Shallow Seismic Investigation of the Yangtze River Fault at Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China

Debates on the Yangtze River Fault at Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China have lasted for a long time. In order to clarify the stratigraphy, characteristics and activity of the fault, a large-scale shallow seismic investigation was conducted on the site. It involved 10 onsite field experiments, 5715 m long shallow seismic exploration and five geological drill holes, and consequent data processing and interpretation of the shallow seismic time profiles in combination with one geological profile and a satellite image. It was found that the loose Quaternary strata present good continuity in the area. Four pre-Cenozoic faults present in the bedrock (including the Yangtze River Fault), and two Quaternary faults cut the Quaternary sediments. Therefore, the existence of the Yangtze River Fault is verified, and its activity and characteristics are analyzed in this study.