Mechanical Initiation and Propagation Mechanism of a Thrust Fault: A Case Study of the Yima Section of the Xiashi-Yima Thrust (North Side of the Eastern Qinling Orogen, China)

Thrust faults exist extensively in nature, and their activities often cause earthquakes and disasters involving underground engineering, such as the May 12, 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake; the April 20, 2013 Ya'an Earthquake; and the Nov. 3, 2011 Yima Qianqiu Coal-Mining Accident in China. In this paper, the initiation and propagation of a thrust are discussed from a mechanical viewpoint using fault mechanics and fault-slip analysis, taking as an example the Yima section of the Xiashi-Yima thrust (north side of the eastern Qinling Orogen, China). The research primarily focuses on the stress field and the formation trajectory of the thrust and the genesis of the large-scale inversion thrust sheet. The results show that the thrust results from failures in the compressive deformation state and that its stress state is entirely compressive shear. The rupture trajectory of the thrust develops upward, and the fault fracture zone forms similarly to a listric fault, up-narrow and down-wide. The model results and the genesis of the large-scale inversion thrust sheet are consistent with in situ exploration observations. This investigation can be extended to other thrust faults with similar characteristics, particularly for the design of mining operations in tectonic-active areas. Moreover, this research can be used to further study the mechanism of thrust faults and provide support for the feasibility of using fault-slip analysis to assess fault stability.