Located in the intervening zone between Tibetan plateau and surrounding blocks, the Lintan-Dangchang Fault(LDF)is characterized by north-protruding arc-shape, complex structures and intense fault activity. Quantitative studies on its new activity play a key role in searching the seismogenic mechanism, building regional tectonic model and understanding the tectonic interaction between Tibetan plateau and surrounding blocks. The LDF has strong neotectonic activities, and moderate-strong earthquakes occur frequently(three M6~7 earthquakes occurred in the past 500 years, including the July 22nd, 2013, Minxian-Zhangxian M_S6.6 earthquake), but the new activity of the fault is poorly known, the geological and geomorphological evidence of the Holocene activity has not been reported yet. Based on remote sensing interpretation and macro-landform analysis, this paper studies the long-term performance of LDF. Based on the study of fault activity, unmanned aircraft vehicle photogrammetry and differential GPS, radiocarbon dating, etc., the latest activity of LDF is quantitatively studied. Then the research results, historical strong earthquakes and small earthquake distribution are comprehensively analyzed for studying the seismogenic mechanism and constructing regional tectonic models. The results are as follows: Firstly, the fault geometry is complex and there are many branch faults. According to the convergence degree of the fault trace and the fault-controlled macroscopic topography, the LDF is divided into three segments: the west, the middle and the east. The west segment contains two fault branches(the south and the north)and the south Hezuo Fault. The south branch of the west segment mainly dominates the Jicang Neogene Basin, and the south Hezuo Fault controls the south boundary of Hezuo Basin. The middle segment has more convergent and stable trace, consisting of the main fault and south Hezuo Fault, and these faults separate the main planation surface of the Tibetan plateau and Lintan Basin surface geologically and geomorphologically. The fault traces in the east segment are sparsely distributed, and the terrain is characterized by hundreds of meters of uplifts. The branch faults include the main fault, Hetuo Fault, Muzhailing Fault and Bolinkou Fault, each controlling differential topography. Secondly, the motion property of the LDF is mainly left-lateral strike-slip, with a relative smaller portion of vertical slip. The left-lateral strike-slip offset the Taohe River and its tributaries, gullies and ridges synchronously, and the maximum left-lateral displacement of the tributary of Taohe River can reach 3km. Meanwhile, the pull-apart basins and push-up ridges associated with the left-lateral fault slip are also developed in the fault zone. The performance of vertical slip includes tilting of the main planation surface, vertical offsets of the boundary and interior of Neogene basin and hundred meter-scale differential topography. The vertical offset of the Neogene is 300~500m. Thirdly, one fault profile was newly discovered in Gongqia Village, revealing a complete sequence of pre-earthquake-coseismic-postseismic deposition, and this event was constrained by the radiocarbon ages of pre-earthquake and post-earthquake deposition. The event was constrained to be 2090~7745aBP(confidence 2σ), which for the first time confirmed the Holocene activity of the fault. Fourthly, a gully with two terraces at least on the west side of Zhuangzi Village in the east segment of the main fault retains a typical faulted landform. The T2/T1 terrace riser of the gully has a left-handed dislocation of 6.3~11.8m, and the scarp height on terrace T2 is 0.4~0.7m, the radiocarbon age of the terrace T2 is7170~7310aBP, so the derived left-lateral strike-slip rate since the early Holocene in the east segment of the main fault is 0.86~1.65mm/a, and the vertical slip rate is 0.05~0.10mm/a. The derived slip rates are in line with the regional tectonic model proposed by the predecessors, so the LDF plays an important role in the internal deformation of the West Qinling. The clockwise rotation of the middle to east segments of the LDF acts as an obstacle to the left-lateral strike-slip motion, which inevitably leads to the redistribution and rapid release of stress, so earthquakes in the middle-east segment of the LDF are unusually frequent.

The Daqingshan Fault located in the northern margin of the Hetao Basin has experienced intensive activity since late Quaternary, which is of great significance to the molding of the present geomorphology. Since basin geomorphological factors can be used to reflect regional geomorphological type and development characteristics, the use of typical geomorphology characteristics indexes may reveal the main factors that control the formation of topography. In recent years, more successful research experience has been accumulated by using hypsometric integral(HI) values and channel steepness index(k_sn)to quantitatively obtain geomorphic parameters to reveal regional tectonic uplift information. The rate of bedrock uplifting can be reflected by channel steepness index, the region with steep gradient has high rate of bedrock uplifting, while the region with slower slope has low rate of bedrock uplifting. The tectonic uplift can shape the geomorphic characteristics by changing the elevation fluctuation of mountains in study area, and then affect the hypsometric integral values distribution trend, thus, the HI value can be used to reflect the intensity of regional tectonic activity, with obvious indicating effect.
Knick point can be formed by fault activity, and the information of knick point and its continuous migration to upstream can be recorded along the longitudinal profile of stream. Therefore, it is possible and feasible to obtain the information of tectonic activity from the geomorphic characteristics of Daqinshan area. The research on the quantitative analysis of regional large-scale tectonic activities in the Daqingshan area of the Yellow River in the Hetao Basin is still deficient so far. Taking this area as an example, based on the method of hypsometric integral(HI) and channel steepness index(k_sn), we use the DEM data with 30m resolution and GIS spatial analysis technology to extract the networks of drainage system and seven sub-basins. Then, we calculate the hypsometric integral(HI) values of each sub-basin and fit its spatial distribution characteristics. Finally, we obtain the values of channel steepness index and its fitting spatial distribution characteristics based on the improved Chi-plot bedrock analysis method. Combining the extraction results of geomorphic parameters with the characteristics of fault activity, we attempt to explore the characteristics of drainage system development and the response of stream profile and geomorphology to tectonic activities in the Daqingshan section of the Yellow River Basin.
The results show that the values of the hypsometric integral in the Daqingshan drainage area are medium, between 0.5~0.6, and the Strahler curve of each tributary is S-shaped, suggesting that the geomorphological development of the Daqingshan area is in its prime, and the tectonic activity and erosion is strong. Continuous low HI value is found in the tectonic subsidence area on the hanging wall of the Daqingshan Fault. The distribution characteristics of the HI value reveal that the Daqingshan Fault controls the geomorphic difference between basin and mountain. Longitudinal profiles of the river reveal the existence of many knick points. The steepness index of river distributes in high value along the trend of mountain which lies in the tectonic uplift area on the footwall of the Daqingshan Fault. It reflects that the bedrock uplift rate of Daqingshan area is faster. The distribution characteristics of the channel steepness index show that the uplift amplitude of Daqingshan area is strong and the bedrock is rapidly uplifted, which is significantly different from the subsidence amplitude in the depression basin at the south margin of the fault, indicating that the main power source controlling the basin mountain differential movement comes from Daqingshan Fault. Based on the comparison and analysis on tectonic, lithology and climate, there is no obvious corresponding relationship between the difference of rock erosion resistance and the change of geomorphic parameters, and the precipitation has little effect on the geomorphic transformation of Daqingshan area, and its contribution to the geomorphic development is limited. Thus, we think the lithology and rainfall conditions have limited impact on the hypsometric integral, longitudinal profiles of the river and channel steepness index. Lithology maybe has some influences on the channel knick points, while tectonic activity of piedmont faults is the main controlling factor that causes the unbalanced characteristics of the longitudinal profile of the channel and plays a crucial role in the development of the channel knick points. So, tectonic activity of the Daqingshan Fault is the main factor controlling the uplift and geomorphic evolution of the Daqingshan area.