Active tectonic deformation and its seismic–geological significance of boundary faults of the Daxing Uplift and Langgu–Dachang Depression, Beijing Plain, China

Abstract

Boundary faults of the Daxing Uplift and Langgu–Dachang Depression are located in the southeastern region of the Beijing Plain and directly control the sedimentation, tectonic evolution, and strong seismic activity of the plain. The Sanhe–Pinggu earthquake of Ms 8.0 occurred in 1679, but the active tectonic deformation characteristics of the boundary have been rarely discussed. In this study, the active tectonic deformation characteristics of the Daxing Uplift and Langgu–Dachang Depression boundary rupture were investigated by collecting and analyzing the results of previous works, supplementing three shallow-seismic-exploration control lines at locations where the data are lacking, and carrying out borehole combined profile exploration and optically stimulated luminescence dating at local breakpoints. Results show that the Daxing Uplift and Langgu–Dachang Depression boundary faults constitute an active tectonic deformation zone with ∼50 km distance between Mafang and Niubaotun towns and then extends to both ends to form a deep and large fault that cuts through the earth’s crust. The activity of the Daxing Uplift eastern boundary fault may be divided into two sections near Anding town, with the early-to-middle Late Pleistocene gradually weakening in the northwest and the Holocene gradually weakening in the southwest. Moreover, the activity of the Xiadian fault may be divided into two sections near the Chaobai River: the Holocene gradually weakening in the northwest and the early-to-middle Late Pleistocene gradually weakening in the southwest. The boundary fault of the Daxing Uplift and Langgu–Dachang Depression has an ∼43 km seismic gap around Niubaotun town, which has a high risk of Ms 6.0–7.0 earthquakes. This investigation into the active tectonic deformation characteristics of the boundary fault of the Daxing Uplift and Langgu–Dachang Depression is crucial for analyzing the strong earthquake rupture behavior and the future risk of strong earthquakes in this area. It also contributes greatly to the study of the tectonic pattern evolution of the North China Plain and Beijing Plain.