Tectonic stress field and crustal strength of the central-southern Tanlu Fault Zone

MENG Wen; CHEN Qunce; GUO Xiangyun; HUANG Xin

doi:10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025107

Volume 31 Issue 6

Dec. 2025

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MENG W，CHEN Q C，GUO X Y，et al.，2025. Tectonic stress field and crustal strength of the central-southern Tanlu Fault Zone[J]. Journal of Geomechanics，31（6）：1177−1187 doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025107

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Tectonic stress field and crustal strength of the central-southern Tanlu Fault Zone

doi: 10.12090/j.issn.1006-6616.2025107

MENG Wen^{1, 2
,},
CHEN Qunce^{1, 2
,},
GUO Xiangyun^3
,,
HUANG Xin^{1, 2
,}

1.
Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Science, Beijing 100081, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Active Tectonics and Geological Safety, Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100081, China
3.
Institute of Geophysics, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100085, China

Funds: This research is financially supported by the Deep Earth Probe and Mineral Resources Exploration–National Science and Technology Major Project (Grant No. 2024ZD1000706).

More Information

Received: 2025-08-08
Revised: 2025-11-11
Accepted: 2025-11-24

Available Online: 2025-12-03

Published: 2025-12-28

Abstract

Abstract

Significance The accurate estimation of crustal strength—the capacity of the lithosphere to resist tectonic deformation—is fundamental to both seismic hazard assessment and geodynamic studies. Methods This study integrates borehole logging data and focal mechanism solutions from the central-southern Tanlu Fault Zone. Objective The study aims to analyze the characteristics of the tectonic stress field. Results The study reveals that the stress states in the shallow and deep crust are generally consistent, with a predominant strike-slip stress regime and a preferential ENE–WSW orientation of the maximum horizontal principal stress. The regional fault friction coefficient is approximately 0.3, significantly lower than the 0.6–1.0 range suggested by Byerlee's law, indicating a moderate level of fault frictional strength. Furthermore, constrained by these findings, a crustal strength profile was established for the central-southern Tanlu Fault Zone. Conclusion This profile reveals a relatively strong upper and middle crust underlain by an extremely weak lower crust. Regional tectonic forces are primarily transmitted through the upper and middle crust. This extremely weak lower crust is closely linked to the destruction of the North China Craton since the Mesozoic, likely serving as both a consequence and a facilitating mechanism of the deep deformation processes that led to lithospheric thinning.
- tectonic stress field,
- crustal strength,
- Tanlu Fault zone,
- deep deformation

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