Knowledge of the seismogenic environment of fault zones is critical for understanding the processes and mechanisms of large earthquakes.We conducted a rock magnetic study of the fault rocks and protoliths to investiga...Knowledge of the seismogenic environment of fault zones is critical for understanding the processes and mechanisms of large earthquakes.We conducted a rock magnetic study of the fault rocks and protoliths to investigate the seismogenic environment of earthquakes in the Motuo fault zone,in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis.The results indicate that magnetite is the principal magnetic carrier in the fault rocks and protolith,while the protolith has a higher content of paramagnetic minerals than the fault rocks.The fault rocks are characterized by a high magnetic susceptibility relative to the protolith in the Motuo fault zone.This is likely due to the thermal alteration of paramagnetic minerals to magnetite caused by coseismic frictional heating with concomitant hydrothermal fluid circulation.The high magnetic susceptibility of the fault rocks and neoformed magnetite indicate that large earthquakes with frictional heating temperatures>500℃have occurred in the Motuo fault zone in the past,and that the fault maintained an oxidizing environment with weak fluid action during these earthquakes.Our results reveal the seismogenic environment of the Motuo fault zone,and they are potentially important for the evaluation of the regional stability in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis.展开更多
The Tan-Lu Fault Zone is a large NNE-trending fault zone that has a substantial effect on the development of eastern China and its earthquake disaster prevention efforts. Aiming at the azimuthally anisotropic structur...The Tan-Lu Fault Zone is a large NNE-trending fault zone that has a substantial effect on the development of eastern China and its earthquake disaster prevention efforts. Aiming at the azimuthally anisotropic structure in the upper crust and seismogenic tectonics in the Hefei segment of this fault, we collected phase velocity dispersion data of fundamental mode Rayleigh waves from ambient noise cross-correlation functions of ~400 temporal seismographs in an area of approximately 80 × 70 km along the fault zone. The period band of the dispersion data was ~0.5–10 s. We inverted for the upper crustal three-dimensional(3-D) shear velocity model with azimuthal anisotropy from the surface to 10 km depth by using a 3-D direct azimuthal anisotropy inversion method. The inversion result shows the spatial distribution characteristics of the tectonic units in the upper crust. Additionally, the deformation of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone and its conjugated fault systems could be inferred from the anisotropy model. In particular, the faults that have remained active from the early and middle Pleistocene control the anisotropic characteristics of the upper crustal structure in this area. The direction of fast axes near the fault zone area in the upper crust is consistent with the strike of the faults, whereas for the region far away from the fault zone, the direction of fast axes is consistent with the direction of the regional principal stress caused by plate movement. Combined with the azimuthal anisotropy models in the deep crust and uppermost mantle from the surface wave and Pn wave, the different anisotropic patterns caused by the Tan-Lu Fault Zone and its conjugated fault system nearby are shown in the upper and lower crust. Furthermore,by using the double-difference method, we relocated the Lujiang earthquake series, which contained 32 earthquakes with a depth shallower than 10 km. Both the Vs model and earthquake relocation results indicate that earthquakes mostly occurred in the vicinity of structural boundaries with fractured media, with high-level development of cracks and small-scale faults jammed between more rigid areas.展开更多
The Longmenshan(LMS)fault zone is located at the junction of the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin and is of great significance for studying regional tectonics and earthquake hazards.Although regional velo...The Longmenshan(LMS)fault zone is located at the junction of the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin and is of great significance for studying regional tectonics and earthquake hazards.Although regional velocity models are available for the LMS fault zone,high-resolution velocity models are lacking.Therefore,a dense array of 240 short-period seismometers was deployed around the central segment of the LMS fault zone for approximately 30 days to monitor earthquakes and characterize fine structures of the fault zone.Considering the large quantity of observed seismic data,the data processing workflow consisted of deep learning-based automatic earthquake detection,phase arrival picking,and association.Compared with the earthquake catalog released by the China Earthquake Administration,many more earthquakes were detected by the dense array.Double-difference seismic tomography was adopted to determine V_(p),V_(s),and V_(p)/V_(s)models as well as earthquake locations.The checkerboard test showed that the velocity models have spatial resolutions of approximately 5 km in the horizontal directions and 2 km at depth.To the west of the Yingxiu–Beichuan Fault(YBF),the Precambrian Pengguan complex,where most of earthquakes occurred,is characterized by high velocity and low V_(p)/V_(s)values.In comparison,to the east of the YBF,the Upper Paleozoic to Jurassic sediments,where few earthquakes occurred,show low velocity and high V_(p)/V_(s)values.Our results suggest that the earthquake activity in the LMS fault zone is controlled by the strength of the rock compositions.When the high-resolution velocity models were combined with the relocated earthquakes,we were also able to delineate the fault geometry for different faults in the LMS fault zone.展开更多
The Anninghe–Zemuhe Fault and the Xiaojiang Fault are critical active faults along the middle-eastern boundary of the South Chuan–Dian Block. Many researchers have identified these faults as potential strong-earthqu...The Anninghe–Zemuhe Fault and the Xiaojiang Fault are critical active faults along the middle-eastern boundary of the South Chuan–Dian Block. Many researchers have identified these faults as potential strong-earthquake risk zones. In this study, we leveraged a dense seismic array to investigate the high-resolution shallow crust shear wave velocity(Vs) structure beneath the junction of the Zemuhe Fault Zone and the Xiaojiang Fault Zone, one of the most complex parts of the eastern boundary of the South Chuan–Dian Block. We analyzed the distribution of microseismic events detected between November 2022 and February 2023 based on the fine-scale Vs model obtained. The microseismicity in the study region was clustered into three groups, all spatially related to major faults in this region. These microseismic events indicate near-vertical fault planes, consistent with the fault geometry revealed by other researchers.Moreover, these microseismic events are influenced by the impoundment of the downstream Baihetan Reservoir and the complex tectonic stress near the junction of the Zemuhe Fault Zone and the Xiaojiang Fault Zone. The depths of these microseismic events are shallower in the junction zone, whereas moving south along the Xiaojiang Fault Zone, the microseismic events become deeper.Additionally, we compared our fine-scale local Vs model with velocity models obtained by other researchers and found that our model offers greater detail in characterizing subsurface heterogeneity while demonstrating improved reliability in delineating fault systems.展开更多
As the mine depth around the world increases,the temperature of the surrounding rock of the mining workface increases significantly.To control the heat hazards,the hot water in the mining floor is developed during min...As the mine depth around the world increases,the temperature of the surrounding rock of the mining workface increases significantly.To control the heat hazards,the hot water in the mining floor is developed during mining to decrease the min-ing workface temperature while also developing geothermal energy.This method is called the co-exploitation of mine and geothermal energy(CMGE).The geothermal development may precipitate the large-scale failure of the nearby fault zone during the mining process.However,the evolution of shear slide and shear failure of fault under geothermal production/rein-jection during mining is missing.Therefore,a fully-coupled hydraulic mechanism(HM)double-medium model for CMGE was developed based on the measured data of the Chensilou mine.A comparative analysis of the mechanical response of fault between CMGE and single mining was conducted.The disturbance of geothermal production pressure and reinjection pressure under mining on fault stability were respectively expounded.The results indicate that:(1)The disturbance of geo-thermal reinjection amplifies the disturbance of mining on fault stability.The amplified effect resulted in a normal stress drop of the fault,further leading to a substantial increase in shear slide distance,failure area,and cumulative seismic moment of fault compared with the single mining process.(2)As the distance of reinjection well to the fault decreases,the fault failure intensity increases.Setting the production well within the fault is advantageous for controlling fault stability under CMGE.(3)The essence of the combined disturbance of CMGE on the nearby fault is the overlay of tensile stress disturbance on the fault rock mass of the mining and geothermal reinjection.Though the geothermal reinjection causes a minor normal stress drop of fault,it can result in a more serious fault failure under CMGE.This paper supplies a significant gap in understanding thenearby faults failure under CMGE.展开更多
The approximately 3000 km long Tan-Lu fault zone(TLFZ)in East Asia is the longest continental strike-slip fault zone in the world and exemplifies how such a fault zone forms and propagates on a continental scale.Struc...The approximately 3000 km long Tan-Lu fault zone(TLFZ)in East Asia is the longest continental strike-slip fault zone in the world and exemplifies how such a fault zone forms and propagates on a continental scale.Structural and geochronological data from the TLFZ and surrounding regions indicate that the fault zone originated as NE/SW-striking sinistral ductile shear zones along an oblique continental convergence margin during the Triassic indentation collision between the North China Craton and the Yangtze Block.The Triassic fault zone,with a total length of about 720 km between the Dabie and Sulu orogens,exhibited an apparent sinistral offset of approximately 300 km along the TLFZ.The second stage of sinistral movement occurred in the earliest Late Jurassic,reactivating the pre-existing southern segment and propagating northwards to the southern coastline of present-day Bohai Bay,as well as forming a significant portion of the Dunhua-Mishan fault zone.The third stage of sinistral movement,in the earliest Early Cretaceous,was the most intense strike-slip movement of the Mesozoic,leading to the complete linkage of the TLFZ.This stage included further northward propagation of the southern-middle segment,both southward and northward propagation of the Dunhua-Mishan fault zone,as well as the formation of the entire Yilan-Yitong fault zone.The fourth stage,in the earliest Late Cretaceous,involved the reactivation of the entire TLFZ.Following its Triassic origin due to the indentation collision,the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate and the subduction and closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean were responsible for the multi-stage sinistral movements from the Late Jurassic to the Cretaceous.The evolution of the TLFZ demonstrates that a continental-scale strike-slip fault zone(>1000 km long)forms through multiple stages of propagation and linkage in dynamic settings of plate convergence.展开更多
Tensile strength is a crucial parameter for assessing rock stability and fracture characteristics,which play a significant role in the prediction and engineering design of geohazards.However,fault slip activity can we...Tensile strength is a crucial parameter for assessing rock stability and fracture characteristics,which play a significant role in the prediction and engineering design of geohazards.However,fault slip activity can weaken the strength of the surrounding rock mass,thereby influencing its mechanical behavior and failure mode.This study investigates the spatial variation of the tensile strength(σ_(t)),compressive strength(σ_(c)),P-wave velocity(V_(p)),and acoustic emission(AE)characteristics at varying distances from the Xianshuihe Fault zone(XSHF),focusing on three representative profiles.The results show that theσ_(t),σ_(c),and V_(p)significantly decrease near the fault(0–5km).Specifically,the relative change rates ofσ_(t),σ_(c),and V_(p)at approximately 5km from the fault are 1.55–1.8 times,1.22–1.86 times,and 1.02–1.25 times greater,respectively,compared to the near-fault zone.As the distance from the fault increases(10–20km),the rock integrity improves,and the mechanical properties recover.AE monitoring reveals increased microcracks near the fault,with higher b-value and dominant tensile failure modes.Further from the fault,the rock exhibits increased brittleness,and tensile cracking becomes more prevalent.Overall,the mechanical parameters and AE characteristics demonstrate predictable spatial variation with distance,providing valuable insights for identifying stress concentration zones and potential geohazards.展开更多
As a major fault in the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,the Haiyuan fault zone is important for understanding the regional deformation.Aiming at the differences in the slip rate and locking degree obtained from di...As a major fault in the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,the Haiyuan fault zone is important for understanding the regional deformation.Aiming at the differences in the slip rate and locking degree obtained from different studies,this study constructs a refined block model(including Qilian,Alxa,Ordos,Xining,Haiyuan,and Lanzhou blocks)and uses the grid search and simulated annealing methods to invert GPS data for slip rate and locking degree of the Haiyuan fault zone.The results are as follows:(1)The sinistral slip rates in the western,middle,and eastern segments are 4.93-5.22 mm/a,1.52-4.94 mm/a,and 0.43-1.18 mm/a,decreasing eastward on the whole,while the compression rates are 0.45-1.26 mm/a,0.58-2.62 mm/a,and3.52-4.48 mm/a,increasing eastward on the whole.(2)The locking depth of the western segment increases from about 5 km to about 20 km eastward;the middle segment decreases and then increases eastward;the eastern segment concentrates at about 20 km(PHI is about 0.86).(3)The slip deficit is relatively higher in the Lenglongling,Jinqianghe,Maomaoshan,and Liupanshan faults(averaging about 3.42 mm/a,4.16 mm/a,4.23 mm/a,and 3.43 mm/a within 20 km).(4)The Qilian,Alxa,Xining,Lanzhou,and Haiyuan blocks rotate clockwise,while the Ordos block rotates counterclockwise.Additionally,by comparing different block models,the Haiyuan block should be considered independently.The Haiyuan fault zone adjusts surrounding block movements and uplifts Liupanshan mountain tectonically.The results can provide important references for understanding the regional earthquake risk and deformation mechanism.展开更多
The Yishu fault zone in Shandong Province,China,exhibits favorable conditions for medium-and high-temperature geothermal storage.However,its geothermal occurrence patterns and heat storage model remain unclear.Recogni...The Yishu fault zone in Shandong Province,China,exhibits favorable conditions for medium-and high-temperature geothermal storage.However,its geothermal occurrence patterns and heat storage model remain unclear.Recognizing the importance of deep heat sources and heat channels in unraveling the formation mechanisms of medium-and high-temperature geothermal systems,we conducted a magnetotelluric survey along the Yishu fault zone,which contained 10 survey lines and 119 usable points.Using two-dimensional and three-dimensional nonlinear conjugate gradient inversion,the deep electrical structure was obtained,and the three-dimensional geothermal reservoir model in the study area was constructed for the first time.The results show that the deep low-resistance anomaly in the Yishu fault zone moves upward through the channel with slightly higher resistivity,forming a relatively low-resistance layer and a low-resistance layer in the shallow part,corresponding to the heat source,thermal conduction fault,heat reservoir,and overburden layer,respectively.The fault structure primarily controls regional geothermal anomalies,influencing atmospheric precipitation,surface water infiltration,and geothermal water migration pathways.The results of this study have a certain guiding significance for the study of the formation mechanism and distribution law of geothermal resources in the middle and deep strata of the Yishu fault zone.Additionally,the results provide valuable insights for the exploration and assessment of geothermal resources in the area.展开更多
The Litang fault zone is an important seismogenic structure along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.It caused the M71/4 earthquake in Litang in 1948 AD.The fault zone intersects the Sichuan-Xizang transpo...The Litang fault zone is an important seismogenic structure along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.It caused the M71/4 earthquake in Litang in 1948 AD.The fault zone intersects the Sichuan-Xizang transportation corridor and poses a serious risk to its safe operation.This study,utilizing high-resolution remote sensing interpretation,field geological verification,UAV photogrammetry,UAV LiDAR,paleoearthquake trench excavation,and AMS^(14)C and OSL dating methods,reveals the geometric structure,slip rates,paleoearthquake sequence,and earthquake rupture segmentation of the Litang fault zone;analyzes the rupture distribution range of the 1729 AD Litang earthquake and estimates its magnitude.The study indicates that the Litang fault zone is a relatively immature strike-slip fault,which has developed as a new active fault zone within the Northwestern Sichuan sub-block during the southeastward material migration of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.This reflects a transformation in the deformation model of the Northwestern Sichuan sub-block crust from the‘Rigid Block’model to the‘Continuous Deformation’model.展开更多
The complex Red River fault zone(RRFZ),which is situated in the southwestern region of China and separates the Indochina plate and South China blocks,has diverse seismic activities in different segments.To reveal the ...The complex Red River fault zone(RRFZ),which is situated in the southwestern region of China and separates the Indochina plate and South China blocks,has diverse seismic activities in different segments.To reveal the detailed geometric characteristics of the RRFZ at different sections and to better understand the seismogenic environment,in 2022 and 2023 we deployed 7 seismic dense linear arrays,consisting of 574 nodal stations,across the RRFZ in the northern and southern segments near the towns Midu,Gasa,Zhega,Dazhai,Xinzhai,and Taoyuan.The linear arrays,which extend from 2.4 to 12.5 km in length with station intervals ranging between 40 and140 m,recorded seismic ambient noise for approximately one month.Using the extended range phase shift method,we extract the phase velocity dispersion curves of the Rayleigh waves between 0.9 and 10 Hz,which are then used to invert for the high resolution shearwave velocity structures across the RRFZ beneath the linear arrays.The key findings are:(1)the 7 imaged sections of the RRFZ exhibit quite similar structures,with higher velocities on the SW side and lower velocities on the NE side;the velocity variation is consistent with the surface geological structures along the RRFZ;(2)the shear-wave velocities on the SW side of the RRFZ at the northern Midu section and southern Gasa-Dazhai sections are generally higher than their counterparts in the southern Xinzhai-Taoyuan sections,which reflects lithological variations from the marble-dominated Paleoproterozoic Along basement to the gneiss dominated Paleoproterozoic Qingshuihe basement;(3)from the northern Midu section to the southern region where the RRFZ intersects with the Xiaojiang Fault,the major faults of the RRFZ exhibit a consistent high-angle,NE-dipping structure;(4)the low shear-wave velocities immediately to the NE of the velocity boundary may indicate a faulted zone due to long-term shearing,where excessive amplifications of ground motions could occur.This study provides new insights into the characteristics of the shallow structures of the RRFZ.展开更多
This article presents an interpretation of the seismic source mechanisms for 905 earthquakes with MS>2.0,occurring in the central and southern sections of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone and its adjacent areas from 1970 to 2...This article presents an interpretation of the seismic source mechanisms for 905 earthquakes with MS>2.0,occurring in the central and southern sections of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone and its adjacent areas from 1970 to 2023.Utilizing the damped stress tensor method,we have inverted the spatial characteristics of the stress field variations in this study area,at a resolution of 1.0°×1.0°.The results indicate that the maximum principal stress direction within the central and southern sections of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone exhibits a spatially continuous change,rotating counterclockwise from East-West(EW)to Northeast-East(NEE),albeit with local variations.When dividing along the Tan-Lu Fault Zone,it is observed that on its western side—the North China block—a near EW stress field predominates.In contrast,on its eastern side—the Ludong-Huanghai Block—stress fields primarily exhibit NEE and Northeast-East(NE)orientations,underscoring the role of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone as a significant boundary between tectonic blocks.In regions located between latitudes 30°-34°N and longitudes 113°-115°E on the western side of these fault zone sections,maximum principal stress follows a radial distribution pattern indicative of a complex stress field.Conversely,on the eastern side of this fault zone,maximum principal stress direction remains relatively consistent,primarily displaying NEE and NE distributions.This reflects the fact that this area is situated under a tectonic background characterized by near NEE-NE direction for the Ludong-Huanghai Block.However,within an area bounded by latitudes 30°-32°N and longitudes 120°-122°E on the eastern flank of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone,maximum principal stress direction appears more intricate,with radial distribution patterns suggesting influences not only from near EW-NEE movements associated with the North China Block,but also from westward subduction processes related to Philippine Sea plate dynamics.Through our analysis of historical earthquakes in this region,we conclude that the moderate to strong seismic activity within this area is significantly related to the tectonic stress environment,with regions of complex tectonic stress often being the most seismically active.展开更多
Large earthquakes frequently occur along complex fault systems.Understanding seismic rupture and long-term fault evolution requires constraining the geometric and material properties of fault zone structures.We provid...Large earthquakes frequently occur along complex fault systems.Understanding seismic rupture and long-term fault evolution requires constraining the geometric and material properties of fault zone structures.We provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in seismological methods used to study fault zone structures,including seismic tomography,fault zone seismic wave analysis,and seismicity analysis.Observational conditions limit our current ability to fully characterize fault zones,for example,insufficient imaging resolution to discern small-scale anomalies,incomplete capture of crucial fault zone seismic waves,and limited precision in event location accuracy.Dense seismic arrays can overcome these limitations and enable more detailed investigations of fault zone structures.Moreover,we present new insights into the structure of the Anninghe-Xiaojiang fault zone in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau based on data collected from a dense seismic array.We found that utilizing a dense seismic array can identify small-scale features within fault zones,aiding in the interpretation of fault zone geometry and material properties.展开更多
Based on the convection and diffusion mechanisms of radon migration, in this paper we deduce the two-dimensional differential equation for radon transportation in the overburden above active fault zones with an unlimi...Based on the convection and diffusion mechanisms of radon migration, in this paper we deduce the two-dimensional differential equation for radon transportation in the overburden above active fault zones with an unlimited extension along the strike. Making use of the finite difference method, the radon concentration distribution in the overburden above active faults is calculated and modeled. The active fault zone parameters, such as the depth and the width of the fault zone, and the value of radon concentration, can be inverted from the measured radon concentration curve. These realize quantitative interpretation for radon concentration anomalies. The inversion results are in good agreement with the actual fault zone parameters.展开更多
Crustal faults usually have a fault core and surrounding regions of brittle damage, forming a low-velocity zone （LVZ） in the immediate vicinity of the main slip interface. The LVZ may amplify ground motion, influenc...Crustal faults usually have a fault core and surrounding regions of brittle damage, forming a low-velocity zone （LVZ） in the immediate vicinity of the main slip interface. The LVZ may amplify ground motion, influence rupture propagation, and hold important information of earthquake physics. A number of geophysical and geodetic methods have been developed to derive high-resolution structure of the LVZ. Here, I review a few recent approaches, including ambient noise cross-correlation on dense across-fault arrays and GPS recordings of fault-zone trapped waves. Despite the past efforts, many questions concerning the LVZ structure remain unclear, such as the depth extent of the LVZ. High-quality data from larger and denser arrays and new seismic imaging technique using larger portion of recorded waveforms, which are currently under active development, may be able to better resolve the LVZ structure. In addition, effects of the alongstrike segmentation and gradational velocity changes across the boundaries between the LVZ and the host rock on rupture propagation should be investigated by conducting comprehensive numerical experiments. Furthermore, high-quality active sources such as recently developed large-volume airgun arrays provide a powerful tool to continuously monitor temporal changes of fault-zone properties, and thus can advance our understanding of fault zone evolution.展开更多
This paper reports internal structures of a wide fault zone at Shenxigou,Dujiangyan,Sichuan province,China,and high-velocity frictional properties of the fault gouge collected near the coseismic slip zone during the 2...This paper reports internal structures of a wide fault zone at Shenxigou,Dujiangyan,Sichuan province,China,and high-velocity frictional properties of the fault gouge collected near the coseismic slip zone during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.Vertical offset and horizontal displacement at the trench site were 2.8 m（NW side up）and 4.8 m（right-lateral）,respectively.The fault zone formed in Triassic sandstone,siltstone,and shale about 500 m away from the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault,a major fault in the Longmenshan fault system.A trench survey across the coseismic fault,and observations of outcrops and drill cores down to a depth of 57 m revealed that the fault zone consists of fault gouge and fault breccia of about0.5 and 250-300 m in widths,respectively,and that the fault strikes N62°E and dips 68° to NW.Quaternary conglomerates were recovered beneath the fault in the drilling,so that the fault moved at least 55 m along the coseismic slip zone,experiencing about 18 events of similar sizes.The fault core is composed of grayish gouge（GG） and blackish gouge（BG） with very complex slip-zone structures.BG contains low-crystalline graphite of about 30 %.High-velocity friction experiments were conducted at normal stresses of 0.6-2.1 MPa and slip rates of 0.1-2.1 m/s.Both GG and BG exhibit dramatic slip weakening at constant high slip rates that can be described as an exponential decay from peak friction coefficient lpto steadystate friction coefficient lssover a slip-weakening distance Dc.Deformation of GG and BG is characterized by overlapped slip-zone structures and development of sharp slickenside surfaces,respectively.Comparison of our data with those reported for other outcrops indicates that the high-velocity frictional properties of the Longmenshan fault zones are quite uniform and the high-velocity weakening must have promoted dynamic rupture propagation during the Wenchuan earthquake.展开更多
Using the data of regional seismic network, this paper analyzes the current faulting behaviors of different segments of the Anninghe-Zemuhe fault zone, western Sichuan, and identifies the likely risky segments for pot...Using the data of regional seismic network, this paper analyzes the current faulting behaviors of different segments of the Anninghe-Zemuhe fault zone, western Sichuan, and identifies the likely risky segments for potential large earthquakes. The authors map the probable asperities from the abnormally low b-value distribution, develop and employ a method for identifying current faulting behaviors of individual fault segment from the combinations of multiple seismicity parameter values, and make an effort to estimate the average recurrence intervals of character-istic earthquakes by using the parameters of magnitude-frequency relationship of the asperity segment. The result suggests that the studied fault zone contains 5 segments of different current faulting behaviors. Among them, the Mianning-Xichang segment of the Anninghe fault has been locked under high stress, its central part is probably an asperity with a relatively large scale. The Xichang-Puge segment of the Zemuhe fault displays very low seismicity under low stress. Both the locked segment and the low-seismicity segment can be outlined on the across-profile of relocated hypocenter depths. The Mianning-Xichang segment is identified to be the one with potential large earth-quake risk, for which the average recurrence interval between the latest M = 6.7 earthquake in 1952 and the next characteristic event is estimated to be 55 to 67 years, and the magnitude of the potential earthquake between 7.0 and 7.5. Also, it has been preliminarily suggested that for a certain fault segment, its faulting behaviors may change and evolve with time gradually.展开更多
The Yishu fault zone （mid-segment of the Tanlu fault zone） was formed in the Presinian. Periodic tectonic activities and strong seismic events have occurred along the fault zone. During the initial stage of the Cale...The Yishu fault zone （mid-segment of the Tanlu fault zone） was formed in the Presinian. Periodic tectonic activities and strong seismic events have occurred along the fault zone. During the initial stage of the Caledonian Movement, with the proceeding of the marine transgression from the Yishu paleo-channel to the western Shandong, uneven thick sediments, composed mainly of sand, mud and carbonates of littoral, lagoon, and neritic facies, were deposited in the Yishu fault zone and western Shandong, and constructed the bottom part of the Lower Cambrian consisting of the Liguan and Zhushadong formations. Through field observations and the lab-examinations, various paleoseismic records have been discovered in the Liguan Formation and the Zhushadong Formations of the Yishu fault zone and its vicinity, including some layers with syn-sedimentary deformation structures that were triggered by strong earthquakes （i.e. seismite, seismo-olistostrome, and seismo-turbidite）. Paleoseismic records developed in the Zhushadong Formation are mainly seismites with soft-sediment deformation structures, such as liquefied diapir, small liquefied-carbonate lime-mud volcano, liquefied vein, liquefied breccia, convolute deformation （seismic fold）, graded fault, soft siliceous vein, and deformation stromatolite, as well as seismites with brittle deformation structures of semiconsolidated sediments. Paleoseismic records preserved in the Liguan Formation are not only seismo-olistostrome with a slump fold, load structure, and ball-and-pillows, but also seismo-turbidite with convolution bedding, graded bedding and wavy-bedding. However, in the western Shandong area, the closer to the Yishu fault zone, the greater the thickness of the Liguan Formation and the Zhushadong Formation, the greater the number and type of layers with paleoseismic records, and the higher the earthquake intensity reflected by associations of seismic records. This evidence indicates that tectonic taphrogenesis accompanied by strong earthquake events occurred in the Yishu fault zone during the initial stage of the Caledonian Movement, which embodied the break-up of the Sino-Korean Plate along the Paleo-Tanlu fault zone at that time.展开更多
The Xianshuihe fault zone is a seismo-genetic fault zone of left-lateral slip in Southwest China. Since 1725, a total of 59 Ms ≥ 5.0 earthquakes have occurred along this fault zone, including 18 Ms 6.0–6.9 and eight...The Xianshuihe fault zone is a seismo-genetic fault zone of left-lateral slip in Southwest China. Since 1725, a total of 59 Ms ≥ 5.0 earthquakes have occurred along this fault zone, including 18 Ms 6.0–6.9 and eight Ms ≥ 7.0 earthquakes. The seismic risk of the Xianshuihe fault zone is a large and realistic threat to the western Sichuan economic corridor. Based on previous studies, we carried out field geological survey and remote sensing interpretation in the fault zone. In addition, geophysical surveys, trenching and age-dating were conducted in the key parts to better understand the geometry, spatial distribution and activity of the fault zone. We infer to divide the fault zone into two parts： the northwest part and the southeast part, with total eight segments. Their Late Quaternary slip rates vary in a range of 11.5 mm/a –（3±1） mm/a. The seismic activities of the Xianshuihe fault zone are frequent and strong, periodical, and reoccurred. Combining the spatial and temporal distribution of the historical earthquakes, the seismic hazard of the Xianshuihe fault zone has been predicted by using the relationship between magnitude and frequency of earthquakes caused by different fault segments. The prediction results show that the segment between Daofu and Qianning has a possibility of Ms ≥ 7.0 earthquakes, while the segment between Shimian and Luding is likely to have earthquakes of about Ms 7.0. It is suggested to establish a GPS or In SAR-based real-time monitoring network of surface displacement to cover the Xianshuihe fault zone, and an early warning system of earthquakes and post seismic geohazards to cover the major residential areas.展开更多
Using the data of regional seismic network, this paper analyzes the current faulting behaviors of different segments of the Anninghe-Zemuhe fault zone, western Sichuan, and identifies the likely risky segments for pot...Using the data of regional seismic network, this paper analyzes the current faulting behaviors of different segments of the Anninghe-Zemuhe fault zone, western Sichuan, and identifies the likely risky segments for potential large earthquakes. The authors map the probable asperities from the abnormally low b-value distribution, develop and employ a method for identifying current faulting behaviors of individual fault segment from the combinations of multiple seismicity parameter values, and make an effort to estimate the average recurrence intervals of character-istic earthquakes by using the parameters of magnitude-frequency relationship of the asperity segment. The result suggests that the studied fault zone contains 5 segments of different current faulting behaviors. Among them, the Mianning-Xichang segment of the Anninghe fault has been locked under high stress, its central part is probably an asperity with a relatively large scale. The Xichang-Puge segment of the Zemuhe fault displays very low seismicity under low stress. Both the locked segment and the low-seismicity segment can be outlined on the across-profile of relocated hypocenter depths. The Mianning-Xichang segment is identified to be the one with potential large earth-quake risk, for which the average recurrence interval between the latest M = 6.7 earthquake in 1952 and the next characteristic event is estimated to be 55 to 67 years, and the magnitude of the potential earthquake between 7.0 and 7.5. Also, it has been preliminarily suggested that for a certain fault segment, its faulting behaviors may change and evolve with time gradually.展开更多
基金supported by the Fundamental Research Funds of the Institute of Geomechanics(DZLXJK202401)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42177172,U2244226,42172255)+1 种基金the China Geological Survey Project(DD20230538)Deep Earth Probe and Mineral Resources ExplorationNational Science and Technology Major Project(2024ZD1000500)。
文摘Knowledge of the seismogenic environment of fault zones is critical for understanding the processes and mechanisms of large earthquakes.We conducted a rock magnetic study of the fault rocks and protoliths to investigate the seismogenic environment of earthquakes in the Motuo fault zone,in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis.The results indicate that magnetite is the principal magnetic carrier in the fault rocks and protolith,while the protolith has a higher content of paramagnetic minerals than the fault rocks.The fault rocks are characterized by a high magnetic susceptibility relative to the protolith in the Motuo fault zone.This is likely due to the thermal alteration of paramagnetic minerals to magnetite caused by coseismic frictional heating with concomitant hydrothermal fluid circulation.The high magnetic susceptibility of the fault rocks and neoformed magnetite indicate that large earthquakes with frictional heating temperatures>500℃have occurred in the Motuo fault zone in the past,and that the fault maintained an oxidizing environment with weak fluid action during these earthquakes.Our results reveal the seismogenic environment of the Motuo fault zone,and they are potentially important for the evaluation of the regional stability in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC3005600)the Foundation of the Anhui Educational Commission (2023AH051198)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42125401 and 42104063)the Joint Open Fund of Mengcheng National Geophysical Observatory (MENGO-202201)。
文摘The Tan-Lu Fault Zone is a large NNE-trending fault zone that has a substantial effect on the development of eastern China and its earthquake disaster prevention efforts. Aiming at the azimuthally anisotropic structure in the upper crust and seismogenic tectonics in the Hefei segment of this fault, we collected phase velocity dispersion data of fundamental mode Rayleigh waves from ambient noise cross-correlation functions of ~400 temporal seismographs in an area of approximately 80 × 70 km along the fault zone. The period band of the dispersion data was ~0.5–10 s. We inverted for the upper crustal three-dimensional(3-D) shear velocity model with azimuthal anisotropy from the surface to 10 km depth by using a 3-D direct azimuthal anisotropy inversion method. The inversion result shows the spatial distribution characteristics of the tectonic units in the upper crust. Additionally, the deformation of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone and its conjugated fault systems could be inferred from the anisotropy model. In particular, the faults that have remained active from the early and middle Pleistocene control the anisotropic characteristics of the upper crustal structure in this area. The direction of fast axes near the fault zone area in the upper crust is consistent with the strike of the faults, whereas for the region far away from the fault zone, the direction of fast axes is consistent with the direction of the regional principal stress caused by plate movement. Combined with the azimuthal anisotropy models in the deep crust and uppermost mantle from the surface wave and Pn wave, the different anisotropic patterns caused by the Tan-Lu Fault Zone and its conjugated fault system nearby are shown in the upper and lower crust. Furthermore,by using the double-difference method, we relocated the Lujiang earthquake series, which contained 32 earthquakes with a depth shallower than 10 km. Both the Vs model and earthquake relocation results indicate that earthquakes mostly occurred in the vicinity of structural boundaries with fractured media, with high-level development of cracks and small-scale faults jammed between more rigid areas.
基金supported by the Scientific Research Foundation for High-level Talents of Anhui University of Science and Technology under Grant 2024yjrc64the National Key R&D Program of China under Grant 2018YFC1504102。
文摘The Longmenshan(LMS)fault zone is located at the junction of the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin and is of great significance for studying regional tectonics and earthquake hazards.Although regional velocity models are available for the LMS fault zone,high-resolution velocity models are lacking.Therefore,a dense array of 240 short-period seismometers was deployed around the central segment of the LMS fault zone for approximately 30 days to monitor earthquakes and characterize fine structures of the fault zone.Considering the large quantity of observed seismic data,the data processing workflow consisted of deep learning-based automatic earthquake detection,phase arrival picking,and association.Compared with the earthquake catalog released by the China Earthquake Administration,many more earthquakes were detected by the dense array.Double-difference seismic tomography was adopted to determine V_(p),V_(s),and V_(p)/V_(s)models as well as earthquake locations.The checkerboard test showed that the velocity models have spatial resolutions of approximately 5 km in the horizontal directions and 2 km at depth.To the west of the Yingxiu–Beichuan Fault(YBF),the Precambrian Pengguan complex,where most of earthquakes occurred,is characterized by high velocity and low V_(p)/V_(s)values.In comparison,to the east of the YBF,the Upper Paleozoic to Jurassic sediments,where few earthquakes occurred,show low velocity and high V_(p)/V_(s)values.Our results suggest that the earthquake activity in the LMS fault zone is controlled by the strength of the rock compositions.When the high-resolution velocity models were combined with the relocated earthquakes,we were also able to delineate the fault geometry for different faults in the LMS fault zone.
基金funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant No. 2021YFC3000704)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42125401)the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (Grant No. CEAIEF20240401)。
文摘The Anninghe–Zemuhe Fault and the Xiaojiang Fault are critical active faults along the middle-eastern boundary of the South Chuan–Dian Block. Many researchers have identified these faults as potential strong-earthquake risk zones. In this study, we leveraged a dense seismic array to investigate the high-resolution shallow crust shear wave velocity(Vs) structure beneath the junction of the Zemuhe Fault Zone and the Xiaojiang Fault Zone, one of the most complex parts of the eastern boundary of the South Chuan–Dian Block. We analyzed the distribution of microseismic events detected between November 2022 and February 2023 based on the fine-scale Vs model obtained. The microseismicity in the study region was clustered into three groups, all spatially related to major faults in this region. These microseismic events indicate near-vertical fault planes, consistent with the fault geometry revealed by other researchers.Moreover, these microseismic events are influenced by the impoundment of the downstream Baihetan Reservoir and the complex tectonic stress near the junction of the Zemuhe Fault Zone and the Xiaojiang Fault Zone. The depths of these microseismic events are shallower in the junction zone, whereas moving south along the Xiaojiang Fault Zone, the microseismic events become deeper.Additionally, we compared our fine-scale local Vs model with velocity models obtained by other researchers and found that our model offers greater detail in characterizing subsurface heterogeneity while demonstrating improved reliability in delineating fault systems.
基金supported by the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(U23B2091)the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFC2905600)+1 种基金the Youth Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52304104 and 52404157)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(GZB20240825).
文摘As the mine depth around the world increases,the temperature of the surrounding rock of the mining workface increases significantly.To control the heat hazards,the hot water in the mining floor is developed during mining to decrease the min-ing workface temperature while also developing geothermal energy.This method is called the co-exploitation of mine and geothermal energy(CMGE).The geothermal development may precipitate the large-scale failure of the nearby fault zone during the mining process.However,the evolution of shear slide and shear failure of fault under geothermal production/rein-jection during mining is missing.Therefore,a fully-coupled hydraulic mechanism(HM)double-medium model for CMGE was developed based on the measured data of the Chensilou mine.A comparative analysis of the mechanical response of fault between CMGE and single mining was conducted.The disturbance of geothermal production pressure and reinjection pressure under mining on fault stability were respectively expounded.The results indicate that:(1)The disturbance of geo-thermal reinjection amplifies the disturbance of mining on fault stability.The amplified effect resulted in a normal stress drop of the fault,further leading to a substantial increase in shear slide distance,failure area,and cumulative seismic moment of fault compared with the single mining process.(2)As the distance of reinjection well to the fault decreases,the fault failure intensity increases.Setting the production well within the fault is advantageous for controlling fault stability under CMGE.(3)The essence of the combined disturbance of CMGE on the nearby fault is the overlay of tensile stress disturbance on the fault rock mass of the mining and geothermal reinjection.Though the geothermal reinjection causes a minor normal stress drop of fault,it can result in a more serious fault failure under CMGE.This paper supplies a significant gap in understanding thenearby faults failure under CMGE.
基金funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China(Grant 2024ZD1001301)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grants 42272241,42102254 and 41830213)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant JZ2023HGTB0238).
文摘The approximately 3000 km long Tan-Lu fault zone(TLFZ)in East Asia is the longest continental strike-slip fault zone in the world and exemplifies how such a fault zone forms and propagates on a continental scale.Structural and geochronological data from the TLFZ and surrounding regions indicate that the fault zone originated as NE/SW-striking sinistral ductile shear zones along an oblique continental convergence margin during the Triassic indentation collision between the North China Craton and the Yangtze Block.The Triassic fault zone,with a total length of about 720 km between the Dabie and Sulu orogens,exhibited an apparent sinistral offset of approximately 300 km along the TLFZ.The second stage of sinistral movement occurred in the earliest Late Jurassic,reactivating the pre-existing southern segment and propagating northwards to the southern coastline of present-day Bohai Bay,as well as forming a significant portion of the Dunhua-Mishan fault zone.The third stage of sinistral movement,in the earliest Early Cretaceous,was the most intense strike-slip movement of the Mesozoic,leading to the complete linkage of the TLFZ.This stage included further northward propagation of the southern-middle segment,both southward and northward propagation of the Dunhua-Mishan fault zone,as well as the formation of the entire Yilan-Yitong fault zone.The fourth stage,in the earliest Late Cretaceous,involved the reactivation of the entire TLFZ.Following its Triassic origin due to the indentation collision,the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate and the subduction and closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean were responsible for the multi-stage sinistral movements from the Late Jurassic to the Cretaceous.The evolution of the TLFZ demonstrates that a continental-scale strike-slip fault zone(>1000 km long)forms through multiple stages of propagation and linkage in dynamic settings of plate convergence.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFC3012004-05)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42422706,42077266)+1 种基金the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(2019QZKK0904)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(2022062).
文摘Tensile strength is a crucial parameter for assessing rock stability and fracture characteristics,which play a significant role in the prediction and engineering design of geohazards.However,fault slip activity can weaken the strength of the surrounding rock mass,thereby influencing its mechanical behavior and failure mode.This study investigates the spatial variation of the tensile strength(σ_(t)),compressive strength(σ_(c)),P-wave velocity(V_(p)),and acoustic emission(AE)characteristics at varying distances from the Xianshuihe Fault zone(XSHF),focusing on three representative profiles.The results show that theσ_(t),σ_(c),and V_(p)significantly decrease near the fault(0–5km).Specifically,the relative change rates ofσ_(t),σ_(c),and V_(p)at approximately 5km from the fault are 1.55–1.8 times,1.22–1.86 times,and 1.02–1.25 times greater,respectively,compared to the near-fault zone.As the distance from the fault increases(10–20km),the rock integrity improves,and the mechanical properties recover.AE monitoring reveals increased microcracks near the fault,with higher b-value and dominant tensile failure modes.Further from the fault,the rock exhibits increased brittleness,and tensile cracking becomes more prevalent.Overall,the mechanical parameters and AE characteristics demonstrate predictable spatial variation with distance,providing valuable insights for identifying stress concentration zones and potential geohazards.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42474003,42074007)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2042023kfyq01)。
文摘As a major fault in the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,the Haiyuan fault zone is important for understanding the regional deformation.Aiming at the differences in the slip rate and locking degree obtained from different studies,this study constructs a refined block model(including Qilian,Alxa,Ordos,Xining,Haiyuan,and Lanzhou blocks)and uses the grid search and simulated annealing methods to invert GPS data for slip rate and locking degree of the Haiyuan fault zone.The results are as follows:(1)The sinistral slip rates in the western,middle,and eastern segments are 4.93-5.22 mm/a,1.52-4.94 mm/a,and 0.43-1.18 mm/a,decreasing eastward on the whole,while the compression rates are 0.45-1.26 mm/a,0.58-2.62 mm/a,and3.52-4.48 mm/a,increasing eastward on the whole.(2)The locking depth of the western segment increases from about 5 km to about 20 km eastward;the middle segment decreases and then increases eastward;the eastern segment concentrates at about 20 km(PHI is about 0.86).(3)The slip deficit is relatively higher in the Lenglongling,Jinqianghe,Maomaoshan,and Liupanshan faults(averaging about 3.42 mm/a,4.16 mm/a,4.23 mm/a,and 3.43 mm/a within 20 km).(4)The Qilian,Alxa,Xining,Lanzhou,and Haiyuan blocks rotate clockwise,while the Ordos block rotates counterclockwise.Additionally,by comparing different block models,the Haiyuan block should be considered independently.The Haiyuan fault zone adjusts surrounding block movements and uplifts Liupanshan mountain tectonically.The results can provide important references for understanding the regional earthquake risk and deformation mechanism.
文摘The Yishu fault zone in Shandong Province,China,exhibits favorable conditions for medium-and high-temperature geothermal storage.However,its geothermal occurrence patterns and heat storage model remain unclear.Recognizing the importance of deep heat sources and heat channels in unraveling the formation mechanisms of medium-and high-temperature geothermal systems,we conducted a magnetotelluric survey along the Yishu fault zone,which contained 10 survey lines and 119 usable points.Using two-dimensional and three-dimensional nonlinear conjugate gradient inversion,the deep electrical structure was obtained,and the three-dimensional geothermal reservoir model in the study area was constructed for the first time.The results show that the deep low-resistance anomaly in the Yishu fault zone moves upward through the channel with slightly higher resistivity,forming a relatively low-resistance layer and a low-resistance layer in the shallow part,corresponding to the heat source,thermal conduction fault,heat reservoir,and overburden layer,respectively.The fault structure primarily controls regional geothermal anomalies,influencing atmospheric precipitation,surface water infiltration,and geothermal water migration pathways.The results of this study have a certain guiding significance for the study of the formation mechanism and distribution law of geothermal resources in the middle and deep strata of the Yishu fault zone.Additionally,the results provide valuable insights for the exploration and assessment of geothermal resources in the area.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42177184)。
文摘The Litang fault zone is an important seismogenic structure along the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.It caused the M71/4 earthquake in Litang in 1948 AD.The fault zone intersects the Sichuan-Xizang transportation corridor and poses a serious risk to its safe operation.This study,utilizing high-resolution remote sensing interpretation,field geological verification,UAV photogrammetry,UAV LiDAR,paleoearthquake trench excavation,and AMS^(14)C and OSL dating methods,reveals the geometric structure,slip rates,paleoearthquake sequence,and earthquake rupture segmentation of the Litang fault zone;analyzes the rupture distribution range of the 1729 AD Litang earthquake and estimates its magnitude.The study indicates that the Litang fault zone is a relatively immature strike-slip fault,which has developed as a new active fault zone within the Northwestern Sichuan sub-block during the southeastward material migration of the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.This reflects a transformation in the deformation model of the Northwestern Sichuan sub-block crust from the‘Rigid Block’model to the‘Continuous Deformation’model.
基金funded by the National Key Research and Development Project of China(Grant No.2021YFC3000600)the China Earthquake Science Experiment Field-Cross-fault Observation Array-Red River Fault Scientific Drilling Project Geophysical Prospecting Site Selection Project+2 种基金Anhui Province Science and Technology Breakthrough Plan Project(Key Project,202423l10050030)the Earthquake Science and Technology Spark Program of the China Earthquake Administration(XH23020YA)the Anhui Mengcheng National Geophysical Observatory Joint Open Fund(MENGO-202307)。
文摘The complex Red River fault zone(RRFZ),which is situated in the southwestern region of China and separates the Indochina plate and South China blocks,has diverse seismic activities in different segments.To reveal the detailed geometric characteristics of the RRFZ at different sections and to better understand the seismogenic environment,in 2022 and 2023 we deployed 7 seismic dense linear arrays,consisting of 574 nodal stations,across the RRFZ in the northern and southern segments near the towns Midu,Gasa,Zhega,Dazhai,Xinzhai,and Taoyuan.The linear arrays,which extend from 2.4 to 12.5 km in length with station intervals ranging between 40 and140 m,recorded seismic ambient noise for approximately one month.Using the extended range phase shift method,we extract the phase velocity dispersion curves of the Rayleigh waves between 0.9 and 10 Hz,which are then used to invert for the high resolution shearwave velocity structures across the RRFZ beneath the linear arrays.The key findings are:(1)the 7 imaged sections of the RRFZ exhibit quite similar structures,with higher velocities on the SW side and lower velocities on the NE side;the velocity variation is consistent with the surface geological structures along the RRFZ;(2)the shear-wave velocities on the SW side of the RRFZ at the northern Midu section and southern Gasa-Dazhai sections are generally higher than their counterparts in the southern Xinzhai-Taoyuan sections,which reflects lithological variations from the marble-dominated Paleoproterozoic Along basement to the gneiss dominated Paleoproterozoic Qingshuihe basement;(3)from the northern Midu section to the southern region where the RRFZ intersects with the Xiaojiang Fault,the major faults of the RRFZ exhibit a consistent high-angle,NE-dipping structure;(4)the low shear-wave velocities immediately to the NE of the velocity boundary may indicate a faulted zone due to long-term shearing,where excessive amplifications of ground motions could occur.This study provides new insights into the characteristics of the shallow structures of the RRFZ.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41802224)Science for Earthquake Resilience of China Earthquake Administration(Grant Nos.XH23019YC and Nos.XH24021C)+2 种基金Joint Open Fund of Mengcheng National Geophysical Observatory(Grant Nos.MENGO-202306)Key R&D and Achievement Transformation Projects of the Science and Technology Program in Wuhu City,Anhui Province(2023yf007)Open Fund of Wuhan,Gravitation and Solid Earth Tides,National Observation and Research Station(Grant Nos.WHYWZ202209).
文摘This article presents an interpretation of the seismic source mechanisms for 905 earthquakes with MS>2.0,occurring in the central and southern sections of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone and its adjacent areas from 1970 to 2023.Utilizing the damped stress tensor method,we have inverted the spatial characteristics of the stress field variations in this study area,at a resolution of 1.0°×1.0°.The results indicate that the maximum principal stress direction within the central and southern sections of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone exhibits a spatially continuous change,rotating counterclockwise from East-West(EW)to Northeast-East(NEE),albeit with local variations.When dividing along the Tan-Lu Fault Zone,it is observed that on its western side—the North China block—a near EW stress field predominates.In contrast,on its eastern side—the Ludong-Huanghai Block—stress fields primarily exhibit NEE and Northeast-East(NE)orientations,underscoring the role of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone as a significant boundary between tectonic blocks.In regions located between latitudes 30°-34°N and longitudes 113°-115°E on the western side of these fault zone sections,maximum principal stress follows a radial distribution pattern indicative of a complex stress field.Conversely,on the eastern side of this fault zone,maximum principal stress direction remains relatively consistent,primarily displaying NEE and NE distributions.This reflects the fact that this area is situated under a tectonic background characterized by near NEE-NE direction for the Ludong-Huanghai Block.However,within an area bounded by latitudes 30°-32°N and longitudes 120°-122°E on the eastern flank of the Tan-Lu Fault Zone,maximum principal stress direction appears more intricate,with radial distribution patterns suggesting influences not only from near EW-NEE movements associated with the North China Block,but also from westward subduction processes related to Philippine Sea plate dynamics.Through our analysis of historical earthquakes in this region,we conclude that the moderate to strong seismic activity within this area is significantly related to the tectonic stress environment,with regions of complex tectonic stress often being the most seismically active.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFF0800601)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.U2039204)the Special Fund of the Institute of Geophysics,China Earthquake Administration(No.DQJB23B22).
文摘Large earthquakes frequently occur along complex fault systems.Understanding seismic rupture and long-term fault evolution requires constraining the geometric and material properties of fault zone structures.We provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in seismological methods used to study fault zone structures,including seismic tomography,fault zone seismic wave analysis,and seismicity analysis.Observational conditions limit our current ability to fully characterize fault zones,for example,insufficient imaging resolution to discern small-scale anomalies,incomplete capture of crucial fault zone seismic waves,and limited precision in event location accuracy.Dense seismic arrays can overcome these limitations and enable more detailed investigations of fault zone structures.Moreover,we present new insights into the structure of the Anninghe-Xiaojiang fault zone in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau based on data collected from a dense seismic array.We found that utilizing a dense seismic array can identify small-scale features within fault zones,aiding in the interpretation of fault zone geometry and material properties.
文摘Based on the convection and diffusion mechanisms of radon migration, in this paper we deduce the two-dimensional differential equation for radon transportation in the overburden above active fault zones with an unlimited extension along the strike. Making use of the finite difference method, the radon concentration distribution in the overburden above active faults is calculated and modeled. The active fault zone parameters, such as the depth and the width of the fault zone, and the value of radon concentration, can be inverted from the measured radon concentration curve. These realize quantitative interpretation for radon concentration anomalies. The inversion results are in good agreement with the actual fault zone parameters.
基金supported by the startup fund (Grant 4930072)Direct Grant for Research (Grant 4053114) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong
文摘Crustal faults usually have a fault core and surrounding regions of brittle damage, forming a low-velocity zone （LVZ） in the immediate vicinity of the main slip interface. The LVZ may amplify ground motion, influence rupture propagation, and hold important information of earthquake physics. A number of geophysical and geodetic methods have been developed to derive high-resolution structure of the LVZ. Here, I review a few recent approaches, including ambient noise cross-correlation on dense across-fault arrays and GPS recordings of fault-zone trapped waves. Despite the past efforts, many questions concerning the LVZ structure remain unclear, such as the depth extent of the LVZ. High-quality data from larger and denser arrays and new seismic imaging technique using larger portion of recorded waveforms, which are currently under active development, may be able to better resolve the LVZ structure. In addition, effects of the alongstrike segmentation and gradational velocity changes across the boundaries between the LVZ and the host rock on rupture propagation should be investigated by conducting comprehensive numerical experiments. Furthermore, high-quality active sources such as recently developed large-volume airgun arrays provide a powerful tool to continuously monitor temporal changes of fault-zone properties, and thus can advance our understanding of fault zone evolution.
基金supported by State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics (project No.LED2010A03)Wenchuan Earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling Project (WFSD-09)
文摘This paper reports internal structures of a wide fault zone at Shenxigou,Dujiangyan,Sichuan province,China,and high-velocity frictional properties of the fault gouge collected near the coseismic slip zone during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.Vertical offset and horizontal displacement at the trench site were 2.8 m（NW side up）and 4.8 m（right-lateral）,respectively.The fault zone formed in Triassic sandstone,siltstone,and shale about 500 m away from the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault,a major fault in the Longmenshan fault system.A trench survey across the coseismic fault,and observations of outcrops and drill cores down to a depth of 57 m revealed that the fault zone consists of fault gouge and fault breccia of about0.5 and 250-300 m in widths,respectively,and that the fault strikes N62°E and dips 68° to NW.Quaternary conglomerates were recovered beneath the fault in the drilling,so that the fault moved at least 55 m along the coseismic slip zone,experiencing about 18 events of similar sizes.The fault core is composed of grayish gouge（GG） and blackish gouge（BG） with very complex slip-zone structures.BG contains low-crystalline graphite of about 30 %.High-velocity friction experiments were conducted at normal stresses of 0.6-2.1 MPa and slip rates of 0.1-2.1 m/s.Both GG and BG exhibit dramatic slip weakening at constant high slip rates that can be described as an exponential decay from peak friction coefficient lpto steadystate friction coefficient lssover a slip-weakening distance Dc.Deformation of GG and BG is characterized by overlapped slip-zone structures and development of sharp slickenside surfaces,respectively.Comparison of our data with those reported for other outcrops indicates that the high-velocity frictional properties of the Longmenshan fault zones are quite uniform and the high-velocity weakening must have promoted dynamic rupture propagation during the Wenchuan earthquake.
基金Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation (102002).
文摘Using the data of regional seismic network, this paper analyzes the current faulting behaviors of different segments of the Anninghe-Zemuhe fault zone, western Sichuan, and identifies the likely risky segments for potential large earthquakes. The authors map the probable asperities from the abnormally low b-value distribution, develop and employ a method for identifying current faulting behaviors of individual fault segment from the combinations of multiple seismicity parameter values, and make an effort to estimate the average recurrence intervals of character-istic earthquakes by using the parameters of magnitude-frequency relationship of the asperity segment. The result suggests that the studied fault zone contains 5 segments of different current faulting behaviors. Among them, the Mianning-Xichang segment of the Anninghe fault has been locked under high stress, its central part is probably an asperity with a relatively large scale. The Xichang-Puge segment of the Zemuhe fault displays very low seismicity under low stress. Both the locked segment and the low-seismicity segment can be outlined on the across-profile of relocated hypocenter depths. The Mianning-Xichang segment is identified to be the one with potential large earth-quake risk, for which the average recurrence interval between the latest M = 6.7 earthquake in 1952 and the next characteristic event is estimated to be 55 to 67 years, and the magnitude of the potential earthquake between 7.0 and 7.5. Also, it has been preliminarily suggested that for a certain fault segment, its faulting behaviors may change and evolve with time gradually.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.:41272066)the Scientific Research Key Project of Shandong Province’s Geoscience Forum(LDXHLT-2007-10-001)the China Geological Survey Project(Grant No.:1212010510509)
文摘The Yishu fault zone （mid-segment of the Tanlu fault zone） was formed in the Presinian. Periodic tectonic activities and strong seismic events have occurred along the fault zone. During the initial stage of the Caledonian Movement, with the proceeding of the marine transgression from the Yishu paleo-channel to the western Shandong, uneven thick sediments, composed mainly of sand, mud and carbonates of littoral, lagoon, and neritic facies, were deposited in the Yishu fault zone and western Shandong, and constructed the bottom part of the Lower Cambrian consisting of the Liguan and Zhushadong formations. Through field observations and the lab-examinations, various paleoseismic records have been discovered in the Liguan Formation and the Zhushadong Formations of the Yishu fault zone and its vicinity, including some layers with syn-sedimentary deformation structures that were triggered by strong earthquakes （i.e. seismite, seismo-olistostrome, and seismo-turbidite）. Paleoseismic records developed in the Zhushadong Formation are mainly seismites with soft-sediment deformation structures, such as liquefied diapir, small liquefied-carbonate lime-mud volcano, liquefied vein, liquefied breccia, convolute deformation （seismic fold）, graded fault, soft siliceous vein, and deformation stromatolite, as well as seismites with brittle deformation structures of semiconsolidated sediments. Paleoseismic records preserved in the Liguan Formation are not only seismo-olistostrome with a slump fold, load structure, and ball-and-pillows, but also seismo-turbidite with convolution bedding, graded bedding and wavy-bedding. However, in the western Shandong area, the closer to the Yishu fault zone, the greater the thickness of the Liguan Formation and the Zhushadong Formation, the greater the number and type of layers with paleoseismic records, and the higher the earthquake intensity reflected by associations of seismic records. This evidence indicates that tectonic taphrogenesis accompanied by strong earthquake events occurred in the Yishu fault zone during the initial stage of the Caledonian Movement, which embodied the break-up of the Sino-Korean Plate along the Paleo-Tanlu fault zone at that time.
基金supported by the Special Project of Basic Work of Science and Technology(grant No.2011FY110100-2)the Project of China Geological Survey(grant No.1212010914025 and No.12120113038000)the Project of 12~(th) Five-Year National Sci-Tech Support Plan(grant No.2011BAK12B09)
文摘The Xianshuihe fault zone is a seismo-genetic fault zone of left-lateral slip in Southwest China. Since 1725, a total of 59 Ms ≥ 5.0 earthquakes have occurred along this fault zone, including 18 Ms 6.0–6.9 and eight Ms ≥ 7.0 earthquakes. The seismic risk of the Xianshuihe fault zone is a large and realistic threat to the western Sichuan economic corridor. Based on previous studies, we carried out field geological survey and remote sensing interpretation in the fault zone. In addition, geophysical surveys, trenching and age-dating were conducted in the key parts to better understand the geometry, spatial distribution and activity of the fault zone. We infer to divide the fault zone into two parts： the northwest part and the southeast part, with total eight segments. Their Late Quaternary slip rates vary in a range of 11.5 mm/a –（3±1） mm/a. The seismic activities of the Xianshuihe fault zone are frequent and strong, periodical, and reoccurred. Combining the spatial and temporal distribution of the historical earthquakes, the seismic hazard of the Xianshuihe fault zone has been predicted by using the relationship between magnitude and frequency of earthquakes caused by different fault segments. The prediction results show that the segment between Daofu and Qianning has a possibility of Ms ≥ 7.0 earthquakes, while the segment between Shimian and Luding is likely to have earthquakes of about Ms 7.0. It is suggested to establish a GPS or In SAR-based real-time monitoring network of surface displacement to cover the Xianshuihe fault zone, and an early warning system of earthquakes and post seismic geohazards to cover the major residential areas.
基金Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation (102002).
文摘Using the data of regional seismic network, this paper analyzes the current faulting behaviors of different segments of the Anninghe-Zemuhe fault zone, western Sichuan, and identifies the likely risky segments for potential large earthquakes. The authors map the probable asperities from the abnormally low b-value distribution, develop and employ a method for identifying current faulting behaviors of individual fault segment from the combinations of multiple seismicity parameter values, and make an effort to estimate the average recurrence intervals of character-istic earthquakes by using the parameters of magnitude-frequency relationship of the asperity segment. The result suggests that the studied fault zone contains 5 segments of different current faulting behaviors. Among them, the Mianning-Xichang segment of the Anninghe fault has been locked under high stress, its central part is probably an asperity with a relatively large scale. The Xichang-Puge segment of the Zemuhe fault displays very low seismicity under low stress. Both the locked segment and the low-seismicity segment can be outlined on the across-profile of relocated hypocenter depths. The Mianning-Xichang segment is identified to be the one with potential large earth-quake risk, for which the average recurrence interval between the latest M = 6.7 earthquake in 1952 and the next characteristic event is estimated to be 55 to 67 years, and the magnitude of the potential earthquake between 7.0 and 7.5. Also, it has been preliminarily suggested that for a certain fault segment, its faulting behaviors may change and evolve with time gradually.
