Holocene Earthquake Cycles of an Active Tectonic Block Boundary Fault Zone: A Case Study in the Qilian–Haiyuan Fault Zone, Northeastern Tibet Plateau

Abstract Fault zones along active tectonic block boundaries are a significant source of devastating continental earthquakes. Strong earthquakes produce disruptions sediment and induce characteristic sediments near the fault, which serve as valuable sedimentary evidence for identifying dating paleoearthquakes. In this study, we aimed to reconstruct earthquake history Qilian–Haiyuan fault zone in northeastern Tibetan Plateau during Holocene. We reanalyzed forty-four trenches used sequences, event indicators, age constraints determine history. Our analysis revealed paleoearthquakes 6 subsidiary faults with accurate ages rupture extents. Based on spatial temporal distributions strong since 10 ka, identified five clusters around central-eastern including seven cascades where migrated gradually from east west. The existing seismic gap reveals that latest migration may not yet be complete suggests high probability M ≥ 7 occurring Jinqianghe Maomaoshan central part Lenglongling faults. concluded that, order better understand cycles hazards, it is important consider whole, multiple their interaction triggering between nearby