CHARACTERISTICS OF GEOLOGICAL RELICS DUE TO 1556 HUAXIAN GREAT EARTHQUAKE IN GAUANZHONG AREA OF SHAANXI PROVINCE, CHINA

The devastation and casualties caused by the 1556 Huaxian great earthquake are the severest in the history of mankind. According to records, more than eight hundred and thirty thousands of peoples were killed by the great earthquake. Although the earthquake occurred more than 450 years ago, some geological relics caused by the earthquake are still very clear in some counties such as Weinan, Huaxian, Huayin and Tongguan, which are located in the eastern Guanzhong Basin, Shaanxi Province, China. In the study, four typical geo-heritages including seismogenic faults, seismic-cracks, earthquake rock avalanches and earthquake landslides are investigated by means of field work. The results show that these geo-heritages are the results of strong ground motion associated with tectonic stress field, types of rock and soil, geomorphology and hydrogeololgy. The geological relics caused by the Huaxian earthquake have great values in scientific research, scientific popularization and tourism. Therefore, the protection and use of the sites should be paid more attention.