Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Late Cenozoic fields of the tectonic stresses in Western and Central Mongolia

  • Published:
Izvestiya, Physics of the Solid Earth Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The paper addresses the Late Cenozoic fault tectonics and the stress state of the Earth’s crust within the Mongolian microplate, embracing Central and Western Mongolia. We analyze the results of reconstructing the stress fields and the tectonic deformations in the zones of active faulting, located at the uplands and in the intermountain trenches, which bound the microplate (Mongolian Altai; Gobi Altai; Dolinoozersk trough; Khan-Taishir-Nuruu, Khan-Houkhei, and Bolnai uplands) and the Khangai dome. Deformations related with the northeastern general-scale collisional compression are concentrated along the periphery of the Mongolian microplate, and the maximum compression is focused on its western and southern boundaries, thus forming the right- and the left-lateral transpressive structures of the Mongolian and Gobi Altai. The deformations associated with the shortening of the Earth’s crust involve not only the mountain ridges framing the block, but also the intermountain troughs that separate the Gobi and Mongolian Altai from the Khangai dome, and the southern portion of the Khangai Uplift. The diversity in the deformations within the central Khengai region ensues from the coupling of tension caused by the dynamical impact of the mantle anomaly, which is located east of 100°E, with a regional NE compression. Owing to the relatively rigid Khangai block, the deformations are transferred to the northern bound of this structure, namely the seismically active North Khangai fault. The role of compression increases to the west of the zone, where it conjugates with the transpressive structures of the Mongolian Altai. The tension becomes more important in the western part of this zone where the releasing bends are formed. A region characterized by extra tension is localized also to the east of 100° E. In terms of the gradient in the lithosphere thickness and the structure types of the upper crust, the submeridional line running along 100°E is interpreted as the key interblock boundary.

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

  1. L. M. Balakina, A. V. Vvedenskaya, N. V. Golubeva, L. A. Misharina, and E. I. Shirokova, Elastic Stress Field of the Earth and Focal Mechanisms of Earthquakes (Nauka, Moscow, 1972) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  2. V. G. Belichenko, L. Z. Reznitsky, N. K. Geletii, and I. G. Barash, “Tuva-Mongolia Terrane (in the context of microcontinents in the Paleoasian ocean),” Geologiya i Geofizika 44(6), 554–565 (2003) [Geol. Geofiz. 44 (6), 531–541 (2003)].

    Google Scholar 

  3. N. A. Bushenkova, S. A. Tychkov, and I. Yu. Kulakov, “Upper Mantle Structure Beneath Central Siberia and Neighboring Regions, from Pp-ptomography,” Geologiya i Geofizika 44(5), 474–490 (2003) [Geol. Geofiz. 44 (5), 453–468 (2003)].

    Google Scholar 

  4. Complex Geophysical and Seismological Investigations in Mongolia (RCAG MAN, Ulaanbaatar-Irkutsk, 2004).

  5. W. D. Cunnihgham, “Cenozoic normal faulting and regional doming in the southern Hangay region, Central Mongolia: implications for the origin of the Baikal rift province,” Tectonophysics 331, 389–411 (2001).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. W. D. Cunnihgham, “Structural and topographic characteristics of restraining bend mountain ranges of Altai, Gobi Altai and easternmost Tien Shan. Tectonics of strike-slip restraining and releasing bends,” in Geological Society, London, Special Publications, Ed. by W.D. Cunnihgham and P. Mann (Geological Society of London, London, 2007), Vol. 290, pp. 219–237.

    Google Scholar 

  7. W. D. Cunnihgham, B. F. Windley, D. Dorjnamjaa, et al., “Late Cenozoic transpression in southwestern Mongolia and the Gobi Altai-Tien Shan connection,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 140, 67–81 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. D. Delvaux, K. Tenissen, R. Meier, and N. A. Berzin, “The Buildup Dynamics and the Paleostress during the Formation of the Chuya-Kurai Depression in the Altai Mountains Region: the Tectonic and Climate Control,” Geol. Geofiz. 36(10), 31–51 (1995).

    Google Scholar 

  9. D. Delvaux, “The TENSOR program for paleostress reconstruction: examples from the east African and the Baikal rift zones,” Terra Nova 5(Abstr. Suppl. 1), 216 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  10. D. Delvaux, R. Moyes, G. Stapel, et al., “Paleostress reconstruction and geodynamics of the Baikal region, Central Asia, Part 2. Cenozoic rifting,” Tectonophysics 282, 1–38 (1997).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. E. V. Devyatkin, Cenozoic Inland Asia (Stratigraphy, Geochronology and Correlations) (Nauka, Moscow, 1981) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  12. Earthquakes and Principles of Seismic Regionalization of Mongolia (Nauka, Moscow, 1985) [in Russian].

  13. A. G. Filina, Altai-Sayan. (Catalogues of Supplementary Parameters of the Earthquake Sources. I. Source Mechanisms for the Regions). Earthquakes in USSR in 1989 (Nauka, Moscow, 1993) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  14. A. G. Filina, I. D. Tsibul’chik, and V. I. Muchnaya, Earthquakes of Altai and Sayan. Earthquakes in USSR in 1978 (Nauka, Moscow, 1982) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  15. Geological Map of Mongolia. Scale 1: 1000000, Ed. O. Tomurtogoo (Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Mongolian Academy of Sciences, 1999).

  16. S. V. Gol’din and O. A. Kuchai, “Seismic Strain in the Altai-Sayan Active Seismic Area and Elements of Collisional Geodynamics,” Geologiya i Geofizika, 48(7), 692–723 (2007) [Geol. Geofiz. 48 (7), 536–557 (2007)].

    Google Scholar 

  17. S. I. Golenetskii and L. V. Anisimova, Cis-Baikalia (Catalogues of Supplementary Parameters of Strong Earthquakes: I. Source Mechanisms of Earthquakes for the Regions). Earthqiakes in USSR in 1979 (Nauka, Moscow, 1982) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  18. V. Hock, G. Daxner-Hock, H. P. Schmid, D. Badamgarav, W. Frank, G. Furtmuller, O. Montag, R. Barsbold, Y. Khand, and J. Sodov, “Oligocene-Miocene sediments, fossils and basalts from the Valley of Lakes (Central Mongolia) — An integrated study,” in Mitteilungen der Osterreichischen Geologishen Gessellschaft” (Austrian Geological Society, Wien, 1999), Vol. 90, pp. 83–125.

    Google Scholar 

  19. K. G. Levi, A. I. Miroshnichenko, A. V. Parfeevets, et al., “Active Faults and Stress Fields of Mongolia,” in Complex Geophysical and Seismological Investigations in Mongolia, Ed. by I. Dzhurik and T. Dugarmaa (RCAG MAS, IEC SB RAS, Ulaanbaatar-Irkutsk, 2004), p. 88–103.

    Google Scholar 

  20. “Mesozoic and Cenozoic Tectonics and Magmatism of Mongolia,” in Proceedings of Joint Soviet-Mongolian Geological Expedition (Nauka, Moscow, 1975), No. 11, p. 308 [in Russian].

  21. V. V. Mordvinova, A. Deschamps, T. Dugarmaa, et al., “Velocity Structure of the Lithosphere on the 2003 Mongolian-Baikal Transect from SV Waves,” Fiz. Zemli, No. 2, 21–32 (2007) [Izvestiya, Phys. Solid Earth 43 (2), 119–129 (2007)].

  22. A. G. Moskvina, “The Mechanism and the Source Parameters of the January 5, 1967 Mogodskoe Earthquake and Its Aftershocks,” Izv. Akad. Nauk SSSR, Ser. Fizika, No.1, 3–17 (1978).

  23. T. V. Nikolaeva and V. F. Shuvalov, “Major Stages of Sedimentation and Development of the Topographies of Central Mongolia in Mesozoic and Cenozoic,” Vestn. Leningr. Univ., No. 3, 17–21 (1969).

  24. Neotectonics, Geodynamics and Seismic Activity of the Northern Eurasia, Ed. by A. F. Grachev (Probel, Moscow, 2000) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  25. A. V. Parfeevets and V. A. San’kov, The Stress State of the Earth’s Crust and the Geodynamics of the Southwestern Part of the Baikal Rift System (Akademicheskoe Izd. “Geo”, Novosibirsk, 2006) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  26. C. Petit, J. Deverchere, F. Houdry, et al., “Present-Day Stress Field Changes along the Baikal Rift and Tectonic Implications,” Tectonics, 15(6), 1171–1191, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Yu. L. Rebetskii, O. A. Kuchai, and A. V. Marinin, “Stress-Strain State of the Earth’s Crust in the Altai-Sayan Folded Region before the Chuya (Altai) Earthquake of 2003,” in Problemy tektonofiziki. K sorokaletiyu sozdaniya M. V. Gzovskim laboratorii tektonofiziki v IFZ RAN (The Problems of Geotectonics. On the 40th Anniversary of Foundation by M. V. Gzovskii of the Laboratory of Tectonophysics in IPE RAS) (Izd. IFZ, Moscow, 2008), pp. 245–299 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  28. J.-F. Ritz, D. Bourles, E. T. Brown, et al., “Late Pleistocene to Holocene Slip Rates for the Gurvan Bulag Thrust Fault (Gobi-Altay, Mongolia) Estimated with 10Be Dates,” J. Geoph. Res. 108(B3), 2162 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. V. A. San’kov, A. I. Miroshnitchenko, K. G. Levi, et al., “Cenozoic Stress Field Evolution in the Baikal Rift Zone,” Bull. Centre Rech. Elf Explor. — Prod. Elf Aquitaine, 21(2), 435–455 (1997).

    Google Scholar 

  30. V. A. San’kov and A. V. Parfeevets, “Late Cenozoic Stressed State of Active Fault Zones in Western Mongolia and Tuva,” Dokl. Akad. Nauk 403(6), 796–800 (2005) [Dokl. Earth Sci. 403 (6), 852–855 (2005)].

    Google Scholar 

  31. V. A. San’kov, A. I. Miroshnichenko, K. G. Levi, et al., “Reconstructing the stages in the evolution of the stressed state of the Baikal Rift crust,” in Geophysical studies in the Eastern Siberia at the turn of XXI century (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1996), p. 126–132 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  32. V. A. San’kov, A. V. Lukhnev, N. A. Radziminovich, et al., “A Quantitative Estimate of Modern Deformations of the Earth’s Crust in the Mongolian Block (Based on GPS-Geodesy and Seismotectonic Data),” Dokl. Akad. Nauk 403(6), 685–688 (2005) [Dokl. Earth Sci. 403 (6), 946–950 (2005)].

    Google Scholar 

  33. V. A. San’kov, A. I. Miroshnichenko, A.V. Parfeevets, et al., “Late Cenozoic State of Stress in the Earth’s Crust of the Khubsugul Region (Northern Mongolia): Field and Experimental Evidence,” Geotektonika, No. 2, 78–90 (2004) [Geotectonics 38 (2), 142–153 (2004)].

  34. Schlupp A., Neotectonique de la Mongolie occidentale analysee a partir de donnees de terrain, sismologiques et satellitares, PhD (Univesite Louis Pasteur de Strasburg, 1996).

  35. Seismotectonics and Seismicity of Cis-Khubsugulia, (Nauka, Novosibirsk, 1993) [in Russian].

  36. A. V. Solonenko, N. V. Solonenko, V. I. Mel’nikova, et al., “Stresses and Movements in the Earthquake Sources in Siberia and Mongolia,” in Seismicity and Seismic Regionalization of the Northern Eurasia (Izd. IFZ RAN, Moscow, 1993), Vol. 1, pp. 113–122 [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  37. V. G. Trifonov, O. V. Soboleva, R. V. Trifonov, and G. A. Vostrikov, Recent Geodynamics of the Alpine-Himalayan Collision Belt (GEOS, Moscow, 2002) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

  38. R. Vassallo, M. Jolivet, J.-F. Ritz, et al., “Uplift Age and Rates of the Gurvan Bogd System (Gobi-Altay) by Apatite FIssion Track Analysis,” Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 259, 333–346 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. R. T. Walker, E. Molor, M. Fox, and A. Bayasgalan, “Active Tectonics of an Apparently Aseismic Region: Distributed Active Strike-Slip Faulting in the Hangay Mountains of Central Mongolia,” Geophys. J. Int. 174(3), 1121–1137 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. R. T. Walker, E. Nissen, E. Molor, and A. Bayasgalan, “Reinterpretation of the Active Faulting in Central Mongolia,” Geology 35(8), 759–762 (2007).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. T. B. Yanovskaya and V. M. Kozhevnikov, “3D S-wave Velocity Pattern in the Upper Mantle Beneath the Continent of Asia from Rayleigh Wave Data,” Phys. Earth Planet. Inter. 138(3), 263–278 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. L. P. Zonenshain and L. A. Savostin, Introduction to Geodynamics (Nedra, Moscow, 1979) [in Russian].

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of the Earth’s Crust, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Lermontova 128, Irkutsk, 664033, Russia

    A. V. Parfeevets & V. A. San’kov

Authors
  1. A. V. Parfeevets
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. A. San’kov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. V. Parfeevets.

Additional information

Original Russian Text © A.V. Parfeevets, and V.A. San’kov, 2010, published in Fizika Zemli, 2010, No. 5, pp. 3–14.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Parfeevets, A.V., San’kov, V.A. Late Cenozoic fields of the tectonic stresses in Western and Central Mongolia. Izv., Phys. Solid Earth 46, 367–378 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351310050010

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1069351310050010

Keywords

Search

Navigation