Tianyi Shen, Yan Ding, Guocan Wang, Dehai Zhang, Zihao Zhao
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The Tian Shan is a typical active intracontinental orogenic belt that is driven by the ongoing indentation of India into Eurasia. However, the geological features of Quaternary deformation, especially in the easternmost sector near Harlik Mountain, remain elusive. Field observations, topographic analysis, and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) dating were employed to comprehensively assess the deformation features and evaluate the deformation pattern for this region during the Quaternary period. The results disclose evidence of deformation in the northern and southern foreland basins of Harlik Mountain. In the Barkol Basin to the north, crustal shortening results in the formation of surface scarps and folds, indicating north-directed thrusting, with a shortening rate of ~0.15 mm/yr. In the Hami Basin, the north-directed thrust elevates the granites, which offset the alluvial fans, with a shortening rate of ~0.18 mm/yr. Together with the shortening along the boundary fault, the aggregated north–south shortening rate is approximately 0.69 mm/yr in the easternmost Tian Shan, corresponding with the differential motion rate between the north and south Harlik Mountain revealed by the GPS velocity. These findings imply that, distal to the collision zone, tectonic strain in the eastern Tian Shan is primarily accommodated through the reactivation of pre-existing strike–slip faults, with crustal shortening concentrated at the overlapping position of parallel northeast-trending left-lateral strike–slip faults.
期刊介绍:
Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292) publishes regular research papers, reviews, letters and communications covering all aspects of the remote sensing process, from instrument design and signal processing to the retrieval of geophysical parameters and their application in geosciences. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish experimental, theoretical and computational results in as much detail as possible so that results can be easily reproduced. There is no restriction on the length of the papers. The full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced.