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GENESIS AND DEEP GEOTHERMAL PROCESS OF MAOYA HOT SPRINGS IN LITANG, WESTERN SICHUAN
SHEN Hua-liang, YANG Yao, ZHOU Zhi-hua, RUI Xue-lian, LIAO Xiao-feng, ZHAO De-yang, LIANG Ming-jian, CHEN Meng-die, GUAN Zhi-jun, REN Hong-wei
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2023, 45 (3): 689-709.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2023.03.006
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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.

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THE 2022 M6.8 LUDING EARTHQUAKE: A COMPLICATED EVENT BY FAULTING OF THE MOXI SEGMENT OF THE XIANSHUIHE FAULT ZONE
LI Chuan-you, SUN Kai, MA Jun, LI Jun-jie, LIANG Ming-jian, FANG Li-hua
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2022, 44 (6): 1648-1666.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2022.06.017
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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.

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LATE QUATERNARY ACTIVITY OF THE CENTRAL SEGMENT OF THE DARI FAULT AND RESTUDY OF THE SURFACE RUPTURE ZONE OF THE 1947 M73/4 DARI EARTHQUAKE, QINGHAI PROVINCE
LIANG Ming-jian, YANG Yao, DU Fang, GONG Yue, SUN Wei, ZHAO Min, HE Qiang
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2020, 42 (3): 703-714.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2020.03.011
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Bayan Hara Block is one of the most representative active blocks resulting from the lateral extrusion of Tibet Plateau since the Cenozoic. Its southern and northern boundary faults are characterized by typical strike-slip shear deformation. Its eastern boundary is blocked by the Yangze block and its horizontal movement is transformed into the vertical movement of the Longmen Shan tectonic belt, leading to the uplift of the Longmen Shan Mountains and forming a grand geomorphic barrier on the eastern margin of the Tibet Plateau. A series of large earthquakes occurred along the boundary faults of the Bayan Hara Block in the past twenty years, which have attracted attention of many scholars. At present, the related studies of active tectonics on Bayan Hara Block are mainly concentrated on the boundary faults, such as Yushu-Ganzi-Xianshuihe Fault, East Kunlun Fault and Longmen Shan Fault. However, there are also some large faults inside the block, which not only have late Quaternary activity, but also have tectonic conditions to produce strong earthquake. These faults divide the Bayan Hara Block into some secondary blocks, and may play important roles in the kinematics and dynamics mechanism of the Bayan Hara Block, or even the eastern margin of the Tibet Plateau. The Dari Fault is one of the left-lateral strike-slip faults in the Bayan Hara Block. The Dari Fault starts at the eastern pass of the Kunlun Mountains, extends eastward through the south of Yalazela, Yeniugou and Keshoutan, the fault strike turns to NNE direction at Angcanggou, then turns to NE direction again at Moba town, Qinghai Province, and the fault ends near Nanmuda town, Sichuan Province, with a total length of more than 500km. The fault has been considered to be a late Quaternary active fault and the 1947 M73/4 Dari earthquake was produced by its middle segment. But studies on the late Quaternary activity of the Dari Fault are still weak. The previous research mainly focused on the investigation of the surface rupture and damages of the 1947 M73/4 Dari earthquake. However, there were different opinions about the scale of the M73/4 earthquake surface rupture zone. Dai Hua-guang(1983)thought that the surface rupture of the earthquake was about 150km long, but Qinghai Earthquake Agency(1984)believed that the length of surface rupture zone was only 58km. Based on interpretation of high-resolution images and field investigations, in this paper, we studied the late Quaternary activity of the Dari Fault and the surface rupture zone of the 1947 Dari earthquake. Late Quaternary activity in the central segment of the Dari Fault is particularly significant. A series of linear tectonic landforms, such as fault trough valley, fault scarps, fault springs and gully offsets, etc. are developed along the Dari Fault. And the surface rupture zone of the 1947 Dari earthquake is still relatively well preserved. We conducted a follow-up field investigation for the surface rupture zone of the 1947 Dari earthquake and found that the surface rupture related to the Dari earthquake starts at Longgen village in Moba town, and ends near the northwest of the Yilonggounao in Jianshe town, with a length of about 70km. The surface rupture is primarily characterized by scarps, compressional ridges, pull-apart basins, landslides, cleavage, and the coseismic offset is about 2~4m determined by a series of offset gullies. The surface rupture zone extends to the northwest of Yilonggounao and becomes ambiguous. It is mainly characterized by a series of linear fault springs along the surface rupture zone. Therefore, we suggest that the surface rupture zone of the 1947 Dari earthquake ends at the northwest of Yilonggounao. In summary, the central segment of the Dari Fault can be characterized by strong late Quaternary activity, and the surface rupture zone of the 1947 Dari earthquake is about 70km long.
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LATE-QUATERNARY ACTIVITY OF THE YALAHE FAULT OF THE XIANSHUIHE FAULT ZONE, EASTERN MARGIN OF THE TIBET PLATEAU
LIANG Ming-jian, CHEN Li-chun, RAN Yong-kang, LI Yan-bao, WANG Dong, GAO Shuai-po, HAN Ming-ming, ZENG Di
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2020, 42 (2): 513-525.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2020.02.016
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Complex geometrical structures on strike-slip faults would likely affect fault behavior such as strain accumulation and distribution, seismic rupture process, etc. The Xianshuihe Fault has been considered to be a Holocene active strike-slip fault with a high horizontal slip rate along the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. During the past 300 years, the Xianshuihe Fault produced 8 earthquakes with magnitude≥7 along the whole fault and showed strong activities of large earthquakes. Taking the Huiyuansi Basin as a structure boundary, the northwestern and southeastern segments of the Xianshuihe Fault show different characteristics. The northwestern segment, consisting of the Luhuo, Daofu and Qianning sections, shows a left-stepping en echelon pattern by simple fault strands. However, the southeastern segment(Huiyuansi-Kangding segment)has a complex structure and is divided into three sub-faults: the Yalahe, Selaha and Zheduotang Faults. To the south of Kangding County, the Moxi segment of the Xianshuihe Fault shows a simple structure. The previous studies suggest that the three sub-faults(the Yalahe, Selaha and Zheduotang Faults of the Huiyuansi-Kangding segment)unevenly distribute the strain of the northwestern segment of the Xianshuihe Fault. However, the disagreement of the new activity of the Yalahe Fault limits the understanding of the strain distribution model of the Huiyuansi-Kangding segment. Most scholars believed that the Yalahe Fault is a Holocene active fault. However, Zhang et al.(2017)used low-temperature thermochronology to study the cooling history of the Gongga rock mass, and suggested that the Yalahe Fault is now inactive and the latest activity of the Xianshuihe Fault has moved westward over the Selaha Fault. The Yalahe Fault is the only segment of the Xianshuihe Fault that lacks records of the strong historical earthquakes. Moreover, the Yalahe Fault is located in the alpine valley area, and the previous traffic conditions were very bad. Thus, the previous research on fault activity of the fault relied mainly on the interpretation of remote sensing, and the uncertainty was relatively large. Through remote sensing and field investigation, we found the geological and geomorphological evidence for Holocene activity of the Yalahe Fault. Moreover, we found a well-preserved seismic surface rupture zone with a length of about 10km near the Yariacuo and the co-seismic offsets of the earthquake are about 2.5~3.5m. In addition, we also advance the new active fault track of the Yalahe Fault to Yala Town near Kangding County. In Wangmu and Yala Town, we found the geological evidence for the latest fault activity that the Holocene alluvial fans were dislocated by the fault. These evidences suggest that the Yalahe Fault is a Holocene active fault, and has the seismogenic tectonic condition to produce a large earthquake, just like the Selaha and Zheduotang Faults. These also provide seismic geological evidence for the strain distribution model of the Kangding-Huiyuansi segment of the Xianshuihe Fault.
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STUDY ON SOURCE PARAMETERS OF THE 8 AUGUST 2017 M7.0 JIUZHAIGOU EARTHQUAKE AND ITS AFTERSHOCKS, NORTHERN SICHUAN
WU Wei-wei, WEI Ya-ling, LONG Feng, LIANG Ming-jian, CHEN Xue-fen, SUN Wei, ZHAO Jing
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2020, 42 (2): 492-512.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2020.02.015
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On August 8, 2017, a strong earthquake of M7.0 occurred in Jiuzhaigou County, Aba Prefecture, northern Sichuan. The earthquake occurred on a branch fault at the southern end of the eastern section of the East Kunlun fault zone. In the northwest of the aftershock area is the Maqu-Maqin seismic gap, which is in a locking state under high stress. Destructive earthquakes are frequent along the southeast direction of the aftershocks area. In Songpan-Pingwu area, only 50~80km away from the Jiuzhaigou earthquake, two M7.2 earthquakes and one M6.7 earthquake occurred from August 16 to 23, 1976. Therefore, the Jiuzhaigou earthquake was an earthquake that occurred at the transition part between the historical earthquake fracture gap and the neotectonic active area. Compared with other M7.0 earthquakes, there are few moderate-strong aftershocks following this Jiuzhaigou earthquake, and the maximum magnitude of aftershocks is much smaller than the main shock. There is no surface rupture zone discovered corresponding to the M7.0 earthquake. In order to understand the feature of source structure and the tectonic environment of the source region, we calculate the parameters of the initial earthquake catalogue by Loc3D based on the digital waveform data recorded by Sichuan seismic network and seismic phase data collected by the China Earthquake Networks Center. Smaller events in the sequence are relocated using double-difference algorithm; source mechanism solutions and centroid depths of 29 earthquakes with ML≥3.4 are obtained by CAP method. Moreover, the source spectrum of 186 earthquakes with 2.0≤ML≤5.5 is restored and the spatial distribution of source stress drop along faults is obtained. According to the relocations and focal mechanism results, the Jiuzhaigou M7.0 earthquake is a high-angle left-lateral strike-slip event. The earthquake sequence mainly extends along the NW-SE direction, with the dominant focal depth of 4~18km. There are few shallow earthquakes and few earthquakes with depth greater than 20km. The relocation results show that the distribution of aftershocks is bounded by the M7.0 main shock, which shows obvious segmental characteristics in space, and the aftershock area is divided into NW segment and SE segment. The NW segment is about 16km long and 12km wide, with scattered and less earthquakes, the dominant focal depth is 4~12km, the source stress drop is large, and the type of focal mechanism is complicated. The SE segment is about 20km long and 8km wide, with concentrated earthquakes, the dominant depth is 4~12km, most moderate-strong earthquakes occurred in the depth between 11~14km. Aftershock activity extends eastward from the start point of the M7.0 main earthquake. The middle-late-stage aftershocks are released intensively on this segment, most of them are strike-slip earthquakes. The stress drop of the aftershock sequence gradually decreases with time. Principal stress axis distribution also shows segmentation characteristics. On the NW segment, the dominant azimuth of P axis is about 91.39°, the average elevation angle is about 20.80°, the dominant azimuth of T axis is NE-SW, and the average elevation angle is about 58.44°. On the SE segment, the dominant azimuth of P axis is about 103.66°, the average elevation angle is about 19.03°, the dominant azimuth of T axis is NNE-SSW, and the average elevation angle is about 15.44°. According to the fault profile inferred from the focal mechanism solution, the main controlling structure in the source area is in NW-SE direction, which may be a concealed fault or the north extension of Huya Fault. The northwest end of the fault is limited to the horsetail structure at the east end of the East Kunlun Fault, and the SE extension requires clear seismic geological evidence. The dip angle of the NW segment of the seismogenic fault is about 65°, which may be a reverse fault striking NNW and dipping NE. According to the basic characteristics of inverse fault ruptures, the rupture often extends short along the strike, the rupture length is often disproportionate to the magnitude of the earthquake, and it is not easy to form a rupture zone on the surface. The dip angle of the SE segment of the seismogenic fault is about 82°, which may be a strike-slip fault that strikes NW and dips SW. The fault plane solution shows significant change on the north and south sides of the main earthquake, and turns gradually from compressional thrust to strike-slip movement, with a certain degree of rotation.
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GEOMETRIC DISTRIBUTION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SURFACE RUPTURE OF TWO HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKES IN THE BARKOL BASIN, XINJIANG
XU Liang-xin, RAN Yong-kang, LIANG Ming-jian, WU Fu-yao, GAO Shuai-po, WANG Hu
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2020, 42 (1): 1-17.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2020.01.001
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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.

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DETERMINATION OF SLIP RATE ON THE SOUTHERN SEGMENT OF THE ANNINGHE FAULT
WANG Hu, RAN Yong-kang, CHEN Li-chun, LIANG Ming-jian, GAO Shuai-po, LI Yan-bao, XU Liang-xin
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2018, 40 (5): 967-979.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2018.05.002
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The Anninghe Fault has been suggested as an important segment of the fault system along the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan faulted block in the southeastern region of the Tibetan plateau. Reliable determination of the Late Quaternary slip rate on the Anninghe Fault is very helpful and significant for revealing deformation mechanism and kinematic characteristics of the Sichuan-Yunnan faulted block, which further helps us understand fault activity and seismic potential of the region. However, previous studies were focused mainly on the northern segment of the Anninghe Fault, while slip rate on its southern segment has been less studied. Therefore, in this paper, we chose two sites at Dashuigou and Maoheshan on the southern segment of the Anninghe Fault, and used high-resolution images of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)photogrammetry technology, detailed field survey, multiple paleoseismic trenching and radiocarbon dating methods to constrain slip rate on the southern fault segment of the Anninghe Fault. Specifically, we suggest that the slip rate at the Dashuigouo site is narrowly constrained to be~4.4mm/a since about 3300aBP based on a linear regression calculation method, and speculate that a slip rate of 2.6~5.2mm/a at the Maoheshan site would be highly possible, although we poorly constrained the whole deformation amount of the two branch faults at the Maoheshan site from multiple paleoseismic trenching. The data at the two sites on the southern segment show a consistent slip rate compared with that of the northern segment of the Anninghe Fault. Moreover, considering a similar paleoseismic recurrence interval on the two segments of the Anninghe Fault from previous studies, we further suggest that the fault activity and deformation pattern on the two segments of the Annignhe Fault appears to be well consistent, which is also in agreement with the regional tectonic deformation.
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EARTHQUAKE FOCAL MECANISMS IN THE DALIANGSHAN SUB-BLOCK AND ADJACENT AREAS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGIONAL STRESS FIELD
QI Yu-ping, ZHANG Zhi-wei, LONG Feng, XIAO Ben-fu, LIANG Ming-jian, LU Qian, JIANG Peng
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2018, 40 (2): 377-395.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2018.02.007
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The Daliangshan sub-block is a boundary region among the Bayan Har block, the Sichuan-Yunnan block and the South China block. It hosts four major fault systems:The southwest to south trending Xianshuihe-Zemuhe Fault zone in the west, the Longmenshan fault zone is the northern boundary, the Zhaotong-Lianfeng fault zone in the south, and the NS-trending Mabian-Yanjin fault zone in the east. This study focused on focal mechanisms and the regional stress field of the Daliangshan sub-block to help understand the earthquake preparation process, tectonic deformation and seismic stress interaction in this area. We collected broadband waveform records from the Sichuan Seismic Network and used multiple 1-D velocity models to determine the focal mechanisms of moderate and large earthquakes(ML ≥ 3.5)in the Daliangshan sub-block by using the CAP method. Results for 276 earthquakes from Jan 2010 to Aug 2016 show that the earthquakes are dominated by strike-slip and trust faulting, very few events have normal faulting and the mixed type. We then derived the regional distribution of the stress field through a damp linear inversion(DRSSI)using the focal mechanisms obtained in this study. Inversion results for the spatial pattern of the stress field in the block suggest that the entire region is predominantly under strike-slip and trust faulting regimes, largely consistent with the focal mechanisms. The direction of maximum compression axes is NW-NWW, and part of the area is slightly rotated, which is consistent with the GPS velocity field. Combining geodynamic background, this work suggests that because the Sichuan-Yunnan block is moving to SE and the Tibetan plateau to SE-E along major strike-slip faults, the stress field of the Daliangshan sub-block and its adjacent regions is controlled jointly by the Bayan Har block, the Sichuan-Yunnan block and the South China block.
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SEISMOGENIC STRUCTURE OF THE M4.9 AND M5.1 LITANG EARTHQUAKES ON 23 SEPTEMBER 2016 IN SOUTHWESTERN CHINA
YI Gui-xi, LONG Feng, LIANG Ming-jian, ZHANG Zhi-wei, ZHAO Min, QI Yu-ping, GONG Yue, QIAO Hui-zhen, WANG Zhi, WANG Si-wei, SHUAI Li-rong
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2017, 39 (5): 949-963.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.05.006
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On 23 September 2016, two earthquakes with magnitude of M4.9 and M5.1 occurred successively near Litang city in Sichuan Province, southwestern China. These two events are located between two large-scale fault zones, i.e., the Jinshajiang and Litang faults, in the northwest of the Sichuan-Yuannan active block, eastern Tibetan plateau. Based on the phase data and waveform data from the Sichuan regional seismic network, the M4.9 and M5.0 mainshocks and 390 aftershocks have been relocated using the multi-step locating method, and the focal mechanism solutions and centroid depths for the two mainshocks were calculated by the CAP waveform inversion method. From the spatial distribution of the relocated aftershocks and fault plane solutions of the two mainshocks, combining with the seismic intensity map and tectonic setting, we suggested that the two earthquakes were generated by the E-W trending northward dipping Hagala fault. The nodal plane consistent with the strike and dip of the Hagala fault is interpreted as the coseismic rupture plane with a dip angle of 44° for both the M4.9 and M5.1 earthquakes. And we inferred that the M4.9 and M5.1 earthquakes may be resulted from the nearly E-W striking Hagala normal faulting in the upper crust between the Litang and Batang regions due to the continuous eastward extrusion of the material of the Qiangtang block in the west.
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USING UAV PHOTOGRAMMETRY TECHNOLOGY TO EXTRACT INFORMATION OF TECTONIC ACTIVITY OF COMPLEX ALLUVIAL FAN——A CASE STUDY OF AN ALLUVIAL FAN IN THE SOUTHERN MARGIN OF BARKOL BASIN
GAO Shuai-po, RAN Yong-kang, WU Fu-yao, XU Liang-xin, WANG Hu, LIANG Ming-jian
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2017, 39 (4): 793-804.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.04.013
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Alluvial fans that are in the process of development always show complex geomorphic features due to natural modification. Accordingly, analyzing these fans whether to be influenced by tectonic deformation is one of the technique difficulties in active tectonic studies. Complex alluvial fans are the focus of the study of active tectonics such as fracture mapping and activity behavior analysis, for they have often retained important structural information. Traditional measurement methods, such as satellite remote sensing, RTK GPS and Lidar, are difficult to meet the demand for the study of micro tectonic deformation because of the reason of accuracy or cost performance. The recent UAV photogrammetry technology, due to its many advantages such as low cost, high resolution, and efficiency of exporting DEM and DOM data, has been widely used in three-dimensional modeling, ground mapping and other fields. In the quantitative study of active tectonics, this technology fills up the deficiency in the research of the micro structure of the traditional measurement. Through detailed field investigations and paleoseismic trenching, we further used this technology to obtain the topographic data of a complex alluvial fan located at the southern marginal fault of Barkol Basin, Xinjiang. Pointing at the alluvial fans that are in the process of development, and on the basis of topographic analysis and image processing for DEM, we take the research method of secondary partitions of the geomorphic surface and cut the alluvial fans longitudinally according to the difference of its age. Through the establishment of profile cluster within each partition, separate analysis and data contrast with the adjacent partitions, we acquired the tectonic activity information during the development of alluvial fan. The tectonic vertical deformation of this alluvial fan is about 2.5m.
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HOLOCENE PALAEOSEISMOLOGIC RECORD AND RUPTURE BEHAVIOR OF LARGE EARTHQUAKES ON THE XIANSHUIHE FAULT
LI Dong-yu, CHEN Li-chun, LIANG Ming-jian, GAO Shuai-po, ZENG Di, WANG Hu, LI Yan-bao
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2017, 39 (4): 623-643.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.04.001
Abstract1049)   HTML    PDF(pc) (18149KB)(957)       Save
The Xianshuihe Fault, the boundary of Bayan Har active tectonic block and Sichuan-Yunnan active tectonic block, is one of the most active fault zones in the world. In the past nearly 300 years, 9 historical earthquakes of magnitude ≥ 7 have been recorded. Since 2008, several catastrophic earthquakes, such as Wenchuan MS8 earthquake, Yushu MS7.1 earthquake and Lushan MS7 earthquake, have occurred on the other Bayan Har block boundary fault zones. However, only the Kangding MS6.3 earthquake in 2014 was documented on the Xianshuihe Fault. Thus, the study of surface deformation and rupture behavior of large earthquakes in the late Quaternary on the Xianshuihe Fault is of fundamental importance for understanding the future seismic risk of this fault, and even the entire western Sichuan region. On the basis of the former work, combined with our detailed geomorphic and geological survey, we excavated a combined trench on the Qianning segment of Xianshuihe fault zone which has a long elapse time. Charcoal and woods in the trench are abundant. 30 samples were dated to constrain the ages of the paleoseismic events. Five events were identified in the past 9  000 years, whose ages are:8070-6395 BC, 5445-5125 BC, 4355-4180 BC, 625-1240 AD and the Qianning earthquake in 1893. The large earthquake recurrence behavior on this segment does not follow the characteristic earthquake recurrence model. The recurrence interval is 1000~2000 years in early period and in turn there is a quiet period of about 5 000 years after 4355-4180 BC event. Then it enters the active period again. Two earthquakes with surface rupture occurred in the past 1000 years and the latest two earthquakes may have lower magnitude. The left-lateral coseismic displacement of the 1893 Qianning earthquake is about 2.9m.
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NEW EVIDENCES FOR LATE QUATERNARY ACTIVITY IN THE SOUTHERN SEGMENT OF THE YISHU-TANGTOU FAULT, THE TAN-LU FAULT ZONE, AND ITS TECTONIC IMPLICATION
CAO Jun, XU Han-gang, RAN Yong-kang, LIANG Ming-jian, LEI Sheng-xue, ZHANG Peng, LI Li-mei, GU Qin-ping, ZHAO Qi-guang
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2017, 39 (2): 287-303.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2017.02.003
Abstract1072)   HTML    PDF(pc) (10673KB)(475)       Save
The Tan-Lu Fault Zone(TLFZ), a well-known lithosphere fault zone in eastern China, is a boundary tectonic belt of the secondary block within the North China plate, and its seismic risk has always been a focus problem. Previous studies were primarily conducted on the eastern graben faults of the Yishu segment where there are historical earthquake records, but the faults in western graben have seldom been involved. So, there has been no agreement about the activity of the western graben fault from the previous studies. This paper focuses on the activity of the two buried faults in the western graben along the southern segment of Yishu through combination of shallow seismic reflection profile and composite drilling section exploration.
Shallow seismic reflection profile reveals that the Tangwu-Gegou Fault(F4)only affects the top surface of Suqian Formation, therefore, the fault may be an early Quaternary fault. The Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F3)has displaced the upper Pleistocene series in the shallow seismic reflection profile, suggesting that the fault may be a late Pleistocene active fault. Drilling was implemented in Caiji Town and Lingcheng Town along the Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F3)respectively, and the result shows that the latest activity time of Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F3)is between(91.2±4.4)ka and(97.0±4.8)ka, therefore, the fault belongs to late Pleistocene active fault.
Combined with the latest research on the activity of other faults along TLFZ, both faults in eastern and western graben were active during the late Pleistocene in the southern segment of the Yishu fault zone, however, only the fault in eastern graben was active in the Holocene. This phenomenon is the tectonic response to the subduction of the Pacific and Philippine Sea Plate and collision between India and Asian Plate. The two late Quaternary active faults in the Yishu segment of TLFZ are deep faults and present different forms on the surface and in near surface according to studies of deep seismic reflection profile, seismic wave function and seismic relocation. Considering the tectonic structure of the southern segment of Yishu fault zone, the relationship between deep and shallow structures, and the impact of 1668 Tancheng earthquake(M=8(1/2)), the seismogenic ability of moderate-strong earthquake along the Yishui-Tangtou Fault(F3)can't be ignored.
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THE DISCUSSION FOR THE NEW ACTIVITY OF THE TIANQUAN SEGMENT OF LONGMENSHAN FAULT ZONE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO THE 1327 TIANQUAN EARTHQUAKE, SICHUAN
LIANG Ming-jian, CHEN Li-chun, RAN Yong-kang, WANG Hu, LI Dong-yu
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2016, 38 (3): 546-559.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2016.03.004
Abstract965)      PDF(pc) (11156KB)(570)       Save

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.

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GEOMORPHIC FEATURES OF THE SHULE RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN IN QILIANSHAN AND ITS INSIGHT INTO TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS
SU Qi, YUAN Dao-yang, XIE Hong, SHAO Yan-xiu, LIANG Ming-jian1. Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Lanzhou 730000, China;
2. Lanzhou National Observatory of Geophysic
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2016, 38 (2): 240-258.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2016.02.002
Abstract609)      PDF(pc) (5659KB)(187)       Save
Because of the strong uplift of the Qilian Shan since late Cenozoic,the drainage basins that are derived from the mountains have undergone strong tectonic deformation.So the typical geomorphology characteristics of these drainage basins may indicate the strong tectonic movement in the region.For example,the Shule River drainage basin,which originates from the western part of the Qilian Shan owns unique geomorphology characteristics which may indicate the neotectonic movement.
Stream networks of the Shule drainage basin extracted from the DEM data based on GIS spatial analysis technology are graded into five levels using Strahler classification method.Four sub-catchments,numbered 1,2,3 and 4 are chosen for detailed analysis.Furthermore,the four sub-catchments,the hypsometric integral curves,Hack profiles,SL index and average slope of the Shule drainage basin are determined by GIS tools.In addition,we analyzed the slope spectrum of the Shule drainage basin.
The average elevation of the Shule drainage basin is very high,however,the slope of the drainage basin is very low,the gentle slope occupies so large area proportion that the slope spectrum shows a unimodal pattern and a peak value is in low slope region (0°~5°),so tectonic movement has a strong influence on the drainage basin.Under the intensive impact of the tectonic movement of the active fault and regional uplift,the hypsometric integral curve is sigmoid,revealing that the Shule drainage basin is in the mature stage.The Hack profile is on a convex,the longitudinal profile is best fitted by linear fitting and the abnormal data of the SL index of the Shule River has a good fit with the section through which the active fault traverses,that means the tectonic movement of the active fault has strong influence on the river's SL index.It is worth noting that lithologic factors also have great impact on the river geomorphology in some sections.
According to the above analysis,we recognize that in the interior of active orogen,the evolution of river geomorphology usually is influenced by tectonic movement and reveals the regional neotectonics in turn.
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THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NEOTECTONIC ACTIVITY OF THE MIDDLE SEGMENT OF DARI FAULT AND ITS GEOMORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSE, QINGHAI PROVINCE, CHINA
LIANG Ming-jian, ZHOU Rong-jun, YAN Liang, ZHAO Guo-hua, GUO Hong-mei
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2014, 36 (1): 28-38.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2014.02.003
Abstract983)      PDF(pc) (6361KB)(1117)       Save
There are numerous Late Quaternary active faults in Dari area, Qinghai Province, with the major strike orientation of NW-NWW and SN. Through analyzing of satellite images and field investigation, we observed significant new activity of the middle segment of Dari Fault during Late Quaternary. The Dari Fault locates in the south of Qinghai Province, and it's a left-lateral strike-slip active fault. Along the studied segment, the surface rupture zones of the M7 (3/4) earthquake are still preserved. The rupture styles of the M7 (3/4) earthquake surface rupture zones are varied and diversified in different segments. This feature is represented by changes of local tectonic stress. The Dari area, as a typical active tectonic zone, is ideal for studying the neotectonics and the geomorphological responses. So in this paper, we also discussed the relationship between the tectonic activities and its geomorphological response in the study area. Analysis on ASTER GDEM V2 digital data enabled us to extract the sub-basins and rivers in this region, and finally determine the hypsometric curves and hypsometric integral(HI values)of the sub-basins. Hypsometry is adopted to analyze the evolution processes of six sub-basins of the Yellow River in the study area. The results show that the geomorphological evolution of the six sub-basins is in the stage of maturity, and the evolution process is highly synchronized, indicating the overall result of regional tectonic uplift or subsidence. Furthermore, the distribution characteristics of the hypsometric integrals(HI value)of the sub-basins reveal that the location of low HI value areas coinsides with the distribution of Quaternary graben basins and valleys, reflecting the results of different local tectonic subsidence and erosion. On the other hand, the high HI areas mainly occur where the strike of the Dari earthquake surface rupture zone changes from NWW to NW and where Early Jurassic and Late Triassic granodiorites are distributed, indicating clearly the variation of local tectonics and difference in lithology.
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SEISMOGENIC STRUCTURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE 20 APRIL 2013 MS 7.0 LUSHAN EARTHQUAKE, SICHUAN PROVINCE
LI Chuan-you, XU Xi-wei, GAN Wei-jun, WEN Xue-ze, ZHENG Wen-jun, WEI Zhan-yu, XU Chong, TAN Xi-bin, CHEN Gui-hua, LIANG Ming-jian, LI Xin-nan
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2013, 35 (3): 671-683.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2013.03.020
Abstract1022)      PDF(pc) (11586KB)(1084)       Save

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.

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LANDSLIDES TRIGGERED BY THE APRIL 20,2013 LUSHAN, SICHUAN PROVINCE MS 7.0 STRONG EARTHQUAKE OF CHINA
XU Chong, XU Xi-wei, ZHENG Wen-jun, WEI Zhan-yu, TAN Xi-bin, HAN Zhu-jun, LI Chuan-you, LIANG Ming-jian, LI Zhi-qiang, WANG Hu, WANG Ming-ming, REN Jun-jie, ZHANG Shi-min, HE Zhong-tai
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2013, 35 (3): 641-660.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2013.03.018
Abstract1942)      PDF(pc) (13051KB)(11480)       Save

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.

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SEISMIC RISK ANALYSIS FOR NORTHERNQILIANSHAN-HEXI CORRIDOR
SHAO Yan-xiu, YUAN Dao-yang, CAO Na, LIANG Ming-jian
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2011, 33 (4): 865-876.   DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2011.04.011
Abstract2011)      PDF(pc) (733KB)(1961)       Save

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.

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NEW PROGRESS OF SEISMIC ACTIVE FAULT PROSPECTING IN LANZHOU CITY
YUAN Dao-yang, WANG Lan-min, HE Wen-gui, LIU Bai-chi, GE Wei-peng, LIU Xing-wang, LIANG Ming-jian, ZHENG Wen-jun
SEISMOLOGY AND GEOLOGY    2008, 30 (1): 236-249.  
Abstract2266)      PDF(pc) (8796KB)(1004)       Save
This paper makes a comprehensive analysis of the recent progress of the seismic active fault prospecting in Lanzhou city. Based on the satellite and aerial photos interpretation,geological and geomorphic investigation,geochemistry prospecting,shallow seismic investigation,resistivity imaging,drilling,especially large-scale trenching along the 7 active fault zones in Lanzhou city,we have achieved very important progress and gained new knowledge about the recent activity of main active faults and deformation features in Lanzhou Basin. The main conclusions are summarized bellow: (1) The Jinchengguan Fault is a thrust fault,constituting the northern boundary of the Lanzhou Tertiary Basin. It is revealed by geophysical prospecting and drilling that the newest strata offset by the Jinchengguan Fault are the early-Pleistocene sandstone and conglomerate,and that the overlying second and third terraces of the Yellow River remain intact. So,it's an early and middle Pleistocene active fault.(2) The Liujiabu Fault and Shengouqiao Fault constitute the northern and western boundaries of the Qilihe Subsidence,respectively. Revealed by geophysical prospecting,drilling and large trenching,they are not faults but lithologic boundaries of different rocks between Pliocene and early Pleistocene.(3) The Leitanhe Fault is the eastern boundary of Qilihe Subsidence,a boundary fault separating the Tertiary Lanzhou Basin into the east and west basins. According to the geophysical prospecting and drilling,the Leitanhe Fault is a thrust fault and its newest activity age is early and middle Pleistocene. It is not active since late Quaternary and does not cut the third terrace of the Yellow River.(4) The Siergou Fault is the southwestern boundary of Lanzhou Basin,a thrust fault too. It's an early and middle Pleistocene active fault and does not offset the forth terrace of Yellow River. While the Xijincun Fault is much nearer to the south margin of Lanzhou Basin and forms the southern boundary of the Tertiary Lanzhou Basin. It's an early Pleistocene fault.(5) The northern margin of Maxianshan Mountains fault is a major seismic fault on the southern margin of Lanzhou Basin,and its movement is characterized by segmentation. The east segment,the Neiguanying sub-fault,is a late Pleistocene fault. The middle segment,the Maxianshan and Qidaoliang faults,are active during late Pleistocene and early Holocene. The west segment,the Wusushan sub fault,is active during late Pleistocene and Holocene,and it's also the seismic fault of the M7 Lanzhou earthquake.On the whole,we correct the previous recognitions about the activity times of 4 faults,i.e. the Jinchengguan Fault,Leitanhe Fault,Siergou Fault and Xijicun Fault. They are all early and middle Pleistocene instead of late Pleistocene active faults. Especially,we find that the Liujiabu Fault and Shengouqiao Fault directly across Lanzhou city are not late Pleistocene or Holocene active faults but lithologic boundaries between Pliocene mudstone and early Pleistocene conglomerate. The results are very important for the urban planning and engineering construction,and will produce obvious economical and social benefits.
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