关键词: 范家坝-临江断裂, 1879年武都南地震, 发震断裂

Abstract: The earthquake occurred in Jiezhou,Gansu Province on July 1,1879 (May 12,Guangxu 5,Qing Dynasty) is one of the largest earthquake events in Chinese history. The effect of this event spread over more than ten provinces. According to historical data,the magnitude of this earthquake has been estimated to be 8 or 71/2,and the macroscopic epicenter has been located at Mianshanheba (104.7E,33.2N),south of Wudu,Gansu Province,with type II precision of estimation (≤25km error). As the earthquake occurred in the areas of high mountain ridges difficult to be approached,it has not been studied in detail so far. It is one of the 3M=8 earthquakes in China that their relation to active faults had not been revealed so far. Recently,we have found that in satellite images a NNE-trending lineament can be clearly observed along the northern foot of the Shuikeng Mountains to the northeast of Wenxian County,Gansu Province. It extends eastward from Shifang Village to the northwest of Wenxian County,passing through Liangjiaba,Malian River,Fanjiaba,Miaobeihou,Guanjiagou,Jianzuishan Mountains,Shuikengya,northern slope of the Fangmashan Mountains,Songjia Mountains and Shenjiana'an,and then gradually becomes unclear after crossing through the Bailongjiang River and turning northward at 500m downstream from the Majiaba. The lineament has a total length of about 30km,among which about 21km can be identified to be surface fracture zone (from the bank of the Bailongjiang River to the top of the western hills of Guanjiagou). The lineament offsets left-laterally a series of ridges and gullies. In comparison with geologic data of this region,this lineament image coincides well with the NEE-trending Fanjiaba-Linjiang Fault. The interpretation of satellite images for the whole region and re-collation of historical records about this earthquake have confirmed that the Fanjiaba-Linjiang Fault bears a close relation to the southern Wudu earthquake,and is most probably the causative fault of this earthquake. This study,therefore,provides new insights into the following aspects,such as the occurrence and mode of motion of the causative fault,the length of surface ruptures,the amount and variation of horizontal displacement along the fault,the location of macroscopic epicenter,the probable magnitude of the event and the distribution of seismic hazards etc. All these results have led to the satisfactory solution of outstanding issue about the causative fault of the 1879 southern Wudu earthquake. They are also of great importance to seismic risk assessment in the border areas of Gansu,Qinghai and Sichuan Provinces as well as in southeast Gansu Province.

Key words: Fanjiaba-Linjiang Fault, southern Wudu earthquake of 1879, causative fault