Age and significance of core complex formation in a very curved orogen: Evidence from fission track studies in the South Carpathians (Romania)

Twenty-four new zircon and apatite fission track ages from the Getic and Danubian nappes in the South Carpathians are discussed in the light of a compilation of published fission track data. A total of 101 fission track ages indicates that the Getic nappes are generally characterized by Cretaceous zircon and apatite fission track ages, indicating cooling to near-surface temperatures of these units immediately following Late Cretaceous orogeny.The age distribution of the Danubian nappes, presently outcropping in the Danubian window below the Getic nappes, depends on the position with respect to the Cerna-Jiu fault. Eocene and Oligocene zircon and apatite central ages from the part of the Danubian core complex situated southeast of this fault monitor mid-Tertiary tectonic exhumation in the footwall of the Getic detachment, while zircon fission track data from northwest of this fault indicate that slow cooling started during the Latest Cretaceous. The change from extension (Getic detachment) to strike-slip dominated tectonics along the curved Cerna-Jiu fault allowed for further exhumation on the concave side of this strike-slip fault, while exhumation ceased on the convex side. The available fission track data consistently indicate that the change to fast cooling associated with tectonic denudation by core complex formation did not occur before Late Eocene times, i.e. long after the cessation of Late Cretaceous thrusting.Core complex formation in the Danubian window is related to a larger-scale scenario that is characterized by the NNW-directed translation, followed by a 90° clockwise rotation of the Tisza-Dacia “block” due to roll-back of the Carpathian embayment. This led to a complex pattern of strain partitioning within the Tisza-Dacia “block” adjacent to the western tip of the rigid Moesian platform. Our results suggest that the invasion of these southernmost parts of Tisza-Dacia started before the Late Eocene, i.e. significantly before the onset of Miocene-age rollback and associated extension in the Pannonian basin.     

宁武盆地及周缘岩体裂变径迹对山西地块中—新生代构造演化的约束

宁武盆地及周缘岩体的抬升剥蚀对于山西地块中—新生代构造演化具有重要的指示意义。本文对宁武盆地及周缘岩体进行裂变径迹分析,磷灰石裂变径迹年龄97～47 Ma,锆石裂变径迹年龄161～141 Ma。裂变径迹记录了早白垩世早期(145～125 Ma)、晚白垩世(85～70 Ma)、古新世晚期—始新世早期(59～53 Ma)和渐新世晚期(28 Ma)的4次抬升剥蚀事件。综合分析山西地块的裂变径迹数据,表明隆起区晚古生代以来发生了多期抬升剥蚀事件。山西地块中—新生代构造演化具有时空差异。周缘岩体样品的裂变径迹年龄大于盆地内沉积地层样品的年龄,指示了周缘山体先于盆地抬升剥蚀。晋东北抬升剥蚀时限早于晋西南。山西裂谷系西南端裂开较早。裂谷系发育具有由南向北扩展的特征,这与地层保留记录相一致。山西地块现今地貌格局是在中生代发育一系列雁行状排列的复背斜和复向斜构造基础上发展而成的。     

Cenozoic thermo-tectonic evolution of the Gangdese batholith constrained by low-temperature thermochronology

Gangdese batholith in the southern Lhasa block is a key location for exploring the Tibetan Plateau uplift and exhumation history. We present the new low-temperature thermochronological data from two north–south traverses in the central Gangdese batholith to reveal their cooling histories and corresponding controls. Zircon fission track ages show prominent clusters ranging from 23.7 to 51.6 Ma, apatite fission track ages from 9.4 to 36.9 Ma, apatite (U–Th)/He ages between 9.5 and 12.3 Ma, and one zircon (U–Th)/He age around 77.8 Ma. These new data and thermal modeling, in combination with the regional geological data, suggest that the distinct parts of Gangdese batholith underwent different cooling histories resulted from various dynamic mechanisms. The Late Eocene–Early Oligocene exhumation of northern Gangdese batholith, coeval with the magmatic gap, might be triggered by crust thickening followed by the breakoff of Neotethyan slab, while this stage of exhumation in southern Gangdese batholith cannot be clearly elucidated probably because the most of plutonic rocks with the information of this cooling event were eroded away. Since then, the northern Gangdese batholith experienced a slow and stable exhumation, while the southern Gangdese batholith underwent two more stages of exhumation. The Late Oligocene–Early Miocene rapid cooling might be a response to denudation caused by the Gangdese Thrust or related to the regional uplift and exhumation in extensional background. By the early Miocene, the rapid exhumation was associated with localized river incision or intensification of Asian monsoon, or north–south normal fault.     

天山山脉中新生代差异隆升及其机制探讨

为了揭示长约2500 km的天山山脉中新生代隆升特征,本文系统梳理分析了已发表的磷灰石裂变径迹数据和本次野外采样测得磷灰石裂变径迹数据约460个,岩性以花岗岩和砂岩为主。结果显示整个天山山脉隆升具有明显的时空差异性。白垩纪以前记录的径迹数据约占14%,白垩纪以来的数据约占86%,晚古生代末天山已有径迹年龄记录,到晚侏罗世天山部分地区发生隆升,整体隆升不明显,早白垩世以来整个天山普遍隆升,且存在多期隆升事件,但隆升剥蚀速率存在明显差异。南北方向上,自南向北径迹年龄有减小的趋势,揭示山脉隆升自南天山向北天山扩展;东西方向上,西天山隆升时限较东天山隆升早,但白垩纪以来东、西天山均有隆升记录。天山山脉差异性隆升是不同陆块对亚洲板块南缘碰撞增生作用的共同结果,其内部块体的结构特征和力学性质是差异隆升的基础和前提。     

Fission track data from the Bathurst Batholith: Evidence for rapid mid‐Cretaceous uplift and erosion within the eastern highlands of Australia

Apatite fission track thermochronology reveals that uplift and erosion occurred during the mid‐Cretaceous within the Bathurst Batholith region of the eastern highlands, New South Wales. Apatite fission track ages from samples from the eastern flank of the highlands range between ca 73 and 139 Ma. The mean lengths of confined fission tracks for these samples are > 13 μm with standard deviations of the track length distributions between 1 and 2 μm. These data suggest that rocks exposed along the eastern flank of the highlands were nearly reset as the result of being subjected to palaeotemperatures in the range of approximately 100–110°C, prior to being cooled relatively quickly through to temperatures < 50°C in the mid‐Cretaceous at ca 90 Ma. In contrast, samples from the western flank of the highlands yield apparent apatite ages as old as 235 Ma and mean track lengths < 12.5 μm, with standard deviations between 1.8 and 3 μm. These old apatite ages and relatively short track lengths suggest that the rocks were exposed to maximum palaeotemperatures between approximately 80° and 100°C prior to the regional cooling episode. This cooling is interpreted to be the result of kilometre‐scale uplift and erosion of the eastern highlands in the mid‐Cretaceous, and the similarity in timing of uplift and erosion within the highlands and initial extension along the eastern Australian passive margin prior to breakup (ca 95 Ma) strongly suggests these two occurrences are related.     

宁武盆地中-新生代构造演化的裂变径迹证据

为深入研究宁武盆地中-新生代的构造演化及煤层气资源的赋存条件,采集样品进行裂变径迹测试。锆石裂变径迹年龄为156~139 Ma,磷灰石裂变径迹年龄为97~47 Ma。宁武盆地中-新生代的构造演化历史可分为3个阶段。晚侏罗世(156 Ma),盆地两翼的岩体开始缓慢隆升,核部坳陷沉积,到早白垩世晚期(100 Ma),宁武盆地古地温达到最高,烃源岩达到了生气高峰期。白垩世晚期-古新世(79~59 Ma),快速抬升剥蚀。之后,虽有短暂埋藏,但总体处于隆升状态。渐新世晚期(40~30 Ma)以来快速抬升到现今位置。宁武盆地抬升剥蚀具有空间上的不均衡性。北东部抬升剥蚀早于南部,周缘岩体隆升剥蚀速率大于核部。宁武盆地是在中生代山西地块上形成一系列雁行状排列的复背斜和复向斜的构造背景下,新生代受印度洋板块挤压欧亚大陆,两翼山体强烈抬升推挤作用形成,属于华北克拉通区域构造事件的响应。     

金川铜镍矿床中新生代抬升冷却过程：来自裂变径迹的证据

本文基于热年代学理论,利用锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹测年数据及对磷灰石热史的模拟,分析探讨金川铜镍矿床在中新生代的抬升冷却过程,认为金川超基性岩体自中生代以来一直处于持续的冷却抬升阶段,且在中侏罗世和晚白垩世早期经历了两期快速的抬升冷却事件,推断此事件与青藏高原后期活动时间相对应,证明金川岩体受到该事件的远程效应波及,致使该矿床遭受了一定的改造。     

鲁西隆起晚白垩世—新生代差异抬升的裂变径迹证据

裂变径迹测年技术用于确定伸展山脉的隆升时间, 进而可以研究伸展构造的演化规律。 对采自鲁西隆起中部莲花山的 9 个样品进行了磷灰石/锆石裂变径迹分析, 结合已有数据分析鲁西隆起的抬升史。 结果表明莲花山晚白垩世以来经历了两期抬升剥露过程, 一次是在晚白垩世—古新世初期 86～60 Ma, 抬升速率为 0.019 mm/yr, 另一次是在中始新世 44～38 Ma, 抬升速率为 0.10 mm/yr。 因此, 莲花山晚白垩世以来经历了加速抬升剥露过程。 综合研究认为, 鲁西隆起山脉晚白垩世以来具有自南而北、由东向西的差异抬升规律, 且最早可能始于早白垩世。 这种迁移规律受控于早白垩世以来太平洋板块俯冲方向和速度, 以及郯庐断裂带的走滑性质和强度的变化。     

Cenozoic development of northern Svalbard based on thermochronological data

Northern Svalbard represents a basement high surrounded by the Norwegian‐Greenland Sea/Fram Strait, Eurasian Basin, the Barents Shelf and the onshore Central Tertiary Basin (CTB). Published apatite fission track (AFT) data indicate Mesozoic differential, fault‐controlled uplift and exhumation of the region. Thermal history modelling of published and new AFT and (U–Th–Sm)/He ages of 51–153 Ma in the context of regional stratigraphy and geomorphology implies at least two, possibly three, uplift and exhumation stages since late Mesozoic, separated by episodes of subsidence and sediment deposition. Late Cretaceous/Palaeocene exhumation and subsequent burial appear to be related with the transition of compressional to transpressional collision of Svalbard and Greenland during the Eurekan Orogeny. Renewed exhumation since the Oligocene probably results from passive margin formation after the separation of Svalbard and Greenland, when a new offshore sedimentary basin opened west of Svalbard. Final uplift since the Miocene eventually re‐exposed the palaeosurface of northern Svalbard.     

滇西石鼓杂岩南部早白垩世以来剥露隆升的锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹证据

石鼓杂岩位于青藏高原东南缘经历了多期变质变形作用叠加。为了揭示杂岩体的低温热演化与浅部剥露历史,采集了石鼓杂岩南段石鼓镇-拉巴支村剖面变质岩中的锆石和磷灰石,开展裂变径迹分析。结果表明,石鼓杂岩从早白垩世(133~145Ma)到渐新世(31Ma)经历了一次缓慢的剥露(1.08℃/Ma),而从渐新世开始,其南部经历了较快速的剥露过程(3.23℃/Ma)。磷灰石热史模拟也反映出第二阶段较为快速的冷却过程。结合区域构造分析认为,拉萨与羌塘板块碰撞的远程效应影响早白垩世以来藏东地区地壳结构的调整,导致石鼓杂岩南部出现了第一阶段的剥露作用;而印度与欧亚板块碰撞与后碰撞过程对于石鼓杂岩的新生代剥露具有重要影响。     

阿齐山—雅满苏地区中-新生代构造隆升裂变径迹 证据:兼论构造活动对核废选址场的意义

构造活动性是核废处置场评价的一项基本判别要素。文中通过对东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区磷灰石裂变径迹测年及 构造隆升剥蚀过程的模拟来评价核废处置场的构造活动性。结果表明阿齐山—雅满苏地区样品磷灰石裂变径迹年龄集中分 布在81.7~51.4 Ma之间,反映出东天山地区晚白垩世—始新世存在一次明显的构造冷却事件,这与天山地区晚白垩世的抬 升剥露事件相一致。磷灰石裂变径迹长度介于13.60±0.11~14.36±0.10 μm之间,其长度标准差为0.98~1.22 μm,显示该区 磷灰石径迹形成后没有发生过明显的退火作用。根据地温梯度计算得到晚白垩世—始新世东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区隆升 剥蚀速率为270~580 m/Ma。现有地质资料及热史模拟结果表明,东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区在晚白垩世—始新世(84~49 Ma)期间经历了强烈的构造隆升—剥露事件,自始新世以后50 Ma以来,地壳处于稳定状态,新生代构造活动不明显,其 活动强度明显有别于天山其他地段。东天山阿齐山—雅满苏地区现在的构造地貌基本继承了晚白垩世的特征,处于构造活 动平稳期,符合核废处置场选址的构造要求。     

Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic tectonics of the Malay Peninsula constrained by thermochronology

New thermochronological analyses of granites from the Malay Peninsula record the region’s thermal history during the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and (U–Th–Sm)/He analyses are combined with existing fission track data to provide a comprehensive set of temperature and time data. Fully and partially reset K-feldspar and biotite mica ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses indicate a significant period of thermal perturbation between ∼100 and ∼90 Ma, and a second lesser perturbation between ∼51 and ∼43 Ma. Zircon (U–Th–Sm)/He analyses and existing fission track data indicate exhumation of the Malay Peninsula in the Cretaceous, and renewed, localised exhumation in the early Paleogene. Apatite (U–Th–Sm)/He and fission track data indicate rapid exhumation of the region in the Late Eocene and Oligocene. Late Cretaceous tectonism is linked to the reversal of a regional dynamic topographic low following the cessation of subduction along the Sundaland margin in the Late Cretaceous, causing regional uplift and exhumation and the addition of significant heat into the crust via mantle upwelling. Early Paleogene exhumation may reflect the continuation of Cretaceous tectonism or a discrete phase of Paleocene exhumation linked to localised transpressional tectonics. Eocene tectonism is coincident with major subsidence offshore of the Malay Peninsula, interpreted to reflect regional block faulting in response to north–south compression driven by the resumption of subduction along the southern margin of Sundaland in the Eocene.     

Late Neoproterozoic to Holocene thermal history of the Precambrian Georgetown Inlier,northeast Australia

Carboniferous‐Permian volcanic complexes and isolated patches of Upper Jurassic — Lower Cretaceous sedimentary units provide a means to qualitatively assess the exhumation history of the Georgetown Inlier since ca 350 Ma. However, it is difficult to quantify its exhumation and tectonic history for earlier times. Thermochronological methods provide a means for assessing this problem. Biotite and alkali feldspar ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and apatite fission track data from the inlier record a protracted and non‐linear cooling history since ca 750 Ma. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages vary from 380 to 735 Ma, apatite fission track ages vary between 132 and 258 Ma and mean track lengths vary between 10.89 and 13.11 μm. These results record up to four periods of localised accelerated cooling within the temperature range of ～320–60°C and up to ～14 km of crustal exhumation in parts of the inlier since the Neoproterozoic, depending on how the geotherm varied with time. Accelerated cooling and exhumation rates (0.19–0.05 km/10⁶ years) are observed to have occurred during the Devonian, late Carboniferous‐Permian and mid‐Cretaceous — Holocene periods. A more poorly defined Neoproterozoic cooling event was possibly a response to the separation of Laurentia and Gondwana. The inlier may also have been reactivated in response to Delamerian‐age orogenesis. The Late Palaeozoic events were associated with tectonic accretion of terranes east of the Proterozoic basement. Post mid‐Cretaceous exhumation may be a far‐field response to extensional tectonism at the southern and eastern margins of the Australian plate. The spatial variation in data from the present‐day erosion surface suggests small‐scale fault‐bounded blocks experienced variable cooling histories. This is attributed to vertical displacement of up to ～2 km on faults, including sections of the Delaney Fault, during Late Palaeozoic and mid‐Cretaceous times.     

Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic Exhumation History of the Lüliang Mountains, North China Craton: Constraint from Fission-track Thermochronology

The Lüliang Mountains, located in the North China Craton, is a relatively stable block, but it has experienced uplift and denudation since the late Mesozoic. We hence aim to explore its time and rate of the exhumation by the fission-track method. The results show that, no matter what type rocks are, the pooled ages of zircon and apatite fission-track range from 60.0 to 93.7 Ma and 28.6 to 43.3 Ma, respectively; all of the apatite fission-track length distributions are unimodal and yield a mean length of ~13?μm; and the thermal history modeling results based on apatite fission-track data indicate that the time-temperature paths exhibit similar patterns and the cooling has been accelerated for each sample since the Pliocene (c.5 Ma). Therefore, we can conclude that a successive cooling, probably involving two slow (during c.75-35 Ma and 35-5 Ma) and one rapid (during c.5 Ma-0 Ma) cooling, has occurred through the exhumation of the Lüliang Mountains since the late Cretaceous. The maximum exhumation is more than 5 km under a steady-state geothermal gradient of 35°C/km. Combined with the tectonic setting, this exhumation may be the resultant effect from the surrounding plate interactions, and it has been accelerated since c.5 Ma predominantly due to the India-Eurasia collision.     

Mesozoic and Cenozoic thermal history of the Western Reguibat Shield (West African Craton)

Using low‐temperature thermochronology on apatite and zircon crystals, we show that the western Reguibat Shield, located in the northern part of the West African Craton, experienced significant cooling and heating events between Jurassic and present times. The obtained apatite fission track ages range between 49 and 102 Ma with mean track lengths varying between 11.6 and 13.3 μm and Dpar values between 1.69 and 3.08 μm. Zircon fission track analysis yielded two ages of 159 and 118 Ma. Apatite (U–Th)/He uncorrected single‐grain ages range between 76 and 95 Ma. Thermal inverse modelling indicates that the Reguibat Shield was exhumed during the Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, Palaeocene–Eocene and Quaternary. These exhumation events were coeval with regional tectonic and geodynamic events, and were probably driven by a combined effect of plate tectonics and mantle dynamics.     

新疆库鲁克塔格地区盆山构造热演化史

利用磷灰石构造热年代学年龄、有机质成熟度指标、磷灰石裂变径迹热史模拟和单井EASY%Ro反演等方法,对新疆库鲁克塔格地区盆山系统开展盆山构造热演化史研究。结果表明,磷灰石年龄记录了早白垩世（99~1244 Ma）、晚白垩世（66~87 Ma）和古近纪（284~63 Ma）3次抬升过程;有机质成熟度指标和磷灰石裂变径迹热史模拟反映出海西期构造抬升过程。单井热史模拟表明,孔雀河斜坡下古生界烃源岩在志留纪末-早泥盆世到达最大热演化程度,模拟最大古地温梯度为356 ℃/100 m,侏罗纪末古地温梯度为31 ℃/100 m,焉耆盆地南部凹陷侏罗纪晚期模拟最大古地温梯度达415 ℃/100 m。海西期剧烈的造山运动使孔雀河斜坡由沉积转入剥蚀演化阶段,对油气成藏具有重要意义,晚白垩世隆升使孔雀河斜坡及焉耆盆地侏罗纪烃源岩热演化停止。     

Low‐temperature thermochronology of the Mt Painter Province,South Australia

Apatite fission track results are reported for 26 outcrop samples from the Mt Painter Inlier, Mt Babbage Inlier and adjacent Neoproterozoic rocks of the northwestern Curnamona Craton of South Australia. Forward modelling of the data indicates that the province experienced variable regional cooling from temperatures >110°C during the Late Palaeozoic (Late Carboniferous to Early Permian). The timing of this cooling is similar to that previously reported from elsewhere in the Adelaide Fold Belt and the Curnamona Craton, suggesting that the entire region underwent extensive Late Palaeozoic cooling most likely related to the waning stages of the Alice Springs or Kanimblan Orogenies. Results from the Paralana Fault Zone indicate that the eastern margin of the Mt Painter Inlier experienced a second episode of cooling (～40–60°C) during the Paleocene to Eocene. The entire region also experienced significant cooling (less than ～40°C) during the Late Cretaceous to Palaeogene in response to unroofing and/or a decrease in geothermal gradient. Regional cooling/erosion during this time is supported by: geomorphological and geophysical evidence indicating Tertiary exhumation of at least 1 km; Eocene sedimentation initiated in basins adjacent to the Flinders and Mt Lofty Ranges sections of the Adelaide Fold Belt; and Late Cretaceous ‐ Early Tertiary cooling previously reported from apatite fission track studies in the Willyama Inliers and the southern Adelaide Fold Belt. Late Cretaceous to Palaeogene cooling is probably related to a change in stress field propagated throughout the Australian Plate, and driven by the initiation of sea‐floor spreading in the Tasman Sea in the Late Cretaceous and the Eocene global plate reorganisation.     

Provenance of Cretaceous clastics in the Subhercynian Basin: constraints to exhumation of the Harz Mountains and timing of inversion tectonics in Central Europe

The Harz Mountains and the adjacent Subhercynian Cretaceous Basin figure as the most prominent surface representative for Late Cretaceous inversion structures in Central Europe. Facies, depositional architecture and provenance of the basin fill reflect mechanisms and timing of the exhumation of the Harz. From Hauterivian to Early Santonian there is no evidence for detrital input from the nearby Harz area. Sediments are mature quartzarenites derived from Paleozoic basement rocks and/or recycled Permian to Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. This situation changed drastically in Middle to Late Santonian when freshly exhumed and eroded Mesozoic sedimentary cover rocks of the Harz were delivered into the basin. Feldspar and lithoclasts reflect erosion of Triassic and, in places, Jurassic to Turonian strata. Apatite and garnet in heavy mineral spectra are derived from largely unweathered Lower Triassic Buntsandstein as indicated by apatite and garnet chemistry. In Early Campanian, Paleozoic lithoclasts indicate erosion cutting down into the basement of the Harz. Simultaneous strong decrease of feldspar, garnet and apatite suggest an almost complete removal of the 2–3 km thick Mesozoic cover of the Harz within only 2–4 Myr. This translates into an exhumation rate of approximately 1 mm/a consistent with apatite fission track data from granitoid rocks of the Harz Mountains.     

Superposition of burial and hydrothermal events: post‐Variscan thermal evolution of the Erzgebirge,Germany

The post‐Variscan thermal history of the Erzgebirge (Germany) is the result of periods of sedimentary burial, exhumation and superimposed hydrothermal activity. The timing and degree of thermal overprint have been analysed by zircon and apatite (U–Th)/He and apatite fission track thermochronology. The present‐day surface of the Erzgebirge was exhumed to a near‐surface position after the Variscan orogeny. Thermal modelling reveals Permo‐Mesozoic burial to temperatures of up to 80–100 °C, although the sedimentary cover thins out towards the north resulting in maximum burial temperatures of less than 40 °C. This thermal pattern was locally modified by Cretaceous hydrothermal activity that reset the zircon (U–Th)/He thermochronometer along ore veins. The thermal models show no significant regional exhumation during Cenozoic times, indicating that the peneplain‐like morphology of the basement is a Late Cretaceous feature.     

循化-化隆盆地晚白垩世以来盆山耦合过程: 来自物源与磷灰石裂变径迹年代学分析的证据

循化-化隆盆地新生代沉积及盆地基底和周缘山系磷灰石裂变径迹年代学分析揭示了青藏高原东北缘晚白垩世以来经历过3期隆升剥露事件: (1)盆地基底及拉脊山和西秦岭北缘构造带磷灰石裂变径迹年龄分析普遍记录了晚白垩世-始新世中期相对快速的区域性的隆升剥露事件, 西秦岭北缘快速抬升的起始时间为84Ma, 受控于向北的逆冲抬升; 向北到循化-化隆盆地中部的拉目峡抬升的起始时间为69Ma; 更北的拉脊山一带快速抬升期主要为40~50Ma, 从而反映晚白垩世-始新世中期的快速抬升由南向北逐渐扩展.这一期构造隆升事件导致循化-化隆盆地和临夏盆地缺失了北部西宁-民和盆地古近纪所具有的西宁群沉积.隆升剥露结束于31Ma左右, 此时化隆-循化盆地向东与同时期的临夏盆地相连为一个统一的大型西秦岭山前盆地, 两者具有相同的构造、沉积演化史, 因此循化-化隆盆地他拉组底部地层年龄最老不会超过临夏盆地最老地层的古地磁年龄, 即29Ma.(2)渐新世晚期约26Ma拉脊山开始双向逆冲隆升, 并可能延续到中新世早期约21Ma, 隆升作用使循化-化隆盆地成为挟持于拉脊山逆冲带和西秦岭构造带之间的山前挤压型前陆盆地, 循化-化隆盆地开始大规模沉积巨厚的他拉组冲积扇相粗碎屑岩.(3)通过循化-化隆盆地咸水河组和临夏组的沉积相分析、古流方向和砾石成分分析, 揭示出拉脊山构造带在中新世8Ma左右发生的最大规模的双向逆冲隆升事件, 这次事件直接导致循化-化隆盆地由前陆挤压盆地转变为山间盆地, 形成现今青藏高原东北缘的盆山地貌基本格局.