Eastern Kunlun Active Fault Zone and Its Seismic Activity

In addition to a brief description of the tectonic background and evolutionary history of the Eastern Kunlun active fault zone,this paper emphatically describes the spatial distribution,geometry,Quaternary movement,and strong earthquake activities of this fault zone.The fault zone is characterized by a long evolutionary history,deep seated tectonic background,and intense Quaternary,even Holocene,activities.It played an important role in the tectonic evolution of China,especially in the uplifting and formation of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.It is also a major pleistoseismic belt in western China.Based on modern strong earthquake records as well as the newly discovered evidence of multiple Holocene paleoearthquakes and their surface rupture zones along the entire fault zone,the spatial and temporal distribution pattern of strong earthquakes along the fauit zone is analyzed.Finally,the macroscopic epicenter location of the 1937 Huashixia earthquake with M=7.5 and the distribution and scope of its surface rupture zone are discussed.