Strong Earthquakes of the Strike‐Slip Nalati Fault Within the Tianshan Orogenic Belt

Abstract The Nalun‐Nalati‐Hongliuhe suture zone, which constitutes the central axis of the Tianshan Orogenic Belt (TSOB), has been reactivated during the late Cenozoic. The Nalati fault, located within the suture zone, facilitates the investigation of the internal structural deformation of the TSOB. However, existing studies focus on the eastern segment of the Nalati fault, its western segment, located in the interior of the Tianshan Orogenic Belt, has received scant attention. Consequently, there remains a substantial gap in understanding the distribution, activity, and paleoseismic events associated with the Nalati fault. This study concentrates on the Tekes segment within the Ili Prefecture, utilizing remote sensing and comprehensive field surveys to delineate its geometric distribution and left‐lateral strike‐slip characteristics. Moreover, Through trench analysis and radiocarbon dating, we have identified four significant paleoseismic events. Utilizing the unmanned aerial vehicle mapping and the LaDiCaoz_v2.1 code, we measured approximately 3.0 m of horizontal displacement from a single seismic event. The application of OxCal age correction has enabled precise dating of these events with 95.4% confidence: Event 1 (1668–2040 years BP), Event 2 (5386–5911 years BP), Event 3 (5897–6651 years BP), and Event 4 (6740–7321 years BP). Our findings imply that the Tekes segment of the Nalati fault remains active during the Holocene, indicating the high seismic hazard of the region. The average left‐lateral slip rate along the Tekes segment is over 1.5 mm/yr during the Holocene. The Nalati fault accommodates approximately 1/3 of the total left‐lateral shear strain within the TSOB.