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Study on the Latest Activity and the Maximum Potential Earthquake in the Middle Section of the Minjiang Fault

Description: 

The Indo-Asian collision has resulted in the rapid uplift of the Tibet Plateau, forming the Minshan active block on the northeastern margin of the plateau. The Minshan active block is characterized by high intensity and frequency of seismic activity, with many of the seismogenic structures located within densely populated valleys flanked by high terrain. The large earthquakes and associated geological hazards, such as massive landslides, have caused significant loss of life and property in this region. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate the fault activity and seismic hazard in this area. The Minjiang fault, located at the western boundary of the Minshan active block, has been extensively studied through field investigations. However, the lack of continuous surface exposures in the middle segment of the fault has limited research on its latest activity and maximum potential earthquake, hindering the assessment of seismic hazard in the area. In this study, we conducted detailed remote-sensing image interpretation and field investigations of the middle segment of the Minjiang fault to quantitatively evaluate its latest activity, maximum potential earthquake magnitude, and seismic hazard. The middle segment of the Minjiang fault is a Holocene active fault. Using the empirical formulas, we estimated its maximum potential earthquake magnitude to be approximately Ms7.3. We also suggest the existence of two seismic hazard zones on the periphery of the Minshan active block, including the southern segment of the Huya fault and the middle segment of the Minjiang fault. The research provides data support for the assessment of seismic and geological hazards in this region, and enhances the further understanding of the tectonic deformation patterns and dynamic mechanisms of the northeastern margin of the Tibet Plateau.

Session: Learning Across Geological, Geophysical & Model-Derived Observations to Constrain Earthquake Behavior [Poster Session]

Type: Poster

Date: 5/1/2024

Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)

Presenting Author: Chao

Student Presenter: No

Invited Presentation: 

Authors