Late Mesozoic Intracontinental Deformation in the Northern Margin of the North China Craton: A Case Study From the Shangyi Basin, Northwestern Hebei Province, China

Abstract

During the late Mesozoic, the East Asian continent underwent a complex tectonic history due to multiple episodes of plate convergence. How the crust responds to the multiple plate convergence in the North China Craton (NCC) remains unclear. Here we undertook field geological investigations and fault-slip vectors analysis of the Shangyi Basin in the western Yanshan fold and thrust belt, northern margin of the NCC. Combined with new geochronological data, we delineate three phases of intracontinental deformation in the area: 1) NW-SE compression during the Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous (ca. 151–141 Ma); 2) NW-SE extension during the middle–late Early Cretaceous (ca. 135–110 Ma); and 3) NE-SW compressional deformation later than 110 Ma. The early NW-SE compression controlled the present bulk architecture of the basin, and the subsequent two tectonic events only caused limited reworking of the previous structures. Through balanced cross-section restoration, we estimate the horizontal shortening ratio of the crust in the study area is over 27% due to the NW-SE compression. Moreover, the contribution of tectonic shortening from the north side of the basin is greater than that from the south side. NW-SE compressional deformation is consistent in time with the episode B of the Yanshanian movement (Yanshanian B), which may be influenced by the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate beneath East Asia and the closure of the Mongol-Okhosk Ocean. Subsequent NW–SE extension is likely to be associated with the destruction of the NCC during the Early Cretaceous. Extension may result from the roll-back of the Paleo-Pacific plate and post-orogenic collapse of the Mongol-Okhotsk belt. The last NE-SW compressional event may be linked to the remote effect of the final collision between the Qiangtang and Lhasa terranes.

Jurassic–Early Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the North China Craton and Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny in East Asia: New insights from a general review of stratigraphy, structures, and magmatism

“…These faults thrust northwestward, indicated by the NW-SE directional fault-slip data (Table 2, Fig. 4; Zhang et al, 2006;Yang et al, 2021). All these NE-striking thrusts displace the Meso-and Neo-Proterozoic strata southeastward or northwestward over the Tuchengzi Formation (J3-K1tch)/Houcheng Formation (J3-K1h) or the Tiaojishan Formation (J3t) where the J3-K1tch is absent in the Western Hill, and unconformably overlain by the Early Cretaceous Zhangjiakou Formation/Donglingtai Formation (K1zh/K1d; Zhang et al, 2006;Yang et al, 2021).…”

“…The E-striking Gubeikou-Pingquan fault extends westward along the Shangyi-Chicheng ductile shear zone in the western Yanshan belt (Fig. 4; Yang et al, 2021). Several NE-striking thrusts are developed in the south of the Gubeikou-Pingquan fault (e.g., the Qianjiadian thrust, the Shaliangzi thrust, and the Tanghekou thrust).…”

“…4; Zhang et al, 2006;Yang et al, 2021). All these NE-striking thrusts displace the Meso-and Neo-Proterozoic strata southeastward or northwestward over the Tuchengzi Formation (J3-K1tch)/Houcheng Formation (J3-K1h) or the Tiaojishan Formation (J3t) where the J3-K1tch is absent in the Western Hill, and unconformably overlain by the Early Cretaceous Zhangjiakou Formation/Donglingtai Formation (K1zh/K1d; Zhang et al, 2006;Yang et al, 2021). It suggests that these NE striking thrusts are related to Event B of the Yanshanian orogeny during the period of post-J3t to pre-K1zh/K1d.…”

“…The E-and WNW-striking secondary faults of the Gubeikou-Pingquan fault have a dominant strike-slip or transpressional displacement with dextral or dextral oblique thrusting striations . The paleostress field was a NW-SE compression, inferred from the fault-slip data (e.g., striations) from secondary faults and adjacent NE-striking thrusts Yang et al, 2021). The Upper Jurassic Houcheng Formation (J3-K1h) is involved in the dextral Gubeikou-Pingquan fault, unconformably overlain by the Lower Cretaceous Zhangjiakou Formation (Lin et al, 2020).…”

The 1673 Tianzhen Earthquake and Rupture Behavior of the Yanggao‐Tianzhen Fault in the Northern Shanxi Graben, China

“…The only two recorded earthquakes of any significant magnitude (Mw 5) in this time frame and at this location were the 1628 and 1673 events (Figure 1b, Gu et al., 1983). However, the intensity lines of the 1628 event are NNW‐trending and the meizoseismal area is in the vicinity of the Xiyanghe village in Huai'an Basin (Figure S3 in Supporting Information S1, DEDPSSB, 1995; Fang et al., 1994). This does not match the perception that the intensity lines of most large earthquakes are roughly parallel to the strike of the seismogenic fault, such as the Wenchuan Mw 7.9 earthquake (P. Z. Zhang et al., 2010).…”