Basement-involved tectonics in North Fossa Magna, central Japan: The significance of the northern Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line

Abstract

The Toyama Trough and Fossa Magna basin are major transverse tectonic depressions located between northeast Japan (NEJ) and southwest Japan (SWJ). Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line (ISTL), the western margin of Fossa Magna is a boundary between two tectonic provinces along the inner side of NEJ and SWJ. Abrupt lateral variations in thickness of the Middle to Upper Miocene strata are quite significant among these provinces in the North Fossa Magna. The development of the thrust/fold belt is attributed not only to horizontal compression but also to vertical block movements as basement-involved tectonics. In response to the Pliocene and later compression regime, the old fault-block boundaries were reactivated and produced differential block movement such as the tilting of the Central Upheaval Zone and uplifting of the Nishikubiki Belt. One possible model for the deeper geologic structure is presented that high-angled block faults on the surface among tectonic provinces originate in vertical weak zones in the deep seismogenic zone under the sedimentary layer. The folded Neogene system comprises the present-day thrust-fault province of the North Fossa Magna and the stress regime of strikeslip faulting occupies the basement, as inferred from focal mechanism solutions for small events. In order to account for the apparent discrepancy, a duplex stress field is possible for the active tectonics in the region.