Maoya hot spring, as a famous earthquake monitoring site, is seldomly studied in terms of its genesis and deep geothermal process. In this paper, we investigated the chemical and isotopic composition of thermal water in Maoya and Maohuo in Litang to elucidate the hydrochemical characteristics and genesis of the geothermal waters.The study results show that Maoya hot springs and Maohuo hot spring are of the Na-HCO3 type as a result of dissolution processes involving feldspars from the reservoir rocks due to the water-CO2-rock interaction during the deep circulation of the geothermal waters. According to the diagram of Cl- and Na+ concentrations of the geothermal water samples, Cl- in Maoya hot spring originates from the mixing of granodiorite and basalt aqueous solutions in the process of water rock interaction, while Cl- in Maohuo hot spring mainly originates from granodiorite aqueous solutions. The stable isotope δD and δ18O composition of geothermal waters indicates that they are recharged by meteoric precipitation. The Maoya hot springs have the characteristics of higher concentration of ion components and slightly oxygen drifting compared with the Maohuo hot spring, indicating that they have a deeper circulation depth and experience a stronger water-rock interaction. In addition, the ratio of Cl-that comes from deep source in Maoya hot springs is higher than that in Maohuo hot spring.The high temperature geothermal water formed by deep circulation of meteoric water is mixed by the shallow cold water during the ascending process. We employed SiO2 geothermometer and Si-enthalpy model to estimate the temperature of shallow reservoir after mixing with cold water and the temperature of deep reservoir and the mixing ratio of cold water, respectively. The results suggest that the temperature of shallow reservoir in Maoya thermal field is in the range of 75~103℃ and the temperature of deep reservoir in Maoya thermal field is about 235℃ and the mixing ratio of cold water ranges from 87% to 94%. Based on the temperature of deep reservoir, we calculated the depth of the geothermal cycle in Maoya area, which is close to 5km.The heat source triggering the formation of this geothermal system mainly originates from mantle and partial melting body of the crust. In addition, Cenozoic granitoid magmatic residual heat and upper crust radioactive heat can also provide additional heat sources. During the process of surface cold water circulation from shallow to deep, on the one hand, it forms deep geothermal water through normal geothermal gradients, and on the other hand, the mantle fluid upwelling below the Litang Basin and partial melting in the middle crust further heat the groundwater to form a high-temperature deep reservoir. The deep geothermal water is transported to the surface along the Litang Fault under the effect of hydrostatic pressure and hydrothermal convection. During ascending process, the first mixing of groundwater with superficial cold water occurred due to the presence of structural cracks in the crust, and the temperature of the mixing water is about 100℃. When the geothermal water migrates to the near surface, it mixes with the pore water and bedrock fissure water in the basin for the second time, and the mixing proportion of cold water increases(about 90%). Finally, it emerges to the surface, forming a group of medium-low temperature hot springs.
The September 5, 2022, M6.8 Luding earthquake occurred along the southeastern segment of the Xianshuihe fault zone. Tectonics around the epicenter area is complicated and several faults had been recognized. Focal mechanisms of the main shock and inversions from earthquake data suggest that the earthquake occurred on a northwest-trending, steeply dipping strike-slip fault, which is consistent with the strike and slip of the Xianshuihe fault zone. We conducted a field investigation along the fault sections on both sides of the epicenter immediately after the earthquake. NW-trending fractures that were recognized as surface ruptures during the earthquake, and heavy landslides along the fault section between Ertaizi-Aiguocun village were observed during the field investigations. There are no surface ruptures developed along the fault sections north of the epicenter and south of Aiguocun village. Thus it can be concluded that there is a 15.5km-long surface rupture zone developed along the Moxi Fault(the section between Ertaizi and Aiguo village). The surface rupture zone trends northwest and shows a left-lateral strike slip, which is consistent with the strike and motion constrained by the focal mechanism. The coseismic displacements were measured to 20~30cm. Field observations, focal fault plane, distribution of the aftershocks, GNSS, and InSAR observation data suggest that the seismogenic structure associated with the M6.8 Luding earthquake is the Moxi Fault that belongs to the southeastern segment of the Xianshuihe fault zone. Slip along the segment south of the epicenter generated this earthquake, and also triggered slip along a northeast-trending fault and the northwestern section of the Moxi Fault in the epicenter. So, the M6.8 Luding earthquake is an event that is nucleated on the section south of the epicenter and then triggered an activity of the whole fault segment.
Surface rupture zone of historical earthquake is the most intuitive geomorphological response to fault activity. The rupture pattern, coseismic displacement and its geometric spatial distribution are important for determining segmentation and long-term movement behaviors of active fault. In the Barkol Basin of Xinjiang, according to the comprehensive result from remote sensing image interpretation, field surgery, high-resolution small unmanned aerial vehicles photography, terrain deformation measurements and trench excavation on geomorphological points, not only the new surface ruptures of the two M71/2 historical earthquakes in Barkol in 1842 and 1914 were found and defined between Xiongkuer and the southwest of Barkol County in southwestern part of the basin, but also the latest deformation evidence of the EW fold-up faults in the eastern part of the Basin was identified.Combined with the ancient document analysis of the two historical earthquakes, we finally conclude that the surface rupture zone in the western segment on the southern margin of the Barkol Basin is the seismogenic structure of the M71/2 earthquake in 1842. The surface rupture zone is mainly characterized by left-lateral strike-slip, roughly with en echelon arrangement spreading from Xiongkuer to the south of Barkol County. The length of the surface rupture zone determined by field investigation is at least about 65km, and the maximum horizontal displacement appears around the Xiongkuer Village. At the same time, the surface rupture zone gradually shows more significant thrust extrusion from west to east, and has a tendency of extension towards the central of the Barkol Basin. The average observed displacement of the entire surface rupture obtained by counting the coseismic offsets of multiple faulted gullies is(4.1±1.0)m, with the coseismic characteristic displacement of ~4m. The epicenter position should appear at the place with the largest horizontal dislocation amount near Xiongkuer Village.In addition, the length of the fold-blind fault zone in the vicinity of the Kuisu Town and the eastward extension to the Yanchi Township of the Yiwu Basin, which was discovered in the center of the Barkol Basin, is about 90km. The folded blind fault causes significant fold deformation in the latest sedimentary strata such as floodplain, and in addition, as shown on many outcrop sections, the bending-moment faults associated with the coseismic fold deformation have ruptured the surface. Therefore, the location of the epicenter should be located at the maximum fold deformation, which is near the Kuisu Town. The new research results not only further improve the understanding of the epicenter location and seismogenic faults of the two historical earthquakes in the Barkol Basin, but also provide an important reference for analyzing regional seismic hazards.
The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake occurred along the Longmen Shan fault zone, only five years later, another M7 Lushan earthquake struck the southern segment where its seismic risk has been highly focused by multiple geoscientists since this event. Through geological investigations and paleoseismic trenching, we suggest that the segment along the Shuangshi-Dachuan Fault at south of the seismogenic structure of the Lushan earthquake is active during Holocene. Along the fault, some discontinuous fault trough valleys developed and the fault dislocated the late Quaternary strata as the trench exposed. Based on analysis of historical records of earthquakes, we suggest that the epicenter of the 1327 Tianquan earthquake should be located near Tianquan and associated with the Shuangshi-Dachuan Fault. Furthermore, we compared the ranges of felt earthquakes(the 2013 M7 Lushan earthquake and the 1970 MS6.2 Dayi earthquake)and suggest that the magnitude of the 1327 Tianquan earthquake is more possible between 6½ and 7. The southern segment of the Longmen Shan fault zone behaves as a thrust fault system consisting of several sub-paralleled faults and its deep structure shows multiple layers of decollement, which might disperse strain accumulation effectively and make the thrust system propagate forward into the foreland basin, creating a new decollement on a gypsum-salt bed. The soft bed is thick and does not facilitate to constrain fault deformation and accumulate strain, which produces a weak surface tectonic expression and seismic activity along the southern segment, this is quite different from that of the middle and northern segments of the Longmen Shan fault zone.
The April 20,2013,MS 7.0 Lushan earthquake occurred along the southwestern part of the Longmen Shan Fault zone. Tectonics around the epicenter area is complicated and several NE-trending faults are developed. Focal mechanisms of the main shock and inversions from finite fault model suggest that the earthquake occurred on a northeast-trending,moderately dipping reverse fault,which is consistent with the strike and slip of the Longmen Shan Fault zone. NE-trending ground fissures and soil liquefaction along the fissures,heavy landslides along the Dachuan-Shuangshi and Xinkaidian Faults were observed during the field investigations. No surface ruptures were found in the field work. GPS data indicate that the fault on which this earthquake occurred is a fault east of or near the Lushan county and the earthquake also triggered slip on the fault west of the Lushan county. Field observations,GPS data,focal fault plane,focal depth,and distribution of the aftershocks suggest, that the seismogenic structure associated with the MS 7.0 Lushan earthquake is the décollement beneath the folds of the eastern Longmen Shan. Slip along this decollement generated the earthquake,and also triggered the slip along the Dachuan-Shuangshi and Xinkaidian Faults.
On April 20,2013,a strong earthquake of MS 7.0 struck the Lushan County,Sichuan Province of China. In this paper,basic information of the April 20,2013 Lushan earthquake,historical earthquakes in the Lushan earthquake struck area and associated historical earthquake-triggered landslides were introduced firstly. We delineated the probable spatial distribution boundary of landslides triggered by the Lushan earthquake based on correlations between the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake-triggered landslides and associated peak ground acceleration(PGA).According to earthquake-triggered landslides classification principles,landslides triggered by the earthquake are divided into three main categories: disrupted landslides,coherent landslides,and flow landslides. The first main category includes five types: rock falls,disrupted rock slides,rock avalanches,soil falls,and disrupted soil slides. The second main category includes two types of soil slumps and slow earth flows. The type of flow landslides is mainly rapid flow slides. Three disrupted landslides,including rock falls,disrupted rock slides,and soil falls are the most common types of landslides triggered by the earthquake. We preliminary mapped 3883 landslides based on available high-resolution aerial photographs taken soon after the earthquake. In addition,the effect of aftershocks on the landslides,comparisons of landslides triggered by the Lushan earthquake with landslides triggered by other earthquake events,and guidance for subsequent landslides detailed interpretation based on high-resolution remote sensing images were discussed respectively. In conclusion,based on quick field investigations to the Lushan earthquake,the classifications,morphology of source area,motion and accumulation area of many earthquake-triggered landslides were recorded before the landslide might be reconstructed by human factors,aftershocks,and rainfall etc. It has important significance to earthquake-triggered landslide hazard mitigation in earthquake struck area and the scientific research of subsequent landslides related to the Lushan earthquake.
In recent years,many big earthquakes(M≥7) struck China and other nations.These big earthquakes may indicate that the earth is in a globally seismic active period.Therefore,in order to mitigate future earthquake disasters,the assessment of future big earthquake risk for major active boundary faults has been done as an important approach for mitigation.In this paper,our focus area is Northern Qilianshan-Hexi Corridor locating in northeastern of Qinghai-Tibet plateau.We collected and summarized the active faults' data sets systematically,e.g.geometrical characteristic,slip rate,rupture segmentation,latest rupture event and paleo-earthqakes.And based on these data sets,we use the methods of seismic gap identification and b value mapping to analyze the characteristics of historical earthquakes and b value.And then,high risk zones or faults of big earthquakes were identified synthetically.We think the Northern Yumushan Fault has the most probability of generating big earthquake in the future.Because the elapse time from the last event is long and b value along it is remarkably low,which betokens high stress.Meanwhile, attention should be paid too to the Jiayuguan Fault,where seismic gap and low b value zone exist too.