The paleoearthquakes of the Langshan Piedmont fault, North China since late Pleistocene

Abstract The Langshan Piedmont fault (LPF) is an active Holocene normal fault that borders Langshan Mountain and the Hetao Graben in the northwest of Ordos Block of China. In this study, paleoseismic trenching was undertaken at three sites and 11 fault outcrops are well exposed. The results show that eight paleoearthquake events occurred on the LPF since 43 ka BP, and six paleoearthquake events are complete since 14 ka BP, the latest event is 2300–2400 a BP; the LPF has the characteristic of quasi-periodic recurrence and the average recurrence interval is 2350 years. Therefore, there is a high probability that the LPF will have another earthquake. The vertical activity rate of the LPF is ~1.12 ​mm/yr since Holocene, and ~0.77 ​mm/yr since 14 ka BP. In this study, it is considered that the LPF is mainly characterized by simultaneous rupture of the whole segment. The vertical displacement of the paleoearthquake events is 0.8–2.5 ​m and the corresponding maximum paleoearthquake magnitude is M 7.4. The seismic hazard of Langshan area should not be ignored. The buildings in Langshan area, especially Wulatehouqi and Qingshan town, should be able to withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake.