Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic Exhumation of the Northern Hexi Corridor: Constrained by Apatite Fission Track Ages of the Longshoushan

The apatite fission track (AFT) ages and thermal modeling of the Longshoushan and deformation along the northern Hexi Corridor on the northern side of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau show that the Longshoushan along the northern corridor had experienced important multi-stage exhumations during the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic. The AFT ages of 7 samples range from 31.9 Ma to 111.8 Ma. Thermal modeling of the AFT ages of the samples shows that the Longshoushan experienced significant exhumation during the Late Cretaceous to the Early Cenozoic (~130–25 Ma). The Late Cretaceous exhumation of the Longshoushan may have resulted from the continuous compression between the Lhasa and Qiangtang blocks and the flat slab subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic plate, which affected wide regions across the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. During the Early Cenozoic, the Longshoushan still experienced exhumation, but this process was caused by the Indian-Eurasian collision. Since this time, the Longshoushan was in a stable stage for approximately 20 Ma and experienced erosion. Since ~5 Ma, obvious tectonic deformation occurred along the entire northern Hexi Corridor, which has also been reported from the peripheral regions of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, especially in the Qilianshan and northeastern margin of the plateau. The AFT ages and the Late Cenozoic deformation of the northern Hexi Corridor all indicate that the present northern boundary of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is situated along the northern Hexi Corridor.     

Cenozoic Stratigraphy Deformation History in the Central and Eastern of Qaidam Basin by the Balance Section Restoration and its Implication

The Qaidam Basin,located in the northern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,is a large Mesozoic-Cenozoic basin,and bears huge thick Cenozoic strata.The geologic events of the Indian-Eurasian plate-plate collision since～55 Ma have been well recorded.Based on the latest progress in high-resolution stratigraphy,a technique of balanced section was applied to six pieces of northeast-southwest geologic seismic profiles in the central and eastern of the Qaidam Basin to reconstruct the crustal shortening deform...     

Cenozoic Stratigraphy Deformation History in the Central and Eastern of Qaidam Basin by the Balance Section Restoration and its Implication

The Qaidam Basin, located in the northern margin of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, is a large Mesozoic–Cenozoic basin, and bears huge thick Cenozoic strata. The geologic events of the Indian-Eurasian plate–plate collision since ~55 Ma have been well recorded. Based on the latest progress in high-resolution stratigraphy, a technique of balanced section was applied to six pieces of northeast–southwest geologic seismic profiles in the central and eastern of the Qaidam Basin to reconstruct the crustal shortening deformation history during the Cenozoic collision. The results show that the Qaidam Basin began to shorten deformation nearly synchronous to the early collision, manifesting as a weak compression, the deformation increased significantly during the Middle and Late Eocene, and then weakened slightly and began to accelerate rapidly since the Late Miocene, especially since the Quaternary, reflecting this powerful compressional deformation and rapid uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau around the Qaidam Basin.     

Exhumation History of the Xining Basin Since the Mesozoic and Its Tectonic Significance

The Xining Basin is located in the northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau, and its continuous Cenozoic strata record the entire uplift and outgrowth history of the Tibetan Plateau during the Cenozoic. The newly obtained apatite fission track data presented here shows that the Xining Basin and two marginal mountain ranges have experienced multiphase rapid cooling since the Jurassic, as follows. In the Middle–Late Jurassic, the rapid exhumation of the former Xining Basin resulted from collision between the Qiangtang Block and the Tarim Block. During the Early–Late Cretaceous, the former Xining Basin underwent a tectonic event due to marginal compression, causing the angular unconformity between the Upper and Lower Cretaceous. In the Late Cretaceous to the Early Cenozoic, collision between the Qiangtang Block and the Lhasa Block may have resulted in the rapid exhumation of the Xining Basin and the Lajishan to the south. In the Early Cenozoic(ca. 50–30 Ma), collision between the Indian and Eurasia plates affected the region that corresponds to the present northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. During this period, the central Qilian Block rotated clockwise by approximately 24° to form a wedge-shaped basin(i.e., the Xining Basin) opening to the west. During ca. 17–8 Ma, the entire northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau underwent dramatic deformation, and the Lajishan uplifted rapidly owing to the northward compression of the Guide Basin from the south. A marked change in subsidence occurred in the Xining Basin during this period, when the basin was tectonically inverted.     

平衡剖面方法恢复柴达木盆地新生代地层缩短及其意义

柴达木盆地为一中-新生代盆地,位于青藏高原北缘,盆内中-新生代地层发育,很好地记录了印度板块与欧亚板块自距今55Ma以来碰撞传播到高原北缘的地质事件。本文以最新的高精度磁性地层和年代地层为约束,通过盆地内部一条北东——南西向地震大剖面,用平衡剖面方法恢复新生代以来盆地因两大板块碰撞而引起的北东——南西向地壳缩短量,揭示盆地的性质和变形历史。结果表明:柴达木盆地在印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞的早期就开始变形,呈现弱的挤压状态,至始新世中——晚期变形明显增强,然后略为减弱,从中新世中-晚期尤其更新世以来地壳缩短速率快速增加,反映此时挤压变形最强烈,高原北部快速隆升。     

柴北缘早新生代旋转变形特征及其构造意义

青藏高原东北部作为高原北东向扩展的前缘地带,新生代以来变形十分强烈,是研究青藏高原隆升变形过程和生长模式的关键地区之一。然而高原东北部何时卷入印度-欧亚大陆碰撞挤压变形系统以及高原扩展的运动学、动力学过程和机制等仍存在很大争议。大陆碰撞及持续挤压过程往往会伴随块体及其内部的旋转变形,而古地磁磁偏角可以定量恢复块体绕垂直轴发生的旋转变形,在研究块体旋转变形方面具有其独特优势。高原东北部,尤其是柴达木盆地,缺乏早新生代的细致旋转变形研究,制约了我们对高原东北部地区早新生代的旋转变形特征及其对印度-欧亚大陆碰撞远程响应的理解。柴北缘地区出露有近乎连续完整的早新生代路乐河组-下干柴沟组地层,为研究青藏高原东北部早新生代旋转变形提供了理想场所。本文对柴北缘逆冲带北中部的驼南和高泉两剖面早新生代路乐河组和下干柴沟组地层开展精细古地磁旋转变形研究:包括在驼南剖面布设4个时间节点、24个采点260个古地磁岩心样品,高泉剖面布设2个时间节点、14个采点150个古地磁岩心样品。通过系统岩石磁学和热退磁实验分析,揭示两剖面早新生代样品的载磁矿物主要是赤铁矿,并含有少量磁铁矿;所获得31个有效采点的高温特征剩磁方向通过褶皱检验和倒转检验,指示可能是岩石沉积时期记录的原生剩磁方向。结合柴北缘中部红柳沟剖面已有古地磁数据,三剖面古地磁结果一致表明柴北缘地区在45~35 Ma期间发生了显著(约20°)逆时针旋转变形。结合东部陇中盆地同时期古地磁旋转变形记录,发现二者具有反向的共轭旋转变形关系。综合青藏高原东部早新生代(52~46 Ma)旋转变形和渐新世以来走滑断裂活动等证据,我们认为:(1)高原东北部的共轭旋转变形是该地区对印度-欧亚碰撞的远程响应,其时间不晚于中始新世(约45 Ma);(2)早新生代自喜马拉雅东构造结至高原东北部,其两侧系统的共轭旋转变形很可能是该时期喜马拉雅东构造结北北东向压入欧亚大陆引起的右旋和左旋剪切作用导致,且剪切应力及相关的地壳缩短和旋转变形等呈现自东构造结地区沿北北东向逐步向高原东北部传递的特征;(3)古新世—始新世时期高原构造变形可能主要通过南北向挤压-地壳增厚模式、渐新世以来主要以沿主要断裂带的侧向挤出模式来调整。     

青藏高原东北缘柴达木盆地路乐河地区新生代构造变形的古地磁证据

青藏高原东北缘是高原由西南向东北方向扩展的前缘位置，其新生代构造变形对揭示青藏高原隆升、扩展的过程与动力学机制具有重要的意义。柴达木盆地是青藏高原东北缘最大的新生代沉积盆地，发育巨厚的新生代地层，这些地层所记录的古地磁极旋转信息是定量约束柴达木盆地新生代以来构造变形发生的时间、方式与幅度的载体。本文以柴达木盆地北缘新生代地层出露良好、具有精确地层年代控制的路乐河剖面为研究对象，开展了古地磁极旋转研究，统计分析路乐河剖面24. 6~5. 2 Ma之间1477个可靠古地磁样品的特征剩磁方向(ChRM)，发现柴达木盆地北缘路乐河地区在24. 6~16. 4 Ma发生小幅度(不显著)的逆时针旋转，旋转角度约为8. 4°±6. 1°；16. 4~13. 9 Ma路乐河地区发生显著的顺时针旋转，旋转角度可达36. 1°±6. 0°；13. 9~5. 2 Ma 该地区未发生明显的构造旋转；5. 2 Ma以后路乐河地区逆时针旋转了~6°。结合柴达木盆地北缘区域构造变形的分析，我们提出柴达木盆地北缘路乐河地区在16. 4~13. 9 Ma 之间发生强烈的顺时针旋转构造变形(~36°)可能代表了盆地北缘中中新世遭受强烈的地壳差异缩短变形，从而成为高原最新形成的部分。     

Active faults and magnitudes of left-lateral displacement along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

The northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (NMTP) is a major intracontinental Cenozoic transpressional zone that comprises a series of active strike-slip faults and thrust faults. It is important to document cumulative horizontal displacements along the NMTP in order to understand quantitatively strain partitioning in East Asia since the India–Eurasia collision. Based on an analysis of horizontal slip along major active faults, the total amount of horizontal displacements is estimated up to 700 km between the Tibetan Plateau and the Tarim Basin since the convergence of India and Eurasia. Along the western and middle segment of the Altyn Tagh fault to the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, there are abundant evidence that show that the net displacement is 400 km since 40–35 Ma, and along the Shulenan Shan and southeast of middle Qilian Shan since 25–17 Ma, the amount of offset is 150 km. The largest horizontal slip in Qilian Shan–Hexi Corridor to the northeast of the Altyn Tagh fault is also 150 km since late Oligocene to early Miocene. It decreases to only 60 km along the Haiyuan fault (since late Miocene) and to 25 km along the Zhongwei–Tongxin fault since the Pliocene (about 5.3–3.4 Ma), at the northeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau. This clearly implies northeastward diminishing of the total horizontal displacement and temporal getting younger of the fault slip along the NMTP. However, this tendency is very complicated at different times and different segments as a result of the uplift, growth and rotation of different segments of the NMTP at different stages during the convergence of India and Eurasia.     

Cenozoic Exhumation and Thrusting in the Northern Qilian Shan, Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Constraints from Sedimentological and Apatite Fission-Track Data

Abstract: The Qilian Shan lies along the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. To constrain its deformation history, we conducted integrated research on Mesozoic–Cenozoic stratigraphic sections in the Jiuxi Basin immediately north of the mountain range. Paleocurrent measurements, sandstone compositional data, and facies analysis of Cenozoic stratigraphic sections suggest that the Jiuxi Basin received sediments from the Altyn Tagh Range in the northwest, initially in the Oligocene (~33 Ma), depositing the Huoshaogou Formation in the northern part of the basin. Later, the source area of the Jiuxi Basin changed to the Qilian Shan in the south during Late Oligocene (~27 Ma), which led to the deposition of the Baiyanghe Formation. We suggest that uplift of the northern Qilian Shan induced by thrusting began no later than the Late Oligocene. Fission-track analysis of apatite from the Qilian Shan yields further information about the deformation history of the northern Qilain Shan and the Jiuxi Basin. It shows that a period of rapid cooling, interpreted as exhumation, initiated in the Oligocene. We suggest that this exhumation marked the initial uplift of the Qilian Shan resulting from the India–Asia collision.     

Late Cretaceous‐Cenozoic Multi‐Stage Denudation at the Western Ordos Block: Constraints by the Apatite Fission Track Dating on the Langshan

The apatite fission track dating of samples from the Dabashan(i.e., the Langshan in the northeastern Alxa Block) by the laser ablation method and their thermal history modeling of AFT ages are conducted in this study. The obtained results and lines of geological evidence in the study region indicate that the Langshan has experienced complicated tectonic-thermal events during the the Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic. Firstly, it experienced a tectonic-thermal event in the Late Cretaceous(~90–70 Ma). The event had little relation with the oblique subduction of the Izanagi Plate along the eastern Eurasian Plate, but was related to the Neo-Tethys subduction and compression between the Lhasa Block and Qiangtang Block. Secondly, it underwent the dextral slip faulting in the Eocene(~50–45 Ma). The strike slip fault may develop in the same tectonic setting as sinistral slip faults in southern Mongolia and thrusts in West Qinling to the southwest Ordos Block in the same period, which is the remote far-field response to the India-Eurasia collision. Thirdly, the tectonic thermal event existed in the late Cenozoic(since ~10 Ma), thermal modeling shows that several samples began their denudation from upper region of partial annealing zone(PAZ), and the denudation may have a great relationship with the growth of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to the northeast. In addition, the AFT ages of Langshan indicate that the main body of the Langshan may be an upper part of fossil PAZ of the Late Cretaceous(~70 Ma). The fossil PAZ were destroyed and deformed by tectonic events repeatedly in the Cenozoic along with the denudation.     

Sedimentary characteristics of Cenozoic strata in central-southern Ningxia,NW China: Implications for the evolution of the NE Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Cenozoic sedimentary deposits in central-southern Ningxia province, NW China are an important record of Tertiary tectonic events along the evolving Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau’s northeast margin. Shortly after the onset of the Indo-Eurasia collision to the south, a thrust belt and adjoining foreland basin began to form during 40–30 Ma. The Eocene Sikouzi Formation developed in a distal setting to this basin, in normal fault-bound basins that may have formed in a forebulge setting. Subsequent deposition of the Oligocene Qingshuiying Formation occurred during a phase of apparently less intense tectonism and the previous underfilled foreland basin became overfilled. During the Early Miocene, contractional deformation was mainly distributed to the west of the Liupan Shan. This resulted in deformation of the Qingshuiying Formation as indicated by an unconformity with the overlying Miocene Hongliugou Formation. The unconformity occurs proximal to the Haiyuan Fault suggesting that the Haiyuan Fault may have begun movement in the Early Miocene. In the Late Miocene, thrusting occurred west of the southern Helan Shan and an unconformity developed between the Hongliugou and Qingshuiying Formations proximal to the the Cha-Gu Fault. Relationships between the Miocene stratigraphy and major faults in the region imply that during the Late Miocene the deformation front of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau had migrated to the Cha-Gu Fault along the western Ordos Margin, and the Xiang Shan was uplifted. Central-southern Ningxia was then incorporated into the northeast propagating thrust wedge. The driving force for NE propagation of the thrust wedge was most likely pronounced uplift of the northeastern plateau at the same time. Analysis of the sedimentary record coupled with consideration of the topographic evolution of the region suggests that the evolving fold-and-thrust belt experienced both forward-breaking fold-and-thrust belt development, and out-of-sequence fault displacements as the thrust wedge evolved and the foreland basin became compartmentalised. The documented sedimentary facies and structural relationship also place constraints on the Miocene-Recent evolution of the Yellow River and its tributaries.     

The Sedimentary Record in Northern Qaidam Basin and its Response to the Uplift of the South Qilian Mountain at around 30 Ma

The thick, Eocene to Pliocene, sedimentary sequence in Qaidam Basin at the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau records the surface uplift history of the northeastern Tibetan plateau. In this study, we present detailed geochemistry, heavy mineral, and clay mineralogy data of the well preserved sedimentary record in the Dahongou section in the northeast of the Qaidam Basin. The results suggest that the sedimentary sequence recorded a 30 Ma young uplift/unroofing event in the northern edge of the Qaidam Basin, which is characterized by high ZTR index value and chlorite content, and low CIW`. The results are consistent with previous sedimentological studies of the Qaidam Basin, which indicated rapid increase of the accumulation rates around 30 Ma. Based on past thermochronological data from the mountains around the Qaidam Basin and the accumulation rates of the Cenozoic basins in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau, we infer a regional uplift and denudation event along the northeastern Tibetan Plateau during early Oligocene (～30 Ma), indicating that the Tibetan Plateau had expanded north-eastward of the study area at that time.     

青藏高原东北部隆升：来自宁夏同心小洪沟剖面的证据

青藏高原边界地区的研究,尤其是砾石研究,对探讨青藏高原的隆升过程及隆升机制具有重要意义。本文选取青藏高原东北部香山山前小洪沟剖面,对出露的新生界各层位的砾石进行统计。统计结果显示,该剖面寺口子组上段、红柳沟组下段、红柳沟组上段、第四系以及现今河床出露的砾石成分主要为砂岩和石英砂岩,这与香山地区岩性相符合;砾石主要呈次圆状和次棱角状;长短轴比主要为1至2之间,为近圆状;砾石主要集中在中砾和小砾类别;分选好至中等好。砾石粒径分布显示出向细粒成分偏的特征,主要呈尖峰正态分布。这些特征表明各层位砾石相似的搬运过程,为中距离山前河流冲积砾石。沉积分析表明该砾石与气候振荡无必然联系,为构造隆升的产物。砾石沉积年龄由邻区磁性地层定年结果来限定。砾石特征结合邻区沉积分析表明香山地区在寺口子组沉积时（始新世）沉积之前已具有相当大的高程;至清水营组沉积时（渐新世）,该山体被剥蚀剥蚀夷平;到红柳沟组沉积时（中新世早、中期）,香山经历了再次的隆升;至干河沟组沉积时（中新世晚期到上新世）,构造趋于稳定;到更新世时,再次出现隆升事件。始新世香山山体可能与晚白垩世至新生代早期的构造事件有关,中新世的隆升时间可以作为印－藏碰撞效应到达香山地区的时限,显示青藏高原东北边界新生代的变形隆升时间较前人研究结果早,且存在多期隆升。     

龙门山冲断隆升及其走向差异的裂变径迹证据

大量的低温年代学研究用来讨论龙门山晚新生代的隆升,但很少涉及其走向差异和中生代隆升。本文分别沿龙门山北、中、南段3条剖面进行了锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹测试,结合已有的热年代学数据,以期揭示整个中-新生代期间龙门山隆升历史及其时空变化。中生代以来,龙门山主要有印支期(约200 Ma)、早白垩世末(约100 Ma)、早新生代(65～30 Ma)以及晚中新世(15～9 Ma)等或快或慢的冷却事件,总体上经历了中生代至早新生代的缓慢冷却和晚新生代快速冷却2个阶段,快速剥露开始于15～9 Ma,剥蚀速率由早期的0.1 mm/a增加到0.15～0.3 mm/a左右,局部可达0.9 mm/a左右。走向上,龙门山北段相对偏小的锆石裂变径迹年龄和相对偏大的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄反映其在中生代较中、南段隆升更快,而裂变径迹年龄总体上从北段向中、南段减小,表明中、南段在新生代发生了更快的隆升。倾向上,多种热年代学数据显示新生代期间在北川断裂和彭灌断裂两侧存在明显的差异剥露,这种差异在中、南段表现比北段更为突出。龙门山晚新生代快速隆升和剥露是青藏高原区域隆升背景上叠加的冲断活动所致,而非下地壳流动驱动。     

Cenozoic uplift of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from the tectonic-sedimentary evolution of the western Qaidam Basin

Geologists agree that the collision of the Indian and Asian plates caused uplift of the Tibet Plateau.However,controversy still exists regarding the modes and mechanisms of the Tibetan Plateau uplift.Geology has recorded this uplift well in the Qaidam Basin.This paper analyzes the tectonic and sedimentary evolution of the western Qaidam Basin using sub-surface seismic and drill data. The Cenozoic intensity and history of deformation in the Qaidam Basin have been reconstructed based on the tectonic developments,faults growth index,sedimentary facies variations,and the migration of the depositional depressions.The changes in the sedimentary facies show that lakes in the western Qaidam Basin had gone from inflow to still water deposition to withdrawal.Tectonic movements controlled deposition in various depressions,and the depressions gradually shifted southeastward.In addition,the morphology of the surface structures in the western Qaidam Basin shows that the Cenozoic tectonic movements controlled the evolution of the Basin and divided it into(a) the southern fault terrace zone, (b) a central Yingxiongling orogenic belt,and(c) the northern fold-thrust belt;divided by the XI fault (Youshi fault) and Youbei fault,respectively.The field data indicate that the western Qaidam Basin formed in a Cenozoic compressive tectonic environment caused by the India—Asia plate collision. Further,the Basin experienced two phases of intensive tectonic deformation.The first phase occurred during the Middle Eocene—Early Miocene(Xia Ganchaigou Fm.and Shang Ganchaigou Fm.,43.8—22 Ma),and peaked in the Early Oligocene(Upper Xia Ganchaigou Fm.,31.5 Ma).The second phase occurred between the Middle Miocene and the Present(Shang Youshashan Fm.and Qigequan Fm., 14.9—0 Ma),and was stronger than the first phase.The tectonic—sedimentary evolution and the orientation of surface structures in the western Qaidam Basin resulted from the Tibetan Plateau uplift,and recorded the periodic northward growth of the Plateau.Recognizing this early tectonic—sedimentary evolution supports the previous conclusion that northern Tibet responded to the collision between India and Asia shortly after its initiation.However,the current results reveal that northern Tibet also experienced another phase of uplift during the late Neogene.The effects of these two stages of tectonic activity combined to produce the current Tibetan Plateau.     

Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Northern Qaidam Basin, NW China: Implications for the earliest Cretaceous intracontinental tectonism

Formation of Mesozoic western China, which was dominated by tectonic amalgamation along its southern margin and associated intracontinental tectonisms, holds a key for interpreting the succedent Cenozoic evolution. This paper presents new data including lithology, sedimentary facies, stratigraphic contact, seismic interpretation and paleo-structures within the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous strata in the northern Qaidam Basin, NW China. These data all account for a contractional tectonic deformation in the earliest Cretaceous. The South Qilian Shan, according to the sedimentary features and provenance analysis, reactivated and exhumated during the deformation, controlling the deposition of the Lower Cretaceous sequences. A simplified model for the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous paleogeography and tectonics of the northern Qaidam Basin is accordingly proposed. The results also support a ∼25° clockwise rotation of the Qaidam Basin since the Early Cretaceous and a more accurate Mesozoic evolution process for the basin. This earliest Cretaceous deformation, associated with the reactivation of the South Qilian Shan at the time, are part of the intracontinental tectonisms in central Asia during the Mesozoic, and probably driven by both the closure of the Mongol-Okhostk Ocean to the north and the collision of the Lhasa and the Qiangtang blocks to the south.     

柴达木盆地西部地区新生代演化特征与青藏高原隆升

通过对柴达木盆地西部地区(柴西地区)地震剖面构造沉积相演化的分析, 结合基底岩性及区域构造运动历史, 重建了柴西地区新生代构造沉积动态演化框架。柴西地区新生代以来一直处在印欧板块碰撞所引起的青藏高原阶段性隆升的挤压构造背景下, 经历了两大构造变形期: 第一变形期主要发育在古近纪, 变形高峰在下干柴沟组上段, 第二变形期发育在新近纪-第四纪, 变形强度日益加剧。剖面沉积相的变化体现柴西地区经历了水进-静水沉降-水退的过程, 平面沉积相演变是沉积中心受构造运动控制的直接结果; 受构造演化控制柴西地区以Ⅺ号(油狮断裂)和油北断裂为分界线, 由南至北地表形态表现为3种不同样式: 柴西南区断裂发育,柴西中部为英雄岭新生造山带,柴西北区主要发育冲断褶皱。柴西地区构造沉积演化特征是对青藏高原阶隆升的响应, 同时记录了青藏高原向北间歇性蔓延生长的过程。     

青藏高原中-南部新生代构造演化的热年代学制约

青藏高原新生代以来的隆升过程及特征长期以来广存争议.岩体中不同单矿物所记录的中低温热年代学信息适用于揭示较新年代地质体的隆升过程,可以为之提供有效制约.在青藏高原部分岩浆岩与变质岩露头区原位采集15块样品,利用锆石与磷灰石裂变径迹等热年代学结果为青藏高原中生代末期以来的隆升过程提供约束.其中,所获10块样品的锆石裂变径迹数据年龄范围为182~33 Ma,分别记录了渐新世之前青藏高原内不同块体间相互碰撞及高原内不同地区的构造热事件.特别是沿雅鲁藏布江缝合带分布的3个样品,锆石裂变径迹年龄结果一致显示始新世末期-渐新世早期该带存在一期显著的构造热事件.该构造热事件暗示在约36~33 Ma沿雅江缝合带发生过强烈的陆-陆硬碰撞.所获14块样品的磷灰石裂变径迹年龄范围为70.4~5.0 Ma,综合热史反演结果显示青藏高原南部中新世中晚期以来存在整体性隆升,特别是从上新世开始隆升速率显著加快.磷灰石裂变径迹年龄在空间分布上具有向高原东南部变年轻的趋势,表明青藏高原东南部在上新世以来的构造隆升较其他地区要强烈,暗示印度-亚洲板块碰撞驱动机制对该时期的高原隆升具有控制作用.此外,青藏高原中部在白垩纪末期-始新世可能即已隆升至相当高度,此后至今保持了相当低的剥蚀速率.      

Occurrence of Middle Miocene Fossil Cyprinid Fish in the Northern Qaidam Basin and its Paleoenvironmental Implications

With a thick sequence of early Eocene to Pleistocene terrestrial records, the Qaidam Basin on the northern Tibetan Plateau provides an important sedimentary archive for understanding the paleoenvironmental evolution of the northeast Tibetan Plateau. In this study, specimens of fossil fish remains are collected from the late Middle Miocene (Serravallian, ~12Ma) of the middle member of the Shang Youshashan Formation, Dahonggou (DHG) section, in the northern Qaidam Basin. Based on a systematic study of these materials, the remains have assigned to Cyprinidae, with typical pharyngeal teeth and dorsal fin spines with serrations on the posterior edge. Our discovery improves understanding of the cyprinid fish distribution characteristics in the Qaidam Basin during the Cenozoic. Co-occurrences of terrestrial brackish ostracod species Cyprideis and long chain alkenonesin the layer indicate that the studied cyprinid fish lived in a generally large brackish to saline water body during the late middle Miocene (Serravallian), when the climate of Qaidam Basin was still not sufficiently dry to form an extreme saline water lake.     

Detrital apatite fission track analyses of the Subei basin: implications for basin-range structure of the northern Tibetan Plateau

The northern Tibetan Plateau has evolved a unique basin-range structure characterized by alternating elongated mountain ranges and basins over a history of multiple tectonic and fault activities. The Subei basin recorded evolution of this basin-range structure. In this study, detailed detrital apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronological studies in conjunction with previously documented data reveal provenance of the Subei basin, important information about the Indo-Eurasia collision, and two Miocene uplift and exhumation events of the northern Tibetan Plateau. Detrital AFT analyses combined with sedimentary evidences demonstrate that the Danghenanshan Mountains is the major provenance of the Subei basin. In addition, very old age peaks indicate that part sediments in the Subei basin are recycling sediments. Age peak populations of 70–44 Ma and 61–45 Ma from the lower and upper Baiyanghe formations record the tectono-thermal response to the Indo-Eurasia collision. Combined detrital AFT thermochronology, magnetostratigraphy and petrography results demonstrate the middle Miocene uplift and exhumation event initiated 14–12 Ma in the Subei basin, which may resulted from the Miocene east-west extension of the Tibetan Plateau. Another stronger uplift and exhumation event occurred in the late Miocene resulted from strengthened tectonic movement and climate. A much younger AFT grain age, breccia of diluvial facies and boulders of root fan subfacies record the late Miocene unroofing in the Danghenanshan Mountains.