西藏中部尼玛—荣玛地区逆冲推覆构造特征

尼玛—荣玛地区位于羌塘盆地中段,发育大量的逆冲推覆构造体系。尼玛以北主要发育自北向南运动的逆冲推覆构造体系,导致中央隆起带和班公—怒江构造带的岩石地层组合、三叠系和侏罗系地层逆冲在红层之上,其中北羌塘盆地侏罗系地层越过中央隆起,在南羌塘盆地发育滑脱构造并形成薄皮逆冲推覆构造及大型逆冲岩席;尼玛以南主要发育自南向北运动的逆冲推覆构造体系,造成侏罗—白垩系、白垩系岩石组合逆冲在红层之上。逆冲推覆构造普遍控制了红层盆地的生长,并被中新世湖相沉积角度不整合覆盖。逆冲推覆构造活动时代为早白垩世晚期至古近纪,其中中央隆起和班公—怒江构造带最早经历了早白垩世晚期—晚白垩世的抬升,随后整个研究区经历了古近纪的构造抬升,分别与新特提斯洋板片的北向俯冲以及印度—拉萨地块陆陆碰撞存在动力学相关;中新世以来的东西向伸展构造则导致局部差异抬升。逆冲推覆构造破坏了早期油气成藏,但同时伴生的断褶系统也促进地层增厚和有机质成熟,为二次生烃提供了有利的构造圈闭条件,桑列勒以及尼玛一带背斜圈闭是有利的油气靶区。     

藏北改则新生代早期逆冲推覆构造系统

藏北改则及邻区新生代早期发育大型逆冲推覆构造系统,由不同方向的逆冲断层、不同时代的构造岩片、不同规模的飞来峰和构造窗、不同类型的褶皱构造组成。羌塘中部发育羌中薄皮推覆构造,石炭系板岩和二叠系白云质灰岩自北向南逆冲推覆于上白垩统与古近系红层之上,形成大型逆冲岩席和弧形逆冲断层,原地系统古近纪红层下伏三叠系—侏罗系海相烃源岩。羌塘南部发育南羌塘薄皮推覆构造,导致班公—怒江蛇绿岩、三叠系—侏罗系海相地层及侏罗纪混杂岩自北向南逆冲推覆于古近纪红层与下白垩统海相沉积岩层之上,形成三条蛇绿岩片带、大量飞来峰和厚度较大的构造片岩。中新世早期火山岩层和湖相沉积呈角度不整合覆盖逆冲断层、褶皱构造和逆冲岩席,不整合面上覆火山岩年龄为23.7～19.1Ma,指示中新世早期改则及邻区基本结束了强烈逆冲推覆构造运动。估算羌中逆冲推覆构造的推覆距离约100～115km,南羌塘逆冲推覆构造的推覆距离约82～110km;新生代早期改则逆冲推覆构造系统近南北方向逆冲推覆总距离为182～225km,对应地壳缩短率为(50.3±2.7)%。     

南羌塘盆地中-新生代逆冲推覆构造样式及构造应力场特征

新生代印度板块与欧亚板块的持续碰撞挤压,造成南羌塘地块向南逆冲于拉萨地块之上,并在南羌塘地块内部形成了一系列的由北往南的逆冲推覆构造。然而,到目前为止,我们对这些逆冲推覆构造及夹持其间的褶皱变形的结构组成、构造样式、形成时代以及缩短量分布等问题仍存在很大的争议。本文在详细的野外调查基础上,对赛布错-扎加藏布断裂（SZT）,多玛-其香错断裂（DQT）,隆鄂尼褶断带（LF）及南羌塘与中央隆起带分界的肖查卡-双湖断裂（XST）进行了几何学、运动学分析,建立了精细的构造框架。我们认为这些断裂为始新世以来形成的同时期的叠瓦状逆冲推覆;并通过野外褶皱形态,结合层面、节理面、断层面滑动矢量的分析,识别出南羌塘盆地4期构造应力场：1） 代表中特提斯俯冲碰撞阶段的近S-N 向的挤压;2） 中特提斯碰撞后,随着班公湖-怒江缝合带的形成,南羌塘地区构造应力场转为S-N 向的伸展;3） 新生代印度板块向欧亚板块俯冲碰撞,青藏高原进入陆内变形阶段,南羌塘盆地内表现为NE-SW 向的挤压,形成本文提及的一系列逆冲推覆构造;4） 随着高原的持续隆升,约14 Ma南北向裂谷开始活动,应力场转为NWW-SEE 向伸展,形成双湖裂谷系。     

Early Cenozoic Tectonics of the Tibetan Plateau

Geological mapping at a scale of 1:250000 coupled with related researches in recent years reveal well Early Cenozoic paleo-tectonic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Marine deposits and foraminifera assemblages indicate that the Tethys-Himalaya Ocean and the Southwest Tarim Sea existed in the south and north of the Tibetan Plateau, respectively, in Paleocene-Eocene. The paleooceanic plate between the Indian continental plate and the Lhasa block had been as wide as 900km at beginning of the Cenozoic Era. Late Paleocene transgressions of the paleo-sea led to the formation of paleo-bays in the southern Lhasa block. Northward subduction of the Tethys-Himalaya Oceanic Plate caused magma emplacement and volcanic eruptions of the Linzizong Group in 64.5-44.3 Ma, which formed the Paleocene-Eocene Gangdise Magmatic Arc in the north of Yalung-Zangbu Suture (YZS), accompanied by intensive thrust in the Lhasa, Qiangtang, Hoh Xil and Kunlun blocks. The Paleocene-Eocene depression of basins reached to a depth of 3500-4800 m along major thrust faults and 680-850 m along the boundary normal faults in central Tibetan Plateau, and the Paleocene-Eocene depression of the Tarim and Qaidam basins without evident contractions were only as deep as 300-580 m and 600-830 m, respectively, far away from central Tibetan Plateau. Low elevation plains formed in the southern continental margin of the Tethy-Himalaya Ocean, the central Tibet and the Tarim basin in Paleocene-Early Eocene. The Tibetan Plateau and Himalaya Mts. mainly uplifted after the Indian-Eurasian continental collision in Early-Middle Eocene.     

Gangdese retroarc thrust belt and foreland basin deposits in the Damxung area, southern Tibet

Geologic mapping and U–Pb detrital zircon geochronologic studies of (meta)sedimentary rocks in the Damxung area (90 km north of Lhasa) of the southern Lhasa terrane in Tibet provide new insights into the history of deformation and clastic sedimentation prior to late Cenozoic extension. Cretaceous nonmarine clastic rocks 10 km southeast of Damxung are exposed as structural windows in the footwall of a thrust fault (the Damxung thrust) that carries Paleozoic strata in the hanging wall. To the north of Damxung in the southern part of the northern Nyainqentanglha Range (NNQTL), metaclastic rocks of previously inferred Paleozoic age are shown to range in depositional age from Late Cretaceous to Eocene. The metaclastic rocks regionally dip southward and are interpreted to have been structurally buried in the footwall of the Damxung thrust prior to being tectonized during late Cenozoic transtension. Along the northern flank of the NNQTL, Lower Eocene syncontractional redbeds were deposited in a triangle zone structural setting. All detrital zircon samples of Cretaceous–Eocene strata in the Damxung area include Early Cretaceous grains that were likely sourced from the Gangdese arc to the south. We suggest that the that newly recognized Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene (meta)clastic deposits and thrust faults represent the frontal and youngest part of a northward directed and propagating Gangdese retroarc thrust belt and foreland basin system that led to significant crustal thickening and elevation gain in southern Tibet prior to India-Asian collision.     

Gangdese retroarc thrust belt and foreland basin deposits in the Damxung area,southern Tibet

Geologic mapping and U–Pb detrital zircon geochronologic studies of (meta)sedimentary rocks in the Damxung area (∼90 km north of Lhasa) of the southern Lhasa terrane in Tibet provide new insights into the history of deformation and clastic sedimentation prior to late Cenozoic extension. Cretaceous nonmarine clastic rocks ∼10 km southeast of Damxung are exposed as structural windows in the footwall of a thrust fault (the Damxung thrust) that carries Paleozoic strata in the hanging wall. To the north of Damxung in the southern part of the northern Nyainqentanglha Range (NNQTL), metaclastic rocks of previously inferred Paleozoic age are shown to range in depositional age from Late Cretaceous to Eocene. The metaclastic rocks regionally dip southward and are interpreted to have been structurally buried in the footwall of the Damxung thrust prior to being tectonized during late Cenozoic transtension. Along the northern flank of the NNQTL, Lower Eocene syncontractional redbeds were deposited in a triangle zone structural setting. All detrital zircon samples of Cretaceous–Eocene strata in the Damxung area include Early Cretaceous grains that were likely sourced from the Gangdese arc to the south. We suggest that the that newly recognized Late Cretaceous to Early Eocene (meta)clastic deposits and thrust faults represent the frontal and youngest part of a northward directed and propagating Gangdese retroarc thrust belt and foreland basin system that led to significant crustal thickening and elevation gain in southern Tibet prior to India-Asian collision.     

Early Cretaceous Tectonics and Evolution of the Tibetan Plateau

Selected geological data on Early Cretaceous strata, structures, magmatic plutons and volcanic rocks from the Kunlun to Himalaya Mountains reveal a new view of the Early Cretaceous paleo-tectonics and the related geodynamic movement of the Tibetan Plateau. Two major paleo-oceans, the Mid-Tethys Ocean between the Qiangtang and Lhasa blocks, and the Neo-Tethys Ocean between the Lhasa and Himalayan blocks, existed in the Tibetan region in the Early Cretaceous. The Himalayan Marginal and South Lhasa Seas formed in the southern and northern margins of the Neo-Tethys Ocean, the Central Tibet Sea and the Qiangtang Marginal Sea formed in the southern and northern margins of the Mid-Tethys Ocean, respectively. An arm of the sea extended into the southwestern Tarim basin in the Early Cretaceous. Early Cretaceous intensive thrusting, magmatic emplacement and volcanic eruptions occurred in the central and northern Lhasa Block, while strike-slip formed along the Hoh-Xil and South Kunlun Faults in the northern Tibetan region. Early Cretaceous tectonics together with magmatic K2O geochemistry indicate an Early Cretaceous southward subduction of the Mid-Tethys Oceanic Plate along the Bangoin-Nujiang Suture which was thrust ~87 km southward during the Late Cretaceous-Early Cenozoic. No intensive thrust and magmatic emplacement occurred in the Early Cretaceous in the Himalayan and southern Lhasa Blocks, indicating that the spreading Neo-Tethys Oceanic Plate had not been subducted in the Early Cretaceous. To the north, terrestrial basins of red-beds formed in the Hoh-Xil, Kunlun, Qilian and the northeastern Tarim blocks in Early Cretaceous, and the Qiangtang Marginal Sea disappeared after the Qiangtang Block uplifted in the late Early Cretaceous.     

柴达木盆地北缘第四纪左旋斜冲推覆构造运动

柴达木盆地北缘第四纪发育比较强烈的左旋斜冲构造运动,形成长达百余公里、宽度超过30km的大型推覆构造,由斜冲断层、逆冲岩席和褶皱构造等组成。根据野外观测相关资料,柴达木盆地北缘第四纪发生两期构造变形： 早更新世不同规模的逆冲岩席如中新元古代中深变质岩、古生代浅变质岩与中生代沉积地层沿北西西－北西向断层发生左旋斜冲构造运动,导致下伏中新统和上新统湖相沉积地层强烈褶皱变形,上覆不同规模的逆冲岩席; 晚更新世中晚期构造运动导致中晚更新世砾石层发生宽缓褶皱变形。估算柴达木盆地北缘第四纪斜冲推覆构造运动产生的最小缩短量约为 17～18km,平均缩短速率约为 6.6～6.9mm/a。柴达木盆地北缘第四纪斜冲推覆构造运动是青藏高原北部新生代逆冲推覆构造运动自南向北扩展迁移的重要表现形式。     

青藏高原羌塘盆地南部古近纪逆冲推覆构造系统

西藏羌塘地块南部古近纪发育肖茶卡-双湖逆冲推覆构造、多玛-其香错逆冲推覆构造、赛布错-扎加藏布逆冲推覆构造,构成古近纪大型逆冲推覆构造系统。沿逆冲推覆构造的前锋断层,二叠系白云岩与大理岩化灰岩、三叠系砂岩与页岩、侏罗系碎屑岩与碳酸盐岩和三叠纪—侏罗纪蛇绿岩自北向南逆冲推覆于古近纪红色砂砾岩之上,形成规模不等的构造岩片与飞来峰。羌塘盆地南部主要的逆冲断层和下伏的褶皱红层被中新世湖相沉积地层角度不整合覆盖,表明逆冲推覆构造运动自中新世以来基本停止活动。羌塘盆地南部古近纪逆冲推覆构造运动在近南北方向产生的最小位移为90km,指示新生代早期上地壳缩短率约为47%。古近纪逆冲推覆构造对羌塘盆地油气资源具有重要影响。     

北黄海盆地构造运动学解析

以最新的地质 地球物理资料和北黄海盆地构造几何学特征为基础,采用盆地反演模拟与宏观分析相结合的方法,系统解析了北黄海盆地的构造运动学特征。研究表明,北黄海盆地在中、新生代时期经历了水平伸展、水平挤压、相对平移(走滑)以及垂直差异升降等几种运动型式,其中,水平伸展运动和垂直差异升降运动是北黄海盆地构造运动及形成演化的主体。水平伸展运动可以划分为J3-K1、E2和E3三个主要“伸展事件”,并控制着盆地的成盆演化,其南北向伸展强度均东强西弱,东西向最大伸展强度自中生代到新生代由东向西迁移。水平挤压运动主要有晚白垩世和渐新世末-中新世初期两期。相对平移(走滑)运动伴随水平伸展运动和水平挤压运动发生,使多数NNE向、NW向断裂具有相对压扭或张扭平移(走滑)性质,其中尤以NNE向断裂更为明显。垂直差异升降运动具有“幕式”渐进之特点,晚侏罗世、早白垩世、始新世、渐新世以及中新世中晚期以来为沉降期,其中尤以始新世的沉降速率最大,晚白垩世、古新世、中新世早期为抬升剥蚀期;盆地的中、新生代沉降作用具有明显的自东向西迁移规律:东部坳陷以中生代沉降作用最为显著,中部坳陷主沉降期为始新世,而西部坳陷的快速沉降主要发生在始新世,并一直持续到渐新世。     

Tectonics and Topography of the Tibetan Plateau in Early Miocene

Early Miocene stratigraphy, major structural systems, magmatic emplacement, volcanic eruption, vegetation change and paleo-elevation were analyzed for the Tibetan Plateau after regional geological mapping at a scale of 1:250,000 and related researches, revealing much more information for tectonic evolution and topographic change of the high plateau caused by Indian-Asian continental collision. Lacustrine deposits of dolostone, dolomite limestone, limestone, marl, sandstone and conglomerate of weak deformation formed extensively in the central Tibetan Plateau, indicating that vast lake complexes as large as 100,000–120,000 km2 existed in the central plateau during Early Miocene. Sporopollen assemblages contained in the lacustrine strata indicate the disappearance of most tropical-subtropical broad-leaved trees since Early Miocene and the flourishing of dark needleleaved trees during Early Miocene. Such vegetation changes adjusted for latitude and global climate variations demonstrate that the central Tibetan Plateau rose to ca. 4,000–4,500 m and the northeastern plateau uplifted to ca. 3,500–4,000 m before the Early Miocene. Intensive thrust and crustal thickening occurred in the areas surrounding central Tibetan Plateau in Early Miocene, formed Gangdise Thrust System(GTS) in the southern Lhasa block, Zedong-Renbu Thrust(ZRT) in the northern Himalaya block, Main Central Thrust(MCT) and Main Boundary Thrust(MBT) in the southern Himalaya block, and regional thrust systems in the Qaidam, Qilian, West Kunlun and Songpan-Ganzi blocks. Foreland basins formed in Early Miocene along major thrust systems, e.g. the Siwalik basin along MCT, Yalung-Zangbu Basin along GTS and ZRT, southwestern Tarim depression along West Kunlun Thrust, and large foreland basins along major thrust systems in the northeastern margin of the plateau. Intensive volcanic eruptions formed in the Qiangtang, Hoh-Xil and Kunlun blocks, porphyry granites and volcanic eruptions formed in the Nainqentanglha and Gangdise Mts., and leucogranites and granites formed in the Himalaya and Longmenshan Mts. in Early Miocene. The K2O weight percentages of Early Miocene magmatic rocks in the Gangdise and Himlayan Mts. are found to increase with distance from the MBT, indicating the genetic relationship between regional magmatism and subduction of Indian continental plate in Early Miocene.     

南海陆缘盆地构造演化与烃源岩特征

受近南北向扩张机制控制,南海陆缘盆地或凹陷多呈NE向带状展布,总体上具有“南三北三”平行排列、外窄内宽的特点。新生代发生的4次重要区域构造运动具有穿时性,共发育3期盆地破裂不整合面,分别是早渐新世与晚渐新世之间、古近纪与新近纪之间、中中新世与晚中新世之间;由东往西,盆地破裂不整合面的时代逐渐变新。受构造运动与海平面升降影响,南海海域发育湖相、海陆过渡相和陆源海相3类烃源岩。由南北两侧向中央海盆,烃源岩类型由湖相逐渐过渡到海陆过渡相与陆源海相;从东向西,盆地主力烃源岩层位逐渐变新,由始新统-渐新统逐渐过渡到渐新统-中新统。南海海域烃源岩的分布规律与盆地破裂不整面存在密切关系:破裂不整合面形成早（早渐新世与晚渐新世之间）的盆地,主力烃源岩形成早（始新统湖相烃源岩）;反之,破裂不整合面形成晚（中中新世与晚中新世之间）的盆地,则烃源岩形成晚（渐新统-中新统海陆过渡相到陆源海相烃源岩）。     

青藏高原主要地体地壳短缩作用研究现状及存在的问题

在对喜马拉雅、拉萨和羌塘3个地体已有的有关地壳短缩研究成果系统分析的基础上,对3个地体进行了平衡剖面恢复:北羌塘侏罗系短缩率为25.18%.南羌塘短缩率为33.57%;对拉萨地体南段(措勤盆地南部坳褶带)上白垩统恢复得出其短缩率为20.68%北段中部坳褶带到班公湖一怒江缝合带南缘短缩率为25.3%;地处特提斯喜马拉雅地体东段的郎杰学地体三叠系短缩率达75%.大于前人研究的特提斯喜马拉雅56%~6O%的短缩率.通过对比,对3个地体短缩变形的规律进行了分析,认为各地体内部短缩作用并不是一个连续均匀的过程,陆内变形主要是通过稳定地体边界和大型逆冲构造带来吸收的;拉萨地体和羌塘地体新生代内部变形较小.     

青藏高原主要地体地壳短缩作用研究现状及存在的问题

在对喜马拉雅、拉萨和羌塘3个地体已有的有关地壳短缩研究成果系统分析的基础上,对3个地体进行了平衡剖面恢复：北羌塘侏罗系短缩率为25.18%,南羌塘短缩率为33.57%;对拉萨地体南段(措勤盆地南部坳褶带)上白垩统恢复得出其短缩率为20.68%,北段中部坳褶带到班公湖-怒江缝合带南缘短缩率为25.3%;地处特提斯喜马拉雅地体东段的郎杰学地体三叠系短缩率达75%,大于前人研究的特提斯喜马拉雅56%~60%的短缩率。通过对比,对3个地体短缩变形的规律进行了分析,认为各地体内部短缩作用并不是一个连续均匀的过程,陆内变形主要是通过稳定地体边界和大型逆冲构造带来吸收的;拉萨地体和羌塘地体新生代内部变形较小。     

库车新生代构造性质和变形时间

库车构造位于南天山古生代碰撞造山带之南,为塔里木盆地最北的一个构造带。它自北而南可分为边缘逆冲（ 隐伏构造楔） 、斯的克背斜带、北部线性背斜带、拜城盆地、南部背斜带。每个背斜带又包含有若干逆冲断层相关褶皱,它们是断层转折褶皱、断层传播褶皱、滑脱褶皱、断层传播 滑脱混生褶皱、双重逆冲构造、突发构造、三角带构造。底部逆冲断层向南变浅,堆叠逆冲岩席向南变薄,总体上形成一个向南的逆冲构造楔。逆冲断层在斯的克背斜带侵位最早（２５ Ｍａ） ,在北部线性背斜带为１６９ Ｍａ,拜城盆地中的大宛其背斜为３６ Ｍａ,南部背斜带为５３ Ｍａ（ 北部） 和１８ Ｍａ（ 南部） ,变形作用向南变新。库车构造是印 藏板块碰撞的内陆构造响应,是二叠纪前陆盆地复活而成的再生前陆盆地变形带     

南羌塘盆地构造演化及其油气形成与构造保存条件研究

羌塘盆地是我国陆域上面积最大的海相盆地,前人对该盆地构造演化过程及其油气远景存在截然不同的观点。以最近完成的1︰ 5万地质调查为基础,本文再次讨论了南羌塘盆地构造演化过程及其油气远景。羌塘盆地中央近东西向的羌中隆起山脉将羌塘盆地分为南、北两部分。最近的研究表明,在寒武-奥陶纪之交,南、北羌塘块体被古大洋分隔开。北羌塘盆地南缘形成的晚三叠-早侏罗世的那底岗日组火山岩,其上部为流纹岩,表明晚三叠世南羌塘块体北向俯冲于北羌塘块体之下,在南羌塘块体北部形成了富含有机质的前陆盆地。南羌塘盆地南缘发育一套代表成熟海盆的侏罗纪复理石建造,表明南羌塘南部地区在早侏罗世具有被动大陆边缘的特点,随着南部班公-怒江洋的扩张,在南、北羌塘块体内分别沉积了侏罗纪-早白垩世的浅海相地层,以富含有机质礁灰岩为特征。盆地内部孕育了巨厚的晚白垩-古新世陆源碎屑岩,不整合覆盖于早期海相沉积岩之上,表明在该时期南羌塘块体逐渐从被动大陆边缘海相盆地转变为陆相盆地。新生代时期,印度与亚洲大陆持续汇聚,南羌塘盆地南向逆冲于拉萨块体之上,盆地内发育了多条大型逆冲断裂带,再次将盆地内部的上三叠统、侏罗系、白垩系富含有机质的海相礁灰岩深埋,这有利于油气资源的生成与保存。横跨南羌塘盆地的构造剖面显示盆地内部主要大型逆冲断裂带之间,构造变形较弱,发育宽缓的向斜构造,向斜核部发育新生代陆相地层,推测该新生代陆相地层之下保存有深埋的富含有机质的海相地层,因此,南羌塘盆地逆冲断裂带下盘和宽缓向斜核部区域可能具有良好的油气资源前景。     

Cenozoic volcanism,tectonism and stream derangement in the Snowy Mountains and northern Monaro of New South Wales

Studies of Cenozoic lavas and associated sediments in the Kiandra‐Cabramurra and Adaminaby‐Cooma areas identify and date tectonic deformations responsible for differential uplift and drainage development of the region. Volcanic activity on the northern Monaro was mainly Eocene‐Oligocene but in the extreme north there are Early Miocene sediments and lavas. Volcanic activity and folding began to rearrange the drainage in the Eocene‐Oligocene. The headwaters of the Murrumbidgee River originally flowed south into the Eucumbene River but Early Miocene folding and faulting uplifted the Monaro Range and created a large lake near Adaminaby. Lake overtopping rerouted the drainage east and then south along the basalt‐filled valley of an old north‐flowing tributary, the ‘Adaminaby River’, forming the present‐day Murrumbidgee River. The folding also produced a 300 m height difference between the Berridale and Adaminaby Plateaus and formed a section of the Great Divide. This fold displacement ranks with the largest Cenozoic fault displacements. In the Kiandra area tectonism associated with Early Miocene volcanism rearranged the drainage and tilted the Kiandra area and Kosciuszko Block to the north.     

The Gangdese thrust: a phantom structure that did not raise Tibet

Detailed field investigations do not support the existence of a ‘Gangdese thrust’ along the Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone in southern Tibet. A relationship where Lhasa terrane rocks are thrust southwards over components of this zone was not observed over 2000 km of the suture. On the contrary, at the type locality of this ‘Gangdese thrust’, Miocene conglomerates unconformably overlie an eroded surface of Lhasa terrane rocks. Interpretations that invoke Late Oligocene – Early Miocene south‐directed thrusting on a ‘Gangdese thrust’ as a mechanism for uplift of the Tibetan Plateau must therefore be reassessed.     

Tropical/subtropical Upper Paleocene–Lower Eocene fluvial deposits in eastern central Patagonia,Chile (46°45′S)

A succession of quartz-rich fluvial sandstones and siltstones derived from a mainly rhyolitic source and minor metamorphic rocks, located to the west, represent the first Upper Paleocene–Early Eocene deposits described in Chilean eastern central Patagonian Cordillera (46°45′S). This unit, exposed 25 km south of Chile Chico, south of lago General Carrera, is here defined as the Ligorio Márquez Formation. It overlies with an angular unconformity Lower Cretaceous shallow marine sedimentary rocks (Cerro Colorado Formation) and subaerial tuffs that have yielded K–Ar dates of 128, 125 and 123 Ma (Flamencos Tuffs, of the Divisadero Group). The Ligorio Márquez Formation includes flora indicative of a tropical/subtropical climate, and its deposition took place during the initial part of the Late Paleocene–Early Eocene Cenozoic optimum. The underlying Lower Cretaceous units exhibit folding and faulting, implying a pre-Paleocene–Lower Eocene contractional tectonism. Overlying Oligocene–Miocene marine and continental facies in the same area exhibit thrusts and normal faults indicative of post-Lower Miocene contractional tectonism.     

Tectonic and Environmental Evolutions of the Northern Tibetan Plateau Prior to the Collision of India with Asia

Tectonic and environmental patterns and evolution of the present North Tibetan Plateau(NTP) prior to the India collision with Asia is significant to understand the formation of the Tibetan Plateau and its influence on the environment. In this study, we integrated and analyzed the tectonostratigraphy and the special sedimentary layers whose climatic implications are clear in the NTP. Additionally, we stressed the tectonic and environmental events and their evolutions from the Mesozoic to the Early Cenozoic. Our results show that four tectonic phases, which sequentially took place during the Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene, played an important role on the formation of the North Tibet. The climate was basically dry and hot from the Triassic to the Eocene and became dry and cool since the Oligocene in this region. The climatic evolution was characterized by a transition from a wet and hot phase during the Triassic- Middle Jurassic, to a dry and hot phase during the Late Jurassic- Eocene. Both phases encompassed 5 wet and hot periods followed by 5 dry and hot climate events, respectively. In addition, we found that the tectonic deformation and the climatic conditions were spatially and temporally different. In detail, in the regions north of the PaleoTian Shan and Paleo-Qilian Mts. the tectonic deformation and climatic condition were stronger and wetter than in regions south of the Paleo-Tian Shan and Paleo-Qilian Mts. during the Late Triassic – Jurassic. Whereas in the Cretaceous, the tectonic movement was intensive in the west but steady in the east, and climate was dry in the south but wet in the north of NTP. The formation of the tectonic and climatic patterns in NTP were the consequence of either global climate change or regional tectonics, including the Paleo-Asian Ocean closure and the Qiangtang block, Lhasa block and India plate collision subsequently to Asia. Furthermore, the regional tectonic events occurred before any global climate change and drove the climatic change in the NTP.