Chapter 5 - Rotational Collision and the Tan-Lu Transform Fault

Abstract

This chapter discusses two aspects of the Tancheng–Lujiang Fault Zone that impede a clear understanding of its kinematics: (1) the potential significance of the structure orientations and (2) the sinistral strike–slip motion along the Fault. Tectonic facies distribution as well as recent paleomagnetic and seismic tomography data imply that the Tan–Lu Fault Zone was initiated at the turn of the Paleozoic–Mesozoic when the Yangtze and Sino–Korean Cratons collided. Rotational and northward translational motion of the Yangtze Craton caused a sinistral shear along the eastern margin of the Sino–Korean Craton. As a result, the Tan–Lu Fault Zone acted as a transform fault. Indentation of the Sino–Korean Craton into the Yangtze Craton is estimated to be 450 km that resulted in a 520 km displacement in the shallow crust along the Tan–Lu Fault Zone during the Late Triassic to Early Cretaceous as well as a 200 km offset of the subducted sliver of the Yangtze Craton at mantle depth. Some portion of these amounts of shearing have transformed into compression and thrust in the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt that terminates the Tan–Lu Fault Zone.