Earthquake-induced soft-sediment deformation structures in Late Pleistocene lacustrine deposits of Issyk-Kul lake (Kyrgyzstan)

•We found new sequences containing soft-sediment deformations in Issyk-Kul Lake area.•We interpret the observed structures as a multiple slump with the gentle slope.•Seismic trigger model was suggested for soft-sediment deformation structures.•We associated seismites with known Late Pleistocene strong earthquakes.

This paper discusses the composition and distribution of soft-sediment deformation structures induced by liquefaction in Late Pleistocene lacustrine terrace deposits on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake in the northern Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The section contains seven deformed beds grouped in two intervals. Five deformed beds in the upper interval contain load structures (load casts and flame structures), convolute lamination, ball-and-pillow structures, folds and slumps. Deformation patterns indicate that a seismic trigger generated a multiple slump on a gentle slope. The dating of overlying subaerial deposits suggests correlation between the deformation features and strong earthquakes in the Late Pleistocene.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (445 K)Download as PowerPoint slide