MAJOR ACTIVE FAULTS IN LINGQIU BASIN AND THE SEISMOGENIC STRUCTURE OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN 1626

Lingqiu Basin is located in the northeast of the Shanxi graben system,where a MS 7. 0 earthquake occurred in 1626. The achievement of active fault research in this basin could contribute not only to the study of the seismogenic structure of the earthquake in 1626,but also to the research of the types of large earthquakes in Shanxi graben system. Much work has been conducted here,laying the foundation for the active fault study in this area. However,the spatial distribution and activity of several major faults,and the seismogenic structure of the earthquake in 1626 are still in discussion. This paper analyzes the geomorphologic characteristics in the whole basin via interpreting SPOT5 images,SRTM3 and fieldwork,and acquires some new knowledge of the major faults in combination with trenching. The activity of the main segment of the piedmont fault of Taibaiwei Mountains is limited to the late Pleistocene; The NEE-striking Shuijian-Luoshuihe Fault has obvious geomorphic features to the west of Lingqiu County,and the geomorphic feature of the fault is not remarkable to the east of the county. Its latest event left a 1m - high fault scarp on the surface. The NW-striking Huashanhe Fault behaves as a hinge fault. In the northern basin,the fault dips west,producing a height difference of about 10m in terrace T1 of the Huashanhe River. In the southern basin,the fault dips east. Profiles and geomorphic features show the south segment of the fault is an active strike-slip fault with a high angle. Thus,we consider the earthquake in 1626 resulted from the conjugated action of the NEE-striking Shuijian-Luoshuihe Fault and the NW-striking Huashanhe Fault.