North−south−trending structure in Jilong Valley, Xizang and its effect on engineering geological safety

LIU Han; SUN Xianfeng; GUO Jing; ZHANG Shizhen; GOU Zhengbin; LI Jun; WANG Baodi

doi:10.12029/gc20220825004

2025 Vol. 52, No. 3

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LIU Han, SUN Xianfeng, GUO Jing, ZHANG Shizhen, GOU Zhengbin, LI Jun, WANG Baodi. 2025. North−south−trending structure in Jilong Valley, Xizang and its effect on engineering geological safety[J]. Geology in China, 52(3): 1149-1164. doi: 10.12029/gc20220825004

Citation:

LIU Han, SUN Xianfeng, GUO Jing, ZHANG Shizhen, GOU Zhengbin, LI Jun, WANG Baodi. 2025. North−south−trending structure in Jilong Valley, Xizang and its effect on engineering geological safety[J]. Geology in China, 52(3): 1149-1164. doi: 10.12029/gc20220825004

North−south−trending structure in Jilong Valley, Xizang and its effect on engineering geological safety

1.
Chengdu Center, China Geological Survey, Chengdu 610081, Sichuan, China
2.
School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China
3.
China Railway First Survey and Design Institute Group Co., Ltd., Xi’an 710043, Shaanxi, China
4.
China Aero Geophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center for Natural Resources, Beijing 100083, China

Fund Project: Supported by the projects of China Geological Survey (No.DD20221635), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.42002032, No.41972113) and the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (No.2019QZKK0706).

More Information

Author Bio: LIU Han, male, born in 1986, senior engineer, engaged in regional geological survey of Xizang Plateau and research on Tethyan geological evolution; E-mail: liuhan_cdcgs@163.com

Received Date: 25 August 2022

Revised Date: 01 November 2022

Publish Date: 25 May 2025

Abstract

Abstract

This paper is the result of geological survey engineering.
Objective
Jilong Valley will serve as an important segment for significant engineering construction across the Himalayas in Xizang in the coming years. However, the systematic understanding of the fundamental geological characteristics of this area remains insufficient, especially the inadequate comprehension of N−S−trending structures, which may cause unexpected risks during the engineering construction.
Methods
This article systematically delineates the structural characteristics of the N−S−trending faults and joints in Jilong Valley through a combination of field geological surveys, joint statistics, audio−frequency magnetotellurics, geothermal investigations, and calcite U−series dating, in order to analyze the primary engineering geological risks associated with these N−S−trending structures.
Results
The N−S−trending faults in Jilong Valley are generally small in scale, with a few cutting through the high Himalayan belt, and are also basin−controlling faults in the Jilong Basin. The formation and sedimentary evolution of the Jilong Basin are controlled by four N−S−trending normal faults in its eastern boundary and interior. The presence of seismic rocks near the eastern boundary faults and a large number of syn−sedimentary faults indicate intermittent activity in the basin. The N−S−trending joints exhibit a regional penetrative distribution, and the stress analysis reveals that they are controlled by a stress field similar to that of the N−S−trending rift.
Conclusions
The potential engineering geological risk sources associated with the N−S−trending structure in Jilong Valley encompass Holocene activity, as well as the control exerted over regional geothermal activity and geological disasters, including landslide, debris flows and related hazards. It is proposed that the N−S oriented structure represents one of the key focal points for geological safety risk assessment in the planning and construction of major engineering projects in Jilong Valley.
- Jilong Basin /
- N−S−trending structure /
- geological safety risk /
- geological survey engineering /
- Jilong Valley /
- Himalayan /
- Xizang

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