广西灵山断裂北段晚更新世以来地质地貌特征

灵山断裂北段位于广西钦州市灵山县,其活动性较强,但关于断裂沿线晚更新世以来的地质地貌特征目前还没有系统的研究报道。为了查明灵山断裂北段晚更新世以来的地质地貌特征,采用地质地貌详细调查、槽探、微地貌测量、OSL测年等方法,获得约17ka以及全新世以来的位移速率。结果表明:灵山断裂北段自晚更新世以来运动性质为右旋走滑兼正断,断裂沿线地质地貌主要表现为断错冲沟水系、冲洪积扇体变形、断错河流阶地、陡坎等;灵山断裂北段晚更新世以来活动明显,约17ka以来水平位移速率为1.27~1.54mm/a,垂直位移速率为0.53~0.65mm/a;全新世仍有活动,约2 360a以来水平位移速率为1.21~1.63mm/a,垂直位移速率为0.53mm/a。     

阿尔泰山活动断裂

文中介绍了位于亚洲腹地阿尔泰山地区的活动断裂。中国阿尔泰山 (阿尔泰山西南麓 )和蒙古阿尔泰山 (阿尔泰山的东麓 )以NNW向大型走滑断裂为主 ,科布多断裂是阿尔泰山东麓的一条主要NNW向走滑断裂 ,长度近 70 0km。第四纪中晚期右旋走滑速率可达 6 10mm/a ,其上发现有长逾2 0 0km的古地震形变带。富蕴断裂则是阿尔泰山西南麓的一条主要NNW向断裂 ,中晚第四纪的走滑运动速率为 (4± 2 )mm/a ,在中国阿尔泰山的西端还发育规模相对较小的NNW向右旋走滑断裂 ,中晚第四纪走滑速率为 (2± 1)mm/a。中国阿尔泰山 (阿尔泰山的西南麓 )还发育NWW向右旋走滑逆断裂 ,其规模相对较小 ,至中国阿尔泰山西端NWW向的额尔齐斯断裂具有明显的右旋走滑性质。蒙古阿尔泰山的南端则发育近东西向的左旋走滑逆断裂。在与戈壁阿尔泰山交汇部位 ,左旋走滑运动具主导作用。戈壁阿尔泰山发育的戈壁阿尔泰断裂带断续延伸可达 10 0 0km以上 ,目前的研究认为 ,其滑动速率为 12mm/a。其中的博格德断裂上 195 7年发生了戈壁阿尔泰 8.3级地震 ,形变带长约 2 5 0km。阿尔泰山活动断裂的规模、运动强度和强地震活动表明这里不仅受到遥远的印度板块北向推挤作用的影响 ,而且受到较近的地球动力学过程的影响或控制。     

昔格达断裂晚第四纪活动特征及强震复发周期

利用冲沟、山脊等断错构造地貌的DEM影像资料和详实的野外踏勘,详细分析了昔格达断裂的晚第四纪活动特征。结果显示:断裂线两侧的河沟和山脊地貌呈"S"或反"Z"形或以多个首尾连接的"S"形雁列式斜列,断裂活动为左行左列式,断层上发育多个拉分盆地和断裂湖;该断裂最新活动时间晚于(12.83±1.09)ka,为全新世走滑活动断裂,倾滑分量不大,倾向总体西倾,且晚更新世以来的左旋走滑速率约为1.70 mm/a;依据断裂线地震遗迹及断裂活动特征,断裂强活动复发间隔大致为10~12 ka或更短。     

青藏高原西部喀喇昆仑断裂活动构造研究进展综述（英文）

喀喇昆仑断裂系(KF)位于青藏高原西缘,具有右旋走滑性质,从帕米尔高原至尼泊尔西部延绵1 000多km。长期以来,对于喀喇昆仑断裂活动的起始时间、总位移量、在不同时间尺度上的滑移速率以及断层两端的精确位置等问题,都存在较大争议。为了更好的了解喀喇昆仑断裂现今的运动学特征及其与喜马拉雅—青藏高原陆内碰撞造山带的关系,确定喀喇昆仑断裂的滑移速率历史以及它随时间和/或空间的变化规律是极其重要的。目前研究表明,从现今的大地测量学尺度到几个百万年的地质学尺度,喀喇昆仑断裂走滑速率的变化范围为3～10 mm/yr。本论文对断裂各段的分布情况进行了详细描述,阐述了获得晚第四纪以来走滑速率的方法,回顾了喀喇昆仑断裂在大地测量学、晚第四纪以及地质学等不同时间尺度的走滑速率,并重点讨论了晚第四纪以来断裂的走滑速率。然后,确定了喀喇昆仑断裂北端的精确位置、讨论了其运动学意义和地震灾害效应。鉴于喀喇昆仑断裂具有长期的活动历史、规模巨大、运动速率较高,我们认为即使板块内部小尺度的似连续变形非常发育,板块模型依然可以很好的解释由于印度-亚洲板块碰撞造成的喜马拉雅北部的岩石圈变形。喀喇昆仑断裂、阿尔金断裂、昆仑断裂及龙木错—郭扎错断裂等青藏高原周缘的主要走滑断裂对青藏高原向东的挤出起着重要的调节作用。     

青藏高原西部喀喇昆仑断裂活动构造研究进展综述

喀喇昆仑断裂系(KF)位于青藏高原西缘,具有右旋走滑性质,从帕米尔高原至尼泊尔西部延绵1 000多km。长期以来,对于喀喇昆仑断裂活动的起始时间、总位移量、在不同时间尺度上的滑移速率以及断层两端的精确位置等问题,都存在较大争议。为了更好的了解喀喇昆仑断裂现今的运动学特征及其与喜马拉雅—青藏高原陆内碰撞造山带的关系,确定喀喇昆仑断裂的滑移速率历史以及它随时间和/或空间的变化规律是极其重要的。目前研究表明,从现今的大地测量学尺度到几个百万年的地质学尺度,喀喇昆仑断裂走滑速率的变化范围为3～10 mm/yr。本论文对断裂各段的分布情况进行了详细描述,阐述了获得晚第四纪以来走滑速率的方法,回顾了喀喇昆仑断裂在大地测量学、晚第四纪以及地质学等不同时间尺度的走滑速率,并重点讨论了晚第四纪以来断裂的走滑速率。然后,确定了喀喇昆仑断裂北端的精确位置、讨论了其运动学意义和地震灾害效应。鉴于喀喇昆仑断裂具有长期的活动历史、规模巨大、运动速率较高,我们认为即使板块内部小尺度的似连续变形非常发育,板块模型依然可以很好的解释由于印度-亚洲板块碰撞造成的喜马拉雅北部的岩石圈变形。喀喇昆仑断裂、阿尔金断裂、昆仑断裂及龙木错—郭扎错断裂等青藏高原周缘的主要走滑断裂对青藏高原向东的挤出起着重要的调节作用。     

曲江断裂南东段全新世滑动速率

高精度SPOT卫星影像和野外地质调查表明,曲江断裂南东段断错山前冲沟及河流Ⅰ级和Ⅱ级阶地,在探槽中见到断裂断错全新世地层,是一条右旋走滑的全新世活动断裂,兼有逆冲性质,断裂的最新活动是1970年通海7.8级地震。对曲江断裂典型走滑断错地貌进行研究,曲江断裂南东段在五街一带水平滑动速率为(3.36±0.1)mm/a,白林山一带水平滑动速率为(3.21±0.3)mm/a。     

青藏铁路唐古拉山-拉萨段全新世控震断裂研究

地表调查表明,沿青藏铁路唐古拉山-拉萨段存在5条重要的全新世控震断裂带,从北到南分别是温泉盆地西缘断裂带、安多盆地北缘断裂带、崩错断裂带、谷露西缘断裂带和当雄-羊八井断裂带.构造-地貌和年代学分析结果表明,北部的温泉盆地西缘断裂和安多盆地北缘断裂带的活动强度相对比较小,平均垂直活动速率约为0.2～0.5mm/a.南侧的谷露西缘断裂带和当雄-羊八井断裂带的全新世垂直活动速率为约(15±0.5)mm/a.而中部的崩错走滑断裂带的活动强度最大,晚第四纪期间的走滑速率可达(11±4.5)mm/a.全新世断裂活动和古地震研究表明,其中温泉盆地西缘断裂带、安多盆地北缘断裂带、崩错断裂带的西北分支、当雄-羊八井断裂带的当雄段等区域未来发生强震的概率相对更大.     

东昆仑南部西大滩断裂的地震鼓包及形成时代

在昆仑山南部西大滩与东大滩谷地,沿西大滩活动断裂发育大量串珠状斜列分布的地震鼓包,与不同类型的地震破裂、地震楔、地震陡坎和地震凹陷伴生,在探槽剖面表现为全新世砂土层和晚更新世砾石层的背斜褶皱变形;地震鼓包长轴走向290°~300°,与西大滩活动断裂呈10°~20°交角,锐角指示西大滩断裂左旋走滑运动方向。对探槽剖面不同层位的沉积物、断层破碎带和地震崩积楔分别取样,进行热释光和光释光测年,发现西大滩断裂的地震鼓包主要形成于全新世早期,对应于10.2ka BP、8.6~8.7ka BP、7.0ka BP、6.10ka BP4期古地震事件。估算西大滩断裂全新世早期强烈地震的复发周期为0.9~1.7ka,断裂左旋走滑速率为5.3~10.0mm/a,平均约7.7mm/a。全新世晚期西大滩断裂的构造活动性显著减弱,强烈地震向南迁移至库赛湖断裂。     

青藏高原东缘鲜水河断裂与龙门山断裂交会区现今的构造活动

鲜水河断裂与龙门山断裂交会区具有特殊的构造性质。通过对交会区GPS观测,得到欧亚框架下运动速度场。利用所得的运动速度结果,采用刚性地块假设下的最小二乘法拟合方法,得到川滇、川青、扬子地块运动速度分别为(19.2±2.8)mm/a、(10.7±3.2)mm/a、(9.7±1.6)mm/a,地块运动方向由SE逐渐变成SEE,呈现出顺时针旋卷特征;鲜水河断裂运动速度为(9.3±2.8)mm/a,断裂性质为左旋走滑;龙门山断裂运动速度为(1.2±2.2)mm/a,断裂性质为右旋挤压。     

鲜水河断裂带乾宁段晚第四纪走滑速率及区域强震危险性研究

活动断裂几何学特征及滑动速率是研究断裂运动学、动力学机制及其评估区域强震危险性的重要依据。青藏高原东缘左行走滑的鲜水河断裂带是控制高原物质向南东挤出的重要边界，是中国陆内活动性最强的断裂之一。本文以鲜水河断裂带北西段为研究对象，通过高精度遥感影像解译、野外考察、OSL(光释光)和14C测年方法以及LiDAR(激光雷达)扫描获得乾宁段龙灯乡冲积阶地的位错量和废弃年龄。T4和T3′水平位错量分别为106±5 m和77±2 m，T4阶地垂直位错量为9. 6±0. 5 m。T4和T3′阶地的废弃年龄分别为11±1 ka和7±1 ka。结合对应的年龄和位错量，得到乾宁段晚第四纪走滑速率左行走滑速率为10. 5±1 mm/a，垂直滑动速率为0. 9±0. 1 mm/a，断层倾向北东，具有正断运动学特征。通过重新计算断裂两侧GPS矢量沿断裂方向分量，得到鲜水河断裂带炉霍段、炉霍—康定段、磨西段现今左行走滑速率分别约为8. 1 mm/a、8. 2 mm/a、9. 4 mm/a，整体表现为自北西向南东递增。综合乾宁段晚第四纪走滑速率和最新强震活动的离逝时间估算，认为鲜水河断裂带乾宁段目前应变累积达到了发生一次MW 6. 8(MS 7. 2)大地震的潜能，在区域防震减灾工作中应对此加以重视。     

Neotectonic and volcanic characteristics of the Karasu fault zone (Anatolia,Turkey): The transition zone between the Dead Sea transform and the East Anatolian fault zone

Abstract

The Karasu Rift (Antakya province, SE Turkey) has developed between east-dipping, NNE-striking faults of the Karasu fault zone, which define the western margin of the rift and westdipping, N-S to N20°-30°E-striking faults of Dead Sea Transform fault zone (DST) in the central part and eastern margin of the rift. The strand of the Karasu fault zone that bounds the basin from west forms a linkage zone between the DST and the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ). The greater vertical offset on the western margin faults relative to the eastern ones indicates asymmetrical evolution of the rift as implied by the higher escarpments and accumulation of extensive, thick alluvial fans on the western margins of the rift. The thickness of the Quaternary sedimentary fill is more than 465 m, with clastic sediments intercalated with basaltic lavas. The Quaternary alkali basaltic volcanism accompanied fluvial to lacustrine sedimentation between 1.57 ± 0.08 and 0.05 ± 0.03 Ma. The faults are left-lateral oblique-slip faults as indicated by left-stepping faulting patterns, slip-lineation data and left-laterally offset lava flows and stream channels along the Karasu fault zone. At Hacilar village, an offset lava flow, dated to 0.08 ± 0.06 Ma, indicates a rate of leftlateral oblique slip of approximately 4.1 mm?year^?1. Overall, the Karasu Rift is an asymmetrical transtensional basin, which has developed between seismically active splays of the left-lateral DST and the left-lateral oblique-slip Karasu fault zone during the neotectonic period. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

青藏高原东南部第四纪右旋剪切运动

通过对藏东南嘉黎断裂和滇西北断裂实地考察研究，表明青藏高原南部不存在统一的边界走滑断裂。嘉黎断裂的西段位于青藏高原南部，是一个南北挤压作用下的东西向伸展构造区，发育近南北向的地堑系，嘉黎断裂西段是这些地堑之间的转换断层，具有较高的右旋走滑速率。滇西北断裂与红河断裂构成川滇菱形块体的西南边界，该块体具有向东南逃逸和顺时针旋转运动。     

可可西里东部活动断裂的地质特征

通过大比例尺地质勘测、路线观测、探槽揭露和综合分析,在青藏铁路可可西里段沿线鉴别出14条活动走滑断层,组成五道梁活动断裂、可可西里山北活动断裂和可可西里山南活动断裂,构成可可西里东部活动走滑断裂系。典型断层F_(16),F_(16-4),F_(17-2),F_(17-3),F_(18-4)切割最新地层的年龄分别为4500a,5.33万a,3700 a,1.53万a,6000 a,反映可可西里东部走滑断裂系在晚更新世晚期—全新世具有强烈活动;估算断层平均走滑运动速度分别为1.50 mm/a,0.39 mm/a,7.76 mm/a,6.76 mm/a,3.27mm/a。部分活动走滑断层发育砂质构造楔、地震陡坎和砂土液化现象,反映可可西里东部走滑断裂系具有强烈的地震活动性。断裂活动能够产生多种不同类型的地质灾害,对青藏公路、青藏铁路及永久性重大工程安全具有不良影响。     

青海鄂拉山断裂带晚第四纪构造活动及其所反映的青藏高原东北缘的变形机制

鄂拉山断裂带是分隔青海乌兰盆地 (柴达木盆地的一部分 )与茶卡—共和盆地的一条重要边界断裂 ,长约 2 0 7km ,由 6条规模较大的主要以右阶或左阶次级断裂段羽列而成 ,阶距约 1～ 3.5km。该断裂右旋走滑的起始时代为第四纪初期 ,约在 1.8～ 3.8MaB .P .期间 ,大的地质体累积断错约 9～12km。断裂新活动形成了一系列山脊、冲沟和阶地等的右旋断错及断层崖、断层陡坎等。晚更新世晚期以来 ,鄂拉山断裂带的平均水平滑动速率为 (4 .1± 0 .9)mm/a ,垂直滑动速率为 (0 .15± 0 .1)mm/a。鄂拉山地区的构造变形受区域NE向构造应力作用下的剪切压扁与鄂拉山断裂的右旋剪切和挤压的共同影响 ,共和—茶卡盆地和乌兰盆地均属于走滑挤压型盆地。青藏高原东北缘地区在区域性北东向挤压的作用之下 ,应变被分解为沿北西西向断裂的左旋走滑和沿北北西向断裂的右旋走滑运动 ,形成一对共轭的剪切断裂。鄂拉山断裂及其他北北西走向断裂的发展演化和变形机制表明青藏高原东北缘向东的挤出和逃逸是非常有限的。     

龙门山北东段山前涪江第四纪冲洪积扇地貌演化及其构造响应

青藏高原东缘龙门山北东段山前涪江冲积扇在武都盆地内的覆盖面积约为25 km2,区域构造上为江油断层、香水-让水断层等组成的江油断裂带右旋走滑构造域。通过宇宙核素成因埋藏年龄测试技术精确地测定发源于龙门山北东段主要河流-涪江自第四纪以来发育的三期冲积扇形成年代,即早更新世冲积扇（1.84 Ma）、中更新世冲积扇（0.54 Ma）和全新世冲积扇。由于龙门山北东段-江油断裂的右旋走滑兼逆冲运动,导致涪江早更新世冲积扇扇头右旋错动约3.2 km,之后形成新的冲积扇（中更新世积扇）。随着江油断裂继续的继续活动,中更新世冲积扇扇头又被右旋错动了约0.8 km,之后形成全新世的冲积扇。涪江形成以来总共右旋错动距离约为4 km。同时,早、中更新世冲积扇褶皱隆升了约50 m,早更新世冲积扇总共褶皱隆升了约100 m。这在一定程度上反映了龙门山构造带北东段第四纪以来沉积对构造演化的响应过程。     

Neotectonic and volcanic characteristics of the Karasu fault zone (Anatolia,Turkey): The transition zone between the Dead Sea transform and the East Anatolian fault zone

The Karasu Rift (Antakya province, SE Turkey) has developed between east-dipping, NNE-striking faults of the Karasu fault zone, which define the western margin of the rift and west-dipping, N–S to N20°–30°E-striking faults of Dead Sea Transform fault zone (DST) in the central part and eastern margin of the rift. The strand of the Karasu fault zone that bounds the basin from west forms a linkage zone between the DST and the East Anatolian fault zone (EAFZ). The greater vertical offset on the western margin faults relative to the eastern ones indicates asymmetrical evolution of the rift as implied by the higher escarpments and accumulation of extensive, thick alluvial fans on the western margins of the rift. The thickness of the Quaternary sedimentary fill is more than 465 m, with clastic sediments intercalated with basaltic lavas. The Quaternary alkali basaltic volcanism accompanied fluvial to lacustrine sedimentation between 1.57 ± 0.08 and 0.05 ± 0.03 Ma. The faults are left-lateral oblique-slip faults as indicated by left-stepping faulting patterns, slip-lineation data and left-laterally offset lava flows and stream channels along the Karasu fault zone. At Hacılar village, an offset lava flow, dated to 0.08 ± 0.06 Ma, indicates a rate of left-lateral oblique slip of approximately 4.1 mm·year^–1. Overall, the Karasu Rift is an asymmetrical transtensional basin, which has developed between seismically active splays of the left-lateral DST and the left-lateral oblique-slip Karasu fault zone during the neotectonic period.     

Late Quaternary Slip Rate of the Xiugou Segment,Eastern Kunlun Fault Zone

The Eastern Kunlun fault zone (EKLF) is a large left-lateral strike-slip fault, whose slip rate is meaningful to seismic hazard assessment and geodynamics of the Tibetan Plateau. Previous studies suggested that the late Quaternary average slip rate was stable and uniform (10~13 mm/a) in the central and western segment of the EKLF. But there were a few researches of accurate slip rate in the central segment on the EKLF. Therefore, we focused on an offset and well preserved alluvial fan from Xiugou basin, located in the east of Xidatan-Dongdatan, to make it clear. Moreover, we used high-resolution satellite images and digital elevation model extracted from SPOT7 stereo image pairs to restore the offset alluvial fan, and combined terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides method, including 13 quartz-rich samples from this fan surface, 1 quartz-rich sample from the main active channel bed and 1 ¹⁰Be depth profile from this fan edge to eliminate the ¹⁰Be concentration of inheritance accurately, with 1 optically stimulated luminescence sample to obtain the reliable age of this alluvial fan together. Referring to field observations, this alluvial fan was offset left-laterally by (1 862±103) m, and its age is (76.55±3.20)~(106.37±3.38) ka which can be determined through the actual geologic setting and improving chi-square test. Thus, we used the Monte Carlo method to obtain a left-lateral slip rate of (20.3+3.5/-2.3) mm/a with 68% confidence envelopes since the late Pleistocene in the Xiugou basin. As a result, combining with the results of previous studies, the left-lateral slip rate indicated that the obviously decreasing activity transferred from late Pleistocene to Holocene on the central segment of the EKLF.     

Late Quaternary deformation and slip rates in the northern San Andreas fault zone at Olema Valley, Marin County, California

Quaternary sedimentary deposits along the structural depression of the San Andreas fault (SAF) zone north of San Francisco in Marin County provide an excellent record of rates and styles of neotectonic deformation in a location near where the greatest amount of horizontal offset was measured after the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake. A high-resolution gravity survey in the Olema Valley was used to determine the depth to bedrock and the thickness of sediment fill along and across the SAF valley. In the gravity profile across the SAF zone, Quaternary deposits are offset across the 1906 fault trace and truncated by the Western and Eastern Boundary faults, whose youthful activity was previously unknown. The gravity profile parallel to the fault valley shows a basement surface that slopes northward toward an area of present-day subsidence near the head of Tomales Bay. Surface and subsurface investigations of the late Pleistocene Olema Creek Formation (Qoc) indicate that this area of subsidence was located further south during deposition of the Qoc and that it has migrated northward since then. Localized subsidence has been replaced by localized contraction that has produced folding and uplift of the Qoc. This apparent alternation between transtension and transpression may be the result of a northward-diverging fault geometry of fault strands that includes the valley-bounding faults as well as the 1906 SAF trace. The Vedanta marsh is a smaller example of localized subsidence in the fault zone, between the 1906 SAF trace and the Western Boundary fault. Analyses of Holocene marsh sediments in cores and a paleoseismic trench indicate thickening, and probably tilting, toward the 1906 trace, consistent with coseismic deformation observed at the site following the 1906 earthquake.New age data and offset sedimentary and geomorphic features were used to calculate four late Quaternary slip rate estimates for the SAF at this latitude. Luminescence dates of 112–186 ka for the middle part of the Olema Creek Formation (Qoc), the oldest Quaternary deposit in this part of the valley, suggest a late Pleistocene slip rate of 17–35 mm/year, which replaces the unit to a position adjacent to its sediment source area. A younger alluvial fan deposit (Qqf; basal age 30 ka) is exposed in a quarry along the medial ridge of the fault valley. This fan deposit has been truncated on its western side by dextral SAF movement, and west-side-down vertical movement that has created the Vedanta marsh. Paleocurrent measurements, clast compositions, sediment facies distributions, and soil characteristics show that the Bear Valley Creek drainage, now located northwest of the site, supplied sediment to the fan, which is now being eroded. Restoration of the drainage to its previous location provides an estimated slip rate of 25 mm/year. Furthermore, the Bear Valley Creek drainage probably created a water gap located north of the Qqf deposit during the last glacial maximum 18 ka. The amount of offset between the drainage and the water gap yields an average slip rate of 21–30 mm/year. Finally, displacement of a 1000-year-old debris lobe approximately 20 m from its hillside hollow along the medial ridge indicates a minimum late Holocene slip rate of 21–25 mm/year. Similarity of the late Pleistocene rates to the Holocene slip rate, and to previous rates obtained in paleoseismic trenches in the area, indicates that the rates may not have changed over the past 30 ka, and perhaps the past 200–400 ka. Stratigraphic and structural observations also indicate that valley-bounding faults were active in the late Pleistocene and suggest the need for further study to evaluate their continued seismic potential.     

青藏铁路风火山段晚第四纪断裂活动分析

地表地质调查发现,第四纪期间在风火山逆冲-褶皱构造带以发生近东西向的伸展变形为特征。在该构造带中形成切割早期近东西向挤压变形构造带、指示近东西向伸展变形、整体沿北60°东向展布的二道沟断陷盆地。断裂活动的地质、地貌证据表明,控制该盆地晚第四纪断陷的主边界断裂位于其北缘,是一条断续延伸达24 km左右、可能兼具左旋走滑性质的正断层。根据该区晚第四纪沉积物的分布和时代,并对断裂所错动的晚第四纪地质-地貌体进行初步的年代学分析,可以初步断定该断裂的晚第四纪垂直活动速率应该介于0.2~0.4 mm/a之间。     

Late Quaternary activity and dextral strike-slip movement on the Karakax Fault Zone, northwest Tibet

Field observations and interpretations of satellite images reveal that the westernmost segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault (called Karakax Fault Zone) striking WNW located in the northwestern margin of the Tibetan Plateau has distinctive geomorphic and tectonic features indicative of right-lateral strike-slip fault in the Late Quaternary. South-flowing gullies and N–S-trending ridges are systematically deflected and offset by up to ~ 1250 m, and Late Pleistocene–Holocene alluvial fans and small gullies that incise south-sloping fans record dextral offset up to ~ 150 m along the fault zone. Fault scarps developed on alluvial fans vary in height from 1 to 24 m. Riedel composite fabrics of foliated cataclastic rocks including cataclasite and fault gouge developed in the shear zone indicate a principal right-lateral shear sense with a thrust component. Based on offset Late Quaternary alluvial fans, ¹⁴C ages and composite fabrics of cataclastic fault rocks, it is inferred that the average right-lateral strike-slip rate along the Karakax Fault Zone is ~ 9 mm/a in the Late Quaternary, with a vertical component of ~ 2 mm/a, and that a M 7.5 morphogenic earthquake occurred along this fault in 1902. We suggest that right-lateral slip in the Late Quaternary along the WNW-trending Karakax Fault Zone is caused by escape tectonics that accommodate north–south shortening of the western Tibetan Plateau due to ongoing northward penetration of the Indian plate into the Eurasian plate.