The Longmen Grottoes comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs. These contain almost 110,000 stone Buddhist statues, more than 60 stupas and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. ...The Longmen Grottoes comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs. These contain almost 110,000 stone Buddhist statues, more than 60 stupas and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. Luoyang was China＇s capital during the late North- ern Wei Dynasty （386-534） and early Tang Dynasty （618 907）, and the most intensive period of carving dates from the end of the fifth century to the mid eighth century.展开更多
There is a massive amount of geomorphic evidence for active tectonics in the Longmen Shan at the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. We have surveyed some typical geomorphic markers including the Wenchuan-Maowen, B...There is a massive amount of geomorphic evidence for active tectonics in the Longmen Shan at the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. We have surveyed some typical geomorphic markers including the Wenchuan-Maowen, Beichuan-Yingxiu and Pengxian-Guanxian faults, terrace offsets, scarps, fault-controlled saddles, dextral shutter ridges, dextral channel offsets, graben, shatter belts, and pull-apart basins. Electron spin resonance （ESR） and thermoluminescence（TL） ages were obtained using silty sand taken from below the surface of the sediments. According to these data, we calculated the rates of thrusting and strike-slip, and the results indicate that Cenozoic tectonic shortening at the plateau margin is minor with the rate of thrusting less than 1.10 mm/a and the rate of strike-slipping less than 1.46 mm/a. The Longmen Shan is a zone of NNE-trending dextral shear with slip-dip ratio of 6：1-1.3：1. From NW to SE, the thrust component becomes smaller, whereas the strike-slip component becomes larger.展开更多
By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages： （1） the formation stage （T3x） of the miniatur...By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages： （1） the formation stage （T3x） of the miniature of Longmen Mountain, early Indosinian movement, and Anxian tectonic movement created the Longmen Mountain; （2） the stable tectonic stage （J1） where weaker tectonic movement resulted in the Longmen Mountain thrust belt being slightly uplifted and slightly subsiding the foreland basin; （3） the intense tectonic stage （J2-3）, namely the early Yanshan movement; （4） continuous tectonic movement （K-E）, namely the late Yanshan movement and early Himalayan movement; and （5） the formation of Longmen Mountain （N-Q）, namely the late Himalayan movement. During those tectonic deformation stages, the Anxian movement and Himalayan movement played important roles in the Longmen Mountain＇s formation. The Himalayan movement affected Longmen Mountain the most; the strata thrust intensively and were eroded severely. There are some klippes in the middle part of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt because a few nappes were pushed southeastward in later tectonic deformation.展开更多
There is a cross-cutting relationship between the E-W trending structures and the NE- trending structures in the northern Longmen-Micang Mountains region, which reflects possible regional tectonic transition and migra...There is a cross-cutting relationship between the E-W trending structures and the NE- trending structures in the northern Longmen-Micang Mountains region, which reflects possible regional tectonic transition and migration. Apatite fission track （AFT） analyses of 15 samples collected from this area yield apparent ages varying from 30.3±4.2 Ma to 111.7±9.0 Ma and confined-track-lengths ranging from 10.6±0.3 pm to 12.4±0.1 μm. Four specific groups were identified on the basis of the Track Age Spectrum Calculation （TASC） patterns, i.e., 143-112 Ma, 93.6-88 Ma, 42-40 Ma and -25.6 Ma. These age groups correspond to the spatial distributions of datasets and may represent four tectonic events. Together with the regional deformation patterns, the four age groups are interpreted to indicate tectonic superposition, transition and migration during the Meso-Cenozoic with the following possible order： （1） the Micang Mountains belt was dominated by the E-W trending structure during 143-112 Ma; （2） the contraction of the Longmen Mountains belt from the NW to the SE during 93.6-88 Ma led to the superposition of the NE-trending structures over the E-W trendinding structures; （3） dextral strike-slip shear dominated the Longmen Mountains belt at 42-40 Ma; （4） westward migration of the active tectonic belt occurred from 93.6-25.6 Ma in a break-back sequence in the northern Longmen Mountains belt. The Late Cenozoic tectonics in the northern Longmen Mountains belt are characterized by the dextral strike-slip shear and the occurrence of westward break-back sequence of deformations. As a result, north-south differences in deformations along the Longmen Mountains belt were intensified since the Miocene time and strains were mainly accumulated in the hinterland of the Longmen Mountains instead of being propagated to the foreland basin.展开更多
Field investigation and seismic section explanation showed that the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt has obvious differential deformation： zonation, segmentation and stratification. Zonation means that, from NW to NE, th...Field investigation and seismic section explanation showed that the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt has obvious differential deformation： zonation, segmentation and stratification. Zonation means that, from NW to NE, the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt can be divided into the Songpan- Garz~ Tectonic Belt, ductile deformation belt, base involved thrust belt, frontal fold-thrust belt, and foreland depression. Segmentation means that it can be divided into five segments from north to south： the northern segment, the Anxian Transfer Zone, the center segment, the Guanxian Transfer Zone and the southern segment. Stratification means that the detachment layers partition the structural styles in profile. The detachment layers in the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt can be classified into three categories： the deep-level detachment layers, including the crust-mantle system detachment layer, intracrustal detachment layer, and Presinian system basal detachment layer; the middle-level detachment layers, including Cambrian-Ordovician detachment layer, Silurian detachment layer, etc.; and shallow-level detachment layers, including Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation detachment layer and the Jurassic detachment layers. The multi-level detachment layers have a very important effect on the shaping and evolution of Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt.展开更多
By analyzing the deep seismic sounding profiles across the Longmen Shan,this paper focuses on the study of the relationship between the upper crust structure of the Longmen Shan area and the Wenchuan earthquake.The Lo...By analyzing the deep seismic sounding profiles across the Longmen Shan,this paper focuses on the study of the relationship between the upper crust structure of the Longmen Shan area and the Wenchuan earthquake.The Longmen Shan thrust belt marks not only the topographical change,but also the lateral velocity variation between the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin.A low-velocity layer has consistently been found in the crust beneath the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau,and ends beneath the western Sichuan Basin.The low-velocity layer at a depth of-20 km beneath the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau has been considered as the deep condition for favoring energy accumulation that formed the great Wenchuan earthquake.展开更多
Depending on the analysis of the coeval sedimentary geometry and subsidence mechanism in the Longmen Shan foreland basin, three models about the coupling relationship between Longmen Shan uplift and foreland basin sub...Depending on the analysis of the coeval sedimentary geometry and subsidence mechanism in the Longmen Shan foreland basin, three models about the coupling relationship between Longmen Shan uplift and foreland basin subsidence since the Indosinian have been proposed：（1） crustal shortening and its related wide wedge-shaped foreland basin,（2） crustal isostatic rebound and its related tabular foreland basin, and（3） lower crustal flow and its related narrow wedge-shaped foreland basin. Based on the narrow wedge-shaped foreland basin developed since 4 Ma, it is believed that the narrow crustal shortening and tectonic load driven by lower crustal flow is a primary driver for the present Longmen Shan uplift and the Wenchuan（Ms 8.0） earthquake.展开更多
The coseismic surface uplift of the Longmen Shan（LMS） created an instantaneous topographic load over the western margin of the Sichuan Basin, where surface subsidence, decreasing eastward, has been measured using se...The coseismic surface uplift of the Longmen Shan（LMS） created an instantaneous topographic load over the western margin of the Sichuan Basin, where surface subsidence, decreasing eastward, has been measured using several methods, such as GPS, SAR and levelling. Using an elastic flexural model, we aim to interpret the coseismic surface uplift and subsidence, and constrain the effective lithospheric elastic thickness（Te） of the Sichuan Basin. Using different effective elastic thickness values for the Sichuan Basin, a series of subsidence curves were computed by the elastic flexure model equation for a broken elastic plate. The curves, produced by models using an effective elastic thickness of 30–40 km, provided the best fit to the general pattern of observed coseismic subsidence of the Sichuan Basin. However, the calculated subsidence（-40–70 cm） at the front of the LMS is evidently lower than the observed values（-100 cm）, suggesting that the effective elastic thickness therein should be lower. These results indicate that the lithospheric strength may decrease westward from the Sichuan Basin to the LMS.展开更多
Investigation of the deep geophysical structure of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and its relation to the Wenchuan Earthquake is important for the study of earthquakes.By using magnetotelluric sounding profiles o...Investigation of the deep geophysical structure of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and its relation to the Wenchuan Earthquake is important for the study of earthquakes.By using magnetotelluric sounding profiles of the Luqu-Zhongjiang and Anxian-Suining; seismic sounding profiles of the Sichuan Maowen-Chongqing Gongtan,the Qinghai Huashi Gorge-Sichuan Jianyang,and the Batang-Zizhong; and magnetogravimetric data of the Longmen Mountains region,the deep geophysical structure of the Songpan-Ganzi block,the western Sichuan foreland basin,and the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and their relation was discussed.The eastward extrusion of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau thrusts the Songpan-Ganzi block upon the Yangtze block,which obstructs the eastward movement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The Maoxian-Wenchuan,Beichuan-Yingxiu,and Anxian-Guanxian faults of the Longmen Mountains fault belt dip to northwest with different dip angles and gradually converge in the deeper parts.Geophysical structure suggests that an intracrustal low-velocity,low-resistivity,and high-conductivity layer is common between the middle and upper crust west of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt but not in the upper Yangtze block.The Sichuan Basin has a thick low-resistance sedimentary layer on a stable high-resistance basement; moreover,there are secondary paleohighs and depression structures at the lower part of the western Sichuan foreland basin with characteristic of high magnetic anomalies,whereas the Songpan-Ganzi block has a high resisitivity cover of upper crust and continues to a low-resistance layer.Considering the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt as the boundary,there are Bouguer gravity anomalies of ＂one belt between two zones.＂ Thus,we infer that there is a corresponding relation between the inferred crystalline basement of the Songpan block and the underlying basin basement of the Longmen Mountains fault belt.Furthermore,there may be an extensive ancient Yangtze block,which is west of the Ruoergai block.In addition,the crust-mantle ductile shear zone under the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt is the main fault,whereas the Beichuan-Yingxiu and Anxian-Guanxian faults at the surface are earthquake faults.The Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake might be attributed to the collision of the Yangtze block and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The eastward obduction of the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and eastward subduction of its deeper part under the influence of the collision of the Indian,Pacific,and Philippine Plates with the Eurasia Plate might have caused the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt to cut the Moho and extend to the middle and upper crust; thus,creating high stress concentration and rapid energy release zone.展开更多
This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies （IGA）, steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift a...This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies （IGA）, steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift and extrusion of lower crustal flow in the Longmen Shan Mountains （the LMS）. Firstly, The high positive IGA zone corresponds to the LMS orogenic belt. It is shown that abrupt changes in IGA correspond to zones of abrupt change of topography, crustal thickness and rock density along the LMS. Secondly, on the basis of the Airy isostasy theory, simulations and inversions of the positive IGA were conducted using three-dimensional bodies. The results indicated that the LMS lacks a mountain root, and that the top surface of the lower crust has been elevated by 11 km, leading to positive IGA, tectonic load and density load. Thirdly, according to Watts＇s flexural isostasy model, elastic deflection occurs, suggesting that the limited （i.e. narrow） tectonic and density load driven by lower crustal flow in the LMS have led to asymmetric flexural subsidence in the foreland basin and lifting of the forebulge. Finally, based on the correspondence between zones of extremely high positive IGA and the presence of the Precambrian Pengguan-Baoxing complexes in the LMS, the first appearance of erosion gravels from the complexes in the Dayi Conglomerate layer of the Chengdu Basin suggest that positive IGA and lower crustal flow in the LMS took place at 3.6 Ma or slightly earlier.展开更多
We applied the material balance principle of the denudation volume and sedimentary flux to study the denudation-accumulation system between the Longmen Mountains （Mts.） and the foreland basin. The amount of sediment...We applied the material balance principle of the denudation volume and sedimentary flux to study the denudation-accumulation system between the Longmen Mountains （Mts.） and the foreland basin. The amount of sediment in each sedimentation stage of the basin was estimated to obtain the denudation volume, erosion thickness and deposit thickness since the Late Triassic Epoch, to enable us to recover the paleoelevation of the provenance and the sedimentary area. The results show the following： （1） Since the Late Triassic Epoch, the elevation of the surface of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted from 0 m to 2751 m, and the crust of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted by 9.8 km. Approximately 72% of the materials introduced have been denuded from the mountains. （2） It is difficult to recover the paleoelevation of each stage of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin quantitatively by the present-day techniques and data. （3） The formation of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin consisted of three stages of thrust belt tectonic load and three stages of thrust belt erosional unload. During tectonic loading stages （Late Triassic Epoch, Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous-Miocene）, the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was lower （approximately 700-1700 m）. During erosional unloading stages （Early and Middle Jurassic, Middle Cretaceous and Jiaguan, Late Cenozoic）, the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was high at approximately 2000-2800m.展开更多
This article is to review results from scientific drilling and fault-zone trapped waves （FZTWs） at the south Longman-Shan fault （LSF） zone that ruptured in the 2008 May 12 M8 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan,China.I...This article is to review results from scientific drilling and fault-zone trapped waves （FZTWs） at the south Longman-Shan fault （LSF） zone that ruptured in the 2008 May 12 M8 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan,China.Immediately after the mainshock,two Wenchuan Fault Scientific Drilling （WFSD） boreholes were drilled at WFSD-1 and WFSD-2 sites approximately 400 m and 1 km west of the surface rupture along the Yinxiu-Beichuan fault （YBF）,the middle fault strand of the south LSF zone.Two boreholes met the principal slip of Wenchuan earthquake along the YBF at depths of 589-m and 1230-m,respectively.The slip is accompanied with a 100-200-m-wide zone consisting of fault gouge,breccia,cataclasite and fractures.Close to WFSD-1 site,the nearly-vertical slip of ～4.3-m with a 190-m wide zone of highly fractured rocks restricted to the hanging wall of the YBF was found at the ground surface after the Wenchuan earthquake.A dense linear seismic array was deployed across the surface rupture at this venue to record FZTWs generated by aftershocks.Observations and 3-D finite-difference simulations of FZTWs recorded at this cross-fault array and network stations close to the YBF show a distinct low-velocity zone composed by severely damaged rocks along the south LSF at seismogenic depths.The zone is several hundred meters wide along the principal slip,within which seismic velocities are reduced by ～30-55％ from wall-rock velocities and with the maximum velocity reduction in the ～200-m-wide rupture core zone at shallow depth.The FZTW-inferred geometry and physical properties of the south LSF rupture zone at shallow depth are in general consistent with the results from petrological and structural analyses of cores and well log at WFSD boreholes.We interpret this remarkable low-velocity zone as being a break-down zone during dynamic rupture in the 2008 M8 earthquake.We examined the FZTWS generated by similar earthquakes before and after the 2008 mainshock and observed that seismic velocities within fault core zone was reduced by ～10％ due to severe damage of fault rocks during the M8 mainshock.Scientific drilling and locations of aftershocks generating prominent FZTWs also indicate rupture bifurcation along the YBF and the Anxian-Guangxian fault （AGF）,two strands of the south LSF at shallow depth.A combination of seismic,petrologic and geologic study at the south LSF leads to further understand the relationship between the fault-zone structure and rupture dynamics,and the amplification of ground shaking strength along the low-velocity fault zone due to its waveguide effect.展开更多
Through field geological investigation and seismic interpretation of the Longmen （龙门） Mountain thrust belt, we summarized the following structural styles： thrust belt, fault-related fold （fault bend fold, fault ...Through field geological investigation and seismic interpretation of the Longmen （龙门） Mountain thrust belt, we summarized the following structural styles： thrust belt, fault-related fold （fault bend fold, fault propagation fold, and fault decollement fold）, pop-up, triangle zone, duplex, superimposed fold, ductile deformation structures, reverse thrust fault, klippe, decollement structure,etc.. These structural styles have evident distribution characteristics; they had zonation and segmentation in plane. The zonation presents as the thrust nappe tectonic zone to the west of Tongjichang （通济场） fault, fault-related folds between Tongjichang fault and Guankou （关口） fault, and low and mild folds to the east of Guankou fault. The segmentation is evidenced as the scale of reverse thrust faults was minor between Tongjichang No. 1 fault and Tongjichang No. 2 fault. The distance between these two faults became long in the Daynanbao （大园包） structure, and there developed typical fault propagation fold and pop-up between these two faults. Furthermore, the structures had stratifi-cation in profile. The salt layer of T21 provided good conditions for the formation and development of large listric thrust faults; the thrust fault slipped in the salt layer and formed decollement structures and fault-related fold. At the same time, there formed duplex and reverse thrust faults between the two decollement layers.展开更多
Longmen Mountain located at the boundary between the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau,representing the steepest gradient of any edges of the plateau.Three endmember models of uplift process and mechanism have been pr...Longmen Mountain located at the boundary between the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau,representing the steepest gradient of any edges of the plateau.Three endmember models of uplift process and mechanism have been proposed,including crustal thickening,crustal flow,and crustal isostatic rebound.Here we use coeval sedimentary sequences in the foreland basin to restraint uplift process and mechanism in the Longmen Mountain.The more than 10,000 m thick Late TriassicQuaternary strata filled in this foreland basin and can be divided into six megasequences that are distinguished as two distinct types.The first type is the wedge-shaped megasequences which are sedimentary response of strong active thrust loading events,characterized by a high rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,coarsening-upward succession and a dual-sourced sediment supply.This type includes Late Triassic,Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous to Paleogene megasequences.The second type is the tabular megasequences,characterized by the low rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,finingupward succession,and a single-sourced sediment supply,which is sedimentary response of isostatic rebound and erosion unloading.This type includes the Early to Middle Jurassic,Middle Cretaceous and Neogene to Quaternary megasequences.Basing on sedimentary,active tectonic,geomorphic evidence,we infer that the direction has been reversed from SSWdirected sinistral strike-slip to NNE-directed dextral strike-slip during 40-3.6 Ma,and since 3.6 Ma,the Longmen Mountain thrust belt belong to times of isostatic rebound and erosional unloading with NNEdirected dextral strike-slip.This suggests that crustal isostatic rebound is a primary driver for uplift and topography of the present Longmen Mountain.The Wenchuan(Ms8.0) earthquake,which ruptured a large thrust fault with NNE-directed dextral strikeslip along the range front,is an active manifestation of this crustal isostatic rebound process with dextral strike-slipping and shortening.This process may be the cause for the Wenchuan Earthquake and the apparent paradox of high relief,little shortening,the relative dearth of historical seismicity in the region.展开更多
The Longmen Mountains and adjacent regions on the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau can be divided into three tectonic units: the eastern Songpan—Garzê fold belt, the Longmen Mountains (Longmen Shan) Thrust...The Longmen Mountains and adjacent regions on the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau can be divided into three tectonic units: the eastern Songpan—Garzê fold belt, the Longmen Mountains (Longmen Shan) Thrust—Nappe belt and the Western Sichuan foreland basin that occupies the western part of the Sichuan basin. The Longmen Shan Thrust—Nappe belt is subdivided by six northwest\|dipping major listric thrusts, with accompanying duplexes and imbricate fans, into five large\|scale nappes (Chen & Wilson, 1996). In the inner Longmen Shan, the nappe units have incorporated both Mesoproterozoic basement and Sinian (Neoproterozoic) to Triassic cover sequences as “thick\|skinned" horses. Whereas, in the frontal Longmen Shan, Sinian to Cretaceous cover sediments have been stripped from the basement as “thin\|skinned" fold and thrust sheets, including extensively distributed klippen structures. Pre\|thrusting extension during Devonian to middle Late Triassic times resulted in syndepositional normal faults. Structural inversion of these faults initiated the “Peng Xian—Guan Xian basement complex", Jiuding Shan and Tangwangzhai nappes, during an early episode of the Indosinian Orogeny (Norian to Rhaetian). This was followed by episodic thrusting during latest Triassic to Early Cretaceous times to develop the Guan Xian—An Xian and Southeastern Marginal nappes that have incorporated sediments from the neighbouring foreland basin into the frontal part of the Thrust—Nappe belt. Differential thrusting occurred across the Thrust—Nappe belt during a Late Miocene reactivation of the pre\|existing faults.展开更多
Through field geological survey, the authors found that abundant thrust faults developed in the Longmen （龙门） Mountain thrust belt. These faults can be divided into thrust faults and strike-slip faults according to...Through field geological survey, the authors found that abundant thrust faults developed in the Longmen （龙门） Mountain thrust belt. These faults can be divided into thrust faults and strike-slip faults according to their formation mechanisms and characteristics. Furthermore, these faults can be graded into primary fault, secondary fault, third-level fault, and fourth-level fault according to their scale and role in the tectonic evolution of Longmen Mountain thrust belt. Each thrustfault is such as composed of several secondary faults, Qingchuan （青川）-Maowen （茂汶） fault zone is composed of Qiaozhuang （乔庄） fault, Qingxi （青溪） fault, Maowen fault, Ganyanggou （赶羊沟） fault, etc.. The Longmen Mountain thrust belt experienced early Indosinian movement, Anxian （安县） movement, Yanshan （燕山） movement, and Himalayan movement, and the faults formed gradually from north to south.展开更多
In order to reveal the nature of the segmentation of Longmen Mountains Thrust Belt caused by the three nappes (Jiaoziding, Jiudingshan, and Baoxing Nappe), several methods are applied in this paper, including field in...In order to reveal the nature of the segmentation of Longmen Mountains Thrust Belt caused by the three nappes (Jiaoziding, Jiudingshan, and Baoxing Nappe), several methods are applied in this paper, including field investigation, seismic explanation and balanced crossed section, etc. Results of research reveal that nappes in Longmen Mountains vary in geometry, kinematics, and dynamics. Jiaoziding Nappe has generally behaved in a ductile manner, whereas Jiudingshan Nappe has been rigid, and the rheology of Baoxing Nappe has been intermediate between that of the other two nappes. The development of nappes has resulted in tectonic segmentation of Longmen Mountains: the main structural style of the northern segment is thrust faulting, with Jiaoziding Nappe representing a giant syncline. Given its ductility, it absorbed lots of stress, with the least amount of tectonic shortening in the SE part of the nappe. In the middle segment, the deformation is controlled by the rigid Jiudingshan Nappe, whose frontal area records lots of tectonic shortening. Deformation in the southern segment is intermediate in character between that of the other two segments, characterized by horizontal zonation, as demonstrated by fault development, and vertical stratification, which indicates that fault development was controlled by lithology.展开更多
The NE-striking Longmen Shan thrust belt(LSTB)in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is located at the junction of the Songpan-Ganze Terrane and the Yangtze block.This belt experienced the Late Triassic Qinling-...The NE-striking Longmen Shan thrust belt(LSTB)in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is located at the junction of the Songpan-Ganze Terrane and the Yangtze block.This belt experienced the Late Triassic Qinling-Dabie and Songpan-Ganze orogenesis and the Cenozoic eastern propagation of the Tibetan Plateau.A series of klippes were produced along the foreland thrust belt of the LSTB.Traditional research proposed that the klippes are the front zone of the modern NE-trending Longmen Shan foreland thrust belt,while recent studies suggested that the klippes might be the result of Mesozoic thrusting of the LSTB.Nonetheless,there still remains a lack of crucial constraints regarding the emplacement time and formation mechanism of the klippes.In this study,we conducted systematic structural measurements on the Tangbazi klippe and Woniuping klippe,and performed petrographic analysis for the brecciated limestone.The results confirm a typical structural breccia with top-to-the-SSE kinematics of thrusting at the bottom of the klippes.Structural kinematics reveals the ultimate emplacement of the klippes was under NNE to SSW gliding,and the tail-like brecciated limestone in the southeast edge of the Tangbazi klippe was produced by the Pliocene gravitational collapse.Systematical samples were collected from both the hanging wall and footwall of the klippes and apatite and zircon were separated for(U-Th)/He dating.The(U-Th)/He ages of apatite from the Woniuping klippe are dated at 66.8–72.3 Ma,corresponding to the rapid uplift of the LSTB during the Late Cretaceous;the(UTh)/He ages of apatite from the footwall of the klippe are dated at 33.2–25.2 Ma,corresponding to the rapid uplift and denudation of the LSTB during the Oligocene.Integrated structural analysis and geochronological constraints,the northern segment of the LSTB,including the Tangwangzhai and Longwangmiao thrust complexes,might be produced by in-sequence thrusting during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic.The northern segment of the LSTB and the northern Sichuan region experienced rapid uplift during the Late Cretaceous.During the Late Eocene to Early Miocene,gravity-driving klippes gliding from the Tangwangzhai and Longwangmiao thrust complexes toward the Sichuan basin occurred along the Silurian mudstone or phyllite and formed gravitational collapse.展开更多
President Xi Jinping calls for preserving and promoting cultural relics and museums to carry forward Chinese civilization.ON May 19,one day after the International Museum Day,Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the L...President Xi Jinping calls for preserving and promoting cultural relics and museums to carry forward Chinese civilization.ON May 19,one day after the International Museum Day,Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang,central China’s Henan Province.With 2,345 caves and alcoves,nearly 110,000 Buddhist statues,over 2,800 inscriptions,and nearly 80 pagodas,the Longmen Grottoes was recognized by UNESCO as the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art.展开更多
文摘The Longmen Grottoes comprise more than 2,300 caves and niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs. These contain almost 110,000 stone Buddhist statues, more than 60 stupas and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. Luoyang was China＇s capital during the late North- ern Wei Dynasty （386-534） and early Tang Dynasty （618 907）, and the most intensive period of carving dates from the end of the fifth century to the mid eighth century.
基金This research was supported by the National Nature Foundation of China （49803031, 40372084） the Seismic Scientific United Fund （95-07-0425）+3 种基金 US National Science Foundation grant EAR-0125565 ETH Forschungskommission grant TH-4/03-01 Key Subject Program of Sichuan province Grant No. SZD0408 and the Program for the Subject of Ph.D. in Higher Education Institute, Grant No.20050616004.
文摘There is a massive amount of geomorphic evidence for active tectonics in the Longmen Shan at the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. We have surveyed some typical geomorphic markers including the Wenchuan-Maowen, Beichuan-Yingxiu and Pengxian-Guanxian faults, terrace offsets, scarps, fault-controlled saddles, dextral shutter ridges, dextral channel offsets, graben, shatter belts, and pull-apart basins. Electron spin resonance （ESR） and thermoluminescence（TL） ages were obtained using silty sand taken from below the surface of the sediments. According to these data, we calculated the rates of thrusting and strike-slip, and the results indicate that Cenozoic tectonic shortening at the plateau margin is minor with the rate of thrusting less than 1.10 mm/a and the rate of strike-slipping less than 1.46 mm/a. The Longmen Shan is a zone of NNE-trending dextral shear with slip-dip ratio of 6：1-1.3：1. From NW to SE, the thrust component becomes smaller, whereas the strike-slip component becomes larger.
基金support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant No.40672143,40472107,and 40172076)the National Major Fundamental Research and Development Project (grant No.2005CB422107 and G1999043305)+1 种基金the Development Foundation of Key Laboratory for Hydrocarbon Accumulation of Education Ministry (grant No.2003-03)the Project of Southwestern Exploration and Development Division Company,SINOPEC (GJ-51-0602).
文摘By analyzing the balanced cross sections and subsidence history of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt, China, we concluded that it had experienced five tectonic stages： （1） the formation stage （T3x） of the miniature of Longmen Mountain, early Indosinian movement, and Anxian tectonic movement created the Longmen Mountain; （2） the stable tectonic stage （J1） where weaker tectonic movement resulted in the Longmen Mountain thrust belt being slightly uplifted and slightly subsiding the foreland basin; （3） the intense tectonic stage （J2-3）, namely the early Yanshan movement; （4） continuous tectonic movement （K-E）, namely the late Yanshan movement and early Himalayan movement; and （5） the formation of Longmen Mountain （N-Q）, namely the late Himalayan movement. During those tectonic deformation stages, the Anxian movement and Himalayan movement played important roles in the Longmen Mountain＇s formation. The Himalayan movement affected Longmen Mountain the most; the strata thrust intensively and were eroded severely. There are some klippes in the middle part of the Longmen Mountain thrust belt because a few nappes were pushed southeastward in later tectonic deformation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.40702035)the National Science and Technology Special Project of China(Grant No.2011ZX05003-002)the Key Project of Petro China Company Limited(Grant No.2011B-0401)
文摘There is a cross-cutting relationship between the E-W trending structures and the NE- trending structures in the northern Longmen-Micang Mountains region, which reflects possible regional tectonic transition and migration. Apatite fission track （AFT） analyses of 15 samples collected from this area yield apparent ages varying from 30.3±4.2 Ma to 111.7±9.0 Ma and confined-track-lengths ranging from 10.6±0.3 pm to 12.4±0.1 μm. Four specific groups were identified on the basis of the Track Age Spectrum Calculation （TASC） patterns, i.e., 143-112 Ma, 93.6-88 Ma, 42-40 Ma and -25.6 Ma. These age groups correspond to the spatial distributions of datasets and may represent four tectonic events. Together with the regional deformation patterns, the four age groups are interpreted to indicate tectonic superposition, transition and migration during the Meso-Cenozoic with the following possible order： （1） the Micang Mountains belt was dominated by the E-W trending structure during 143-112 Ma; （2） the contraction of the Longmen Mountains belt from the NW to the SE during 93.6-88 Ma led to the superposition of the NE-trending structures over the E-W trendinding structures; （3） dextral strike-slip shear dominated the Longmen Mountains belt at 42-40 Ma; （4） westward migration of the active tectonic belt occurred from 93.6-25.6 Ma in a break-back sequence in the northern Longmen Mountains belt. The Late Cenozoic tectonics in the northern Longmen Mountains belt are characterized by the dextral strike-slip shear and the occurrence of westward break-back sequence of deformations. As a result, north-south differences in deformations along the Longmen Mountains belt were intensified since the Miocene time and strains were mainly accumulated in the hinterland of the Longmen Mountains instead of being propagated to the foreland basin.
基金support from:National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no.40672143,40472107,40172076)National Major Fundamental Research and Development Project (Grant no.2005CB422107,G1999043305)+1 种基金Development Foundation of Key Laboratory for Hydrocarbon Accumulation of Education Ministry (Grant no.2003-01)Project of Southern Exploration and Development Division Company,SINOPEC (2003-04).
文摘Field investigation and seismic section explanation showed that the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt has obvious differential deformation： zonation, segmentation and stratification. Zonation means that, from NW to NE, the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt can be divided into the Songpan- Garz~ Tectonic Belt, ductile deformation belt, base involved thrust belt, frontal fold-thrust belt, and foreland depression. Segmentation means that it can be divided into five segments from north to south： the northern segment, the Anxian Transfer Zone, the center segment, the Guanxian Transfer Zone and the southern segment. Stratification means that the detachment layers partition the structural styles in profile. The detachment layers in the Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt can be classified into three categories： the deep-level detachment layers, including the crust-mantle system detachment layer, intracrustal detachment layer, and Presinian system basal detachment layer; the middle-level detachment layers, including Cambrian-Ordovician detachment layer, Silurian detachment layer, etc.; and shallow-level detachment layers, including Upper Triassic Xujiahe Formation detachment layer and the Jurassic detachment layers. The multi-level detachment layers have a very important effect on the shaping and evolution of Longmen Mountain Thrust Belt.
基金financed by International Sciences and Technology cooperation(2006DFA21340)the special funds for Sciences and technology research of public welfare trades(200811021)+2 种基金the key innovation project for sciences and technology of ministry of land and resources(1212010711813)the Basic outlay of scientific research work from Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China(J0803)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(40830316 and 40874045)and SINOPPROBE-02
文摘By analyzing the deep seismic sounding profiles across the Longmen Shan,this paper focuses on the study of the relationship between the upper crust structure of the Longmen Shan area and the Wenchuan earthquake.The Longmen Shan thrust belt marks not only the topographical change,but also the lateral velocity variation between the eastern Tibetan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin.A low-velocity layer has consistently been found in the crust beneath the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau,and ends beneath the western Sichuan Basin.The low-velocity layer at a depth of-20 km beneath the eastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau has been considered as the deep condition for favoring energy accumulation that formed the great Wenchuan earthquake.
基金funded by China National Natural Science Foundation(No:41372114,41502116,41340005,40841010,40972083,41172162,and 41402159)geological survey from China Geological Survey(No:121201010000150004–08 and 12120115004501–01)the project of State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation(No:SK–0801)
文摘Depending on the analysis of the coeval sedimentary geometry and subsidence mechanism in the Longmen Shan foreland basin, three models about the coupling relationship between Longmen Shan uplift and foreland basin subsidence since the Indosinian have been proposed：（1） crustal shortening and its related wide wedge-shaped foreland basin,（2） crustal isostatic rebound and its related tabular foreland basin, and（3） lower crustal flow and its related narrow wedge-shaped foreland basin. Based on the narrow wedge-shaped foreland basin developed since 4 Ma, it is believed that the narrow crustal shortening and tectonic load driven by lower crustal flow is a primary driver for the present Longmen Shan uplift and the Wenchuan（Ms 8.0） earthquake.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.41502116,40841010,40972083,41172162,41372114,and 41340005)the National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation(Grant No.SK–0801)
文摘The coseismic surface uplift of the Longmen Shan（LMS） created an instantaneous topographic load over the western margin of the Sichuan Basin, where surface subsidence, decreasing eastward, has been measured using several methods, such as GPS, SAR and levelling. Using an elastic flexural model, we aim to interpret the coseismic surface uplift and subsidence, and constrain the effective lithospheric elastic thickness（Te） of the Sichuan Basin. Using different effective elastic thickness values for the Sichuan Basin, a series of subsidence curves were computed by the elastic flexure model equation for a broken elastic plate. The curves, produced by models using an effective elastic thickness of 30–40 km, provided the best fit to the general pattern of observed coseismic subsidence of the Sichuan Basin. However, the calculated subsidence（-40–70 cm） at the front of the LMS is evidently lower than the observed values（-100 cm）, suggesting that the effective elastic thickness therein should be lower. These results indicate that the lithospheric strength may decrease westward from the Sichuan Basin to the LMS.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 40839909, No. 41274077 and No. 41274078)
文摘Investigation of the deep geophysical structure of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and its relation to the Wenchuan Earthquake is important for the study of earthquakes.By using magnetotelluric sounding profiles of the Luqu-Zhongjiang and Anxian-Suining; seismic sounding profiles of the Sichuan Maowen-Chongqing Gongtan,the Qinghai Huashi Gorge-Sichuan Jianyang,and the Batang-Zizhong; and magnetogravimetric data of the Longmen Mountains region,the deep geophysical structure of the Songpan-Ganzi block,the western Sichuan foreland basin,and the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt and their relation was discussed.The eastward extrusion of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau thrusts the Songpan-Ganzi block upon the Yangtze block,which obstructs the eastward movement of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The Maoxian-Wenchuan,Beichuan-Yingxiu,and Anxian-Guanxian faults of the Longmen Mountains fault belt dip to northwest with different dip angles and gradually converge in the deeper parts.Geophysical structure suggests that an intracrustal low-velocity,low-resistivity,and high-conductivity layer is common between the middle and upper crust west of the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt but not in the upper Yangtze block.The Sichuan Basin has a thick low-resistance sedimentary layer on a stable high-resistance basement; moreover,there are secondary paleohighs and depression structures at the lower part of the western Sichuan foreland basin with characteristic of high magnetic anomalies,whereas the Songpan-Ganzi block has a high resisitivity cover of upper crust and continues to a low-resistance layer.Considering the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt as the boundary,there are Bouguer gravity anomalies of ＂one belt between two zones.＂ Thus,we infer that there is a corresponding relation between the inferred crystalline basement of the Songpan block and the underlying basin basement of the Longmen Mountains fault belt.Furthermore,there may be an extensive ancient Yangtze block,which is west of the Ruoergai block.In addition,the crust-mantle ductile shear zone under the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt is the main fault,whereas the Beichuan-Yingxiu and Anxian-Guanxian faults at the surface are earthquake faults.The Wenchuan Ms 8.0 earthquake might be attributed to the collision of the Yangtze block and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.The eastward obduction of the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and eastward subduction of its deeper part under the influence of the collision of the Indian,Pacific,and Philippine Plates with the Eurasia Plate might have caused the Longmen Mountains tectonic belt to cut the Moho and extend to the middle and upper crust; thus,creating high stress concentration and rapid energy release zone.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41372114,41502116,41340005,41172162,40972083,40841010)a research project of the National Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation(Grant No.SK-0801)
文摘This study examines the relationship between high positive isostatic gravity anomalies （IGA）, steep topography and lower crustal extrusion at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. IGA data has revealed uplift and extrusion of lower crustal flow in the Longmen Shan Mountains （the LMS）. Firstly, The high positive IGA zone corresponds to the LMS orogenic belt. It is shown that abrupt changes in IGA correspond to zones of abrupt change of topography, crustal thickness and rock density along the LMS. Secondly, on the basis of the Airy isostasy theory, simulations and inversions of the positive IGA were conducted using three-dimensional bodies. The results indicated that the LMS lacks a mountain root, and that the top surface of the lower crust has been elevated by 11 km, leading to positive IGA, tectonic load and density load. Thirdly, according to Watts＇s flexural isostasy model, elastic deflection occurs, suggesting that the limited （i.e. narrow） tectonic and density load driven by lower crustal flow in the LMS have led to asymmetric flexural subsidence in the foreland basin and lifting of the forebulge. Finally, based on the correspondence between zones of extremely high positive IGA and the presence of the Precambrian Pengguan-Baoxing complexes in the LMS, the first appearance of erosion gravels from the complexes in the Dayi Conglomerate layer of the Chengdu Basin suggest that positive IGA and lower crustal flow in the LMS took place at 3.6 Ma or slightly earlier.
基金the Project of the National Natural Science Foudation of China (Grant No.41372114,41340005,41172162,40972083)
文摘We applied the material balance principle of the denudation volume and sedimentary flux to study the denudation-accumulation system between the Longmen Mountains （Mts.） and the foreland basin. The amount of sediment in each sedimentation stage of the basin was estimated to obtain the denudation volume, erosion thickness and deposit thickness since the Late Triassic Epoch, to enable us to recover the paleoelevation of the provenance and the sedimentary area. The results show the following： （1） Since the Late Triassic Epoch, the elevation of the surface of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted from 0 m to 2751 m, and the crust of the Longmen Mts. has uplifted by 9.8 km. Approximately 72% of the materials introduced have been denuded from the mountains. （2） It is difficult to recover the paleoelevation of each stage of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin quantitatively by the present-day techniques and data. （3） The formation of the Longmen Mts. foreland basin consisted of three stages of thrust belt tectonic load and three stages of thrust belt erosional unload. During tectonic loading stages （Late Triassic Epoch, Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous-Miocene）, the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was lower （approximately 700-1700 m）. During erosional unloading stages （Early and Middle Jurassic, Middle Cretaceous and Jiaguan, Late Cenozoic）, the average elevation of Longmen Mts. was high at approximately 2000-2800m.
基金supported by the "Wenchuan Earthquake Fault Scientific Drilling" of the National Science Foundation of China
文摘This article is to review results from scientific drilling and fault-zone trapped waves （FZTWs） at the south Longman-Shan fault （LSF） zone that ruptured in the 2008 May 12 M8 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan,China.Immediately after the mainshock,two Wenchuan Fault Scientific Drilling （WFSD） boreholes were drilled at WFSD-1 and WFSD-2 sites approximately 400 m and 1 km west of the surface rupture along the Yinxiu-Beichuan fault （YBF）,the middle fault strand of the south LSF zone.Two boreholes met the principal slip of Wenchuan earthquake along the YBF at depths of 589-m and 1230-m,respectively.The slip is accompanied with a 100-200-m-wide zone consisting of fault gouge,breccia,cataclasite and fractures.Close to WFSD-1 site,the nearly-vertical slip of ～4.3-m with a 190-m wide zone of highly fractured rocks restricted to the hanging wall of the YBF was found at the ground surface after the Wenchuan earthquake.A dense linear seismic array was deployed across the surface rupture at this venue to record FZTWs generated by aftershocks.Observations and 3-D finite-difference simulations of FZTWs recorded at this cross-fault array and network stations close to the YBF show a distinct low-velocity zone composed by severely damaged rocks along the south LSF at seismogenic depths.The zone is several hundred meters wide along the principal slip,within which seismic velocities are reduced by ～30-55％ from wall-rock velocities and with the maximum velocity reduction in the ～200-m-wide rupture core zone at shallow depth.The FZTW-inferred geometry and physical properties of the south LSF rupture zone at shallow depth are in general consistent with the results from petrological and structural analyses of cores and well log at WFSD boreholes.We interpret this remarkable low-velocity zone as being a break-down zone during dynamic rupture in the 2008 M8 earthquake.We examined the FZTWS generated by similar earthquakes before and after the 2008 mainshock and observed that seismic velocities within fault core zone was reduced by ～10％ due to severe damage of fault rocks during the M8 mainshock.Scientific drilling and locations of aftershocks generating prominent FZTWs also indicate rupture bifurcation along the YBF and the Anxian-Guangxian fault （AGF）,two strands of the south LSF at shallow depth.A combination of seismic,petrologic and geologic study at the south LSF leads to further understand the relationship between the fault-zone structure and rupture dynamics,and the amplification of ground shaking strength along the low-velocity fault zone due to its waveguide effect.
基金supported by the National Natural Sci-ence Foundation of China (Nos. 40472107, 40172076)the Major Fundamental Research and Development Project (No. 2005CB422107)+1 种基金the Open Project of Key Laboratory for Hy-drocarbon Accumulation Mechanism (No. 2003-03)the Project of Southwest Division Company, SINOPEC (No. GJ-51-0602)
文摘Through field geological investigation and seismic interpretation of the Longmen （龙门） Mountain thrust belt, we summarized the following structural styles： thrust belt, fault-related fold （fault bend fold, fault propagation fold, and fault decollement fold）, pop-up, triangle zone, duplex, superimposed fold, ductile deformation structures, reverse thrust fault, klippe, decollement structure,etc.. These structural styles have evident distribution characteristics; they had zonation and segmentation in plane. The zonation presents as the thrust nappe tectonic zone to the west of Tongjichang （通济场） fault, fault-related folds between Tongjichang fault and Guankou （关口） fault, and low and mild folds to the east of Guankou fault. The segmentation is evidenced as the scale of reverse thrust faults was minor between Tongjichang No. 1 fault and Tongjichang No. 2 fault. The distance between these two faults became long in the Daynanbao （大园包） structure, and there developed typical fault propagation fold and pop-up between these two faults. Furthermore, the structures had stratifi-cation in profile. The salt layer of T21 provided good conditions for the formation and development of large listric thrust faults; the thrust fault slipped in the salt layer and formed decollement structures and fault-related fold. At the same time, there formed duplex and reverse thrust faults between the two decollement layers.
基金supported by the China National Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 40841010,40972083,41172162)CGS Foundation (Grant No.1212011121268)Foundation from State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation (Grant No. SK-0801)
文摘Longmen Mountain located at the boundary between the Sichuan Basin and Tibetan Plateau,representing the steepest gradient of any edges of the plateau.Three endmember models of uplift process and mechanism have been proposed,including crustal thickening,crustal flow,and crustal isostatic rebound.Here we use coeval sedimentary sequences in the foreland basin to restraint uplift process and mechanism in the Longmen Mountain.The more than 10,000 m thick Late TriassicQuaternary strata filled in this foreland basin and can be divided into six megasequences that are distinguished as two distinct types.The first type is the wedge-shaped megasequences which are sedimentary response of strong active thrust loading events,characterized by a high rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,coarsening-upward succession and a dual-sourced sediment supply.This type includes Late Triassic,Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous and Late Cretaceous to Paleogene megasequences.The second type is the tabular megasequences,characterized by the low rate of subsidence and sediment accumulation,finingupward succession,and a single-sourced sediment supply,which is sedimentary response of isostatic rebound and erosion unloading.This type includes the Early to Middle Jurassic,Middle Cretaceous and Neogene to Quaternary megasequences.Basing on sedimentary,active tectonic,geomorphic evidence,we infer that the direction has been reversed from SSWdirected sinistral strike-slip to NNE-directed dextral strike-slip during 40-3.6 Ma,and since 3.6 Ma,the Longmen Mountain thrust belt belong to times of isostatic rebound and erosional unloading with NNEdirected dextral strike-slip.This suggests that crustal isostatic rebound is a primary driver for uplift and topography of the present Longmen Mountain.The Wenchuan(Ms8.0) earthquake,which ruptured a large thrust fault with NNE-directed dextral strikeslip along the range front,is an active manifestation of this crustal isostatic rebound process with dextral strike-slipping and shortening.This process may be the cause for the Wenchuan Earthquake and the apparent paradox of high relief,little shortening,the relative dearth of historical seismicity in the region.
文摘The Longmen Mountains and adjacent regions on the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau can be divided into three tectonic units: the eastern Songpan—Garzê fold belt, the Longmen Mountains (Longmen Shan) Thrust—Nappe belt and the Western Sichuan foreland basin that occupies the western part of the Sichuan basin. The Longmen Shan Thrust—Nappe belt is subdivided by six northwest\|dipping major listric thrusts, with accompanying duplexes and imbricate fans, into five large\|scale nappes (Chen & Wilson, 1996). In the inner Longmen Shan, the nappe units have incorporated both Mesoproterozoic basement and Sinian (Neoproterozoic) to Triassic cover sequences as “thick\|skinned" horses. Whereas, in the frontal Longmen Shan, Sinian to Cretaceous cover sediments have been stripped from the basement as “thin\|skinned" fold and thrust sheets, including extensively distributed klippen structures. Pre\|thrusting extension during Devonian to middle Late Triassic times resulted in syndepositional normal faults. Structural inversion of these faults initiated the “Peng Xian—Guan Xian basement complex", Jiuding Shan and Tangwangzhai nappes, during an early episode of the Indosinian Orogeny (Norian to Rhaetian). This was followed by episodic thrusting during latest Triassic to Early Cretaceous times to develop the Guan Xian—An Xian and Southeastern Marginal nappes that have incorporated sediments from the neighbouring foreland basin into the frontal part of the Thrust—Nappe belt. Differential thrusting occurred across the Thrust—Nappe belt during a Late Miocene reactivation of the pre\|existing faults.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 40672143, 40472107, 40172076)the National Basic Research Program of China (Nos. 2005CB422107, G1999043305)+1 种基金Development Foundation of Key Laboratory for Hydrocarbon Accumulation of the Ministry of Education of China (No. 2003-03)Project of the South-west Petroleum Natural Gas Subcompany of SINOPEC (No. GJ-51-0602)
文摘Through field geological survey, the authors found that abundant thrust faults developed in the Longmen （龙门） Mountain thrust belt. These faults can be divided into thrust faults and strike-slip faults according to their formation mechanisms and characteristics. Furthermore, these faults can be graded into primary fault, secondary fault, third-level fault, and fourth-level fault according to their scale and role in the tectonic evolution of Longmen Mountain thrust belt. Each thrustfault is such as composed of several secondary faults, Qingchuan （青川）-Maowen （茂汶） fault zone is composed of Qiaozhuang （乔庄） fault, Qingxi （青溪） fault, Maowen fault, Ganyanggou （赶羊沟） fault, etc.. The Longmen Mountain thrust belt experienced early Indosinian movement, Anxian （安县） movement, Yanshan （燕山） movement, and Himalayan movement, and the faults formed gradually from north to south.
文摘In order to reveal the nature of the segmentation of Longmen Mountains Thrust Belt caused by the three nappes (Jiaoziding, Jiudingshan, and Baoxing Nappe), several methods are applied in this paper, including field investigation, seismic explanation and balanced crossed section, etc. Results of research reveal that nappes in Longmen Mountains vary in geometry, kinematics, and dynamics. Jiaoziding Nappe has generally behaved in a ductile manner, whereas Jiudingshan Nappe has been rigid, and the rheology of Baoxing Nappe has been intermediate between that of the other two nappes. The development of nappes has resulted in tectonic segmentation of Longmen Mountains: the main structural style of the northern segment is thrust faulting, with Jiaoziding Nappe representing a giant syncline. Given its ductility, it absorbed lots of stress, with the least amount of tectonic shortening in the SE part of the nappe. In the middle segment, the deformation is controlled by the rigid Jiudingshan Nappe, whose frontal area records lots of tectonic shortening. Deformation in the southern segment is intermediate in character between that of the other two segments, characterized by horizontal zonation, as demonstrated by fault development, and vertical stratification, which indicates that fault development was controlled by lithology.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42030306,42372263&41972206)the Center for Deep-Time Digital Earth Frontier Science(Grant No.2652023001)。
文摘The NE-striking Longmen Shan thrust belt(LSTB)in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is located at the junction of the Songpan-Ganze Terrane and the Yangtze block.This belt experienced the Late Triassic Qinling-Dabie and Songpan-Ganze orogenesis and the Cenozoic eastern propagation of the Tibetan Plateau.A series of klippes were produced along the foreland thrust belt of the LSTB.Traditional research proposed that the klippes are the front zone of the modern NE-trending Longmen Shan foreland thrust belt,while recent studies suggested that the klippes might be the result of Mesozoic thrusting of the LSTB.Nonetheless,there still remains a lack of crucial constraints regarding the emplacement time and formation mechanism of the klippes.In this study,we conducted systematic structural measurements on the Tangbazi klippe and Woniuping klippe,and performed petrographic analysis for the brecciated limestone.The results confirm a typical structural breccia with top-to-the-SSE kinematics of thrusting at the bottom of the klippes.Structural kinematics reveals the ultimate emplacement of the klippes was under NNE to SSW gliding,and the tail-like brecciated limestone in the southeast edge of the Tangbazi klippe was produced by the Pliocene gravitational collapse.Systematical samples were collected from both the hanging wall and footwall of the klippes and apatite and zircon were separated for(U-Th)/He dating.The(U-Th)/He ages of apatite from the Woniuping klippe are dated at 66.8–72.3 Ma,corresponding to the rapid uplift of the LSTB during the Late Cretaceous;the(UTh)/He ages of apatite from the footwall of the klippe are dated at 33.2–25.2 Ma,corresponding to the rapid uplift and denudation of the LSTB during the Oligocene.Integrated structural analysis and geochronological constraints,the northern segment of the LSTB,including the Tangwangzhai and Longwangmiao thrust complexes,might be produced by in-sequence thrusting during the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic.The northern segment of the LSTB and the northern Sichuan region experienced rapid uplift during the Late Cretaceous.During the Late Eocene to Early Miocene,gravity-driving klippes gliding from the Tangwangzhai and Longwangmiao thrust complexes toward the Sichuan basin occurred along the Silurian mudstone or phyllite and formed gravitational collapse.
文摘President Xi Jinping calls for preserving and promoting cultural relics and museums to carry forward Chinese civilization.ON May 19,one day after the International Museum Day,Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang,central China’s Henan Province.With 2,345 caves and alcoves,nearly 110,000 Buddhist statues,over 2,800 inscriptions,and nearly 80 pagodas,the Longmen Grottoes was recognized by UNESCO as the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving art.
