A Paleoseismic Record Spanning 2-Myr Reveals Episodic Late Pliocene Deformation in the Western Qaidam Basin, NE Tibet

The western Qaidam Basin, NE Tibet contains numerous NW-SE-trending thrusts that extend over a distance of similar to 300 km along the Altyn Tagh Fault and north of the Kunlun Range. However, little is known about the long-term seismo-tectonic evolution of this active thrust zone due to the absence of an extended paleoseismic record. We present a 2-Myr-long disturbance record established from a core drilled on the crest of a thrust-cored anticline. Based on detailed sedimentological analysis, the disturbances (micro-faults, soft-sediment deformation, slumps, and detachment surfaces) are interpreted as paleoearthquake/tectonic indicators. The core records five seismite clusters which occurred at 3.6-3.5, 3.4-3.2, 3.15-3.1, 3.0-2.9, and 2.8-2.75 Ma. This suggests the rate of tectonic strain accommodated by the folds and thrusts in the region varies and thus reveals episodic local deformation. During the clusters, regional deformation is concentrated more in the fold-and-thrust system than along regional major strike-slip faults.

Automated summary

The western Qaidam Basin in NE Tibet contains numerous NW-SE-trending thrusts along the Altyn Tagh Fault and north of the Kunlun Range. A 2-Myr-long disturbance record from a core drilled on a thrust-cored anticline reveals episodic local deformation and varying tectonic strain rates in the region. The study suggests that during seismic clusters, regional deformation is more concentrated in the fold-and-thrust system rather than regional major strike-slip faults.