西藏南部冈底斯岩基花岗岩时代与岩石成因

冈底斯岩基花岗岩的岩石组合、岩石地球化学、全岩Sr-Nd同位素地球化学、锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素等特征表明：（1）冈底斯岩基中生代时期发育了连续的岩浆活动,存在晚侏罗世和早白垩世两个岩浆作用峰期,该时期岩浆活动为新特提斯洋板片连续向北斜向俯冲造成的;（2）古新世-始新世是本地区岩浆活动最为发育的时期,该时期岩浆作用为新特提斯洋板片继续俯冲、板片回转和板片断离等多个地球动力学过程的反映;（3）渐新世-中新世岩浆活动为碰撞后东西向伸展环境下,增厚岩石圈发生对流减薄的产物;（4）拉萨地块南缘冈底斯岩基源区可能是一个晚古生代时期拼贴的岛弧地体,其具有明显不同于古老拉萨地块（冈底斯弧背断隆和中冈底斯地区）的基底特征;（5）冈底斯岩基花岗岩的年代学格架和锆石Hf同位素特征,明显不同于邻区的花岗岩,可作为区域构造隆升-剥蚀过程示踪研究的有效手段.     

华南地区上地幔P波三维速度结构和动力学意义:来自有限频层析成像的证据

利用155个宽频带流动地震仪记录的连续地震波形数据,通过有限频层析成像技术,反演获得了华南地区上地幔的高分辨率P波三维速度模型.结果显示,大致以江南造山带为界,研究区域南部的华夏块体的大部分区域上地幔存在一个清晰的低速异常构造,而研究区北部的扬子克拉通的大部分区域上地幔则存在高速异常结构,并且这些速度异常体都向下延伸到地幔转换带.一个重要的结果是在(27°N,118°E)处观测到通过410-km界面的上涌流,并且在上升的过程中逐渐向西和向北扩展,显示为华夏块体深部200～400 km深度的大范围低速异常,可能为华夏块体广泛分布的新生代岩浆活动提供深部来源.更重要的是华夏块体通过410-km界面上涌流在上涌的过程中向北延伸,越过江南造山带"侵入"到扬子克拉通的南部地区,造成了扬子克拉通较厚的岩石圈对应的高速异常体向南倾斜的假象.最后,位于117°E(郯庐断裂的南端)以东的扬子克拉通岩石圈已经被"活化",即被来自南部热的软流圈物质替而代之.同时,推断在华夏块体下方地幔转换带内低速异常体可能是与海南地幔柱有关.海南地幔柱和(27°N,118°E)410-km界面上涌流的关系还有待于今后更大范围地震台阵反演研究进行验证.     

青藏高原东缘峨眉山新生代加速抬升剥蚀作用

本文通过峨眉山基底卷入构造带低温热年代学(磷灰石和锆石裂变径迹、锆石(U-Th)/He)研究,结合典型构造-热结构特征诠释峨眉山晚中-新生代冲断扩展变形与热年代学耦合性.峨眉山磷灰石裂变径迹(AFT)和锆石(U-Th)/He(ZHe)年龄值分别为4~30Ma和16~118Ma.ZHe年龄与海拔高程关系揭示出ZHe系统抬升剥蚀残存的部分滞留带(PRZ).低温热年代学年龄与峨眉山构造分带性具有明显相关性特征:万年寺逆断层上盘基底卷入构造带AFT年龄普遍小于10Ma,万年寺逆断层下盘扩展变形带AFT年龄普遍大于10 Ma;且空间上AFT年龄与断裂带具有明显相关性,它揭示出峨眉山扩展变形带中新世晚期以来断层冲断缩短构造活动.低温热年代学热史模拟揭示峨眉山构造带晚白垩世以来的多阶段性加速抬升剥蚀过程,基底卷入构造带岩石隆升幅度大约达到7~8km,渐新世以来抬升剥蚀速率达0.2~0.4mm·a-1,其新生代多阶段性构造隆升动力学与青藏高原多板块间碰撞过程及其始新世大规模物质东向扩展过程密切相关.     

雷琼火山与华夏块体的远震P波走时成像

利用广东及邻省的地震台网共94个地震台站记录的2009—2015年的256个远震波形数据,采用基于波形互相关的自适应迭代技术获得了18968个可靠的P波相对走时残差数据,进而应用FMTT(Fast Marching Teleseismic Tomography)地震层析成像方法确定了雷琼火山与华夏块体深至450km的三维P波速度结构.结果显示,雷琼火山下方100~450km深度显示明显低速异常,该低速异常随深度增加向华夏块体下方扩展.研究认为该低速异常由海南地幔柱热物质上涌造成,雷琼火山为板内热点火山,这与已有体波成像及接收函数成像等结果一致.根据该低速异常的整体特征,推测海南地幔柱向北东方向倾斜,并可延伸至450km以下.华夏块体下方的低速异常,可能是由海南地幔柱热物质上涌过程中不断向北东方向侵蚀而造成.结果同时显示研究区大陆至海域的岩石圈厚度可能具有由厚变薄的过渡特征.     

川西盐源-马边地震带上地壳速度结构和活动断裂研究——高分辨率地震折射实验结果

2005年沿盐源-西昌-马湖一线实施了地震测深和高分辨地震折射观测实验．利用有限差分地震走时层析成像算法处理了其中的高分辨地震折射Pg波走时数据,获得了川西地区活动地块边界带上地壳的P波速度精细结构和活动断裂深部形态,分析了上地壳的变形特征,讨论了断裂与地震活动的关系．结果如下：盐源盆地、后龙山地区的上地壳为表层低速和深部均匀高速的双层结构,两层之间存在明显向西缓倾的结构面;模型坐标180～240km范围内,P波速度分布表现为陡倾的高低速条带相间结构：模型坐标240～300km之间的西昌中生代盆地具有较厚的浅部低速和深部高速双层结构,层间的纵向及横向速度变化强烈,其分界面起伏较大：模型坐标300km以东的大凉山地区为不均匀高速区,地表速度接近5km／s．此外,模型坐标130,150和280～310km之下,存在显著的深部不规则异常高速体,可能与二叠纪岩浆活动有关．盐源推覆构造由表层低速推覆体,向西缓倾的构造拆离面和深部高速基底构成的薄皮构造,金河-箐河断裂是其推覆前缘;磨盘山断裂为一西倾的低速带,延伸至基底顶面;安宁河断裂和则木河断裂为东倾的舌状低速带,延伸到了基底内;在深处,大凉山断裂分为两支,表现为狭窄条带内速度结构的强烈变化,西支西倾,东支东倾,两支断裂均延伸至基底内;西昌中生代盆地东缘断裂为强速度梯度带,倾向南西,延伸至基底顶面;剖面最东端向西倾斜的舌状低速带可能是马边断裂的一个分支,其可靠性有待进一步证实;安宁河、则木河、大凉山断裂均是规模较大的基底断裂,其活动性较强,该区的强震活动主要受其控制;速度图像表明研究区的上地壳变形强烈,盐源盆地至金河盆地主要表现为盖层的挤压推覆逆冲变形,基底呈刚性;磨盘     

贺兰山隆升时限及其演化

贺兰山横亘于鄂尔多斯盆地西北缘,其隆升时限与盆地的构造属性和发展演化密切相关.对其隆起的时间前人有晚三叠世、晚侏罗世等多种认识.对贺兰山现存地层的分布和岩浆及热液活动等资料分析,认为晚三叠世-中侏罗世贺兰山并未隆升,其隆起时间应在中侏罗世之后.通过对与贺兰山相邻的银川地堑沉积地层及沉降速率的研究,指出贺兰山大规模隆升时间为始新世,在上新世以来发生了快速隆升.根据对不同时代样品磷灰石和锆石裂变径迹测试结果的分析,精细刻画了贺兰山的隆升-冷却过程,指出其隆升至少经历了晚侏罗世—早白垩世初、早白垩世中晚期、晚白垩世和始新世以来4个阶段.其中,晚白垩世和始新世以来的隆升最为明显.早白垩世中晚期为区域冷却过程.综合分析和总结各方面研究结果,认为贺兰山隆升的最早时间在晚侏罗世,此时隆升规模较为局限;晚白垩世的隆升与鄂尔多斯盆地整体的抬升相对应;始新世开始发生大规模的隆升,上新世隆升速率进一步加快.     

利用远震地震波形畸变现象探测地幔低速体

地幔低速异常体的精确探测对于研究热点/地幔柱的成因至关重要.但是,由于观测手段以及波前愈合现象的影响,远震走时层析成像在探测地球深部的低速异常体时具有极大的限制.因此,越来越多的学者利用地震波穿过低速体后产生的绕射波和直达波.干涉造成的波形畸变信息来研究地幔低速体.本文通过三维地震数值模拟来拟合长白山、黄石公园地区宽频地震记录,分析绕射波和直达波相互干扰造成的波形畸变现象.模拟结果显示,绕射波/波形畸变对于探测地幔深处的低速体具有较高分辨率;目前常用的基于互相关测量的有限频层析成像方法对于深部低速体速度异常低估现象明显.如果将有限频层析成像结果在深部的速度异常值放大到原来的2倍,数值模拟可以很好的拟合观测到的地震波形畸变现象.通过对长白山地区、黄石公园地区记录的地震波形畸变现象的拟合,我们进一步确认了长白山、黄石地区下方分别在400~600 km、700~1000 km处存在地幔低速体,并对低速体速度异常值进行了矫正.     

腾冲火山及周边地区双差层析成像

利用云南腾冲火山地区15个固定台站记录到的7923次地震的P波到时资料,采用双差层析成像方法,反演得到腾冲火山及周边地区地壳及上地幔顶部三维P波速度结构和地震重定位结果.研究发现,腾冲火山区域地壳内存在明显的地震波低速区,P波速度低于整个区域地壳速度平均值超过15%,上地幔顶部存在规模较大的低速异常区.推测腾冲火山地区存在较大规模的地幔热物质上涌以及向地壳的侵入,热物质在地壳内以岩浆囊形式存储,并且壳内岩浆囊之间可能存在岩浆通道.通过联合反演获得的地震重定位结果显示,丛集地震位置更加集中,其展布特征与断裂构造具有显著的对应关系,表明研究区域断裂构造比较活跃.获得的高分辨率三维P波层析成像结果,为进一步认识火山地区岩浆存储特征以及地震分布与区域构造之间的关系提供了新的地震学依据.     

地幔柱在蒙古-贝加尔裂谷起源中的作用

本文通过整理近年来蒙古-贝加尔裂谷有关地幔柱的研究成果,从重力异常、层析成像和接受函数等方面分析贝加尔地区上地幔的各向异性特性,并重点介绍了中蒙合作项目的深部构造研究成果,探究地幔柱在蒙古-贝加尔裂谷形成中的作用.研究发现:贝加尔裂谷区上涌物质来源于410km不连续面之下和660km不连续面之上,低速异常延伸至贝加尔裂谷下的地幔转换地带,可能是地幔柱低速异常的反映.速度异常还可能与应力环境有关,东部Pn速度低值异常与太平洋板块俯冲动力作用引起的地壳的伸展减薄和岩浆活动有关,西部Pn速度高值异常则是India板块强烈碰撞挤压动力作用所形成.蒙古-贝加尔裂谷带起源受岩石圈扩张和岩石圈不均匀性的综合影响,裂谷下的低速区存在偏转的地幔柱,偏转的地幔柱在India-Asia板块碰撞引起形变的远场力的帮助下,成为贝加尔裂谷演化和发展的主要成因之一.     

南海新生代碱性玄武岩主量、微量元素及Sr-Nd-Pb同位素研究

南海海盆玄武质岩石的全岩K-Ar年龄为7.9~3.8 Ma, 为南海扩张停止(15.5 Ma)后、晚中新世以来的板内火山作用的产物, 可与其周边地区(如雷琼半岛、南海北缘及中南半岛等)同期火山作用的岩石成因和源区性质进行对比研究. 在详细的岩相学研究基础上, 从中挑选出了新鲜的玄武质岩石, 并进行了主量、微量元素及Sr-Nd-Pb同位素分析研究. 结果表明, 该区玄武岩属于碱性玄武岩浆系列, 具有OIB型的稀土及微量元素特点, 形成岩浆的部分熔融作用程度较低, 岩浆在上升期间或在高位岩浆房中经历了结晶分异作用和堆晶作用. Sr-Nd-Pb同位素地球化学研究表明, 南海地幔存在不均一性, 岩浆源区性质为EM2与DMM的二端员混合模式, 其中EM2为来自地幔柱物质的富集端员, DMM端员为大洋软流圈或岩石圈亏损地幔; Pb同位素特征显示本区存在Dupal异常, 结合北冰洋Gakkel脊新发现的Dupal异常, 表明此异常并非只限于南半球. 从Sr-Nd-Pb同位素变异图解中可见, 南海与雷琼半岛、南海北缘以及中南半岛地区可能具有相似的地幔源区特征, 与中国华北及东北地区存在一定差异. 南海海盆晚中新世以来的玄武岩为海南地幔柱提供了地球化学制约.     

Linking uplift,erosion, and sedimentation using landscape evolution models: Madagascar since the Late Cretaceous

We present a study to estimate the large-scale landscape history of a continental margin, by establishing a source-to-sink volume balance between the eroding onshore areas and the offshore basins. Assuming erosion as the primary process for sediment production, we strive to constrain a numerical model of landscape evolution that balances the volumes of eroded materials from the continent and that deposited in the corresponding basins, with a ratio imposed for loss of erosion products. We use this approach to investigate the landscape history of Madagascar since the Late Cretaceous. The uplift history prescribed in the model is inferred from elevations of planation surfaces formed at various ages. By fitting the volumes of terrigenous sediments in the Morondava Basin along the west coast and the current elevation of the island, the landscape evolution model is optimized by constraining the erosion law parameters and ratios of sediment loss. The results include a best-fit landscape evolution model, which features two major periods of uplift and erosion during the Late Cretaceous and the middle to late Cenozoic. The model supports suggestions from previous studies that most of the high topography of the island was constructed since the middle to late Miocene, and on the central plateau the erosion has not reached an equilibrium with the high uplift rates in the late Cenozoic. Our models also indicate that over the geological time scale a significant portion of materials eroded from Madagascar was not archived in the offshore basin, possibly consumed by chemical weathering, the intensity of which might have varied with climate.     

琼北地区晚更新世射气岩浆喷发初步研究

琼北地区晚更新世射气岩浆喷发形成众多的低平火山口 ,出露典型的基浪堆积物 ,在火口垣露头上可清晰地观察到大型低角度交错层理、板状层理和波状层理以及远源相的球粒状增生火山砾。玄武质岩浆在上升过程中遇水爆炸形成低平火山口及基浪堆积 ,为认识琼北地区新生代以来的火山活动规律和琼北 -雷南地区的构造环境 ,以及未来火山灾害预测提供了重要的依据     

Flexural subsidence by 29 Ma on the NE edge of Tibet from the magnetostratigraphy of Linxia Basin, China

This study provides a detailed magnetostratigraphic record of subsidence in the Linxia Basin, documenting a 27 Myr long sedimentary record from the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. Deposition in the Linxia Basin began at 29 Ma and continued nearly uninterruptedly until 1.7 Ma. Increasing rates of subsidence between 29 and 6 Ma in the Linxia Basin suggest deposition in the foredeep portion of a flexural basin and constrain the timing of shortening in the northeastern margin of the plateau to Late Oligocene–Late Miocene time. By Late Miocene–Early Pliocene time, a decrease in subsidence rates in the Linxia Basin associated with thrust faulting and a 10° clockwise rotation in the basin indicates that the deformation front of the Tibetan plateau had propagated into the currently deforming region northeast of the plateau.     

Quantitative reconstruction of Late Cenozoic landscapes: a case study in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos,Spain)

We have developed a method to reconstruct palaeorelief by means of detailed geomorphological and geological studies, geostatistical tools, GIS and a DEM. This method has been applied to the Sierra de Atapuerca (NE Duero Basin, Burgos, Spain), allowing us to model a three‐dimensional reconstruction of the relief evolution from the Middle Miocene to the present. The modelling procedure is based on geostatistical recovery of the palaeosurfaces characteristic of each geomorphological evolution stage, using polynomial regressions, trend surfaces and kriging. The modelling of morphology trends has been useful in establishing new geological and geomorphological relationships in the geodynamic evolution of this basin, such as uplift quantification, correlation of erosion surfaces and sedimentary units, and the evolution of fluvial base levels. The palaeosurface reconstruction together with an analysis of the slope retreat have allowed us to reconstruct the palaeoreliefs that define the Late Cenozoic landscape evolution of this area, where the Lower and Middle Pleistocene archaeopalaeontological sites of the Sierra de Atapuerca are located. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cenozoic tectonic and geomorphic evolution of the Longxi region in northeastern Tibetan Plateau interpreted from detrital zircon

The Longxi region contains different kinds of Cenozoic sediments, including eolian deposits, reworked loess, fluvial and lacustrine deposits. The provenance evolution of these sediments is of great significance in exploring the uplift, tectonic deformation and associated with geomorphic evolution of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau. In this paper, we used the single-grain zircon provenance analysis to constrain the provenances for the Paleogene alluvial conglomerates and for the Neogene fluvial-lacustrine sediments, and compared them with results from the loess deposits since the Miocene. The results show that: (1) the Paleogene alluvial conglomerates contain a large number of detrital zircons ranging from 560 to 1100 Ma that were derived from the Yangzi Block. However, the sediments of early Miocene have much fewer zircons of this age span, which are characterized by an abundance of zircon ages in the ranges of 200–360 Ma. This indicates that the Paleogene alluvial conglomerates mainly come from the middle and/or southern West Qinling, and the early Miocene sediments are primarily from the northern West Qinling; (2) Late Neogene fluvial sediments (11.5 Ma onward) in Tianshui-Qinan region are dominated by zircon ages of 380–450 Ma. This zircon population is similar to that of the exposed intrusive rocks of southern part of the Liupan Mountains, implying that the southern part of Liupan Mountains probably had already uplifted by 11.5 Ma; (3) Late Miocene lacustrine sediments in Tianshui region have a zircon age spectra that is remarkably different from coeval fluvial deposits, but is similar to the zircon age distributions of the Miocene loess in Qinan region, late Miocene-Pliocene Hipparion red clay and Quaternary loess. This indicates that fine particles within these Miocene lacustrine sediments in Tianshui region may be dominated by aeolian materials. This study reveals that provenance changes of Cenozoic sediments in Tianshui-Qinan region and its geomorphic evolution are closely related to the multi-stage uplift of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau. In particular, the major uplift of the Northern Tibetan Plateau during late Oligocene-early Miocene may have not only provided the source areas and wind dynamic conditions for the deposits of the Miocene loess, but also provided the geomorphic conditions for its accumulation.     

Subsidence history and forming mechanism of anomalous tectonic subsidence in the Bozhong depression, Bohaiwan basin

The Bozhong depression of the Bohaiwan basin belongs to a family of extensional basins in East China, but is quite different from other parts of the basin. The Cenozoic subsidence of the depression is controlled by a combination of lithospheric thinning and polycyclic strike-slip movements. Three episodic rifts have been identified, i.e. Paleocence-early Eocene, middle-late Eocene and Oligocene age. The depression underwent syn-rift and post-rift stages, but two episodic dextral movement events of the strike-slip faults modify the subsidence of the Bozhong depression since the Oligocene. The early dextral movement of the Tan-Lu fault associated with crustal extension resulted in accelerated subsidence during the time of deposition of the Dongying Formation with a maximum thickness of 4000 m. A late reactivation of dextral movement of the Tan-Lu fault began in late Miocene (about 12 Ma), which resulted in the intense subsidence of Minghuazhen Formation and Quaternary. In addition, dynamic mantle convection-driven topography also accelerated the post-rift anomalous subsidence since the Miocene (24.6 Ma). Our results indicate that the primary control on rapid subsidence both during the rift and post-rift stages in the Bozhong depression originates from a combination of multiple episodic crustal extension and polycyclic dextral movements of strike-slip faults, and dynamic topography.     

The Piedmont landscape of Maryland: A new look at an old problem

The Piedmont upland of Maryland has been variously interpreted as a peneplain, a series of peneplains, a surface of marine planation, and a landscape in dynamic equilibrium. These different perspectives of landform evolution are related to different scales of time and space. Both equilibrium and episodic erosion features can be recognized in the modern landscape. An equilibrium condition is suggested by adjustment of first and second order streams to rock structure and lithology, entrenchment of some streams against gneiss domes, altitudinal zonation of rock types around gneiss domes, correlation of lithology with overburden thickness on uplands, decreasing overburden thickness on uplands related to decreasing degree of metamorphism of crystalline rocks, and correlation of secondary mineral assemblages with subsurface drainage and slope. The long-term episodic character of erosion is suggested by clastic wedges on the adjacent Coastal Plain, an upland of low relief that truncates non-carbonate rocks of different lithologies, isovolumetric chemical weathering of alumino-silicate rocks, clastic deposition in marble valleys, and weathering profile truncation by modern drainage. The Maryland Piedmont may have been an area of positive relief subject to subaerial erosion since Triassic and possibly Permian time. The upland surface preserved in the eastern Piedmont developed by the Late Cretaceous. In the interval from the Late Cretaceous to the Late Miocene, low input of terrigenous sediments to the Coastal Plain, dominance of marine sedimentation, and spotty evidence of saprolite formation on crystalline rocks, suggest that the Maryland Piedmont was an area of low relief undergoing intense weathering. Incised valleys were formed during a cycle of erosion probably initiated in the Late Miocene and extensive colluvial sediments were deposited on hillslopes by periglacial processes during the Pleistocene.     

江南隆起带幕阜山岩体新生代剥蚀冷却的低温热年代学证据

江南隆起位于扬子与华夏地块的碰撞汇聚带,是研究华南大地构造演化的关键地质单元.本文采用磷灰石裂变径迹及(U-Th-Sm)/He年龄分布特征定性分析与径迹长度分布数据定量模拟相结合,主要研究了幕阜山岩体新生代的隆升与剥蚀过程,并在此基础上结合区域构造背景, 对其构造-热演化之间的关系进行了探讨.自晚白垩世持续隆升以来,幕阜山岩体经历的平均剥蚀厚度约4800 m.在不同岩体间,隆升过程及幅度存在差异,空间上具有非均匀性.热史结果显示幕阜山岩体经历了3期剥蚀, 其中两期快速剥蚀分别发生在晚白垩世-古近纪(80~50 Ma)和10 Ma以来,而这之间为一期缓慢剥蚀过程.研究区古近纪的快速剥蚀反映了中-下扬子喜山期大规模伸展断陷作用造成的肩部块体快速剥蚀事件; 约10 Ma以来的快速剥蚀是对太平洋板块向西运动的响应.幕阜山岩体自燕山晚期以来的隆升剥蚀作用具有良好的盆地沉积响应, 三期隆升剥蚀事件与研究区构造演化的动力学背景相吻合.     

THE MECHANISMS OF ARCUATE STRUCTURES ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE ALTYN TAGH FAULT AND THEIR TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS

The giant sinistral Altyn Tagh Fault(ATF)is the northern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau. It has been playing important role in adjusting the India-Eurasia collision and the tectonic evolution of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Knowledge of the evolution of the ATF can provide comprehensive understanding of the processes and mechanisms of the deformation of the Tibetan Plateau. However, its timing of commencement, amount of displacement and strike-slip rate, as well as the tectonic evolution of the region are still under debate. South of the ATF, there exist a series of oroclinal-like arcuate structures. Knowledge of whether these curved geometries represent original curvatures or the bending of originally straight/aligned geological units has significant tectonic implications for the evolution of the ATF. The Yingxiongling arcuate belt in the western Qaidam Basin and the northern Qaidam marginal thrust belt(NQMTB)north of the Qaidam Basin are the two typical arcuate thrust belts, where the former has a "7-types" structure, and the latter has a reverse "S-type" structure. Successive Cenozoic sediments are well exposed and magnetostratigraphically dated in both belts. Paleomagnetic declination has great advantage to reveal vertical-axis rotations of geological bodies since they become magnetized. Recently conducted paleomagnetic rotation studies in different parts of these two thrust belts revealed detailed Cenozoic rotation patterns and magnitudes of the region. By integrating these paleomagnetic rotation results with regional geometric features and lines of geological evidence, we propose that these two arcuate thrust belts were most likely caused by different rotations in different parts of these curvatures, due to the sinistral strike-slip faulting along the ATF, rather than originally curved ones. The Yingxiongling arcuate belt was shaped by the significant counterclockwise(CCW)rotations of its northwestern half(the Akatengnengshan anticline)near the ATF during~16~11Ma BP, while its southeastern half(the Youshashan anticline)had no significant rotations since at least~20Ma BP. The geometry of the NQMTB was developed firstly by remarkable clockwise rotations of its middle part during~33~14Ma BP, and later possibly CCW rotations of its northwestern part during the Middle to Late Miocene, similar to that of the northwestern part of the Yingxiongling arcuate belt. The characteristics of two-stage strike-slip evolution of the ATF since the Early Oligocene were enriched:1)During the Early Oligocene to mid-Miocene, fast strike-slip faulting along the ATF was proposed to accommodate the eastward extrusion of the northern Tibetan Plateau with its sinistral shear confined to the fault itself. While in the NQMTB and farther east area in the Qilian Shan, its sinistral shear was transferred to the interior of the plateau and was accommodated by deformation of differential crustal shortenings and block rotations in these regions. Thus, the displacement along the ATF west of the NQMTB is larger than that east of the NQMTB. 2)Since the mid-late Miocene, sinistral shear of the ATF was widespread distributed within the northern Tibetan Plateau, instead of concentrated to the fault itself. Its sinistral offsets were partially absorbed by the shortening deformation within the Qaidam Basin and the Qilian Shan, leading the offsets along the ATF decreasing to the east. With the sinistral frictional drag of blocks(the Tarim Basin and the Altyn Tagh Range)on the other side during the second stage evolution of the ATF, a transitional zone south of the ATF was likely developed by remarkable CCW rotations during the Middle to Late Miocene, which is probably confined to east of the Tula syncline. Combining the sinistral offsets along the ATF derived from the paleomagnetic rotations during the Early Oligocene to mid-late Miocene and that by piercing points since the Late Miocene, the post Oligocene strike-slip offsets were constrained as at least~350~430km for the reference in the western Qaidam Basin and~380~460km for the reference in the NQMTB, with an average slip rate of at least~10.6~13.9mm/a. The post Early Oligocene offsets are consistent with the widely accepted offsets of~300~500km obtained by piercing point analyses.