Gravity Anomaly Characteristics and Tectonic Implications of the Tangshan Seismic Zone

A catastrophic Ms7.8 earthquake occurred in Tangshan in 1976 at a focal depth of approximately 12 km, resulting in severe casualties and substantial economic losses. Given its unique tectonic setting, the seismogenic structure and dynamic genesis of the Tangshan earthquake have long remained a key research topic in seismotectonic studies. To better characterize the tectonic framework, seismogenic mechanisms, and deep–shallow dynamical coupling within the Tangshan seismic zone, we employ multi-scale wavelet decomposition on high-resolution residual gravity anomalies to isolate crustal structure signals across different depth ranges. Integrating these structural signatures with the spatial distribution of seismicity yields a comprehensive framework for interpreting the regional tectonic evolution. The Tangshan seismic zone is positioned within the intricate structural architecture of the Tangshan rhombic fault block, a system embedded within the broader context of the North China Craton (NCC) destruction. Seismicity displays a distinct preferred orientation, with events concentrated along block-bounding faults and gravity anomaly gradient zones. With increasing wavelet decomposition levels, the gravity anomalies exhibit a systematic transition from spatially dispersed patterns associated with shallow structures to more concentrated features reflecting deeper geological domains. Shallow anomalies from the first to third decomposition orders, which are primarily controlled by Quaternary sedimentary layers, show a fragmented distribution that corresponds well with the development of local flower structures and the occurrence of diffuse shallow seismicity. The fourth- to seventh-order anomalies clearly delineate the rhombic block and its bounding peripheral faults, highlighting the structural intersections that hosted the Tangshan mainshock and its associated aftershock sequence. In contrast, the eighth- to tenth-order deep-seated anomalies corresponding to deeper structural levels exhibit pronounced coalescence, effectively imaging mantle upwelling and large-scale density heterogeneities within the lithospheric mantle. These concentrated gravity highs are closely coupled with mantle thermal activity, whose upward ascent induces thermal weakening of the lower crust and facilitates progressive stress transfer toward shallower crustal levels. Concurrently, frictional locking of shallow high-angle faults promotes intense stress accumulation within the rigid basement. The interplay between deep-seated dynamic concentration and shallow structural confinement ultimately triggers the catastrophic coseismic rupture responsible for the Tangshan earthquake. By delineating the structural transition from deep-seated aggregation centers to shallow dispersed fracture zones, this study establishes a robust framework for assessing seismogenic environments and regional seismic hazard potential across the progressively destroyed NCC.