Prehistoric ruptures of the Gurvan Bulag fault, Gobi Altay, Mongolia

Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

The 1957 Gobi Altay M8.3 earthquake in southern Mongolia was associated with the simultaneous rupture of several faults, including the Gurvan Bulag reverse fault, which is located about 25 km south of the main strike-slip Bogd fault. Our study of paleoseismic excavations across the Gurvan Bulag fault suggests that the penultimate surface rupture occurred after 6.0 ka, most likely between 2.6 and 4.4 ka, and a possible earlier rupture occurred after 7.3 ka. Our interpretation of the stratigraphic relations in one of the exposures suggests that at least five earthquakes have generated surface rupture of the Gurvan Bulag fault since the abandonment of an ancient alluvial fan surface. Luminescence dating of sediment associated with this surface indicates that it formed either 26.6 ± 2.1 ka or 16.1 ± 2.0 ka. These data imply that the recurrence intervals for surface faulting on the Gurvan Bulag and Bogd faults are similar, on the order of several thousands of years, but that the penultimate surface ruptures of the two faults did not occur during the same earthquake.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Prehistoric ruptures of the Gurvan Bulag fault, Gobi Altay, Mongolia
Series title Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth
DOI 10.1029/2001JB000803
Volume 107
Issue B12
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher American Geophysical Union
Description 18 p.
First page ESE 1-1
Last page ESE 1-18
Country Mongollia
State Gobi Altay
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details