Dynamics of intracontinental convergence between the western Tarim basin and central Tien Shan constrained by centroid moment tensors of regional earthquakes

Research reveals that the Tarim lithosphere indents into the Kazach shield, driving crustal thickening and mountain formation in the Tien Shan through a distributed thrust fault system. Analysis of 160 earthquakes (1969–2009) using centroid moment tensor inversion showed active thrust faulting from the upper crust to ~30 km depth, with some events near the crust–mantle boundary indicating brittle lower crust behavior. The findings suggest rotational convergence and localized flexure in the Tarim basin, challenging the notion of discrete boundary deformation.

Huang, G.-c. D., Roecker, S. W., Levin, V., Wang, H., & Li, Z. (2016). Dynamics of intracontinental convergence between the western Tarim basin and central Tien Shan constrained by centroid moment tensors of regional earthquakes. Geophysical Journal International, 208(1), 561–576. https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggw415