A Preliminary Study on the New Activity Features of the Lajishan Mountain Fault Zone in Qinghai Province

摘要

The Lajishan Mountain fault zone consists of two NE-protruding arcuate faults, i.e. the northern and southern margin fault of Lajishan Mountain with the fault length of 230km and 220km respectively. The fault zone is located in the large-scale compressional structure zone and tectonic gradient zone in-between the NNW-trending right-lateral strike-slip Reshui-Riyueshan fault zone and the NWW-trending left-lateral strike-slip northern margin of west Qinling Ranges fault zone is also an important boundary fault zone, separating the Xining-Minhe basin and the Xunhua-Hualong basin at the southern and northern sides of the Lajishan Mountain respectively. Geologic geomorphic evidences of new activity revealed by field investigations indicate that the latest movement of the Lajishan fault zone was in late Epipleistocene (only a few segments were active in early Holocene) and is mainly of compressive thrusting with slightly left-lateral strike-slip component. The above movement has possibly resulted in the occurrence of about 20 moderate earthquakes of magnitude around 5.0. The Lajishan region can therefore be regarded as a seismotectonic window to reflect tectonic movement and earthquake activity.