Analysis of Activity of Taiyangshan Fault Zone in Western Margin of the Dongting Basin

Abstract

Abstract The Dongting down-warped basin is a Cenozoic rift basin, whose tectonic structure and evolution history are far more complex than other basins in the region, with its relatively strong new tectonic activity and earthquake activity, and relatively strong movements of disparity reflected by the uplift of Taiyangshan in the western margin of the basin. To separate the east Changde down-warped basin from the west Lishui down-warped basin, thus forming the zone with the most intense activity of disparity since the neotectonic in the region, which equips with the tectonic setting of strong earthquake. Taiyangshan region has historically occurred strong earthquakes and moderate strong earthquakes such as in 5- magnitude earthquake in 1516, 63/4- magnitude and 53/4-magnitude earthquake in 1631 and 5- magnitude earthquake in 1906 and so on. This paper makes further inquiry on the distribution of Taiyangshan fault zone and its activity, which has practical significance for the understanding of seismogenic structures and seismic hazard analysis in the region.