Bayan Har block

It is bounded to the southeast by the Longmenshan Fault, a major thrust fault zone, which forms the active tectonic boundary between the plateau and the Sichuan Basin.

The northwestern boundary of this sub-block is formed by the parallel Longriba and Maoergai faults, with the former showing evidence of mainly thrusting to the southeast and the latter showing a significant component of right lateral strike-slip.

The NW-SE shortening within the sub-block is caused by the resistance offered by the stronger lithosphere of the South China Block, which has led to a backwards propagating thrust system.

[3] The area between the Longriba and Longmenshan faults has a current uplift rate of 1.5 mm per year.

This model is consistent with observations of increased slip rates on the more southeasterly parts of the Xianshuihe fault system.