Neotectonics and seismicity along the Coast Zone of Guangxi, South China

The paper discussed the relations between the neotectonics and seismicity a long the coast of Guangxi, South China and concluded based on the geomorpho logical observations: (1) Two fault sets striking northeast and northwest a re well developed along the coast zone and the intersection of the two faul t sets divided the coast zone into many blocks. The differential movement o f the blocks has controlled the geological and geomorphological evolution o f the coast since Cenozoic era. The activity of the fault set striking nort hwest is much stronger than that of striking northeast fault set; (2) The e arthquakes mainly distributed along the basin boundaries where the landform s are greatly contrast and in the intersecting parts of the two fault sets; (3) The blocks in the study area have been vertically uplifting as a whole block except the Qinzhou Bay and Tieshan Estuary areas where are still sub siding and the activity of the fault sets has been weakening in horizontal direction since Holocene epoch, so it is impossible to occur a large earthq uake in the area under the condition of tectonic movement except the two su bsiding areas: the Qinzhou Bay and the Tieshan Estuary sites.