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ESR DATING OF CALCITE VEINS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ACTIVITY OF THE JIANCHUAN SECTION OF THE LONGPAN-QIAOHOU FAULT ZONE
JI Hao, LIU Chun-ru, WEI Chuan-yi, YANG Hui-li, YIN Gong-ming, CHANG Zu-feng
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2024, 46 (1): 81-100.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2024.01.006
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The Sichuan-Yunnan region is located in the southeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Because of the compression and collision dynamics of the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, the tectonic deformation is strong and seismic activities occur frequently. There have been many earthquakes above magnitude 7.0 in history. A series of active fault zones have developed in the region, among which the Sichuan-Yunnan rhombus block bounded by multiple active faults has attracted great research interests in recent years. The Longpan-Qiaohou fault zone is a boundary fault of the Sichuan-Yunnan rhombus block. The fault zone starts from Longpan in the north, passes through Jiuhe, Jianchuan, and Shaxi in the south, and ends at Qiaohou. It is about 120km long and the fault trend is 15°~20°. This fault zone is large in scale and highly active, with frequent seismic activity, complex mechanical properties, and variable movement patterns. The Mesozoic movement was intense. In the early Cenozoic, compression-thrust movement was dominant, and in the late Cenozoic, tension-strike movement was dominant. Since the Holocene, the fault zone has been characterized by left-lateral strike-slip movement with normal faulting properties, and earthquakes of magnitude 5 or above have occurred many times. Therefore, studying the activity of this fault zone is of great significance for the prediction and evaluation of regional strong earthquake risk. Thick calcite veins are well developed on the Henancun Fault of the Jianchuan section of the Longpan-Qiaohou fault zone, providing very valuable materials for fault dating. Calcite veins are coseismic rapid precipitation formed during seismic activity or syntectonic precipitation that filled along fractures after seismic activity. Therefore, their ages represent the latest time at which seismic activity occurred. Previous studies have shown that tensional fissures formed during coseismic events can close in a short period of time(days to months), suggesting that the filling of calcite veins within fault fissures is a relatively rapid process. This paper uses the ESR method to conduct dating study on the calcite veins in the study area. The results show that the ages of the four calcite veins(HNC-ESR01, HNC-ESR02, HNC-ESR03 and HNC-ESR04) are: (7.1±0.8)ka, (7.1±0.9)ka, (7.3±1.7)ka and (6.9±1.5)ka, respectively. The age results are concentrated, and the average age is(7.1±1.3)ka, indicating that the fault was active no later than(7.1±1.3)ka. The age results are consistent within the error range with the second paleoseismic event time revealed by trenching work in the area(between(6 130±30)a BP and(6 320±40)a BP), indicating that the dating of ESR in the fault zone is an effective dating method for the study of active tectonics and paleo-earthquakes. It is an effective chronological method for research, but it can be seen that compared with 14C and luminescence dating, the error of ESR results is relatively large. For faults with short earthquake recurrence intervals, it is still very challenging to accurately judge their activity. In the follow-up work, it is necessary to further improve the experimental process and reduce experimental errors, including refinement of sample pretreatment, accurate monitoring of irradiation dose, and accurate calculation of dose rate. In addition, by using five fitting functions(LIN, SSE, DSE, EXP+LIN and Dgamma)to calculate the equivalent dose values of calcite vein samples in this study, we found that the SSE function is capable of providing the best fitting effect.

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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACTIVITY OF JINSHA RIVER FAULT ZONE AND LARGE-SCALE LANDSLIDES: A CASE STUDY OF THE SECTION BETWEEN NARONG AND RONGXUE ALONG THE JINSHA RIVER
CHANG Hao, CHANG Zu-feng, LIU Chang-wei
SEISMOLOGY AND EGOLOGY    2021, 43 (6): 1435-1458.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2021.06.006
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The relationship between large-scale landslides and active faults has attracted much attention. From the point of view of active tectonics and disaster geology, the late Quaternary activity of the Jinsha River fault zone is investigated and studied, and the relationship between large-scale landslides and activity of the Jinsha River fault zone is emphatically analyzed. The Jinsha River fault zone was formed during the closure of the Paleotethys Ocean. According to the distribution of the 5km-wide ophiolitic melange zone, the ultramafic rock zone, and the local migmatization and progressive metamorphism around the Variscan intermediate acid intrusive rock mass distributed along the fault, it is inferred that the fault zone was once a strongly active superlithospheric fault zone with obvious compressive properties. The Jinsha River fault zone is a large-scale, long-term active suture structure, with many branches, forming a 50km wide structural fracture zone. Affected by the eastward compression of the Tibet Plateau, it has changed into a strike-slip fault zone characterized by dextral shear since Pliocene. In the study area, the fault landforms are clear along the Zengdatong, Xulong, Nizhong, Lifu-riyu, Langzhong and Guxue faults, which are mainly manifested as straight fault trough, linear ridge, fault scarp, and directional aligned fault facets. Results of field geological and geomorphological investigation and chronology show that the late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits are faulted, indicating the faults are active during the late Quaternary and dominated by dextral strike-slip with an average horizontal slip rate of 3.5~4.3mm/a in Holocene. The study area is located in the middle and north of the world-famous Jinsha River suture of the north-south structural belt in Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet, and the geological structural conditions are very complex. The main structural line is distributed in NS direction, interwoven with NE and NW faults and fold axes in network shape, and the structure is complex. Strong neotectonic movement, huge topographic elevation difference, steep mountains, dry-hot valleys microclimate and other factors have caused serious internal dynamic geological disasters on both banks of Jinsha River. The landslide in the area has the characteristics of high frequency, large scale and serious damage. There are 23 large-scale and super large-scale landslides in the main stream and its tributaries of Jinsha River within the 38km-long section from Narong to Rongxue. Most of them are super large-scale landslides with a volume of more than 10 million cubic meters, even have a volume of more than 100 million cubic meters. Most of the landslides are located within 1km on both sides of faults, and many of them are developed on the fault zone. The occurrence of these large-scale landslides is closely related to the long-term activity, evolution history and complex structure of Jinsha River fault zone along the river, as a result, the rock mass structure gets fragmented and the continuous tectonic activity becomes the main cause of landslides. Active faulting is the fundamental controlling factor for the occurrence of large landslides along the river, especially for large landslides, and is an important internal dynamic condition for the formation of landslides. Further analysis of the fault structure shows that landslide is closely related to the movement evolution history of Jinsha River fault zone. Special structural combination parts(mechanical mechanism)such as closely adjacent faults, acute angle area of fault intersection, right turning parts of the faults and the intersection area between the main faults and the transverse faults are the key sites where the tectonic stress is easy to concentrate, thus conducive to generating large-scale landslides. Many large landslides occur in these structural parts. The controlling effect of active faults on landslides is not only embodied in the process of large earthquakes, but also can lead to the intensive occurrence of large and super large landslides in a natural state(non seismic action). This research has positive scientific significance for understanding the formation mechanism and development law of landslides on both sides of Jinsha River, and for understanding the relationship between fault activities and large landslides.

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HOLOCENE ACTIVITY AND PALEOEARTHQUAKES OF THE WEIXI-QIAOHOU FAULT
CHANG Zu-feng, CHANG Hao, LI Jian-lin, MAO Ze-bin, ZANG Yang
SEISMOLOGY AND EGOLOGY    2021, 43 (4): 881-898.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2021.04.009
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The Weixi-Qiaohou Fault is located in the west boundary of Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block, and also the north extension segment of active Red River fault zone. Strengthening the research on the late Quaternary activity of Weixi-Qiaohou Fault is of great theoretical and practical significance for further understanding the seismogeological background in northwest Yunnan and the structural deformation mechanism of the boundary of Sichuan-Yunnan block. Based on the 1︰50 000 active fault mapping and the research results of the National Natural Science Fund project, this paper mainly elaborates the latest active times of the fault and paleoseismic events along it revealed by exploration trenches at Matoushui, Shiyan, and Yushichang. Matoushui trench revealed three faults developed in late Pleistocene and Holocene pluvial fan accumulation, and the latest ages of faulted strata are(638±40)a BP and(1 335±23)a BP, respectively. The Shiyan trench revealed six faults, three in the western section and three in the eastern section. The three faults in the western section dislocated the late Pleistocene and Holocene accumulation, and the 14C ages of the latest faulted strata are(4 383±60)a BP, (4 337±52)a BP and(4 274±70)a BP, respectively; the other three faults revealed in the eastern part of the trench offset the Holocene fluvial facies accumulation, the 14C age of the latest faulted strata in the footwall of the main fault is(9 049±30)a BP, and the 14C ages of two sets of faulted sag pond deposits in the hanging wall are(1 473±41)a BP and(133±79)a BP, separately. Five active faults are revealed in Yushichang trench. Among them, the F1 and F2 dislocated the gray-white gravelly clay layer and the black peat soil layer. The 14C age of the gray-white gravelly clay layer is(1 490±30)a BP, and 14C ages of the upper and lower part of the black peat soil layer are(1 390±30)a BP and(1 190±30)a BP, respectively. The F3 and F4 faults offset the gray-white gravelly clay layer, the black peat soil layer and the brown yellow sand bearing clay, and the OSL age of brown yellow sand bearing clay is(0.6±0.2)ka. The F5 fault dislocated the gray-white gravelly clay layer, its 14C age is(1 490±30)a BP. According to the relationship between strata and the analysis of dating data, the Yushichang trench revealed two seismic events, the first one occurred at(1 490±30)~(1 390±30)a BP, as typified by the faulting of F5, the second paleoseismic event is represented by the faulting of F1, F2, F3 and F4.The F1 and F2 faulted the gray-white gravelly clay layer and the black peat soil. Fault F3 and F4 dislocated the gravelly clay, the peat soil and the sandy clay, and a seismic wedge is developed between fault F3 and F4, which is filled with the brownish yellow sandy clay. The OSL dating result of the brownish yellow sandy clay layer is(0.6±0.2)ka. Judging from the contact relationship between strata and faults, F3 and F4may also faulted the upper brownish yellow sandy clay layer, but the layer was eroded due to later denudation. Therefore, fault F1, F2, F3 and F4 represent the second event. Combined with the analysis of fault scarps with a height of 2~2.5m and clear valley landform in the slope near the fault, it is estimated that the time of the second paleoearthquake event is about 600 years ago, and the magnitude could reach 7. The trench at Gaichang reveals that the seismic wedge, soft sedimentary structure deformation and the medium fine sand uplift(sand vein)and other ancient seismic phenomena are well developed near the fault scarp. All these phenomena are just developed below the fault scarp. The vertical dislocation of the strata on both sides of the seismic wedge is 35cm, and 14C ages of the misinterpreted peat clay are(36 900±350)a BP and(28 330±160)a BP, respectively, so, the occurrence time of this earthquake event is estimated to be about 28 000a BP. If the fault scarp with a height of 2m was formed during this ancient earthquake, and considering the 0.35m vertical offset revealed by the trench, the magnitude of this ancient earthquake could reach 7.The Matoushui trench revealed three faults, which not only indicated the obvious activity of the faults in late Pleistocene to Holocene, but also revealed two paleoseismic events. Among them, the OSL age of the faulted sand layer by fault F1 is(21.54±1.33)ka, which represents a paleoearthquake event of 20 000 years ago. The faulted strata by fault F2 and F3 are similar, which represent another earthquake event. The 14C dating results show that the age of the latest faulted strata is(638±40)Cal a BP, accordingly, it is estimated that the second earthquake time is about 600 years ago. A clear and straight fault trough with a width of several ten meters and a length of 4km is developed from Meiciping to Matoushui. Within the fault trough, there are fault scarps with different heights and good continuity, the height of which is generally 3~5m, the lowest is 2~3m, and the highest is 8~10m. Tracing south along this line, the eastern margin of Yueliangping Basin shows a fault scarp about 5m high. After that, it extends to Luoguoqing, and again appears as a straight and clear fault scarp several meters high. In addition, in the 2km long foothills between Hongxing and Luoguoping, there are huge rolling stones with diameters of 2~5m scattered everywhere, the maximum diameter of which is about 10m, implying a huge earthquake collapse occurred here. According to the length, height, width and dislocation of the rupture zone, and combined with the experience of Yiliang M≥7 earthquake and Myanmar Dongxu M7.3 earthquake, this earthquake magnitude is considered to be ≥7.

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THE LATEST ACTIVITY OF SUDIAN FAULT ON THE BORDER BETWEEN CHINA AND MYANMAR AND ITS TECTONIC SIGNIFICANCE
CHANG Zu-feng, CHANG Hao, MAO Ze-bin, LUO Lin, WANG Qi
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2021, 43 (3): 559-575.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2021.03.006
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The Sudian Fault extends in nearly NS direction and crosses the border between China and Myanmar, with a length of about 100km. Historically, many earthquakes have occurred along the fault. However, restricted by traffic, climate and other factors, there has been little research on the late Quaternary activity of the fault for a long time. On the basis of results of field geological and geomorphological investigation, trenching and geochronology, the movement characteristics of the fault in late Quaternary, the latest active age and sliding rate are analyzed in this paper. The Neotectonic activity of the Sudian Fault is obvious. Beaded Quaternary basins in areas of Sudian, Mengdian, Huangcaoba and Longzhong have developed along the fault. Many boiling springs and gas springs are distributed linearly in the area of Humeng in the south section of the fault. The fault controls the Lama River and Zhanda River obviously. Fault landforms are mainly characterized by clear fault scarps, straight linear ridges and fault valleys. Mengdian pull apart basin is developed in the middle segment of Sudian Fault. In the Zuojiapo area of the western margin of the basin, there is a clear linear ridge about 1.7km long and a parallel fault valley which is close to the west side of the linear ridge. Trench excavation was carried out in this fault valley(24.97°N, 97.93°E). Zuojiapo trench reveals that three faults have developed in Quaternary deposits. At the position of 2~3m(from west to east)on the S wall of the trench, a fault dislocated all the strata(unit②~unit⑥)below the modern loam layer(unit①). These strata are obviously offset and some of them are cut off. The 14C age of the displaced unit ④(tested by BETA laboratory, USA)is(7 680±30)a, two 14C ages of the displaced unit ③are(6 970±30)a and(5 860±30)a, and the 14C age of the displaced unit ②is(1 260±30)a. The fault developed at 21m in the east section of S-wall of the trench has offset the lower bedrock(unit⑧), the middle gravel layer(unit⑤and unit⑦), the upper dark gray gravelly clay layer(unit④)and the peat interlayer(unit④'). In the peat interlayer(unit④'), there is obvious structural deflection deformation, and its 14C age is(350±30)a. There is another fault developed at 26~27m in the east section of S-wall of this trench, which cuts off the light yellow and light gray gravelly clay(unit ②), gray black gravelly clay(unit③), gray white sandy gravel(unit⑤), yellow gravelly silty clay(unit ⑥), yellow clay gravel(unit ⑦)and hornblende schist and quartz schist of Gaoligongshan group(unit ⑧). The fault shows obvious normal fault property, and the maximum offset is 1.3m. A 10cm wide schistosity zone is developed and gravels are arranged along the fault plane. The 14C ages of the faulted upper stratum(unit ③)are(1 100±30)a and(870±30)a. The N-wall also reveals the existence of faults, corresponding to the S-wall of the trench. These faults and dislocated strata fully indicate that the fault was active during the Holocene. According to field investigation, the Sudian Fault is mainly characterized by horizontal dextral strike-slip movement. For example, in Mengnong tea field, obvious synchronous dextral displacement occurred in three gullies along the fault. From south to north, the displacements of the three gullies are 40m, 42m and 45m, respectively. Shutter ridge landform is developed at the gully mouth. In the lower part of the northernmost gully, there is a pluvial fan, and the 14C age of the bottom of the pluvial fan is(13 560±40)a, which is less than the formation age of the gully, but roughly represents the formation age of the gully, indicating that the Sudian Fault is mainly characterized by horizontal dextral strike-slip movement. In Sudian area, the Mengga River is right-laterally offset 1 050~1 100m by the fault. At 1.7km north of Sudian, a diluvial fan is right-laterally offset 18~22m. There are fault scarps with a height of 1~1.5m developed on the alluvial fan, Quaternary faults and bedrock fault scarps with a height of about 8m developed on its extension line. The three points of the scarps, Quaternary faults and bedrock scarps are in a straight line, which absolutely shows the reliability of the dislocation of the alluvial fan. An organic carbon sample is obtained 1.8m below the alluvial fan, and its 14C test age is (6 210±30)a. This age should be close to the formation age of the pluvial fan, indicating that the fault underwent obvious horizontal dextral strike-slip movement during the Holocene. In the Sadung Basin, Myanmar, a river is offset about 380m right-laterally, forming a hairpin bending landform. Due to the continuous collision between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate, the Indosinian block in the southeastern margin of the Tibet Plateau around the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis escaped southerly, and the western Yunnan became the most intense part of the south extrusion. During the southerly escapement of the Indosinian block, the right-lateral strike-slip movement of Sudian Fault and other faults striking near SN plays a role in adjusting and absorbing the block strain. Under the action of current NNE tectonic stress field, the intersection of the dextral strike-slip Sudian Fault striking NS and the sinistral strike-slip Dayingjiang Fault striking NE is the key part of tectonic stress concentration, which will be the seismic risk area to be focused in the future. The research result of late Quaternary activity of the fault is of great practical significance for the correct understanding and reasonable assessment of the medium to long-term strong earthquake risk in this area, and for the mitigation and prevention of the earthquake disaster in the border area.
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LATE QUATERNARY ACTIVITY OF FAULTS IN THE EPICENTER AREA OF JINGGU M6.6 EARTHQUAKE
MAO Ze-bin, CHANG Zu-feng, LI Jian-lin, CHANG Hao, ZHAO Jin-min, CHEN Gang
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2019, 41 (4): 821-836.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2019.04.002
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The 2014 Jinggu M6.6 earthquake attacked the Jinggu area where few historical earthquakes had occurred and little study has been conducted on active tectonics. The lack of detailed field investigation on active faults and seismicity restricts the assessment of seismic risk of this area and leads to divergent view points with respect to the seismotectonics of this earthquake, so relevant research needs to be strengthened urgently. In particular, some studies suggest that this earthquake triggered the activity of the NE-trending faults which have not yet been studied. By the approaches of remote sensing image interpretation, structural geomorphology investigation and trench excavation, we studied the late Quaternary activity of the faults in the epicenter area, which are the eastern margin fault of Yongping Basin and the Yixiang-Zhaojiacun Fault, and drew the conclusions as follows:
(1)The eastern margin fault of Yongping Basin originates around the Naguai village in the southeastern margin of Yongping Basin,extending northward across the Qiandong, Tianfang, and ending in the north of Tiantou. The fault is about 43km long, striking near SN. The linear characteristic of the fault is obvious in remote sensing images. Structural geomorphological phenomena, such as fault troughs, linear ridges and gully dislocations, have developed along the faults. There are several dextral-dislocated gullies near Naguai village, with displacements of 300m, 220m, 146m, 120m and 73m, respectively, indicating that the fault is a dextral strike-slip fault with long-term activity. In order to further study the activity of the fault, a trench was excavated in the fault trough, the Naguai trench. The trench reveals many faults, and the youngest strata offseted by the faults are Holocene, with 14C ages of(1 197±51)a and(1 900±35)a, respectively. All those suggest that it is a Holocene active fault.
(2)The Yixiang-Zhaojiacun Fault starts at the southeast of the Jinggu Basin, passes through Xiangyan, Yixiang, Chahe, and terminates at the Zhaojiacun. The total length of the fault is about 60km, and is a large-scale NE-trending fault in the Wuliangshan fault zone. Four gullies are synchronously sinistrally dislocated at Yixiang village, with the displacements of 340m, 260m, 240m and 240m, indicating that the fault is a long-term active sinistral strike-slip fault. A trench was excavated in a fault trough in Yixiang village. The trench reveals a small sag pond and a fault. The fault offsets several strata with clear dislocation and linear characteristic. The thickness of strata between the two walls of fault does not match, and the gravels are oriented along fault plane. The offset strata have the 14C age of(2 296±56)a, (3 009±51)a, and(4 924±45)a, respectively, and another two strata have the OSL age of(1.8±0.1)ka, (8.6±0.5)ka respectively, by which we constrained the latest paleoearthquake between(1.8±0.1)ka(OSL-Y01)and(378±48)a BP(CY-07). This again provides further evidence that the fault is a Holocene fault with long-term activity.
(3)Based on the distribution of aftershocks and the predecessor research results, the 2014 Jinggu M6.6 earthquake and the M5.8, M5.9 strong aftershocks are regarded as being caused by the eastern margin fault of Yongping Basin, which is part of the Wuliangshan fault zone. The seismogenic mechanism is that the stress has been locked, concentrated and accumulated to give rise to the quakes in the wedge-shaped area near the intersection of the SN and NE striking faults, which is similar to the seismogenic mechanism in the southwest of Yunnan Province.
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CHARACTERISTICS AND FORMATION MECHANISM OF LARGE ROCK AVALANCHES TRIGGERED BY THE LUDIAN MS6.5 EARTHQUAKE AT HONGSHIYAN AND GANJIAZHAI
CHANG Zu-feng, CHANG Hao, YANG Sheng-yong, CHEN Gang, LI Jian-lin
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2017, 39 (5): 1030-1047.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.05.012
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The 3 August 2014 Ludian, Yunnan MS6.5 earthquake has spawned more than 1, 000 landslides which are from several tens to several millions and over ten millions of cubic meters in volumes. Among them, the Hongshiya and Ganjiazai landslides are the biggest two with volumes over 1 000×104m3. The Hongshiya and Ganjiazai landslides are two typical landslides, the former belongs to tremendous rock avalanche, and the latter belongs to unconsolidated werthering deposit landslide developed in concave mountain slope. Based on field investigations, causes and formation mechanism of the two landslides are discussed in this study. The neotectonic movement in the area maintains sustainable uplifting violently all the time since Cenozoic. The landform process accompanied with the regional tectonic uplifting is the violent downward erosion along the Jinshajiang River and its tributary, forming landforms of high mountains and canyons, deeply cut valleys, with great height difference. The regional seismo-tectonics situation suggests that:Ludian earthquake region is situated on the southern frontier boundary of Daliangshan secondary active block, and is seismically the strongest active area with one earthquake of magnitude greater than M5.0 occurring every 6 years. Frequent and strong seismicity produces accumulated effects on the ground rock to gradually lower the mechanical strength of slopes and their stability, which is the basis condition to generate large-scale collapse and landslide at Hongshiyan and Ganjiazhai. The occurring of Hongshiyan special large rock avalanche is associated with the large terrain height difference, steep slope, soft interlayer structure and unloading fissures and high-angle joints. The formation mechanism of Hongshiyan rock avalanche may have three stages as follows:Stage 1, when P wave arriving, under the situation of free surface, rocks shake violently, the pre-existent joints(in red)parallel to and normal to the river and unloading cracks are opened and connected. Stage 2, on the basis of the first stage, when S wave arriving, the ground movement aggravates. Joints(in green)along beds develop further, resulting in rock masses intersecting each other. Stage 3, rock masses lose stability, sliding downward, collapsing, and moving over a short distance along the sliding surface to the inside of the valley, blocking the river to form the dammed lake. The special large landslide at Ganjiazhai is a weathering layer landslide occurring in the middle-lower of a large concave slope. Its formation process may have two stages as follows:Firstly, under strong ground shaking and gravity, the ground rock-soil body around moves and assembles to the lower of the central axis of the large concave slope, which suffers the largest earthquake inertia force and firstly yields plastic damage to generate compression-expansion deformation, because of the largest water content and volume-weight within the loose soil of it. Secondly, in view of the steep slope, along with the compression, the plastic deformation area enlarges further in the lower of slope, giving rise to a tensional stress area along the middle of the slope. As soon as the tensional stress exceeds the tensile strength of the weathering layer, a tensional fracture will occur and the landslide rolls away immediately making use of momentum. This two large landslides are the basic typical ones triggered by the MS6.5 Ludian earthquake, and their causes and mechanism have a certain popular implication for the landslides occurring in this earthquake region.
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NUMERICAL SIMULATION STUDY OF HONGSHIYAN LANDSLIDE TRIGGERED BY THE MS6.5 LUDIAN EARTHQUAKE
CHEN Xiao-li, CHANG Zu-feng, WANG Kun
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2015, 37 (1): 279-290.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2015.22
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Although the landslides triggered during earthquake events are common phenomena in the southwest China, the occurrence of the Hongshiyan landslide triggered by the MS6.5 Ludian earthquake in 2014 is attractive for its giant volume which exceeds ten million cubic meters. The Hongshiyan landslide formed a quake lake and inundated a village. Based on the geological and geomophological data obtained through the immediate field investigation after the earthquake, we build the Hongshiyan slope model and at the same time, we apply numerical simulation to study the landslide formation. Result indicates that the Hongshiyan slope was at safe conditions with the Factor of safety (Fs) value greater than 1, but the ground seismic motion during the Ludian earthquake lowered its Fs to a value smaller than 1, which resulted in the occurrence of the landslide. Moreover, this study shows that an existing slip surface is important for generating a giant landslide, and steep slopes without existing slip surfaces are likely to generate shallow landslides with normal volumes.

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SEISMOTECTONIC BACKGROUND OF THE 2013 BENZILAN M5.9 EARTHQUAKE, YUNNAN PROVINCE
CHANG Zu-feng
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2015, 37 (1): 192-207.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2015.15
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The epicenter region of the Aug. 31 2013 M5.9 earthquake lies near the northwest boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan rhombic block in the junction area of the three rivers geosynclinal folded system and Songpan-Ganzi geosynclinal folded system. The geological structure of this area is quite complicated, where the near-SN trending Jinshajiang Fault zone and the NW-trending Deqin-Zhongdian-Daju Fault zone converge. The Jinshajiang Fault zone is a large-scale ultra-lithosphere fault zone and an old suture line structure after the closing of the ancient Tethys Sea, which generally consists of 5-6 faults, constituting a 50km wide fault zone, with a long history of geological evolution. Since Cenozoic, the faults are mainly dominated by intense near east-west extrusion, thus, absorb partially the energy of the movement of east Tibet block towards Sichuan and Yunnan block. Therefore, the fault zone is dominated by dextral strike-slip since Pliocene.
According to the results of field geological and geomorphic investigations, the late Quaternary activity of Jinshajiang Fault zone is mainly embodied by the Zengdatong Fault, the Lifu-Riyu Fault, the Langzhong Fault and the Guxue Fault, with straight fault troughs, linear ridges, orientated facets in landforms and clear linear features in satellite imagery. These faults are obviously active in late Quaternary, and dominated by dextral strike-slip motion and partially thrust motion, with an average rate of 3.5~4.3mm/a horizontally and 0.9~1.1mm/a vertically, respectively since Holocene. Historically, the October 20, 1923, Batang M 6 (1/2) earthquake occurred near to the fault zone.
The Deqin-Zhongdian-Daju Fault is also obviously active in late Quaternary and dominated by dextral strike-slip motion and normal motion, the latest active time is from late-Pleistocene to Holocene with an average rate of 1.7~2.0mm/a horizontally and 0.6~0.7mm/a vertically, respectively. Along the fault, several string-beaded Quaternary basins are developed. The fault has played an obvious control role in the development of the Benzilan Basin, the Zhongdian Basin, the Haba Basin and the Daju Basin, and has a strict control on the boundary of the basins. Historically, several moderate-size earthquakes occurred around the fault, e.g. the 1961 Zhongdian M6.0 earthquake, the 1966 Zhongdian M5.2 earthquake and the 2013 Benzilan M5.9 earthquake, etc. It is an important NW-treading fault developed along the northwestern boundary of the Sichuan and central Yunnan rhombic block, and together with the Jinshajiang Fault, composes up the northwestern boundary of the Sichuan and central Yunnan rhombic block. The Deqin-Zhongdian-Daju Fault is a significant dextral strike-slip fault under the east-west extension of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau and plays a role of regulating the southeast movement of the plateau substances.
The long axis of the intensity distribution of the 2013 Benzialn M5.9 earthquake is NW-directed, consistent with the strike of Deqin-Zhongdian-Daju Fault. According to the focal mechanism solutions, the M5.9 earthquake is of dextral strike-slip with normal faulting, the attitude of the NW nodal plane is consistent with the strike of the fault too, and the seismic rupture is identical to the kinematical characteristic of the fault. The linear distribution of the earthquake-induced landslides and collapse is consistent with the strike of the fault as well. Based on all these features and phenomena, we can conclude that the Deqin-Zhongdian-Daju Fault is the seismogenic fault of the Benilan M5.9 earthquake. The earthquake is closely related to the Deqin-Zhongdian-Daju Fault, but the Jinshajiang fault zone may be also the breeding structure. Based on analysis of the earthquake intensity and frequency, there is the possibility to generate larger earthquake in this area.

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LATE-QUATERNARY ACTIVITY OF THE ZHAOTONG-LUDIAN FAULT ZONE AND ITS TECTONIC IMPLICATION
CHANG Zu-feng, ZHOU Rong-jun, AN Xiao-wen, CHEN Yu-jun, ZHOU Qing-yun, LI Jian-lin
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2014, 36 (4): 1260-1279.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2014.04.025
Abstract945)      PDF(pc) (11068KB)(710)       Save

The Zhaotong-Ludian Fault zone, composed mainly of three right-step en echelon faults, namely, the Zhaotong-Ludian Fault, the Sayuhe Fault and the Longshu Fault, strikes 40°~60° on the whole, with the Sayuhe Fault and the Longshu Fault dipping SE and the Zhaotong-Ludian Fault dipping NW, and they all together constitute a complicated thrust fault system. Based on years of field investigation results of geology and geomorphography, we elaborate the late Quaternary active features, the geological and geomorphic evidences of the latest activity of the Zhaotong-Ludian Faults. Our observation shows that: the late Cenozoic basins along the Zhaotong-Luian Fault zone are obviously dominated by the fault; there are many neo-active fault landforms, such as, flat and straight fault troughs, directional aligned fault facets and fault scarps, and the upper Pleistocene to Holocene strata are offset by the fault. The fault zone has been active since the late Quaternary. For example, the fault at Daqiaobian dislocated a set of strata of the Pliocene, and middle to upper Pleistocene, with an apparently reverse character. The fault trending NE is developed in the Holocene diluvium with oblique striation on the fault plane at Guangming Village. Deposits with an OSL age of(23.4±1.8)ka BP on T2 terrace of a small river near Beizha town was offset by the fault. There is a fault scarp trending NE 40°, 0.5~2.0m in height, on the first terrace of the Longshu River near the Longshu Village. Several Quaternary faults are revealed by the trench which offset the late Pleistocene to Holocene strata and there are three poleo-earthquake events discovered in the trench. At Yanjiao Village the gravel layer has risen steeply and is aligned in a line because of squeezing effect of the fault; the rivers and ridges nearby are synchronously offset dextrally up to 30~40m. The fault zone is dominated by reverse faulting with a small amount of right-lateral motion. Besides, there are some NW-trending faults interweaving with the NE-trending fault zone, some of which are active since late Quaternary as well, and they are the conjugate structures with the NE-trending faults. Surface deformation, such as NE- and NW-trending ground fissures and reverse scarp landforms, has been generated in the epicenter area of the 2014 Ludian M6.5 earthquake, the distribution of which is in consistence with the NE- and NW-trending faults. Because of far-field deformation response and energy exchange and transfer between blocks, the Liangshan active sub-block formed on the east of the Sichuan-Yunnan block, and the Zhaotong-Ludian Fault zone lies in the forefront of the SE movement of this sub-block. On account of its distinct location and its complicated geometric structure, the Zhaotong-Ludian Fault zone is one of main carriers of the tectonic deformation of the Liangshan active sub-block to absorb and accommodate the strains produced by the block's SE movement, and is the southern boundary of the Liangshan sub-block. From the point of view of the regional tectonic positions and the kinematic characteristics, the relation of Zhaotong-Ludian Fault zone to the Liangshan active sub-block is exactly as the relation of the Longmanshan Faults to Bayan Har block. Consequently, the Zhaotong-Ludian Fault zone has an important significance in the division of active block boundaries and the regional tectonic framework, and meanwhile, it is also an important seismogenic structure in the northeastern Yunnan.

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DISCUSSION OF SEISMOGENIC STRUCTURE OF THE JUNE 24,2012 NINGLANG-YANYUAN MS5.7 EARTHQUAKE
CHANG Zu-feng, YANG Sheng-yong, ZHOU Qing-yun, ZHANG Yan-feng, XIE Ying-qing
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2013, 35 (1): 37-49.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2013.01.003
Abstract1247)      PDF(pc) (7441KB)(896)       Save

The June 24th 2012 Ninglang-Yanyuan MS 5.7 earthquake happened at 30km northwest of the Lijiang-Xiaojinhe Fault, a region seismically active in history and prone to earthquake in northwestern Yunnan. Tectonics in the earthquake region is complex,where two groups of faults are developed,trending NW and NE,respectively,and distributed in a chessboard pattern. Field survey results reveal that there are the NW-trending Yongning Fault and the NE-trending Rigulu-yanwa Fault developed near the epicenter,both are active in late Pleistocene.The Yongning Fault,composed of Wenquan Fault,Yongning Fault,and Alaao Fault,shows obvious fault landforms and clear linear features on satellite imagery.The fault has played an obvious control role in the development of the Yongning Quaternary Basin and Lugu Lake Basin,with several hot springs developed along the fault. Several tributaries of Qiansuo River run along the fault,and there are dextral displacements observed in many parts of the rivers along the fault,such as between Baqi and Haiyijiao,Shancuo village east of Rigulu. Near Alaao,the fault offset the late Pleistocene deposit on the T2 terrace,and the latest TL age of the offset stratum is (21.19±1.80)ka,indicating it is a normal with dextral strike-slip,late Pleistocene active fault.The Rigulu-Wayan Fault has played a noticeable control role in the development of the Tertiary Basins such as Wayan,Rigulu,and Lijiazui and the Quaternary Basin of Yongning. It offset the mid Pleistocene and the upper Pleistocene strata. Between Zhongwadu and Lijiazui,several streams were synchronously displaced left-laterally. There are obvious signs showing the fault was active in the late Pleistocene,dominated by sinistral strike-slip. According to the focal mechanism solutions,the Ninglang-Yanyuan MS 5.7 earthquake is of normal faulting with dextral strike-slip,the attitude of the NW nodal plane is basically consistent to the Yongning Fault,and the seismic rupture pattern is identical to the kinematical characteristic of Yongning Fault.The major axis of the isoseismals,the linear distribution of intensity Ⅷ anomaly sites and the direction of tectonic ground fissures are all consistent to the strike of Yongning Fault. Through analysis,it is believed that Yongning Fault is the seismogenic fault of Ninglang-Yanyuan MS 5.7 earthquake. Furthermore,the 1996 Lijiang M7.0 earthquake,the 1976 Zhongdian M5.5 earthquake and this M5.7 earthquake all have apparent normal dip-slip component. These earthquakes are located in the periphery of the neo-tectonic uplift of Haba Snow Mountain and Yulong Snow Mountain. Based on analyses of regional topography,the normal faulting in this area is most likely related to the gravitational potential energy resulting from the big topography contrast.

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STUDY ON LATE-QUATERNARY ACTIVITY AND DISPLACEMENT OF DRAINAGE SYSTEMS ALONG THE WANDING FAULT
CHANG Zu-feng, AN Xiao-wen, ZHANG Yan-feng
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2012, (2): 228-239.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2012.02.003
Abstract1615)      PDF(pc) (8655KB)(1325)       Save
Wanding Fault lies along the border of west Yunnan,China and Myanmar,striking near EW on the west and NE on the east of Bengdong,dipping to N and NW,with a length of 170km. Recent studies show that there are neotectonic landforms along the fault,represented as clear fault facets,straight fault troughs,fault scarps,linear ridges,multi-level waterfalls,and etc. The fault has played an obvious control role in the development of Quaternary basins,such as Wanding,Manhai,Menglianba,Jiucheng and Wandian Basins etc. ,which show a beaded distribution along the fault. The Quaternary faults near the Longzhen bridge and the displacement of the alluvial fans at Gaijiazhai reveal that the Wanding Fault has offset the late Pleistocene deposits with TL age of(17.60±1.49)ka BP to(38.24±3.25)ka BP,indicating that the fault was obviously active in late Quaternary. The Nujiang River extends along the fault in the Bengdong area,the main river course was offset left-laterally about 9.5km,forming a hairpin-like bend. The Gongyanghe River,Zhongshanhe River,Wanmahe River,Manxinhe River,Mengguhe River,Wandinghe River and their tributaries all run along the Wanding Fault,and there are clear evidences that these river segments are partially or entirely dominated by the fault,suggesting that these segments were formed by tracking erosion along the fault fracture zone after the faults latest activity. Synchronous left-lateral displacement of drainage systems was observed at many parts along the Wanding Fault,such as between Pingziting to Gongyanghe,where 11 streams were synchronously displaced left-laterally,and more than 10 streams between Zhongshan to Wanmahe displaced. The displacements can be divided into 5 levels,i.e.40~50m,90~100m,200~250m,300~400m and 600~1100m. Comb-form rivers are developed along the fault. The synchronous left-lateral displacement of drainage systems and the displacement of terraces and alluvial fans suggest that the Wanding Fault was dominated by horizontal left-lateral slip in late Quaternary,with an average rate of 1.7~2.2mm/yr. Several moderate earthquakes occurred along the fault,which are assumed to be the aftershocks of the May 29,1976 Longling MS7.3 and MS7.4 earthquakes,e.g.the January 26,1946 Myanmar MS6.0 earthquake,and the June 1,1976 Anding MS6.0 earthquake,and the July 4,1976 MS6.0 earthquake at east of Mengbang,Yunnan,etc. These aftershocks are not distributed in a band-like pattern along the Longling-Ruiling Fault-the seismogenic fault,but concentrated in an area of 55km in length and 32km in width between the Longling-Ruili Fault and the Wanding Fault. So,it is inferred that the extensive distribution of the aftershocks is the result of the successive activities of the Longling-Ruili Fault and Wanding Fault.
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GEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF ACTIVITY ALONG THE DAYINGJIANG FAULT SINCE LATE PLEISTOCENE
CHANG Zu-feng, CHEN Gang, YU Jian-qiang
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2011, 33 (4): 877-888.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2011.04.012
Abstract1753)      PDF(pc) (1323KB)(2536)       Save

There are evident neotectonic characteristics along the Dayingjiang Fault,with fault landforms developed,such as fault facet,linear ridges,fault troughs etc. ,and clear linear features in satellite images.The Quaternary Basins of Lianghe,Yingjiang,Sanggang and Xipahe are obviously controlled by the fault.Based on field investigation results at home and abroad in recent years,the fault has displaced the Late Pleistocene or Holocene strata,as revealed by the outcrops at Dapingzi,Binghui,Laoxinzhai and Guangyun.At Binghui village,the age of the displaced stratum is(56.56±4.81)ka BP,and on the fault plane,loosely consolidated gouge is developed.The ages of the displaced strata at Laoxinzhai village are(24.80±2.11)ka BP and(28.80±2.45)ka BP.At Xipahe of Myanmar,there is a fault trench developed on T2 terrace,with 500m in length,12~16m in width and 5~8m in depth,and the terrace formation age is(10.13±0.86)ka BP.It means that the latest active time of Dayingjiang Fault is late-Pleistocene to Holocene,and the fault has been dominated by left-lateral slip,with an average left-slip rate of 1.5~2.5mm/a along the northeastern segment and 1.2~1.6mm/a along the southwestern segment.

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