First Discovery of North-South Striking Normal Faults near the Potential Eastern End of Altyn Tagh Fault

Bo Zhang; Daoyang Yuan; Wengui He; Wei Pang; Pengtao Wang; Ming Wu

doi:10.1007/s12583-018-0827-z

Volume 29 Issue 1

Jan 2018

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Journal of Earth Science > 2018 > 29(1): 182-192.

Bo Zhang, Daoyang Yuan, Wengui He, Wei Pang, Pengtao Wang, Ming Wu. First Discovery of North-South Striking Normal Faults near the Potential Eastern End of Altyn Tagh Fault. Journal of Earth Science, 2018, 29(1): 182-192. doi: 10.1007/s12583-018-0827-z

Citation:

Bo Zhang, Daoyang Yuan, Wengui He, Wei Pang, Pengtao Wang, Ming Wu. First Discovery of North-South Striking Normal Faults near the Potential Eastern End of Altyn Tagh Fault. Journal of Earth Science, 2018, 29(1): 182-192. doi: 10.1007/s12583-018-0827-z

Citation:

PDF( 23875 KB)

First Discovery of North-South Striking Normal Faults near the Potential Eastern End of Altyn Tagh Fault

doi: 10.1007/s12583-018-0827-z

1.
Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Lanzhou 730000, China
2.
Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China
3.
Second Monitoring and Application Center, China Earthquake Administration, Xi'an 710054, China

More Information

Corresponding author: Wengui He, hewengui321@163.com
Received Date: 26 Oct 2016
Accepted Date: 10 Jul 2017
Publish Date: 01 Feb 2018

Abstract

Abstract

The Altyn Tagh fault is the northern boundary of Tibetan Plateau. As one of the most well-known strike-slip fault in the world, great achievements on tectonic deformation and Late Quaternary slip rate have been made. However, there is a long-lasting debate on whether the Altyn Tagh fault extends into the Jinta Basin or even eastward. In this paper, we use satellite image interpretation, field investigation, trench excavation, and optical stimulated luminescence dating to study newly found NS striking scarps in the eastern end of Jinta Nan Shan. The results are as follows: firstly, a group of normal faults develop on terrace T2 of Heihe River, the total length amounts to ~40 km, total scarp height is 30±5 m; secondly, four paleoseismic events have been interpreted from three trenches, approximate ages of events are 79.97±19.14 ka BP, 62.55±13.10~55.41±10.77 ka BP, before 16.89±2.08 ka BP, 8.52±1.49 ka BP, respectively; thirdly, just like NS normal faults in the western end of Altyn Tagh fault, the newly found NS extensional faults are likely the terminating tectonics of the eastern end of Altyn Tagh fault, the large Altyn Tagh fault may end in the eastern end of Jinta Nan Shan.
- Altyn Tagh fault,
- normal fault,
- Jinta Nan Shan fault,
- Heihe River,
- paleoseismic events

FullText(HTML)

References(57)

References

Bayasgalan, A., Jackson, J., Ritz, J. F., et al., 1999. Field Examples of Strike-Slip Fault Terminations in Mongolia and Their Tectonic Significance. Tectonics, 18(3): 394-411. https://doi.org/10.1029/1999tc900007

Bendick, R., Bilham, R., Freymueller, J., et al., 2000. Geodetic Evidence for a Low Slip Rate in the Altyn Tagh Fault System. Nature, 404(6773): 69-72. https://doi.org/10.1038/35003555

Burchfiel, B. C., Deng, Q. D., Molnar, P., et al., 1989. Intracrustal Detachment within Zones of Continental Deformation. Geology, 17(8): 448-452. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0448:idwzoc>2.3.co;2 doi: 10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0448:idwzoc>2.3.co;2

Chen, W. B., Xu, X. W., 2006. Sinistral Strike-Slip Faults along the Southern Alashan Margin Eastwards Extending of the Altyn Fault. Seismology and Geology, 28(2): 319-324 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2006.02.015

Cowgill, E., Gold, R. D., Chen, X. H., et al., 2009. Low Quaternary Slip Rate Reconciles Geodetic and Geologic Rates along the Altyn Tagh Fault, Northwestern Tibet. Geology, 37(7): 647-650. https://doi.org/10.1130/g25623a.1

Darby, B. J., Ritts, B. D., Yue, Y., et al., 2005. Did the Altyn Tagh Fault Extend beyond the Tibetan Plateau?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 240(2): 425-435. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2005.09.011

Deng, Q. D., Zhang, W. Q., Zhang, P. Z., et al., 1989. Haiyuan Strike-Slip Fault Zone and Its Compressional Structures of the End. Seismology and Geology, 11(1): 1-14 (in Chinese with English Abstract) http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-DZDZ198901000.htm

Elliott, J. R., Biggs, J., Parsons, B., et al., 2008. InSAR Slip Rate Determination on the Altyn Tagh Fault, Northern Tibet, in the Presence of Topographically Correlated Atmospheric Delays. Geophysical Research Letters, 35(12): L12309. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008gl033659

Furuya, M., Yasuda, T., 2011. The 2008 Yutian Normal Faulting Earthquake (M_w 7.1), NW Tibet: Non-Planar Fault Modeling and Implications for the Karakax Fault. Tectonophysics, 511(3/4): 125-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2011.09.003

Galindo-Zaldívar, J., Azzouz, O., Chalouan, A., et al., 2015. Extensional Tectonics, Graben Development and Fault Terminations in the Eastern Rif (Bokoya-Ras Afraou Area). Tectonophysics, 663: 140-149. https://doi.org/10.13039/501100004837

Gold, R. D., Cowgill, E., Arrowsmith, J. R., et al., 2009. Riser Diachroneity, Lateral Erosion, and Uncertainty in Rates of Strike-Slip Faulting: A Case Study from Tuzidun along the Altyn Tagh Fault, NW China. Journal of Geophysical Research, 114(B4): B04401. https://doi.org/10.1029/2008jb005913

Gold, R. D., Cowgill, E., Arrowsmith, J. R., et al., 2011. Faulted Terrace Risers Place New Constraints on the Late Quaternary Slip Rate for the Central Altyn Tagh Fault, Northwest Tibet. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 123(5/6): 958-978. https://doi.org/10.1130/b30207.1

Gold, R. D., Cowgill, E., Wang, X. F., et al., 2006. Application of Trishear Fault-Propagation Folding to Active Reverse Faults: Examples from the Dalong Fault, Gansu Province, NW China. Journal of Structural Geology, 28(2): 200-219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2005.10.006

He, W. G., Yuan, D. Y., Wang, A. G., et al., 2012. Active Faulting Features in Holocene of the West Segment of the Jinta'nanshan North-Margin Fault at the North of Jiuquan Basin. Earthquake, 32(3): 59-66 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1000-3274.2012.03.007

Hetzel, R., Tao, M. X., Niedermann, S., et al., 2004. Implications of the Fault Scaling Law for the Growth of Topography: Mountain Ranges in the Broken Foreland of North-East Tibet. Terra Nova, 16(3): 157-162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3121.2004.00549.x

Jolivet, L., Tamaki, K., Fournier, M., 1994. Japan Sea, Opening History and Mechanism: A Synthesis. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 99(B11): 22237-22259. https://doi.org/10.1029/93jb03463

Kamata, H., Kodama, K., 1994. Tectonics of an Arc-Arc Junction: An Example from Kyushu Island at the Junction of the Southwest Japan Arc and the Ryukyu Arc. Tectonophysics, 233(1/2): 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(94)90220-8

Lelgemann, H., Gutscher, M. A., Bialas, J., et al., 2000. Transtensional Basins in the Western Sunda Strait. Geophysical Research Letters, 27(21): 3545-3548. https://doi.org/10.1029/2000gl011635

Li, H. B., Pan, J. W., Lin, A. M., et al., 2016. Coseismic Surface Ruptures Associated with the 2014Mw 6.9 Yutian Earthquake on the Altyn Tagh Fault, Tibetan Plateau. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 106(2): 595-608. https://doi.org/10.1785/0120150136

Li, H. B., Pan, J. W., Sun, Z. M., et al., 2015. Seismogenic Structure and Surface Rupture Characteristics of the 2014 Ms 7.3 Yutian Earthquake. Acta Geologica Sinica, 89(1): 180-194 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

Li, Y. H., Cui, D. X., Hao, M., 2015. GPS-Constrained Inversion of Slip Rate on Major Active Faults in the Northeastern Margin of Tibet Plateau. Earth Science-Journal of China University of Geosciences, 40(10): 1767-1780 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3799/dqkx.2015.158

Mériaux, A. S., Ryerson, F. J., Tapponnier, P., et al., 2004. Rapid Slip along the Central Altyn Tagh Fault: Morphochronologic Evidence from Cherchen He and Sulamu Tagh. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 109(B6): B06401. https://doi.org/10.1029/2003jb002558

Mériaux, A. S., Tapponnier, P., Ryerson, F.J., et al., 2005. The Aksay Segment of the Northern Altyn Tagh Fault: Tectonic Geomorphology, Landscape Evolution, and Holocene Slip Rate. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 110(B4): B04404. https://doi.org/10.1029/2004jb003210

Meyer, B., Tapponnier, P., Bourjot, L., et al., 1998. Crustal Thickening in Gansu-Qinghai, Lithospheric Mantle Subduction, and Oblique, Strike-Slip Controlled Growth of the Tibet Plateau. Geophysical Journal International, 135(1): 1-47. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-246x.1998.00567.x

Molnar, P., Tapponnier, P., 1975. Cenozoic Tectonics of Asia: Effects of a Continental Collision: Features of Recent Continental Tectonics in Asia can be Interpreted as Results of the India-Eurasia Collision. Science, 189(4201): 419-426. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.189.4201.419

Mouslopoulou, V., Nicol, A., Little, T. A., et al., 2007a. Displacement Transfer between Intersecting Regional Strike-Slip and Extensional Fault Systems. Journal of Structural Geology, 29(1): 100-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2006.08.002

Mouslopoulou, V., Nicol, A., Little, T. A., et al., 2007b. Terminations of Large Strike-Slip Faults: An Alternative Model from New Zealand. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 290(1): 387-415. https://doi.org/10.1144/sp290.15

Mouslopoulou, V., Nicol, A., Walsh, J. J., et al., 2008. Quaternary Temporal Stability of a Regional Strike-Slip and Rift Fault Intersection. Journal of Structural Geology, 30(4): 451-463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2007.12.005

Oskin, M. E., Arrowsmith, J. R., Corona, A. H., et al., 2012. Near-Field Deformation from the El Mayor-Cucapah Earthquake Revealed by Differential LIDAR. Science, 335(6069): 702-705. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1213778

Pan, J. W., Li, H. B., Jerome, V. D. W., et al., 2015. The First Quantitative Slip-Rate Estimated along the Ashikule Fault at the Western Segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault System. Acta Geologica Sinica-English Edition, 89(6): 2088-2089. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-6724.12621

Peltzer, G., Tapponnier, P., Armijo, R., 1989. Magnitude of Late Quaternary Left-Lateral Displacements along the North Edge of Tibet. Science, 246(4935): 1285-1289. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.246.4935.1285

Qiu, A. M., Li, B. X., 2011. A Tentative Discussion on the Tail Effect on Northeast Altun Fault Tibet in the Light of Geophysical Field Information. Geophysics & Geochemical Exploration, 35(2): 149-154 (in Chinese with English Abstract) http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-WTYH201102003.htm

Ran, Y. K., Li, Y. B., Du, P., et al., 2014. Key Techniques and Several Cases Analysis in Paleoseismic Studies in Mainland China (3): Rupture Characteristics, Environment Impact and Paleoseismic Indicators on Normal Faults. Seismology and Geology, 36(2): 287-301 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2014.02.001

Rao, G., Cheng, Y. L., Lin, A. M., et al., 2017. Relationship between Landslides and Active Normal Faulting in the Epicentral Area of the AD 1556 M~8.5 Huaxian Earthquake, SE Weihe Graben (Central China). Journal of Earth Science, 28(3): 545-554. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-017-0900-z

Ren, Z. K., Chen, T., Zhang, H. P., et al., 2014. LiDAR Survey in Active Tectonics Studies: An Introduction and Overview. Acta Geologica Sinica, 88(6): 1-12 (in Chinese with English Abstract) http://web.pdx.edu/~jduh/courses/Archive/geog481w07/Students/Marcoe_LiDAR.pdf

Ren, Z. K., Zhang, Z. Q., Chen, T., et al., 2016. Clustering of Offsets on the Haiyuan Fault and their Relationship to Paleoearthquakes. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 128(1/2): 3-18. https://doi.org/10.1130/b31155.1

Tan, J., Li, H. Y., Li, X. F., et al., 2015. Radial Anisotropy in the Crust beneath the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau from Ambient Noise Tomography. Journal of Earth Science, 26(6): 864-871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-015-0543-x

Van Dissen, R., Yeats, R. S., 1991. Hope Fault, Jordan Thrust, and Uplift of the Seaward Kaikoura Range, New Zealand. Geology, 19(4): 393-396. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0393:hfjtau>2.3.co;2 doi: 10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0393:hfjtau>2.3.co;2

Wang, P. T., Shao, Y. X., Zhang, H. P., et al., 2016. The Application of SUAV Photogrammetry in Active Tectonics-Shanmagou Site of Haiyuan Fault, for Example. Quaternary Sciences, 36(2): 433-442 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.11928/j.issn.1001-7410.2016.02.18

Wen, Z. L., Hu, X. F., Pan, B. T., et al., 2015. Deformation Analysis of Fluvial Terrace in Jinta'Nanshan Mountains, Gansu Province. Geological Review, 61(5): 1032-1046 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.16509/j.georeview.2015.05.006

Working Group on the Active Altyn Tagh Fault Zone, SSB, 1992. The Altyn Tagh Fault Zone. Seismological Press, Beijing. 1-360 (in Chinese with English Abstract)

Worrall, D. M., Kruglyak, V., Kunst, F., et al., 1996. Tertiary Tectonics of the Sea of Okhotsk, Russia: Far-Field Effects of the India-Eurasia Collision. Tectonics, 15(4): 813-826. https://doi.org/10.1029/95tc03684

Xu, X. W., Tan, X. B., Wu, G., et al., 2011. Surface Rupture Features of the 2008 Yutian M_s 7.3 Earthquake and Its Tectonic Nature. Seismology and Geology, 33(2): 462-471 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2011.02.019

Xu, X. W., Tan, X. B., Yu, G. H., et al., 2013. Normal-and Oblique-Slip of the 2008 Yutian Earthquake: Evidence for Eastward Block Motion, Northern Tibetan Plateau. Tectonophysics, 584: 152-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2012.08.007

Xu, X. W., Tapponnier, P., Van Der Woerd, J., et al., 2003. Late Quaternary Sinistral Slip Rate along the Altyn Tagh Fault and Its Structural Transformation Model. Science in China Ser. D: Earth Sciences, 33(10): 967-974 (in Chinese). https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:1006-9267.2003.10.007

Xue, Y. C., Cao, X. Z., Xu, L. Q., et al., 2015. Application of Remote Sensing to Fault Study: A Case Study of the Zhangjiakou-Penglai Fault Zone. Chinese Journal of Geology, 50(2): 564-580 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0563-5020.2015.014

Yin, A., Harrison, T. M., 2000. Geologic Evolution of the Himalayan-Tibetan Orogen. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 28(1): 211-280. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.28.1.211

Yu, J. X., Zheng, W. J., Lei, Q. Y., et al., 2013. Neotectonics and Kinematics along the Yabrai Range-Front Fault in the South Alax Block and Its Implications for Regional Tectonics. Seismology and Geology, 35(4): 731-744 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2013.04.004

Yue, Y. J., Liou, J. G., 1999. Two-Stage Evolution Model for the Altyn Tagh Fault, China. Geology, 27(3): 227-230. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0227:tsemft>2.3.co;2 doi: 10.1130/0091-7613(1999)027<0227:tsemft>2.3.co;2

Zhang, B., He, W. G., Pang, W., et al., 2016. Geologic and Geomorphic Expressions of Late Quaternary Strike-Slip Activity on Jinta Nanshan Fault in Northern Edge of Qingzang Block. Seismology and Geology, 38(1): 1-21 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.0253-4967.2016.01.00

Zhang, J., Li, J. Y., Li, Y. F., et al., 2007. The Cenozoic Deformation of the Alax Block in Central Asia-Question on the Northeastern Extension of the Altyn Tagh Fault in Cenozoic Time. Acta Geologica Sinica, 81(11): 1481-1496 (in Chinese with English Abstract). https://doi.org/10.3321/j.issn:0001-5717.2007.11.003

Zhang, P. Z., Molnar, P., Xu, X. W., 2007. Late Quaternary and Present-Day Rates of Slip along the Altyn Tagh Fault, Northern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Tectonics, 26(5): TC5010. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006tc002014

Zheng, J. D., 1991. Geometry of the Altun Fracture Zone. Regional Geology of China, 1: 54-59 (in Chinese with English Abstract) http://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTOTAL-ZQYD199101008.htm

Zheng, W. J., Zhang, H. P., Zhang, P. Z., et al., 2013a. Late Quaternary Slip Rates of the Thrust Faults in Western Hexi Corridor (Northern Qilian Shan, China) and their Implications for Northeastward Growth of the Tibetan Plateau. Geosphere, 9(2): 342-354. https://doi.org/10.1130/ges00775.1

Zheng, W. J., Zhang, P. Z., He, W. G., et al., 2013b. Transformation of Displacement between Strike-Slip and Crustal Shortening in the Northern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from Decadal GPS Measurements and Late Quaternary Slip Rates on Faults. Tectonophysics, 584: 267-280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2012.01.006

Zheng, W. J., Zhang, P. Z., Ge, W. P., et al., 2013c. Late Quaternary Slip Rate of the South Heli Shan Fault (northern Hexi Corridor, NW China) and Its Implications for Northeastward Growth of the Tibetan Plateau. Tectonics, 32(2): 271-293. https://doi.org/10.1002/tect.20022

Zielke, O., Arrowsmith, J. R., Ludwig, L. G., et al., 2010. Slip in the 1857 and Earlier Large Earthquakes along the Carrizo Plain, San Andreas Fault. Science, 327(5969): 1119-1122. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1182781

Relative Articles

Supplements(0)

Cited By

Proportional views

Proportional views

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

Figures(10) / Tables(1)

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Article Metrics

Article views(758) PDF downloads(160)

First Discovery of North-South Striking Normal Faults near the Potential Eastern End of Altyn Tagh Fault

doi: 10.1007/s12583-018-0827-z

Abstract

References

Proportional views

Catalog

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Article Metrics

Proportional views

Related

First Discovery of North-South Striking Normal Faults near the Potential Eastern End of Altyn Tagh Fault

doi: 10.1007/s12583-018-0827-z

Abstract

References

Proportional views

Catalog

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Article Metrics

Proportional views

Related

Export File

Citation

Format

Content