Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yongzhi Cheng, Rui Gao, Zhanwu Lu, Wenhui Li, He Su, Rubing Han, Hao Chen
Summary: This study reconstructs the tectonic evolution of the Kexueshan Basin in the western Ordos Block since the Mesozoic and reveals the relationship between tectonic compression and geological events during two different stages.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Xingwang Liu, Zemin Gao, Yanxiu Shao, Yunsheng Yao
Summary: In this study, the slip rates of an active normal fault in the northwestern corner of the Ordos Block were determined to be 0.1 +/- 0.02 mm/a during the late Pleistocene. This rate is consistent with similar structures in the northwestern Ordos Block. Combining this result with published slip rates along other active faults, it was inferred that the extension rate across the northwestern corner of the Ordos Block is approximately 0.6-1.3 mm/a, comparable to the geodetic strain rate.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Junjie Ren, Xiwei Xu, Yanwu Lv, Qixin Wang, An Li, Kang Li, Jinlai Zhu, Juntao Cai, Shao Liu
Summary: This study maps the detailed geometry of the Lancangjiang fault (LCJF) in eastern Tibet using high-resolution satellite imagery, field observations, and shallow geophysical exploration. It reveals the late Quaternary activities of LCJF and provides insights into the kinematic patterns in the region. The study also highlights the high seismic hazard potential of active faults across the Sichuan-Tibet Railway.
ENGINEERING GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Jing Tian, Zhou Lin
Summary: This study systematically analyzes the Qingchuan Fault and reveals its strike-slip rates and topographic variations. The research shows that the strike-slip rates of the fault increase from the southwestern section to the central section, possibly due to slip partitioning with other fault zones.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xinnan Li, Ian K. D. Pierce, Jayne M. Bormann, William C. Hammond, Zhuqi Zhang, Chuanyou Li, Wenjun Zheng, Peizhen Zhang
Summary: The study used a GPS block model to investigate tectonic deformation in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and its surroundings, highlighting the importance of including less active faults for a closer examination of strain partitioning. The predicted motion directions and slip rates of active faults in the preferred model were found to be consistent with geological estimates, supporting the assumption that decadal GPS slip rates are representative of millennial-scale geologic slip rates. The observed fault kinematics in the region were interpreted as the result of relative motions between different blocks and block rotations.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Duo Wang, Hong Chang, Gongming Yin, Fei Han, Zebin Mao, Jinhua Du, Wenjun Zheng, Xulong Wang
Summary: By using optically stimulated luminescence dating technique, it was found that the Gyaring Co fault experienced a southeastward decrease in slip rate during the late Quaternary period. Although the slip rate in the middle-west segment slowed down slightly, the overall slip rate remained relatively stable. This fault may contribute to distributed deformation in the Tibetan Plateau region.
Article
Geography, Physical
Sangmin Ha, Yeong Bae Seong, Moon Son
Summary: The NNW-striking Mongolian Altai is a Late Cenozoic dextral strike-slip deformation belt affected by the collision between India and Eurasia. This study reveals the deformation patterns and Quaternary slip rates of two range-bounding faults using surface exposure dating, radiocarbon dating, and paleoseismic trenching. The results suggest strain partitioning on the faults of the Tsambagarav Massif.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xiaodong Yang, Satish C. Singh, Ian Deighton
Summary: Research indicates that the Kumawa fault is primarily formed by upper plate extension induced by subduction rollback over the past 2 million years, with clear geological structures and surface expressions, and has the potential for a large earthquake in the future.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xiaofei Hu, Xilin Cao, Tao Li, Junwei Mao, Jian Zhang, Xin He, Ya'nan Zhang, Baotian Pan
Summary: The study of Quaternary fluvial terraces in the Qilian Orogen region of China revealed deformation and faulting caused by the North Tuolai Shan Fault. Dating of these terraces suggested a vertical slip rate of 1.5 +/- 0.1 mm/yr and shortening rate of 0.9 +/- 0.1 mm/yr, supporting distributed upper crustal shortening across the region. This research provides valuable insight into the growth process and kinematics of wide compressive orogens.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jiangtao Qiu, Lingyun Ji, Liangyu Zhu, Qingliang Wang
Summary: The Tianshan orogenic belt undergoes intense crustal deformation and shortening in the north-south direction. The study reveals uneven distribution of deformation, with varying convergence rates and stable areas in South Tianshan. Thrust slip of faults, uplift of folds, and slippage of decollement are key mechanisms accommodating regional strain. The Maidan fault serves as the boundary between South Tianshan and Tarim Basin.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Editorial Material
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Zhikun Ren, Olaf Zielke, Marie-Luce Chevalier, Edwin Nissen, Huiping Zhang
Summary: Large earthquakes are dangerous natural disasters that can have devastating effects on society and infrastructure. Research in active tectonics aims to understand earthquakes by studying the evidence of crustal deformation throughout earthquake cycles. Recent technological advances have improved our understanding of crustal deformation and earthquake ruptures through high-resolution data sets and accurate dating methods.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Li-Jun Song, Zeng-Zhen Wang
Summary: The tectonic stress field of the southwestern Ordos Basin during the Late Triassic is controversial. It is uncertain whether the basin was compressional or extensional during this period. Our simulations using finite-element software supported the presence of extensional stress and strain during the early to middle Late Triassic, and compressive stress and strain during the late to terminal Late Triassic. These findings suggest the transformation of the southwestern Ordos Basin from an extensional basin to a compressional depression basin.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Li-Jun Song, Zeng-Zhen Wang
Summary: The tectonic stress field of the southwestern Ordos Basin during the Late Triassic has been a subject of controversy. This study used paleotectonic stress field simulation models to investigate the stress and strain patterns in the basin. The results showed that the basin experienced a transition from extensional to compressional tectonics during the Late Triassic, which was likely influenced by regional collision events. This study provides valuable insights into the tectonic evolution of the southwestern Ordos Basin during the Late Triassic.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Qiyun Lei, Jingxing Yu, Peizhen Zhang, Wenjun Zheng, Zhuqi Zhang, Peng Du, Yin Wang
Summary: This study focuses on the geometry and kinematics of the West Helanshan fault, situated at the junction of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, Alxa, and Ordos blocks. The fault is divided into three segments, with the northern and middle segments showing right-lateral strike-slip motion and the southern segment exhibiting reverse motion. The fault poses a high earthquake hazard as it cuts through a county town with a population of about 100,000. Based on the findings, a limited north-northeastward extrusion model is proposed for the southern Alxa Block.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Chao Ma, Yufa Liu, Like An, Xing Yang, Shao Liu, Wei Zhang
Summary: Faults along the boundaries of active tectonic blocks are the main structures responsible for major earthquakes in mainland China. This study focuses on the Nanhe Fault and investigates its geometry, rupture behavior, and paleoseismic history. The findings suggest that the Nanhe Fault connects with the Anninghe Fault and has been active since the late Late Pleistocene. Three paleoseismic events were identified, and a comparative analysis with the Anninghe Fault indicates potential cascade rupture or triggered earthquakes between the two faults. Additionally, the Nanhe Fault participates in strain partitioning along the eastern boundary of the Sichuan-Yunnan Block.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Ian K. D. Pierce, Steven G. Wesnousky, Lewis A. Owen, Jayne M. Bormann, Xinnan Li, Marc Caffee
Summary: Geodesy research shows that a significant amount of dextral shear is accumulating in the Central Walker Lane, where no through-going strike-slip faults exist. The patterns and slip rates of active faults between Lake Tahoe and Walker Lake basins help understand how this shear is accommodated, with different fault types playing a role in releasing the accumulated strain.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Guangxue Ren, Chuanyou Li, Chuanyong Wu, Huiping Zhang, Siyu Wang, Zhikun Ren, Qiyun Lei, Xinnan Li
Summary: Investigation on the kinematics and deformation rates about the Baoertu Fault in Tian Shan shows that it is characterized by left-lateral strike-slip faulting with a thrust component, providing the first late Pleistocene slip rate for this fault. Synthesizing with other quantitative data, it is suggested that the active faults or folds in the eastern Tian Shan accommodate roughly 28-45% of the total N-S convergence in this region.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Chen Gan, Ai Ming, Zheng Wenjun, Bi Haiyun, Liu Jinrui, Zhang Yipeng, Ge Weipeng, Zhang Dongli, Huang Rong
Summary: The study utilized high-resolution topography data and geomorphological dating methods to investigate the slip rates of the Elashan fault and Qinghainanshan fault, revealing their slip rates and uplift rates. By comparing the geological rates with GPS rates, it was found that the major strike-slip faults around Qinghai Lake maintain consistent slip rates from late Pleistocene to present day. The nonrigid bookshelf model of deformation in the internal northeastern Tibetan Plateau involves counterclockwise rotation and distributed thrusting.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lei Jinghao, Li Youli, Ren Zhikun, Hu Xiu, Xiong Jianguo, Liu Fei, Liu Jinrui
Summary: It is commonly assumed that thrust faults have a constant slip rate and uplift along their strike, but the study found variable slip rates and offsets, reflecting the complex fault behavior and relationships with adjacent faults. The research in the East Qilian Shan region suggests that the thrust faults in this area may consist of two segments, and discusses the deformation propagated northeastward along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Ian K. D. Pierce, Steven G. Wesnousky, Sourav Saha, Seulgi Moon
Summary: The Carson City and Indian Hills faults are splays of the major Genoa fault. Excavation studies on these faults have provided evidence of past ground-rupturing earthquakes. The most recent earthquake on the Carson City fault occurred around 473-311 B.P., with two penultimate events between 17.9 and 8.1 ka. Similar evidence from the Indian Hills fault suggests a recent earthquake around 900 years ago, preceded by a penultimate surface rupture around 10,000 years ago. The age discrepancies between these faults indicate the variability in rupture moments over time and emphasize the importance of considering multi-fault rupture models for seismic hazard analysis.
BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Chuanyou Li, Jinrui Liu, Jun Ma, Gang Su, Jian Lan, Xinnan Li, Zhikun Ren, Hongliu Ran
Summary: The study found that the Palu earthquake was an extremely rare strike-slip earthquake that caused a massive tsunami. Field investigations revealed that the normal slip component in Palu Bay favored the occurrence of the tsunami. The study also showed that the rupture propagation of the Palu fault occurred at a supershear speed and exhibited different fault behaviors in different segments compared to common continental strike-slip faults.
GEOLOGICAL MAGAZINE
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Jinrui Liu, Zhikun Ren, Huiping Zhang, Chuanyou Li, Zhuqi Zhang, Wenjun Zheng, Xuemei Li, Caicai Liu
Summary: Studying the spatial pattern of slip rates along the Haiyuan fault zone reveals the deformation process along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The results suggest that the Madongshan and Liupanshan could be the main uplifts absorbing the left-lateral motion along the fault zone, while slip rates often vary at fault tips.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Boxuan Zhang, Wenjun Zheng, Tao Li, Weitao Wang, Jie Chen, Zhigang Li, Xinnan Li, Lei Duan
Summary: Studying the compression deformation characteristics of the southern Qilian Shan front, it was found that the Santai anticline is a fault-propagation fold controlled by basement faulting, with a short-term deformation trend of southward migration.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Rachel L. Hatch-Ibarra, Rachel E. Abercrombie, Christine J. Ruhl, Kenneth D. Smith, William C. Hammond, Ian K. Pierce
Summary: This article investigates the geometry and driving mechanisms of the Nine Mile Ranch earthquake sequence and improves understanding of deformation and seismic hazard in the region. The study reveals that regional scale tectonic forces are the dominant driving factors of this sequence.
BULLETIN OF THE SEISMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Nimrod Wieler, Amit Mushkin, Huiping Zhang, Amir Sagy, Naomi Porat, Yuval Shmilovitz, Zhikun Ren, Feipeng Huang, Pilong Shi, Jinrui Liu, Eitan Shelef
Summary: This study used morphology-based modeling to overcome the difficulty of dating fluvial incision across a fault. The results show that the age of gully incision decreases with offset magnitude and is younger than the age of the terrace they incised. Luminescence dating of alluvial terraces suggests a constant sinistral slip rate of 0.5 +/- 0.1 mm/yr since 52 +/- 4 ka. These findings indicate a stable late Quaternary deformation rate during the expansion of the Tibetan Plateau into central Asia.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Xinnan Li, Ian K. D. Pierce, Ming Ai, Quanxing Luo, Chuanyou Li, Wenjun Zheng, Peizhen Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the tectonic activity of different normal faults in the Longxian-Baoji Fault Zone (LBFZ). Using natural landscape measurements and numerical modeling, the researchers determine the timing of fault activity, its impact on landforms, and the tectonic transformation in the area. The study concludes that profile shapes and scarp slopes are important indicators of fault activity.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ian K. D. Pierce
Summary: Research shows that a cluster of at least five surface rupturing earthquakes occurred near Carson City, Nevada, USA in a time span of less than 300 years. These earthquakes exhibit both temporal clustering behavior and varying rupture boundaries during successive events.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Quanxing Luo, Youli Li, Lindsay Schoenbohm, Jeremy Rimando, Xiu Hu, Ailun Guo, Junxiang Zhao, Xinnan Li, Qingri Liu, Shanru Jiang, Chuanyou Li, Kai Sun
Summary: This study discovered a previously unknown dextral strike-slip fault in the Shanxi Graben System (SGS) through geological and geomorphological analysis. The findings provide significant evidence for the motion and kinematics of the SGS.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Quanxing Luo, Chuanyou Li, Guangxue Ren, Xiu Hu, Xinnan Li, Youli Li
Summary: Studying historical earthquakes is crucial for assessing seismic hazards in a region. The 1673 Tianzhen earthquake in northern Shanxi Graben, China, has been debated in terms of its epicenter, magnitude, and seismogenic source. Field investigations, UAV photogrammetry, and GPR surveys were conducted to investigate fresh surface ruptures along the Yanggao-Tianzhen Fault (YTF). The results suggest that the YTF is the causative fault of the 1673 event, with a re-estimated magnitude of Mw 6.8-7.2. The study sheds light on seismic hazards in the densely populated Yangao-Tianzhen Basin and nearby regions.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xinnan Li, William C. Hammond, Ian K. D. Pierce, Jayne M. Bormann, Zhuqi Zhang, Chuanyou Li, Wenjun Zheng, Peizhen Zhang
Summary: We investigate the present-day strike-slip faulting and intracontinental deformation of North China using GPS velocities and a block modeling strategy. By applying median spatial filtering, we can better constrain the fault slip rates and block rotations in North China, reducing the influence of groundwater extraction. The modeled senses of motion and slip rates on active faults are generally consistent with geological estimates.
GEOCHEMISTRY GEOPHYSICS GEOSYSTEMS
(2023)
