Recent research on the Diexi paleo-landslide: dam and lacustrine deposits upstream of the Minjiang River, Sichuan, China

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2020.9.2

Abstract

Abstract:

A paleo-lacustrine deposit, more than 200 m thick, named the “Diexi paleo-landslide-dammed lake deposit” was found upstream of the Minjiang River in Sichuan Province. The paleo-lake was formed around 30 ka BP and the dam started to fail around 15 ka BP. Therefore, the paleo-lacustrine deposit could have recorded important geological and geoenvironmental events (earthquakes, paleo-climate changes, etc.) during the period from the late Pleistocene to Holocene. The formation and evolution of the Diexi paleo-landslide and the landslide-dammed lake are poorly understood. Through detailed field investigation and LiDAR measurements, we constructed a 3D geological model and found the geomorphological and geological evidence to determine the boundary and volume of the paleo-landslide that formed the Diexi paleo-lake deposit. Using geophysical measurements (ERT) and laser grain size analysis, we determined the internal structure of the landslide deposit. We then reconstructed and analyzed the extent, volume, and sedimentological features of the paleo-lake based on a survey of outcrops and boreholes, and discussed the possible failure processes of the paleo-dam and its implications for the migration of prehistoric settlements. The results indicate that the Diexi paleo-landslide not only completely blocked the Minjiang River but also blocked its upstream branches, with the deposit volume reaching 1400×10 ⁶-2000×10⁶ m³. The paleo-lake extended upstream to about 26 km behind the dam; the maximum surface area and volume of the lake was approximately 21.4 km² and 1670 × 10 ⁶ m³, respectively. The paleo-landslide caused a knickpoint that may have a long-term impact on the mountain landscape evolution in the region.

Key words: earthquake, paleo-landslide, paleo-landslide dam and dammed lake, dam-breach flood, prehistorical settlements

CLC Number:

P642.2

FAN Xuanmei, DAI Lanxin, ZHONG Yujin, LI Jingjuan, WANG Lansheng. Recent research on the Diexi paleo-landslide: dam and lacustrine deposits upstream of the Minjiang River, Sichuan, China[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2021, 28(2): 71-84.

Figures/Tables 14

Fig.1 (a) Tectonic map of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau showing the location of the study area, and (b) geological map of the study area showing the locations of the Diexi paleo-landslide dam and lake upstream of the Minjiang River, Sichuan

Fig.2 Geomorphological and depositional features of the Diexi paleo-landslide

Fig.3 Geological profile of the Diexi paleo-landslide

Fig.4 Geophysical measurements (a) and ERT profile (b, c) of the Diexi paleo-landslide dam

Fig.5 Reconstruction of the Diexi paleo-lake

Fig.6 Grain size distributions in the paleo-lacustrine deposit from the dam site to the end of the lake

Fig.7 Grain size variations in sediment samples collected from the dam (blue square), mid-lake (green square) and lake-end (red square) sections of the Diexi paleo-lake deposit

Fig.8 Sedimentologic characteristics of the Diexi paleo-lake deposit

Fig.9 Fluvial terraces embedded in the Diexi paleo-lake deposit. 14C data adapted from [3].

Fig.10 Sedimentologic characteristics of the fluvial terraces

Fig.11 The paleo-landslide reactivated by the 1933 Diexi earthquake. Photo in (a) adapted from [39].

Fig.12 Longitudinal profile of the Minjiang River around the Diexi paleo-landslide dam, showing the knickpoints (star), steepness indexes (circle), and upstream catchment contribution area

Fig.13 Photos of the ZK1 (2018) core (a) and core sections showing various core structural features (b-g)

Fig.14 Distribution of the dammed paleo-lakes (adapted from [2]) and prehistoric settlements (adapted from [49]) in the upstream catchment of the Minjiang River

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