Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the dynamics of extensional basin

  • Published:
pure and applied geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Geological and geophysical data from the North China-Bohai Basin and “Basin and Range” Province were examined and compared. They are similar to each other in many respects. Surficial geological structures are characterized by a series of half-grabens with their one flank constituted by normal fault. Those extensional structures usually extend to a depth of 6–8 km. Therefore, the stress condition in the upper 8 km can be written as

$$\sigma _2 > \sigma _x > \sigma _y$$

wherex, y denote the directions of maximum compression and maximum tension on the horizontal plane, whilez signifies the vertical direction.

Some people think that this kind of stress condition exists through the entire crust in the extensional basin. However, the focal mechanisms of the earthquakes in the extensional basins with focal depths usually at 12–20 km are dominated by strike-slip faults. The stress condition in the focal regions can be expressed by

$$\sigma _x > \sigma _z > \sigma _y .$$

Geodetic measurements conducted before and after the Tangshan earthquake in 1976 and the Xingtai earthquake in 1966 showed that both horizontal and vertical surficial deformations with magnitudes of a similar order occurred during the earthquakes. The surficial deformations during the earthquakes can be explained by a summation of the motions produced by both stress fields in the upper crust and the middle crust.

Dynamical processes other than the homogeneous horizontal regional tectonic field are required to explain the vertical variation of the stress condition in the upper and middle crusts.

Evidence from the seismic refractions, reflections and the three-dimensional seismic tomography from both local earthquakes and teleseismic events provide convincing evidence that magmatic intrusions from the uppermost mantle to the middle crust occur near the hypocenters of both the Tangshan and Xingtai earthquakes.

The variation from the extensional stress regime at the upper crust to the compressional stress regime in the middle and lower crusts is considered to be the common feature in extensional basins. And the magmatic intrusions from the upper mantle to the middle crust observed in the extensional basin is suggested to be its genetic cause.

Numerical simulations of magmatic intrusion from the uppermost mantle to the middle crust were studied. Both the intruded compression and the thermal stress due to magmatic intrusion were considered, also the viscoelasticity of the middle and lower crusts were assumed. The results successfully explain the vertical variation of the stress condition in the crust and the process producing an extensional basin.

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

  • Aki, K., andTsai, Y. (1972),Mechanism of Love-wave Excitation by Explosive Source, J. Geophys. Res.77, 1452–1475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allmendinger, R. W., et al. (1983),Cenozoic and Mesozoic Structure of the Eastern Basin and Range Province, Utah, from COCORP Seismic-reflection Data, Geology11, 532–536.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allmendinger, R. W. et al. (1987),Overview of the COCORP 40°N, Transect, Western United States: The Fabric of an Orogenic Belt, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.98 (3), 308–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bathe, K. J.,Adina|Adinat|Adina-Plot, A Finite Element Program for Automatic Dynamic Increment Nonlinear Analysis (of Temperature), (Report AE81-1, AE81-2, AE81-3, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1981).

  • Bhaltacharje, S., andKoide, K. (1987),Theoretical and Experimental Studies of Mantle Upwelling, Penetrative Magmatism and Development of Rifts in Continental and Oceanic Crusts, Tectonophys.143, 13–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bott, M. H. P.,Mechanism of subsidence at passive continental margins. InDynamics of Plate Interiors (eds. A. W. Ballyet al.) (Geodyn. Ser. Vol. 1, 1980) pp. 27–35.

  • Carter, N. L. (1976),Steady State Flow of Rocks, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys.14 (3), 301–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, W. P., andNabelek, J. (1988),Seismogenic STrike-slip Faulting and the Development of the North China Basin, Tectonics7, 957–989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chun, W., andCipar, J. (1983),Source Modeling of the Hsing-Tai, China Earthquake of March, 1966, Phys. Earth Planet. Inter.33, 111–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coward, M. P., Dewey, J. T., andHancock, P. L. (ed.),Continental Extensional Tectonics (Geol. Soc. London. Spec. Publ. {vn28}, 1987).

  • Dohr, G. P., andMeissner, R. (1975),Deep Crustal Reflections in Europe, Geophysics40, 25–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doser, D. I. (1986),Earthquake Processes in the Rainbow Mountain-Fairview Peak-Dixie Valley, Nevada Region (1954–1959), J. Geophys. Res.91, 12572–12586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doser, D. I. (1988),Source Mechanisms of Earthquakes in the Nevada Seismic Zone (1915–1943) and Implications for Deformation in the Western Great Basin, J. Geophys. Res.93, 15001–15015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geodetic Survey Brigade, SSB (1975),Crustal Deformation Associated with the Xingtai Earthquake in March, 1966, Acta Geophys. Sinica18 (3), 153–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin, E. B., andTompson, G. A. (1988),The Seismically Reflective Crust beneath Highly Extended Terranes: Evidence for its Origin in Extension, Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull.100, 1616–1626.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauge, T. A. et al. (1987),Crustal Structure of Western Nevada from COCORP Deep Seismic Reflection Data, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.98 (3), 320–329.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauser, E. C. et al. (1987), COCORPArizona Transect: Strong Crustal Reflections and Offset Moho beneath the Transition Zone, Geology15, 1103–1106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hebei Provincial Seismological Bureau,Xingtai Earthquake of 1966 (Seismological Press, Beijing, 1986), (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu, X., andLin, B. (1989),Stereographic Figures of the Time Variation in the Space Distribution of the Xingtai Earthquake and their Occurrence Process, Acta Seismol. Sinica11 (1), 1–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemperer, S. L. et al. (1986),The Moho in the Northern Basin and Range Province, Nevada, along the COCORP 40′N, Seismic-Relection Transect, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.97, 603–618.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusznir, N. J., andBott, M. H. P. (1977),Stress Concentration in the Upper Lithosphere Caused by Underlying Visco-elastic Creep, Tectonophys.43, 247–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusznir, N. J., andPark, R. G.,Continental lithosphere strength: The critical role of lower crustal deformation InThe Nature of the LowerContinental Crust (eds. Fountain, D. M., Arculus, R., and Kay, R. W.) (Development in Geotectonics 23, Elsevier 1992) pp. 79–93.

  • Lauza, S., andde Voogd, B. (1987),Deep Seismic Reflection Evidence for the Role of Extension in the Evolution of Continental Crust, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc.89, 55–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Z. (1988),Reinterpretation of the Deep Seismic Sounding Data from Xingtai Epicentral Area in Yuan-Ji Profile, Master Thesis, Institute of Geology, SSB. (in Chinese).

  • Liu, W. (1987),Study of the Focal Process for the Xingtai Earthquake: A Review, Acta Seismol. Sinica9, (Suppl.), 451–464. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, H., Zeng, R., Guo, J., andLin, Z. (1988),Results from Deep Seismic Reflection Tangshan Region, Acta Geophys. Sinica.,31 (1), 237–36 Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • M. X. et al. (1983),Meso-Cenzoic Taphrogeny and Extensional Tectonics in Eastern China, Acta Geol. Sinica57 (1), 22–32. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma, X. et al., Taphrogenesis through the Geological History of China. InResearch on Recent Crustal Movement (Institute of Geology, SSB, Seismol. Press, 1985) pp 5–16.

  • McCarthy, J., andThompson, G. A., 1988.,Seismic Imaging of Extended Crust with Emphasis on the Western United States, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.100, 1361–1374.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie, D. (1978),Some Remarks on the Development of Sedimentary Basins., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.10, 25–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mooney, W. D., andMeissner, R.,Multigenetic origin of crustal reflectivity: A review of seismic profiling of the continental lower crust and Moho. InContinental Lower Crust (eds. Fountain, D. M., Arculus, R., and Kay, R. W.) (Development in Geotectonics 23, Elsevier 1992) pp. 45–80.

  • Nabelek, J., Chen, W., andYe, H. (1987),The Tangshan Earthquake Sequence and its Implications the Evolution of the North China Basin, J. Geophys. Res.92, 12615–12628.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, J. E., Dobrin, M., Kaufman, S., Meyer, R., andPhinney, R. (1976),Continuous Seismic Reflection Profiling of the Deep Basement, Hardeman County Texas, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.87, 1537–1546.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, A. M., and other,The seismicity of Nevada and some adjacent parts of the Great Basin. InNeotectonics of North America (eds. Slemmons, D. B., Engdahl, E. R., Zoback, M. D., and Blackwell, D. D.) (Geol. Soc. Am. 1991) pp. 153–184.

  • Shedlock, K. M., andRoecher, S. W. (1987),Elastic Wave Velocity Structure of the Crust and Mantle Beneath the North China Basin, J. Geophys. Res.92 (B9), 9327–9350.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R. B., andBruhn, R. L. (1984),Intraplate Extensional Tectonics of the Eastern Basin and Range: Inferences on Structural Style from Seismic Reflection Data, Regional Tectonics and Thermal Mechanical Models of Brittle-ductile deformation, J. Geophys. Res.89, 5733–5762.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stacey, F. D. (1977),A Thermal Model of the Earth, Phys. Earth Planet. Int.15, 341.

    Google Scholar 

  • State Seismological Bureau,Tangshan Earthquake of 1976 (Seismological Press, Beijing 1982) (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Teng, J. et al. (1975),Crustal Structure of the Central Part of North China Plain and the Xingtai Earthquake (II), Acta Geophys. Sinica18, (3), 196–207. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, G. A. et al., Geophysics of the western Basin and Range province, InGeophysical Framework of the Continental United States (eds. Pakiser, L. C., and Mooney, W. D.) (Geol. Soc. Am. Memoir172, 1989) pp. 177–204.

  • Wang, C., Wang, G., andLin, Z. et al. (1993),A Study on Fine Crustal Structure in Xingtan Earthquake Area Based on Deep Seismic Reflection Profiling, Acta Geophys. Sinica36, (4), 445–452. Chinese with English abstract

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C., Zhang, X., Lin, Z., and Li, X. (1994a),Characteristic of Crustal Structure in Sulu Fault Basin and its Vicinity, Acta Seismol. Sinica16 (3) Chinese with English abstract.

  • Wang, C., Zhang, X., Wu, O., and Zhu, Z. (1994b),Seismic Evidence of Detachment in North China Basin, Acta Geophys. Sinica37 (5). Chinese with English abstract.

  • Wang, C., Zhang, X., Zhao, J. andZhu, Z.,Study of fine structure in Xingtai earthquake knowledge of the seismotectonics InAdvances in Solid Earth Geophysics in China (eds.Chen,Y. et al.) (Marine Press, Beijing 1994c) pp. 31–40. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, X. (1987),Crustal Hot Bodies and Seismogenetics, Doctoral Thesis, Institute of Geophysics SSB (in Chinese).

  • Warner, M. (1990),Basalts, Water or Shear Zones in the Lower Continental Crust Tectonophys.173, 163–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wernicke, B. (1985),Uniform-sense Normal Simple Shear of the Continental Lithosphere. Can. J. Earth. Sci.22, 108–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, C. (1982),A Disscussion on the Geological Background of Xingtai Earthquake, Earthquake5, 29–32 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ye, H. et al. (1985),The North China Basin: An Example of a Multiply Rifted Intraplate Basin, Tectonics4, 153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, R., Zhang, S., Zhou, H., andHe, Z. (1985),Crustal Structure of Tangshan Epicentral Region and its Relation to the Seismogenic Process of Continental Earthquake, Acta Seismol. Sinica7 (2), 125–142. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, R., Lu, H., andDing, Z. (1988),Seismic Refraction, and Reflection Profiling across Tangshan Epicentral Region and their Implication to Seismogenic Processes, Acta Geophys. Sinica31, (4), 383–397. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeng, R., Zhu, L., He, Z., Ding, Z., andSun, W. (1991),A Seismic Source Model of the Large Earthquakes in North China Extensional Basin and Discussions of the Genetic Processes of the Extensional Basin and Earthquakes, Acta Geophys. Sinica34, (3), 288–300. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, D., Gu, X., andZeng, R. (1994)Numerical Modeling of the Dynamics in North China Basin, Acta Seismol. Sinica, submitted.

  • Zhang, D., andZeng, R. (1994),Numerical Simulation of the Detachment in North China Basin, Acta Seismol. Sinica, submitted.

  • Zhang, Z., et al. (1980),The Fracture Processes of the Tangshan Earthquake and its Mechanical Analyis, Acta Seismol. Sinica2, (2), 111–129. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, A.,Analysis of ground deformation. InTangshan Earthquake of 1976 (Seismological Press, Beijing 1982) pp. 131–170 (in Chinese).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, L., Zeng, R., andLiu, F., (1990b)A New Model Parameterization Method for Inversion of 3-Dimensional Velocity Structure, Acta Geophys. Sinica33 (1), 34–43. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu, L., Zeng, R., andLiu, F. (1990b),Three-dimensional P-wave Velocity Structure under the Beijing Network Area, Acta Geophys. Sinica33, (3), 253–263. Chinese with English abstract.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M. L. (1989),State of Stress and Modern Deformation of the Northern Basin and Range Province, J. Geophys. Res.94 (B6), 7105–7128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoback, M. L., andZoback, M. D.,Tectonic stress field of the continental United States. InGeophysical Framework of the Continental United States (eds. Pakiser, L. D., and Mooney, W. D.) (Geol. Soc. Am. Memoir172, 1989) pp. 523–539.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geophysics, State Seismological Bureau, 100081, Beijing, P.R. China

    Rong-Sheng Zeng, Chun-yong Wang & Dong-ning Zhang

Authors
  1. Rong-Sheng Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chun-yong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dong-ning Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zeng, RS., Wang, Cy. & Zhang, Dn. On the dynamics of extensional basin. PAGEOPH 145, 579–603 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879590

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00879590

Key words

Search

Navigation