Geo-hazard effects and typical landslide characteristics of the Batang fault zone in the western Sichuan

This paper is the result of the geological disaster prevention and control engineering and geological hazard prevention and control engineering.

Objective The Batang fault zone in the western Sichuan and eastern Tibet Plateau has complex geological settings. The study on the geo-hazard development characteristics is helpful to reveal the geo-hazard effect of active fault zone.

Methods Based on the forming background analysis and field geo-hazard investigation of the Batang fault zone, this paper analyzes the geo-hazard distribution law and typical landslide development characteristics, and discusses the geo-hazard effects of the Batang fault zone.

Results The study shows that: (1) The fragmented rock mass structure effected by fault activity can promote the development and formation of geo-hazard, and the violent fault activity (earthquake) or the creeping activity can induce geo-hazards, and the strong geo-hazard effects mainly occur with in 3000 m on both sides of the fault. (2) Geo-hazards in the Batang fault zone have the characteristics of wide areas, uneven distribution, local concentration, and so on. There are a large number of creepy landslides and seismic landslides in the deep-cut canyon along the main stream of the Jinsha River. (3) Seismic landslides and ancient landslides are developed in the Batang fault zone, and some landslides directly cross the fault zone. The superimposed influence of internal and external forces such as faults, rainfall and human engineering, has induced some local revival of some landslides.

Conclusions The Batang fault has a significant control effect on regional geo-hazard development and distribution.Some residential areas and roads in the Batang fault zone are at geo-hazard risk. The town planning area should be far away from the river valley bank slopes and debris flow accumulation fans and other areas vulnerable to geo-hazard. The research results have important scientific significance for understanding the geo-hazard effects of the active fault zone in the eastern Tibet Plateau and for disaster prevention and mitigation.