SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (1): 43-63.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.20240051

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CHARACTERISTICS OF VERTICAL SLIP RATE EVOLUTION ALONG THE JIAOCHENG FAULT ZONE, SHANXI, SINCE LATE PLEISTOCENE

LUO Jia-xin1)(), LI Bin1,3),*(), LI Zi-hong2,4), FAN Kun1)   

  1. 1) College of Geological and Surveying Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
    2) Shanxi Earthquake Agency, Taiyuan 030021, China
    3) Institute of Prevention for Earthquake and Geology Hazards, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
    4) Shanxi Taiyuan National Continental Rift Valley Dynamics National Observation and Research Station, Shanxi, Taiyuan 030025, China
  • Received:2025-04-16 Revised:2025-08-01 Online:2026-02-20 Published:2026-03-14

晚更新世以来山西交城断裂带垂向活动速率演化特征

罗嘉鑫1)(), 李斌1,3),*(), 李自红2,4), 范琨1)   

  1. 1) 太原理工大学, 地球科学与测绘工程学院, 太原 030024
    2) 山西省地震局, 太原 030021
    3) 太原理工大学, 地震与地质灾害防治研究所, 太原 030024
    4) 太原大陆裂谷动力学国家野外科学观测研究站, 太原 030025
  • 通讯作者: * 李斌, 男, 1980年生, 博士, 副教授, 硕士生导师, 主要从事地震地质与地震学方面的研究, E-mail: John.bli@hotmail.com。
  • 作者简介:

    罗嘉鑫, 男, 1999年生, 太原理工大学地质资源与地质工程专业在读硕士研究生, 主要从事活动构造与地震灾害方面研究, E-mail:

  • 基金资助:
    山西太原大陆裂谷动力学国家野外科学观测研究站课题(NORSTY2023-01); 国家自然科学基金(41504051); 山西省基础研究计划(202303021211037); 山西省重点研发计划(202202020101009)

Abstract:

The Jiaocheng fault zone is the largest seismogenic fault and the principal boundary-controlling structure within the Taiyuan Basin, located in the central segment of the Shanxi Graben System. The fault zone extends for approximately 125km, trends overall in a NE direction, and dips to the SE with dip angles ranging from 40° to 80°. It is characterized as an active dip-slip normal fault with a right-lateral strike-slip component. The activity of the Jiaocheng fault zone has played a decisive role in the formation and evolution of the Taiyuan Basin, as well as in strain accumulation and the occurrence of major earthquakes in the region. In recent years, ground fissures have continued to develop along the fault zone, with the Qingxu-Wenshui segment being the most active. This segment has formed a surface rupture zone up to 48km in length and 80-120m in width. Extensive ground cracking has damaged roads, bridges, and buildings, resulting in severe social impacts and economic losses. It has become one of the longest, most destructive, and socially influential ground fissure zones identified in China.

To further clarify the vertical slip rates of the Jiaocheng fault zone since the late Pleistocene and to investigate its evolutionary characteristics, a systematic and comprehensive study was carried out. This study integrated tectonic geomorphological analysis, trench excavation, across-fault leveling, GPS observations, and InSAR measurements. Analyses of vertical slip rates derived from multiple datasets indicate that the Jiaocheng fault zone has experienced pronounced spatial segmentation and significant spatiotemporal variations in vertical slip since the Late Pleistocene. Specifically: 1) since the Late Pleistocene, the vertical slip rates are estimated to be 0.82-0.90mm/a for the Shanglan segment, 0.98-1.17mm/a for the Jinci segment, 0.51-1.66mm/a for the Qingxu-Wenshui segment, and approximately 0.43mm/a for the Fenyang segment; 2) since the Holocene, the overall average vertical slip rate of the fault zone has decreased, with rates reduced to 0.63-1.04mm/a for the Shanglan segment, 0.23-0.45mm/a for the Jinci segment, 0.44-1.54mm/a for the Qingxu-Wenshui segment, and nearly zero for the Fenyang segment; 3)although fault activity shows a general trend of northward propagation, the Qingxu-Wenshui segment has consistently remained the most active portion of the fault zone in terms of vertical slip. This observation is consistent with the widespread development of ground fissures and recent field evidence in the area.

Modern geodetic data further indicate that the Jiaocheng fault zone remains active at present, with significant vertical slip still occurring, particularly along the Qingxu-Wenshui segment. In addition, fault activity exhibits clear interactions with the external environment. Field investigations show that ground fissures predominantly develop along the fault zone, with their planar distribution approximately parallel to the fault trace, directly reflecting the influence of fault activity on surface deformation. Monitoring data reveal similar temporal trends between cross-fault leveling measurements and groundwater level variations, indicating a modulatory effect of groundwater dynamics on fault activity. Although coal mining along the fault zone does not directly trigger fault motion, it may indirectly enhance fault activity through groundwater depletion.

This study provides quantitative constraints on the vertical slip rates of the Jiaocheng fault zone since the late Pleistocene and further clarifies the spatial segmentation and temporal evolution of its vertical slip behavior. The results improve the understanding of the long-term spatiotemporal characteristics of fault motion and provide a scientific basis for evaluating the potential for strong earthquakes along the Jiaocheng fault zone, assessing seismic hazards in the Taiyuan Basin and surrounding areas, and deepening insight into regional tectonic processes and the mechanisms of ground-fissure-related disasters.

Key words: Jiaocheng fault zone, slip rate, geomorphology, across-fault leveling, trench

摘要:

交城断裂带是山西地堑系中部太原盆地内规模最大的发震断层和边界主控断裂, 其活动特征对于太原盆地的形成与演化及强震的孕育与发生均具有决定性作用。为进一步理解晚更新世以来交城断裂带的垂向活动速率及其演化特征, 文中系统开展了沿线构造地貌、 开挖探槽、 跨断层水准、 GPS及InSAR等综合研究。基于多源数据的断裂带垂向活动速率分析结果表明, 晚更新世以来, 交城断裂带的垂向活动速率具有显著的空间活动分段性与时空演化特征, 具体表现为: 1)晚更新世以来, 交城断裂带上兰段的平均垂向活动速率为0.82~0.90mm/a, 晋祠段为0.98~1.17mm/a, 清徐—文水段为0.51~1.66mm/a, 汾阳段为0.43mm/a; 2)全新世以来, 断裂带整体平均垂向活动速率有所减弱, 上兰段为0.63~1.04mm/a, 晋祠段为0.23~0.45mm/a, 清徐—文水段为0.44~1.54mm/a, 汾阳段近似为0; 3)交城断裂活动存在N向延伸的趋势, 但其垂向活动活跃地段一直围绕清徐—文水段。此外, 基于现代观测手段得到的交城断裂带垂向活动速率的研究结果表明, 现今交城断裂带仍具有较强的垂向活动性, 其活跃区域仍主要集中于中部的清徐—文水段。文中的研究结果进一步阐明了交城断裂带垂向活动的显著空间活动分段性与时空演化特征。

关键词: 交城断裂带, 活动速率, 构造地貌, 跨断层水准, 探槽