NNE-trending Macheng-Tuanfeng ductile shear zone

The NNE-trending Macheng-Tuanfeng ductile shear zone, located at the edge of the Taolin River Sanhewan Highway in Guifeng Mountain Park, is the largest ductile shear zone found in the mainland of China. According to geological experts, it was formed in 199-133 million years ago, and spread in the north-north-east direction. It extends 40 kilometers and is 2-5 kilometers wide as a whole. This large-scale strong rock deformation zone controls the eastern boundary of the huge Macheng Basin, which is an important geological clue to explore the formation and evolution of the Dabie Mountains.

(Note: Ductile shear zone is a high strain zone with strong plastic rheology and rotational strain characteristics, which is widespread in the deep crust (more than 10-15 km). It is also called ductile fault.