Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Seismic analysis of the active character of the Taihang Mountain piedmont fault

  • Published:
Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Taihang Mountain piedmont fault is a large-scale structure zone in north and east China which cross Beijing, with the NE-NNE extent spans approximately 620 km. It is very important to determine the fault zone activity due to the close relation of active structures and earthquakes. Regarding the fault activity, there are three different opinions: 1) it is a large deep fault zone; 2) it is an active fault zone and an earthquake structure belt; and 3) it is not an earthquake structure belt. In order to ascertain the active character of the fault, the deep tectonic setting and the activity since the Quaternary were investigated using recent seismic and drilling data to make a joint interpretation. The investigation results show that the Taihang Mountain piedmont fault is not a large lithospheric fault because the early middle Pleistocene (QP2) layers are offset by the fault and the late middle Pleistocene (QP2) and late Pleistocene layers are not offset by the fault. We determine that the Taihang Mountain piedmont fault in the area is not an active fault and is also not a large lithospheric fault. This study result provides important geological and geophysical data for city planning and construction in Hebei province and, especially, has great significance for seismic hazard assessment of the capital area.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Deng, Q. D., 2002, Exploration and seismic hazard assessment of active faults in urban areas: Seismology and Geology, 24(4), 602–605.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, Z. J., and Zhang, G. M., 2000, Analysis of the structural environment of the Izmit earthquake: Recent Developments in World Seismology, China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Han, Z. J., Ren, F. H., Ogawa, Y., Taniguchi, and Hitoshi, 1996, Research on the seismotectonics of the January 17, 1995, Hanshin M 7.2 earthquake: ACTA Seismologica Sinica, 9(4), 671–678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, J. Q., 1980, The geotectonic and the evolution in China (1: 4,000,000 Instruction of the geotectonic and the evolution map in China): Scientific Publishing House, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, W. L., and Nie, Z. S., 1984, Discussion on active characters of the piedmont fault zone of Taihang Mountain and the earthquake risk: North China Earthquake Science, 2(3), 21–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, W. L., and Nie, Z. S., 1985, Discussion on the cause of the ground fissures in Handan city, Hebei province: North China Earthquake Science, 3(4), 68–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, S. B., Liu, D. L., and Xu, J. E., 1984, Mid-strong earthquakes migration activity and the block tilt movement in the North China several earthquake belts: North China Earthquake Science, 2(4), 15–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shang, H. K., and Lu, M. L., 1985, On seismotectonics around the juncture of Shanxi, Hebei, Shandong, and Henan provinces: North China Earthquake Science, 3(3), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y. B., Wang, Y., Lee, J. C., and Zhan, Y. Z., 2000, Characteristics of ground ruptures caused by the 1999 M7.3 earthquake of Jiji: Taiwan Seismology and Geology, 22(2), 97–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C. Y., Zhang, X. K., Wu, Q. G., and Zhu, Z. P., 1994 Seismic evidence of detachment in North China basin: ACTA Geophysica Sinica, 37(5), 613–619.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, M. C., Gao, J. H., Liu, J. X., and Rong, L. X., 2005, Application of the seismic method to detecting active fault: Earthquake Research in China, 21(1), 17–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu, J., Gao, Z. W., Song, C. Q., and Sun, J. B., 2000, The structural characters of the piedmont fault of Taihang mountain: Seismology and Geology, 22(2), 111–122.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration CAGS, Langfang, 065000, China

    Ming-Cai Xu, Jing-Hua Gao, Li-Xin Rong, Guang-Ke Wang & Xiao-Jiang Wang

Authors
  1. Ming-Cai Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jing-Hua Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Li-Xin Rong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Guang-Ke Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiao-Jiang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Xu Ming-Cai is a professor of the Institute of Geophysical and Geochemical Exploration, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Langfang, Hebei, China. He obtained his Master’s degree at the China University of Geosciences (Beijing) in 1991. His major is research on techniques of the seismic method.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xu, MC., Gao, JH., Rong, LX. et al. Seismic analysis of the active character of the Taihang Mountain piedmont fault. Appl. Geophys. 7, 392–398 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-010-0265-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-010-0265-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation