According to historical earthquake records, the Luhuo segment of the Xianshuihe fault has produced two large earthquakes: the 1816 M7.5 earthquake and the 1973 M7.6 earthquake. The surface ruptures caused by these events remain well preserved. This study focused on the rupture behavior of the Luhuo segment. Based on field investigations, trench excavations and analysis of historical earthquakes, we identified six seismic events that occurred within the past 3000 years, which are dated at 769 BC, 318–545 AD, 677–833 AD, 1008–1444 AD, 1816 AD and 1973 AD. The recurrence intervals of these events, from oldest to youngest, are approximately 1200, 324, 471, 590 and 157 years. Thus, the recurrence behavior of the fault segment appears inconsistent with time- or slip-predictable models, whereas, the revealed seismic sequence appears consistent with clustering and abnormal accelerating stress release behavior. The fault strike-slip rate during the period of anomalous stress release is approximately 2–3 times faster than the average rate of 8.4 mm/a. Moreover, the Luhuo segment has experienced ongoing high levels of seismic activity over the past 3000 years, and the entire Xianshuihe fault currently shows a high degree of seismic activity. Therefore, we suggest there was a long period of earthquake quiescence prior to 3000 years ago, which might have balanced the high activity and accelerating stress release of current earthquakes.

根据历史地震记录，鲜水河断裂的芦霍段曾发生过两次大地震：1816 M7.5地震和1973 M7.6地震。由这些事件引起的表面破裂仍被很好地保留。这项研究的重点是芦火段的破裂行为。根据现场调查，沟槽开挖和历史地震分析，我们确定了过去3000年内发生的六次地震事件，其发生时间分别为769 BC，318-545 AD，677-833 AD，1008-1444 AD，1816 AD和1973年。这些事件的复发间隔，从最老到最小，大约是1200年，324年，471年，590年和157年。因此，断层段的复发行为似乎与时间或滑动可预测模型不一致，然而，揭示的地震序列似乎与聚类和异常的加速应力释放行为一致。异常应力释放期间的断层走滑速率比8.4 mm / a的平均速率快约2-3倍。此外，芦火段在过去的3000年中一直经历着高水平的地震活动，目前整个鲜水河断裂带都显示出高度的地震活动。因此，我们建议3000年前的地震处于静止状态，这可能平衡了当前地震的高活动性和加速了地震的应力释放。在过去的3000年里，鹿活段经历了持续的高水平地震活动，目前整个咸水河断裂带都表现出高度的地震活动。因此，我们建议3000年前的地震处于静止状态，这可能平衡了当前地震的高活动性和加速了地震的应力释放。在过去的3000年中，芦火段经历了持续的高水平地震活动，目前整个咸水河断裂带都表现出高度的地震活动。因此，我们建议3000年前的地震处于静止状态，这可能平衡了当前地震的高活动性和加速了地震的应力释放。