PRESENT KINEMATICS CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORTHERN YUMUSHAN ACTIVE FAULT AND ITS RESPONSE TO THE NORTHEASTWARD GROWTH OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU |
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| Authors: | CHEN Gan ZHENG Wen-jun WANG Xu-long ZHANG Pei-zhen XIONG Jian-guo YU Jin-xing LIU Xing-wang BI Hai-yun LIU Jin-rui AI Ming |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Beijing 100029, China;2.Guangdong Key Lab of Geodynamics and Geohazards, School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China;3.Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710075, China;4.University of Oxford, Earth Science, England Oxford OX13AN;5.Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Lanzhou 730000, China |
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| Abstract: | Qilian Shan and Hexi Corridor, located in the north of Tibetan plateau, are the margin of Tibetan plateau's tectonic deformation and pushing. Its internal deformations and activities can greatly conserve the extension process and characteristics of the Plateau. The research of Qilian Shan and Hexi Corridor consequentially plays a significant role in understanding tectonic deformation mechanism of Tibetan plateau. The northern Yumushan Fault, located in the middle of the northern Qilian Shan thrust belt, is a significant component of Qilian Shan thrust belt which divides Yumushan and intramontane basins in Hexi Corridor. Carrying out the research of Yumushan Fault will help explain the kinematics characteristics of the northern Yumushan active fault and its response to the northeastward growth of the Tibetan plateau.Because of limited technology conditions of the time, different research emphases and some other reasons, previous research results differ dramatically. This paper summarizes the last 20 years researches from the perspectives of fault slip rates, paleao-earthquake characteristics and tectonic deformation. Using aerial-photo morphological analysis, field investigation, optical simulated luminescence(OSL)dating of alluvial surfaces and topographic profiles, we calculate the vertical slip rate and strike-slip rate at the typical site in the northern Yumushan Fault, which is(0.55±0.15)mm/a and(0.95±0.11), respectively. On the controversial problems, namely "the Luotuo(Camel)city scarp" and the 180 A.D. Biaoshi earthquake, we use aerial-photo analysis, particular field investigation and typical profile dating. We concluded that "Luotuo city scarp" is the ruin of ancient diversion works rather than the fault scarp of the 180 A.D. Biaoshi earthquake. Combining the topographic profiles of the mountain range with fault characteristics, we believe Yumu Shan is a part of Qilian Shan. The uplift of Yumu Shan is the result of Qilian Shan and Yumu Shan itself pushing northwards. Topographic profile along the crest of the Yumu Shan illustrates the decrease from its center to the tips, which is similar to the vertical slip rates and the height of fault scarp. These show that Yumu Shan is controlled by fault extension and grows laterally and vertically. At present, fault activities are still concentrated near the north foot of Yumu Shan, and the mountain ranges continue to rise since late Cenozoic. |
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| Keywords: | fault slip rates 180 A D Biaoshi earthquake Plateau growth the northern Yumushan active fault the northeast margin of Tibetan plateau |
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