Rupture Behavior of the Litang Fault within the Sichuan-Yunnan Active Block, Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract In mainland China, approximately 86% of M≥7 earthquakes have occurred in the block boundary zone, which has been well explained by active theory. However, a few large within block, provides us with an opportunity to better study deformation Tibetan Plateau. The Litang Fault (LTF) is strike-slip fault Sichuan-Yunnan Active Block and produced 1948 M7.3 earthquake. We presented Holocene rupture behavior LTF based on detailed field investigations, paleoearthquake trenching, radiocarbon dating. Specifically, we revealed 13 events at four trenching sites divided these into 3 cycles whole-fault scale. seismic characterized recurrent southeastward migration, since Holocene, period each cycle decreased rapidly from 8000 years 500 years. Our results may provide geologic evidence for understanding intrablock stress patterns material transfer southeastern region enhanced activity late indicates that played important role accommodating