment sourcing, and chaotic accumulation. These are often accompanied by faulting, ruptures, and the development of cultural layers. Small-scale faults at the base of these layers show consistent orientation patterns. Their stratigraphic positions correlate with the formation horizons of purplish-red clay veins in adjacent loess deposits—features widely interpreted as surface expressions of tectonic deformation. Both sets of anomalous deposits align with the strike of basin-margin faults, reinforcing their tectonic origin.

To constrain the timing of these events, we employed AMS radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence(OSL)techniques. AMS ¹⁴C ages were calibrated using OxCal v4.4.4 and the INTCAL20 calibration curve, yielding a 95.4%confidence interval(2σ). Results indicate three major events since the mid-Holocene: i.e. E₁: (6 220±95)to(5 393±49)cal aBP; E₂: (3 411±30) to (797±52)cal aBP (approximated near(797±52)cal aBP); E₃: (797±52) to (730±26)cal aBP.

Comparative analysis with regional earthquake records shows a strong correlation as follows:

E₁ likely corresponds to a major earthquake(M_W≥7.0)affecting the eastern Haiyuan and Liupanshan faults between(6 600±500)and(5 640±540)cal aBP, producing minor faulting in the study area.

E2 aligns with the 1219AD Guyuan South Earthquake(M6¾), related to reverse-thrust faulting on the Liupanshan and Guanshan faults, producing widespread collapse deposits and an estimated intensity of Ⅶ in the basin.

E3 corresponds to the 1306AD Kaicheng Lu Earthquake(M_S7.0), which also triggered collapse deposits, though with slightly lower intensity(Ⅵ-Ⅶ)due to differences in magnitude, epicentral location, and distance.

This study underscores the value of far-field sedimentary archives in reconstructing seismic histories in tectonically complex regions like the northeastern Tibetan plateau. The results provide new paleoseismic constraints and contribute valuable data for regional seismic hazard assessments.

Key words: Northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, Haiyuan-Liupanshan fault, Qingshuihe Basin, Catastrophic event, Guyuan earthquake

摘要：

文中对清水河盆地南部首次发现的灾变事件沉积层开展系统分析, 有效填补了该盆地在地震历史重建方面的研究空白, 为针对该地区开展地震危险性评价提供了关键线索。通过对清水河盆地南部地区河湖相沉积中灾变事件的精细刻画和AMS ¹⁴C及OSL年代学方法的系统约束, 有效识别出全新世中期以来3期重要的灾变事件, 其时限分别为: (6 220±95)~(5 393±49)a BP(E₁)、 (3 411±30)~(797±52)a BP(接近(797±52)a BP, E₂)、 (797±52)~(730±26)a BP(E₃)。将灾变事件层与历史资料及区域地质资料相结合进行对比分析, 结果表明: 这些灾变事件具有明显的构造成因, 并与区域上3次重要的地震事件密切相关, 依次对应(6 220±95)~(5 393±49)a BP的古地震、公元1219年固原M6¾地震和公元1306年固原开城M6½地震。文中研究从多维度探讨并建立了清水河盆地南部远场沉积记录与断裂带地震活动之间的响应关系, 为该地区古地震序列重建提供了新的资料, 同时也为该地区的地震危险性评估提供了科学依据。

关键词: 青藏高原东北缘, 海原-六盘山断裂带, 清水河盆地, 灾变事件, 固原地震

HUANG Ting, WU Fang, XIA Cai-xiang, LI Zhen-hong, DONG Xiao-peng, WU Zhong-hai, KOU Lin-lin. CHARACTERISTICS OF HOLOCENE CATASTROPIC EVENT LAYERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH REGIONAL EARTHQUAKES IN THE SOUTHERN QINGSHUIHE BASIN, NINGXIA[J]. SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY, 2025, 47(4): 1036-1057.

黄婷, 吴芳, 夏彩香, 李振宏, 董晓朋, 吴中海, 寇琳琳. 宁夏清水河盆地南部全新世灾变事件层特征及其与区域地震的关系[J]. 地震地质, 2025, 47(4): 1036-1057.

Figures/Tables 13

Fig. 1 Seismo-tectonic map of the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Fig. 2 Geological map of the southern part of the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Fig. 3 Geomorphological characteristics of the southern part of the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Fig. 4 Sanchahe profile in the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Fig. 5 Yangjiahe profile in the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Fig. 6 Hongchengcun profile in the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Fig. 7 Typical photographs of anomalous sedimentary events in the southern part of the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Table1 AMS 14C ages of typical profile of catastrophic events in the southern Qingshuihe Basin

剖面	样品编号	样品岩性	测试年龄/a	校正年龄(2σ)
三岔河剖面	D1001-C1	炭屑	880±30	(797±52)cal a BP	1045—1085AD(16.9%)
					1093—1105AD(1.5%)
					1121—1228AD(77.0%)
	D1001-C2	碳质黏土	4630±30	(5393±49)cal a BP	3515—3424AD(71.3%)
					3412—3394AD(3.8%)
					3385—3356AD(20.3%)
	D1001-C3	碳质黏土	5700±30	(6479±47)cal a BP	4614—4452BC(93.7%)
					4653—4639BC(1.7%)
	D1001-C6	炭屑	830±30	(730±26)cal a BP	1167—1269AD(95.4%)
					4653—4639 BC(1.7%)
	D1001-C8	碳质黏土	7070±30	(7894±37)aBP	6018—5887BC(95.4%)
	D1001-C10	碳质黏土	4160±30	(4705±71)cal a BP	2879—2661BC(89.9%)
					2655—2631BC(5.6%)
杨家河剖面	PM-YJH-C1	炭屑	880±30	(797±52)cal a BP	1045—1085AD(16.9%)
					1093—1105AD(1.5%)
					1121—1228AD(77.0%)
红城村剖面	PM-SH-C2	炭屑	4920±30	(5643±35)cal a BP	3781—3638BC(95.4%)
	PM-SH-C4	碳质黏土	6850±30	(7675±36)cal a BP	5801—5661BC(95.4%)
	PM-SH-C5	碳质黏土	5540±30	(6341±3)4cal a BP	4446—4341BC(95.4%)
唐堡村剖面(马兆颖, 2022)	TB-458-C	炭屑	3190±30	(3411±27)cal a BP	1507—1415BC(94.5%)

Table2 OSL ages of typical profile of catastrophic events in the southern Qingshuihe Basin

剖面名称	样品编号	样品岩性	测试方法	环境剂量率 /Gy·ka^-1	等效剂量 /Gy	年龄 /ka
三岔河剖面	D1001-OSL-3	黏土质粉砂	SMAR	4.01±0.59	24.96±0.85	6.22±0.95
	D1001-OSL-4	黏土质粉砂	SMAR	4.68±0.40	29.31±1.26	6.27±0.59
TZK02钻孔(马兆颖, 2022)	TZK02-OSL-21	黄土	SMAR	4.31	16.44±0.78	3.81±0.42

Fig. 8 OxCal correction results for the radiocarbon dates of the Sanchahe profile in the southern part of the Qingshuihe Basin.

Fig. 9 Evolution of catastrophic events in the Sanchahe profile in the southern part of the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Fig. 10 Chronological sequence of seismic events and event sedimentation in the southern part of the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau.

Fig. 11 Historical seismic intensity map of the Qingshuihe Basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau (modified from Institute of Geophysics, State Seismological Bureau et al., 1990)

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