关键词: 长江三峡, 仙女山断裂, 构造地貌

Abstract: The Xiannüshan Fault zone,lying along the western margin of Huangling anticline,is one of the most important fault zones in Three Gorges reservoir area. The fault experienced strong activities during Cenozoic. Whether the fault zone crosses the Yangtze River is one of the key problems in previous studies,as it has significant influence on the assessment of geological hazards and earthquake stability in the reservoir area. Based on tectonic and geomorphic observations along this fault zone around Baixianchi in Changyang County,Huangkou in Zigui County,together with the comparisons between the geology in Guizhou and Quyuan Town in the north bank of Yangtze River and the Xiannüshan Fault zone,it is suggested that the north end of this fault zone locates around Huangkou village and doesnt traverse the Yangtze River northward.
The details are as follows: ① On the basis of field data collection,it is found that the Xiannüshan Fault zone,which stretches 80km,underwent thrust movement in Cenozoic,resulting in ravines and fault scarps,topographically. Whereas,on the northern bank of Yangtze River,faults are rarely found,and most of the faults are developed in the Jurassic strata,without topographical effects. Therefore,the Xiannüshan Fault zone has not stretched to the north bank of Yangtze River.②Fault gouge and tectonite zone were found developed on Xiannüshan Fault zone at Baixianchi village,but only tectonite zone was found at Zhouping village. There are also some branch faults close to the northern end of the fault zone. So,the activity of the fault zone weakened from south to north in Cenozoic. The fault zone extends northward and dies out at Huangkou. It doesnt stretch forward any longer as indicated by continuous strata,sparse joints,and small folds,etc.

Key words: Three Gorges area, Xiannüshan Fault, tectonic landform