青藏高原东北缘何时卷入现今青藏高原构造系统?——来自西秦岭北缘漳县盆地新生代沉积记录的约束

新生代以来印度-欧亚板块持续碰撞汇聚形成号称世界第三极的青藏高原。青藏高原的扩展生长和构造变形系统形成的动力学过程是地球科学研究的重大科学问题。青藏高原东北缘新生代以来构造演化过程及其与印度-欧亚板块碰撞汇聚的动力学耦合关系研究对于揭示青藏高原扩展生长过程具有重要地质意义。尽管前人已经开展了大量研究探索,提出各种构造-隆升模型,但青藏高原东北缘何时卷入印度-欧亚碰撞汇聚的青藏高原构造系统尚未达成共识。作为青藏高原东北缘组成部分的西秦岭北缘构造带漳县地区不仅新生代地层记录齐全,而且断裂构造发育,构造变形现象丰富,是研究青藏高原东北缘新生代构造演化及印度-欧亚碰撞汇聚远程构造响应的良好区域。通过对西秦岭北缘构造带漳县地区新生代沉积盆地地层构造格架、沉积地层序列和沉积旋回等详细野外观测研究,结合区域断裂带几何学-运动学及变形历史分析,取得如下认识:(1)西秦岭北缘漳县地区新生代沉积地层主要由为不整合分隔的两套构造性质完全不同的构造地层单元组成,即渐新世—中新世伸展断陷盆地沉积和上新世再生前陆磨拉石盆地沉积;(2)渐新世—中新世时期的地壳伸展拉张构造环境与印度-欧亚碰撞汇聚的挤压环境相悖,指示了西秦岭北缘在渐新世—中新世尚未卷入现今的印度-欧亚碰撞汇聚构造系统;(3)上新世磨拉石盆地的发育标志着西秦岭北缘构造带从伸展到挤压的构造体制转换,可能指示了印度-欧亚碰撞汇聚的挤压构造作用这时才波及西秦岭北缘;(4)上新世粗砾岩、西秦岭造山带地层和中生代沉积地层共同经历了抬升剥蚀作用,形成了西秦岭北缘广泛发育的夷平面。第四纪以来夷平面的抬升和解体、现代河流侵蚀系统和多级河流阶地的出现,指示了青藏高原东北缘整体的不均匀大规模抬升而进入现今青藏高原构造系统。     

青藏高原新生代隆升研究现状

新生代青藏高原的隆升过程倍受世界关注。国内外学者从不同角度围绕青藏高原成为统一整体(印度-欧亚碰撞)的时限、隆升阶段性和空间差异性、青藏高原作为高海拔高原形成的时间、青藏高原隆升的动力机制等重大事件进行了深入的研究。对印度板块-欧亚板块的碰撞时间存在70Ma、65Ma、55Ma、50Ma、45Ma和40～34Ma等多种观点。印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞不是在某个时间点完成的,其碰撞持续时间约10～15Ma。碰撞方式存在由西向东迁移、由东向西迁移等多种观点。青藏高原的隆升过程具有强烈的时空差异性。青藏高原新生代隆升阶段存在多种划分方案,流行的有3阶段、4阶段和5阶段强隆升过程。青藏高原作为高海拔高原形成的时间可归纳为约3.6Ma以来、13～8Ma、26～20Ma、40～35Ma和55～45Ma 5类观点。青藏高原的形成机制模型存在较大分歧,流行的模式可分为碰撞、俯冲、挤出和拆沉-板片断离4类。青藏高原多阶段隆升及构造-岩浆演化造就了高原复杂多样的大陆成矿作用。高原隆升与环境和气候演变具耦合关系。     

青藏高原中部岩石圈结构-变形及地球动力学模式的天然地震学研究

根据中法合作项目（１９９２～１９９５）取得的新资料,对青藏高原岩石圈结构、变形及地球动力学模式进行了探讨,研究表明：青藏高原是由不同时期从冈瓦纳古陆分离出的微板块拼合而成的．从新生代开始印度板块与欧亚板块发生高角度陆－陆俯冲,青藏高原内部发生以垂直应变为主的缩短变形,中新世以后增厚的岩石圈上地幔发生不均匀剥离,导致高原快速隆升,并使青藏高原以南北挤压为主的变形变为东西拉张为主的变形,部分地区出现火山活动．     

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.     

青藏高原新生代形成演化的整合模型——来自火成岩的约束

深部过程是青藏高原演化的主导因素,其他地质过程都可以看作是对深部过程的响应。因此,一个构造旋回(阶段)的地球动力学事件链可以概括为深部地质过程—幔源岩浆活动—壳源岩浆活动—陆壳增厚—地表隆升—表层剥蚀与沉积,其中幔源岩浆活动的研究成为追索青藏高原演化历史的关键环节。据此,青藏高原演化的关键性时间坐标为80、45、27、17、9和4Ma。青藏高原新生代火成岩具有三种展布形式:与雅鲁藏布缝合带平行的岩浆带、沿深大断裂展布的岩浆带和藏北离散性岩浆分布区,它们分别受控于大陆碰撞、大规模走滑和岩石圈拆沉构造体制,且都受控于印度—亚洲软流圈汇聚过程。据此,文中提出了一个描述青藏高原演化的整合模型:南北向地幔对流汇聚控制了岩石圈块体的相对运动,并最终导致印度—亚洲大陆的碰撞和沿碰撞带的大规模岩浆活动;碰撞之初(白垩纪末期),大陆岩石圈块体的刚性属性有利于应力的远程传递和块体旋转,沿块体边界分布的大型走滑断裂控制了岩浆活动的发生;随着挤压过程的持续进行,岩石圈块体的受热和变形,高原岩石圈的重力不稳定性增加,最终导致拆沉作用和软流圈物质的大规模上涌以及藏北高原的离散性岩浆活动。在高原演化中,岩石圈拆沉作用具有重要意义,许多地质事件的发生都与此有关。同时,软流圈的汇聚还导致软流圈物质的向东挤出,并因此造成青藏高原岩石圈的向东挤出和晚新生代的伸展构造。     

榆木山地区玉门砾岩磁性地层及其对青藏高原东北部变形隆升意义

青藏高原新生代变形隆升过程是青藏高原新生代构造演化研究的热点问题,地处于高原东北部祁连山东北缘的榆木山是研究高原变形隆升时空过程的关键研究区之一。榆木山地区发育了一套粗砾相磨拉石——玉门砾岩,磁性地层研究表明其底部地质年代约为3.58Ma。经古水流、磁化率、野外考察等推断玉门砾岩可能主要为构造隆升的产物,同时在榆木山地区还发育3个与玉门砾岩有关的不整合面,其跨越年龄分别约为:5.23～3.58Ma、2.88～2.58Ma和<1.77～0.8Ma。综合分析认为该地区变形隆升不晚于3.58Ma,之后至少经历两期构造变形隆升,该结果比北东向分步生长变形隆升模式推测的变形隆升时间明显早约1Ma,应该是对高原东北部青藏-昆黄运动的响应结果。     

龙门山晚新生代均衡反弹隆升的定量研究

龙门山位于青藏高原东缘与四川盆地的交接部位,是青藏高原周边山脉中地形梯度变化最大的山脉,其隆升过程和机制一直是国际地学界关注的焦点。晚新生代经过大量的滑坡、泥石流等快速剥蚀作用,龙门山的高程却不断升高。讨论了龙门山构造隆升的3种地球动力学机制,即下地壳通道流机制、地壳挤压缩短变形机制、地壳均衡反弹机制。晚新生代龙门山的隆升与剥蚀引起的均衡反弹作用相关,剥蚀作用使得地壳岩石逐步被移去,剥蚀区重力损失,岩石圈或地壳卸载作用导致山脉顶峰的隆升。结合数字高程模型数据研究表明,巨大地震的长期同震构造变形以及滑坡、泥石流等引起的快速剥蚀所导致的地壳均衡反弹,可能是龙门山晚新生代构造隆升的地球动力学新机制。龙门山地区现今高程受构造作用与剥蚀引起的均衡反弹作用的共同影响,其中剥蚀引起的均衡反弹作用对龙门山隆升的影响贡献率约占30%。     

西藏南部二叠纪和早白垩世构造岩浆作用与特提斯演化:新观点

西藏高原前新生代时期的特提斯演化和新生代时期的高原隆升历史是西藏高原基础地质研究中两个长期被关注的重要科学问题,但迄今对西藏高原自身的物质组成和前新生代演化历史的认知程度仍然较低,直接限制了对新生代时期西藏高原隆升历史的更深入研究。新的地质和地球化学资料显示早—中二叠世时俯冲背景和伸展背景共存于现今的冈底斯带和喜马拉雅带,中二叠世末期(大约263Ma)侵位的皮康过铝质S型花岗岩以及同期发生的松多榴辉岩的高压变质作用和区域性角度不整合指示现今的冈底斯弧背断隆带在那时经历了同碰撞造山事件。中生代岩浆岩锆石U-Pb年龄和Hf同位素成分表明,冈底斯弧背断隆带和中冈底斯带存在以古元古代甚至太古宙物质为特征的古老基底物质,而北冈底斯带和南冈底斯则分别以中—新元古代新生地壳和显生宙新生地壳为特征。已有高质量年龄数据和锆石Hf同位素指示冈底斯带中北部地区在大约110Ma发生了带状岩浆大爆发并伴随着幔源物质显著增加。新的可靠的锆石U-Pb年龄指示喜马拉雅带东部措美(Comei)地区大面积出露的白垩纪火成岩侵位于132Ma左右,代表了新近在藏南和澳大利亚南西部识别出的经历了强烈变形和深位侵蚀的Comei-Bunbury大火成岩省的残余。以这些新资料为基础,讨论了西藏南部的晚古生代—中生代构造岩浆演化历史和特提斯演化过程。     

天水盆地晚新生代构造演化——对青藏高原北东向扩展的指示意义

天水盆地是一个位于青藏高原东北缘的晚新生代盆地,西秦岭北缘断裂穿盆而过。盆地内充填了较为完整的晚新生代地层,记录了该区晚新生代以来的构造变形历史,对研究青藏高原北东向扩展的构造响应具有重要意义。本文基于详细的野外构造变形分析与测量,结合已有的年代学与沉积学研究,初步提出天水盆地晚新生代以来构造变形序列与构造应力场,重建其晚新生代构造演化历史。详细研究表明,天水盆地晚新生代以来主要经历了3期构造演化:即中新世早-晚期NW-SE向构造伸展,沉积盆地发育,并伴随碱性超基性火山岩喷发和金刚石矿床形成;中新世晚期-早、中更新世NE-SW向挤压,盆地发生构造反转,其动力学背景可能源于晚新生代青藏高原的北东向扩展,指示高原物质扩散开始显著影响到西秦岭地区;晚更新世以来受近N-S向伸展作用控制,盆地发生向东有限挤出并伴随顺时针旋转,主要由于青藏高原向北东扩展过程中,区域构造挤压应力方向发生顺时针偏转所致。     

阿尔金-祁连山晚新生代隆升-剥露过程——来自岩屑磷灰石裂变径迹热年代学的制约

阿尔金-祁连山位于青藏高原北缘, 其新生代的隆升-剥露过程记录了高原变形和向北扩展的历史, 对探讨高原隆升动力学具有重要意义。本文采用岩屑磷灰石裂变径迹测年分析, 利用岩屑的统计特征限定阿尔金-祁连山新生代的隆升-剥露过程。磷灰石裂变径迹测试结果表明, 阿尔金-祁连山地区存在4个阶段的抬升冷却: 21.1~19.4 Ma、13.5~10.5 Ma、9.0~7.3 Ma、4.3~3.8 Ma。其中, 4.3~3.8 Ma抬升冷却事件仅体现在祁连山地区, 9.0~7.3 Ma抬升冷却事件在区内普遍存在, 且9.0~7.3 Ma隆升-剥露造就了现代阿尔金-祁连山的地貌。区域资料分析表明, 9~7 Ma(或者8~6 Ma)期间, 青藏高原北缘、东缘, 甚至整个中国西部地区发生了大规模、区域性的抬升, 中国现今"西高"的构造地貌形态可能于当时开始形成。阿尔金-祁连山地区4期抬升冷却事件与青藏高原的隆升阶段有很好的对应关系, 应该是对印度-欧亚板块碰撞的响应。     

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.     

青藏高原多向碰撞─揳入隆升地球动力学模式

论证了青藏高原形成与隆升过程中的变形构造格局。岩石圈结构、青藏高原隆升与周边前陆沉积盆地耦合关系、高原隆升的地球动力学模式等。提出青藏高原碰撞-隆升过程中,高原边缘以走滑-挤压构造为主,高原内部以伸展构造为主;高原隆升过程中,岩石圈变形总体是：上部以伸展变形为主,中部以挤压变形为主,下部以伸展变形为主。通过青藏高原及周边岩石圈结构及隆升过程变形作用时-空耦合关系的对比研究,建立起青藏高原隆升机制的多向碰撞-入隆升地球动力学模式。     

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。     

青藏高原多向碰撞─揳入隆升地球动力学模式

论证了青藏高原形成与隆升过程中的变形构造格局。岩石圈结构、青藏高原隆升与周边前陆沉积盆地耦合关系、高原隆升的地球动力学模式等。提出青藏高原碰撞-隆升过程中,高原边缘以走滑-挤压构造为主,高原内部以伸展构造为主;高原隆升过程中,岩石圈变形总体是：上部以伸展变形为主,中部以挤压变形为主,下部以伸展变形为主。通过青藏高原及周边岩石圈结构及隆升过程变形作用时-空耦合关系的对比研究,建立起青藏高原隆升机制的多向碰撞-入隆升地球动力学模式。     

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.     

The Cretaceous crustal shortening and thickening of the South Qiangtang Terrane and implications for proto-Tibetan Plateau formation

The timing and magnitude of deformation across the central Tibetan Plateau, including the South Qiangtang Terrane (SQT), are poorly constrained but feature prominently in geodynamic models of the Tibetan Plateau formation. The Ejiu fold and thrust belt (EFTB), which is located in the SQT, provides valuable records of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic deformation history of the central Tibetan Plateau. Here we integrate geochronology of volcanic rocks, low-temperature thermochronology, geologic mapping and a balanced cross section to resolve the deformation history of the SQT. Geochronologic data suggest that major deformation that initiated in the early Cretaceous continued until at least 80 Ma and ceased by ∼40 Ma. The balanced cross section resolves ∼66 km upper crustal shortening (34%) mainly during the Cretaceous Qiangtang-Lhasa collision. However, the Cenozoic crustal shortening is not well constrained because of a lack of successive Cenozoic strata. We also discussed whether the observed crustal shortening can account for the modern crustal thickness and elevation in the SQT. Our observations indicate that crustal shortening and thickening within the central Tibetan Plateau was mostly accomplished during the Cretaceous Lhasa-Qiangtang collision. A thick crust could be maintained since the Cretaceous due to slow erosion rates since ∼40 Ma. Minor Late Cenozoic shortening also contributed to a small amount of crustal thickening in the central Tibetan Plateau. However, close to modern >4700 m elevation was finally attained by lithospheric mantle foundering in the Qiangtang Terrane at ∼25 Ma.     

阿尔金山新生代隆升历史:来自塔东南若羌凹陷的沉积记录

阿尔金山位于青藏高原北部边缘,在高原隆升和演化过程中扮演着重要的角色。但是,关于它的新生代隆升历史现今仍存在较大的争议。阿尔金山北麓若羌凹陷新生代接受来自山脉的剥蚀物质。因此,凹陷内的沉积特征记录了阿尔金山新生代隆升的重要信息。本文利用石油钻井编录资料及地震剖面,通过对盆地区新生代各个地层之间的接触关系、沉积相组合和沉积速率变化进行研究,结果显示阿尔金山34Ma以来的隆升分为两阶段:第一阶段为34~20.4Ma,持续低速隆升;第二阶段为16Ma至现今,急剧快速隆升。结合前人研究成果,认为渐新世—早中新世,阿尔金断裂作为一个局限在中、下地壳的韧性剪切带造成阿尔金山一带产生大范围的地表隆起,控制了山脉在第一阶段的持续低速隆升;中中新世以来,阿尔金断裂大规模左行走滑,青藏高原北缘主要通过地壳缩短的形式释放应力,控制了山脉在第二阶段的急剧快速隆升。     

An Analysis of Tectonic Geomorphologic Characteristics of the Beipanjiang Basin in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau

The Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, located on the southeast boundary of the Tibet Plateau, is the second geomorphologic step in China continent. The large area tilting tectonic deformation occurred in this plateau with the uplift of the Tibet plateau since the Cenozoic. The Beipanjiang River rises in eastern Yunnan Province and southeastward across the slope zone from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to the Guangxi Plain, and goes into the Hongshui River by the Wangmo in Guizhou Province. Due to the southeastward extrusion by the Tibetan Plateau, deep incised-valleys formed in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, which have the characteristics of developed fault, complicated geological structure and rugged terrain. The Cenozoic evolution history of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the response to the uplifting of Tibet Plateau are unclear because of the lack of sedimentation records, and also this has long been a bottleneck to geomorphologic evolution research. Based on DEM data and GIS software, we extracted the geomorphic indexes which included hypsometric integral [HI], drainage basin asymmetry [AF], stream-length gradient index [SL], and valley floor width-to-height ratio [VF]. The results show that four geomorphic indexes can reflect the regional tectonic movement and topographical features. The geomorphology of Beipanjiang Basin is controlled by tectonic action mainly, especially the Yadu-Ziyun Fracture has great impact on the formation of valleys and the development of water system greatly.     

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.