Work

Holocene Activity Characteristics and Seismic Risk of Major Earthquakes in the Middle Segment of the Jinshajiang Fault Zone, East of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: The Jinshajiang fault zone is the western boundary fault of the Sichuan–Yunnan block, located east of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. It is a complex tectonic suture belt with multi-phase activity and is characterized by multiple sets of parallel or intersecting faults. Using high-resolution image inter-pretation, seismic geological surveys and trench studies, we examine the characteristics of the Holocene activity on the middle segment of the fault zone. Our results indicate that the predomi-nant movement of the fault zone is strike-slip motion. In the Jinshajiang fault zone, the Late Qua-ternary horizontal slip rate of the north-northeast–trending Yarigong fault and the north-east-trending Ciwu fault are 3.6 ± 0.6 mm/a and 2.5 ± 0.5 mm/a, respectively. Three palaeoseismic events were identified on the Yarigong fault, dated 6745–3848, 3742–1899 and 1494–1112 cal BP, and on the Ciwu fault, constrained to 32,566–29,430, 24,056–22,990 and 2875–2723 cal BP. The last major earthquake on the Ciwu fault occurred approximately 2800 years ago; therefore, its future seismic hazard deserves attention.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app15010009

Authors: Mingjian Liang, Naifei Luo, Yunxi Dong, Ling Tan, Jinrong Su, Weiwei Wu

Language: English

Topic: earthquake and tectonic studies

Subfield: Geophysics

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,728

Funders: China Earthquake Administration, National Key Research and Development Program of China

Award: G775651863