Yuan Daoyang

Textual research of Wudu earthquake in 186 B.C. in Gansu Province, China and discussion on its causative structure

On the basis of the textual research on the historical earthquake data and the field investigation of Wudu earthquake occurred in 186 B.C., we suggest that the earthquake parameters drawn from the present earthquake catalogs are not definite and amendments should be made. The heavily-damaged area of this earthquake should be located between Jugan township of Wudu County and Pingding township of Zhouqu County. Its epicenter should be in the vicinity of Lianghekou in Wudu County with a magnitude of about 7∼7¼ and an intensity of about IX∼X. The major axis direction of the heavily-damaged area should be in the WNW direction that is approximately consistent with the strike of the middle-east segment of Diebu-Bailongjiang active fault zone, and the origin time should match up to that of the latest paleoearthquake event [before (83±46) B.C.] obtained by the trench investigation. Certain seismic rupture evidences are still preserved on this fault segment. Therefore, we propose on the basis of comprehensive analysis that the causative structure of the M 7∼7¼ Wudu earthquake in 186 B.C. should be in the middle-east segment of Diebu-Bailongjiang active fault zone.

Slip Rate of Yema River–Daxue Mountain Fault since the Late Pleistocene and Its Implications on the Deformation of the Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

The slip rate of Yema River–Daxue Mountain fault in the western segment of Qilian Mountains was determined by the dated offset of river risers or gullies. Results indicate that the left-lateral fault slip rate is 2.82 ± 0.20 mm/a at Dazangdele site, 2.00 ± 0.24 mm/a at Shibandun site, and 0.50 ± 0.36 and 2.80 ± 0.33 mm/a at two sites in Zhazihu. The ideal average slip rate of the whole fault is 2.81 ± 0.32 mm/a. The lower slip rate confirms part of the displacement of Altyn Tagh fault was transformed into an uplifting of the strap mountains in the western segment of Qilian Mountains, whereas another part transformed into sinistral displacement of Haiyuan fault. This study illustrates that the slip of large strike-slip faults in the northeastern margin of the plateau transforms into crust thickening at the tip of the fault without large-scale propagation to the outer parts of the plateau.

Recent Activity of the Badu-Longwei Segment,Guguan-Xiangong Fault in Southern Liupanshan,Constrained by Rhythmic Sediment Lithology and Geomorphic Characteristics

This studys objective was to investigate the Guguan-Xiangong Fault, which lies in the southern Liupanshan area, through satellite image interpretation and field observations. Guguan-Xiangong Fault is divided into five subsegments; among these, the Badu-Longwei segment has been the most recently active. The geomorphic features of the Badu-Longwei segment are clearly displayed, including multiple high fault scarps with fresh bedrock free faces. There is significant evidence for Holocene activity of the three fault sections, located in Renhuashu, Tianjiagou, and Xinjiecun respectively. The three sections feature distinct episodic deposition and fault scratches. Based on 14 Cdating and field observations on the three fault sections, two or more paleoearthquakes across the Badu-Longwei fault segment are ascertained, between 5874±116 and 5430±140 a BP, and after 2037±83 a BP respectively. The Badu-Longwei segment of the Guguan-Xiangong Fault is preliminarily extrapolated as the seismogenic structure of the 600 A.D. Qin-Long earthquake.