Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dating of multi-period earthquake-triggered rockfalls: a method for revealing paleo-seismic events that occurred along the Yushu fault in the eastern Tibetan Plateau

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Landslides Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The quantitative study of earthquake-triggered rockfall debris along seismogenic fault zones has proven to be a valid approach for use in identifying paleo-earthquakes and faulting activities. After the 2010 Yushu earthquake, paleo-rockfall research employed U-series dating of calcareous coats on the rockfall surface, and the results provided chronological evidence of multi-period features relating to earthquake-triggered rockfalls that have occurred along the Yushu fault. In this study, the mechanism involved in forming the calcareous coat on seismic rockfall surfaces was analyzed to further explain the significance of conducting associated U–Th aging analyses. For earthquake-triggered rockfall regions, the U–Th age of the calcareous coat can be used as a proxy age of the rockfall formation, and the timing of the related paleo-earthquake event can be constrained. Based on all current existing age data, an in-depth comparison was made between the U–Th ages of calcareous coats obtained from five seismic rockfall sites and other 14C dating results obtained from trenches and paleo-seismic landslides relating to paleo-earthquakes. Combined with the results of field investigations, four individual paleo-earthquakes that triggered rockfalls of different scales in historical time were identified. These results imply that multi-period earthquake-triggered rockfalls along the Yushu fault may be valid time indicators of seismic events and reflect the intensity and meizoseismal scale of relevant paleo-earthquake events. This exploratory research on the U-series dating of calcareous coats from earthquake-triggered rockfalls in Yushu can be used as a valuable reference for paleo-earthquake studies in other tectonically active regions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

taken from Tian et al. (2015), the data of paleo-earthquake events from Wu et al. (2014), and the data of earthquake-triggered landslides from Jiang et al. (2014b)

Fig. 10

taken from Tian et al. (2015), the data of paleo-earthquake events from Wu et al. (2014), and the data of earthquake-triggered landslides from Jiang et al. (2014b)

Fig. 11

taken from Tian et al. (2015) and the data of earthquake-triggered landslides from Jiang et al. (2014b)

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen CR (1986) Seismological and paleoseismological techniques of research in active tectonics. In: RE Wallace Chairman (ed) Active tectonics: studies in geophysics. National Academy Press: Washington DC, pp 148–154

  • Bull WB, Brandon MT (1998) Lichen dating of earthquake-generated regional rockfall events, Southern Alps, New Zealand. Geol Soc Am Bull 110(1):60–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Bull WB (1996) Dating San Andreas fault earthquakes with lichenometry. Geology 24:111–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Bull WB (2000) Lichenometry: a new way of dating and locating prehistorical earthquakes. Quaternary Geochronology: Methods and Applications 4:521–526

    Google Scholar 

  • Bull WB (2003) Lichenometry dating of coseismic changes to a New Zealand landslide complex. Ann Geophys 46(5):1155–1167

    Google Scholar 

  • Caputo R (2005) Ground effects of large morphogenic earthquakes. J Geodyn 40(2–3):113–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Caputo R, Pavlides SB (2008) Earthquake geology: methods and applications. Tectonophysics 453:1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Caputo R, Helly B (2008) The use of distinct disciplines to investigate past earthquakes. Tectonophysics 453:7–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Caputo R, Helly B, Pavlides S, Papadopoulos G (2004) Palaeoseismological investigation of the Tyrnavos Fault, Central Greece. A contribution to the seismic hazard assessment of Thessaly. Tectonophys 394(1):1–20

  • Chen LC, Wang H, Ran YK, Sun XZ, Su GW, Wang J, Tan XB, Li ZM, Zhang XQ (2010) The MS 7.1 Yushu earthquake surface ruptures and historical earthquakes. Chin Sci Bull 55(13):1200–1205

  • Chen XQ, Cui P, You Y, Yang ZJ, Kong YD (2013) Secondary mountain disasters induced by the 4·20 Lushan earthquake and disaster mitigation. Earth Sci Front 20(3):29–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng X (2000) Electronic scanning research on the crystals of continental calcium carbonate. Carsologica Sinica 19(3):206–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Chevalier ML, Leloup PH, Replumaz A, Pan JW, Liu DL, Li HB, Gourbet L, Métois M (2016) Tectonic-geomorphology of the Litang fault system, SE Tibetan Plateau, and implication for regional seismic hazard. Tectonophysics 682:278–292

    Google Scholar 

  • Chevalier ML, Leloup PH, Replumaz A, Pan JW, Métois M, Li HB (2017) Temporally constant slip rate along the Ganzi fault, NW Xianshuihe fault system, eastern Tibet. Geol Soc Am Bull 130(3)

  • Gallousi C, Koukouvelas IK (2007) Quantifying geomorphic evolution of earthquake-triggered landslides and their relation to active normal faults. An example from the Gulf of Corinth. Greece Tectonophysics 440:85–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Gascoyne M (1982) Geochemistry of the actinides and their daughters. In: Ivanovich M, Harmon RS (eds) Uranium series disequilibrium applications to environmental problems. Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp 34–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Han WX, Ma ZB, Lai ZP, Appel E, Fang XM, Yu LP (2013) Wind erosion on the north-eastern Tibetan Plateau: constraints from OSL and U-Th dating of playa salt crust in the Qaidam Basin. Earth Surf Proc Land 39(6):779–789. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.3483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harmon RS, Rosholt JN (1982) Igneous rocks. In: Ivanovich M, Harmon R S (eds). Uranium series disequilibrium application to environmental problems. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/0016-7037(96)00136-6

  • He HL, Wei ZY, Densmore A (2016) Quantitative morphology of bedrock fault surfaces and identification of paleoearthquakes. Tectonophysics 693:22–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilley GE, Young JJ (2008) Deducing paleoearthquake timing and recurrence from paleoseismic data. Part I. Evaluation of new Bayesian Markov - chain Monte Carlo simulation methods applied to excavations with continuous peat growth. Bull Seismol Soc Am 98(1):383–406

  • Ivanovich M, Harmon RS (1982) Uranium series disequilibrium applications to environmental problems. Chen TM, Zhao SS, Yuan SX, et al. The Ocean Publishing Company, Beijing (in Chinese)

  • Jiang Y, Wu ZH, Li JC, Ma D, Zhou CJ, Li YH, Liu YH (2014a) The characteristics of landslides triggered by the Yushu MS 7.1 earthquake and its seismogeology implication. Acta Geologica Sinica 88(6):1157–1176

  • Jiang Y, Wu ZH, Liu YH, Tian TT, Zhang D, Huang XL, Huang XJ (2014b) The characteristics of palaeo-earthquake landslides along Yushu faulted zone and their ages. Geol Bull China 33(4):503–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufman A, Broecker WS (1965) Comparison of 230Th and 14C ages for carbonate materials from Late Lahontan and Bonneville. J Geophys Res 70(16):4039–4054

    Google Scholar 

  • Li MH, Fang XM, Yi CL, Gao SP, Zhang WL, Galy A (2010) Evaporite minerals and geochemistry of the upper 400 m sediments in a core from the Western Qaidam Basin, Tibet. Quat Int 218(1–2):176–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2009.12.013

  • Li YH, Wu ZH, Ye PS, Ma D, Liu YH, Jiang Y, Li JC, Zhou CJ (2013) The geomorphologic and geological marks of active left-lateral strike-slip fault and the characteristics of geometry and kinematics along the Yushu fault zone, in south-eastern Tibet. Geol Bull China 32(9):1410–1422

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin JC, Broecker WS, Anderson RF, Hemming S, Rubenstone JL, Bonani G (1996) New 230Th/U and 14C ages from Lake Lahontan carbonates, Nevada, USA, and a discussion of the origin of initial thorium. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 60(15):2817–2832

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu S, Zhang HL, Qin PL, Wen XS (1996) Uranium-series chronology. sedimentation characteristics and chronology study of U and Th in and near the South China Sea. The Ocean Publishing Company, Beijing

  • Ludwig KR, Paces JB (2002) Uranium-series dating of pedogenic silica and carbonate, Crater Flat. Nevada Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 66(3):487–506

    Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig KR (1991) Isoplot: a plotting and regression program for radiogenic-isotope data. United States. Geo Survey, Reston

  • Ma NN, Ma ZB, Zheng MP, Wang HL (2012) 230Th dating of stem carbonate deposits from Tai Cuo Lake, western Tibetan Plateau, China. Quatern Int 250:55–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma YS, Zhang YS, Hu DG, Yang N, Long CX, Hou CT, Yan P, Wu ZH, Yang ZY, Lei WZ, Tan CX (2010) The surface ruptures and the macroscopical epicenter of Yushu MS7.1 earthquake. J Geomech 16(2):115–128

  • McCalpin JP (1996) Paleoseismology. Academic Press, San Diego

  • McCalpin JP (2009) Paleoseismology, 2nd edn. Academic Press, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell SG, Matmon A, Bierman PR, Enzel Y, Caffee M, Rizzo D (2001) Displacement history of a limestone normal fault scarp, northern Israel, from cosmogenic 36Cl. Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres Solid Earth 106(B3):4247–4264

    Google Scholar 

  • Michetti AM, Hancock PL (eds) (1997) Paleoseismology: understanding past earthquakes using Quaternary geology. J Geodyn 24(1–4):3–10

  • Ojala AEK, Markovaara-Koivisto M, Middleton M, Ruskeeniemi T, Mattila J, Raimo S (2018) Dating of paleo-landslides in western Finnish Lapland. Earth Surf Proc Land 43(11):2449–2462

    Google Scholar 

  • Osmond JK, Cowart JB (1992) Ground water. In: Ivanovich M, Harmon RS (eds) Uranium-series dissequilibrium: application to earth, marine, and environmental sciences, 2nd edn. Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp 290–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostermann M, Sanders D (2010) Proxy-dating the Tschirgant rockslide event with the U/Th method. Geophys Res Abstr 12

  • Ostermann M, Sanders D, Prager C, Kramers J (2007) Aragonite and calcite cementation in ‘boulder controlled’ meteoric environments on the Fern Pass rockslide (Austria): implications for radiometric age-dating of catastrophic mass movements. Facies 53:189–208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10347-006-0098-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan JW, Li HB, Wu FY, Li N, Guo RQ, Zhang W (2011) Surface rupture characteristics, rupture mechanics, and rupture process of the Yushu earthquake (MS7.1), 14/04/2010. Acta Petrologica Sinica 27(11):3449–3459

  • Panek T (2015) Recent process in landslide dating: a global overview. Prog Phys Geogr 39(2):168–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Patzelt G (2004) Tschirgant-Haiming-Pletzachkogel. Datierte Bergsturzereignisse im Inntal und ihre talgeschichtlichen Folgen. Oral presentation, alpS Symposium Naturgefahren Management, Galtür, Austria

  • Pavlides S, Caputo R (2004) Magnitude versus faults’ surface parameters: quantitative relationships from the Aegean. Tectonophysics 380(3–4):159–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Pei XJ, Huang RQ (2013) Analysis of characteristics of geological hazards by “4·20” Lushan earthquake in Sichuan, China. Journal of Chengdu University of Technology (science & Technology Edition) 40(3):257–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Prager C, Ochs SI, Ostermann M, Synal HA, Patzelt G (2009) Geology and radiometric 14C, 36Cl and Th/U dating of the Fernpass rockslide (Tyrol, Austria). Geomorphology 103:93–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Qian XD, Qin JZ (2010) 2010 Earthquake in Yushu, Qinghai Province and strong earthquake trend analysis of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau after the earthquake. J Seismol Res 33(4):255–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanna L, Forti P, Lauritzen SE (2011) Preliminary U/Th dating and the evolution of gypsum crystals in Naica Caves (Mexico). Acta Carsologica 40(1):17–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SR, Mclennan SM (1985) The continental crust: its composition and evolution: an examination of the geochemical record preserved in sedimentary rocks. Blackwell Scientific Publication, Oxford, p 312

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian TT, Wu ZH, Ma ZB, Feng H, Nima CR, Jiang Y, Zhang XJ, Zhang D (2014) A tentative discussion on the seismic and geological significance of the seismic rockfall along the Yushu faulted zone in Qinghai Province. Geol Bull China 33(4):567–577

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian TT, Wu ZH, Ma ZB, Zhou CJ, Zhang KQ, Jiang Y, Zhang XJ (2015) The U-series dating and its significance for calcareous coats of earthquake-generated regional rockfall along Yushu fault zone, in eastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Seismology and Geology 37(3):851–868

    Google Scholar 

  • Valensise G, Pantosti D (eds) (2001) Database of potential sources for earthquakes larger than M5.5 in Italy. Ann Geofisica 44(4):797–807

  • Wang DP, He SM, Ge SJ, Pan C, Zhai MG (2013) Mountain hazards induced by the earthquake of Sep 07, 2012 in Yiliang and the suggestions of disaster reduction. J Mt Sci 31(1):101–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Wedepohl KH (1995) The composition of the continental crust. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59:1217–1232

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu ZH, Hu MM (2019) Neotectonics, active tectonics and earthquake geology: terminology, applications and advances. J Geodyn 127:1–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu ZH, Barosh PJ, Ha GH, Yao X, Xu YQ, Liu J (2019) Damage induced by the 25 April 2015 Nepal earthquake in the Tibetan border region of China and increased post-seismic hazards. Nat Hazard 19(4):873–888

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu ZH, Zhou CJ, Feng H, Zhang KQ, Li JC, Ye PS, Li YH, Tian TT (2014) Active faults and earthquake around Yushu in eastern Tibetan Plateau. Geol Bull China 33(4):419–469

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu C, Xu XW, Dai FC, Wang YY (2011) Analysis of spatial distribution and controlling parameters of landslides triggered by the April 14, 2010 Yushu earthquake. J Eng Geol 19(4):505–510

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu C, Xu XW, Wu XY, Dai FC, Yao X, Yao Q (2013) Detailed catalog of landslides triggered by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and statistical analyses of their spatial distribution. J Eng Geol 21(1):25–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu C, Xu XW, Yu GH, Wu XY (2012) Susceptibility analysis of impact factors of landslides triggered by Yushu earthquake. Science & Technology Review 30(01):18–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang XP, Scuderi LA (2010) Hydrological and climatic changes in deserts of China since the late Pleistocene. Quatern Res 73:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeats R, Sieh K, Allen C (1997) The Geology of Earthquakes. Oxford University Press

  • Yin YP, Zhang YS, Ma YS, Hu DG, Zhang ZC (2010) Research on major characteristics of geohazards induced by the Yushu Ms7.1 earthquake. J Eng Geol 18(3):289–296

  • Yu YD, Han YZ (2008) Standard material application guide. Chinese Metrology Press, Beijing

  • Yuan DY, Lei ZS, He WG, Liu XW (2011) Textual research of Yushu earthquake in 1738 A.D. in Qinghai Province and discussion their relationship with Yushu earthquake Ms 7.1 in 2010. Progress in Geophys (in Chinese) 26(6):1959–1958

  • Zhang YJ, Cheng X, Zhu A (1994) The experimental study on tufa deposition. Carsologica Sinica 13:197–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang YS, Dong SW, Hou CT, Guo CB, Yao X, Li B, Du JJ, Zhang JG (2013) Geohazards induced by the Lushan Ms7.0 earthquake in Sichuan Province, southwest China: typical examples, types and distributional characteristics. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) 87(3):646–657

  • Zhang YS, Yao X, Xiong TY, Ma YS, Hu DG, Yang N, Guo CB (2010) Rapid identification and emergency investigation of surface ruptures and geohazards induced by the Ms 7.1 Yushu earthquake. Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) 84(6):1315–1327

  • Zhou RJ, Wen XZ, Chai CX, Ma SH (1997) Recent earthquakes and assessment of seismic tendency on the Ganzi-Yushu fault zone. Seismology and Geology 19(2):115–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu BJ (2019) Shallow foundation and independent foundation construction technology in plateau dry and cold climate zone. Construction Technology 03:34–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Zreda M, Noller JS (1998) Ages of prehistoric earthquakes revealed by cosmogenic chlorine-36 in a bedrock fault scarp at Hebgen Lake. Science 282(5391):1097–1099

    Google Scholar 

  • Qinghai Province Geological Survey Team 1989 Regional Geological Map of  Yushu (1:200 000)

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. U2002211), China Geology Survey Project (Grant No. 1212011120163, 12120114002101, and DD20160268) and Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences Research Funds (Grant No. JYYWF20183201).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, China

    Tingting Tian

  2. Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China

    Tingting Tian, Zhonghai Wu, Chunjing Zhou & Keqi Zhang

  3. Key Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Geological Safety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing, 100081, China

    Tingting Tian, Zhonghai Wu, Chunjing Zhou & Keqi Zhang

  4. Earthquake Administration of Qinghai Province, Xining, 810001, China

    Hailong Gai

  5. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Zhibang Ma

Authors
  1. Tingting Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Zhonghai Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Hailong Gai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chunjing Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Keqi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhibang Ma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhonghai Wu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Tian, T., Wu, Z., Gai, H. et al. Dating of multi-period earthquake-triggered rockfalls: a method for revealing paleo-seismic events that occurred along the Yushu fault in the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Landslides 19, 351–371 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-021-01730-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-021-01730-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation