西藏班戈地区重要矽卡岩型铁(铜)多金属矿床LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb测年与花岗岩地球化学特征

选择班戈县雪如、查朗拉2个重要的小型矽卡岩型铁铜矿床为研究对象,在系统的野外地质调查、样品采集和室内岩矿鉴定、分析测试工作的的基础上,开展了2个矿床LA-ICP-MS锆石 U-Pb测年与花岗岩地球化学研究。LA-ICP-MS方法测定的锆石U-Pb年龄显示,雪如、查朗拉地区成矿岩体年龄分别为79.72Ma±0.50Ma和76.10Ma±0.40Ma,证明班戈地区存在晚白垩世的岩浆活动。2个岩体的SiO2含量介于70.45%～72.64%之间,K2O(4.62%～5.69%)的含量均高于Na2O(3.05%～3.75%)的含量,CaO的含量偏低(1.32%～2.03%),富K。A/CNK均小于1.0,A/NK范围为1.03～1.30,为准铝质类型。显示富K特征。在微量元素蛛网图中,富集大离子亲石元素Ra、Th、U、Nd,贫Nb。稀土元素配分模式属于右倾型,∑REE=199.08×10－6～268.41×10－6,LREE/HREE=4.71～7.68,具有中等的负Eu异常。岩体为同碰撞期花岗岩类,具有良好的铁铜铟铋等多金属成矿地质、地球化学条件,显示有良好的找矿前景。     

西藏班公湖-怒江成矿带上的碰撞后铜矿床

地处藏北高原的班公湖-怒江铜矿带是继藏东的玉龙斑岩铜矿带和藏南的冈底斯斑岩铜矿带之后,在青藏高原上发现的第三条铜矿带。与前两条斑岩铜矿带不同的是,班公湖-怒江铜矿带的铜矿床类型具有多样性,包括:1多龙、雄梅斑岩型铜金矿床;2尕尔穷-嘎拉勒斑岩-矽卡岩型铜金矿床;3拨拉扎斑岩型铜钼矿床;4舍索矽卡岩型铜(铅锌)多金属矿床。不同类型铜矿床的成矿时代集中在120~90 Ma之间,约30 Ma间隔内。文章通过沉积岩岩相学、火成岩岩石地球化学以及锆石U-Pb与辉钼矿Re-Os同位素年代学的综合研究,指出班公湖-怒江中特提斯洋盆的闭合时间为早白垩世初(140~130 Ma之间),班公湖-怒江成矿带上的铜矿床都形成于碰撞后造山环境。该成矿带与铜矿化有关的侵入岩主要为花岗闪长(斑)岩和石英闪长(玢)岩,在岩石地球化学上,富集大离子亲石元素(Rb、Th、U、Ba、K、Pb),亏损高场强元素(Nb、Ta、Ti),显示出俯冲组分对岩浆生成过程产生的重要影响,与碰撞后岩浆作用特征相吻合。除了班公湖-怒江铜矿带外,青藏高原上的另外两条斑岩铜矿带(即藏东的玉龙斑岩铜矿带和藏南的冈底斯斑岩铜矿带),也是形成于洋盆闭合之后的造山带碰撞后环境,因此,青藏高原可以说是地球上碰撞后铜矿床的天堂。     

西藏班戈县多巴区矽卡岩型铁多金属矿床含矿花岗岩LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年、地球化学及意义

选择西藏班戈县多巴区梭沙矽卡岩型矿化点与再阿矽卡岩型铁多金属矿床,在野外地质调查、室内岩相和矿相学研究的基础上,对含矿花岗岩进行了锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb法测年分析、主量与微量元素测试,并探讨了岩石成因及其与成矿作用的关系。梭沙地区主要矿化岩体为细粒斑状花岗闪长岩,再阿为中细粒花岗闪长岩。锆石的LA-ICP-MS定年结果表明,细粒斑状花岗闪长岩和中细粒花岗闪长岩的年龄分别为77.37±0.55 Ma和79.78±0.99 Ma,均为晚白垩世岩浆活动的产物。区内花岗岩的A/CNK值变化于0.78~1.29之间,A/NK值变化在0.88~1.51之间,为准铝质系列。花岗岩富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Th、U、K,贫Nb,总体与班公湖成矿带的同期花岗岩相一致,∑REE=199.82×10-6~274.64×10-6,LREE/HREE=3.552~7.199,δEu=0.20~0.82,Eu呈中等负异常,揭示岩浆演化过程中可能发生过斜长石的分离结晶作用。梭沙和再阿岩体的成矿作用与班公湖-怒江洋向南俯冲结束后的碰撞闭合作用有关,为班公湖-怒江缝合带闭合之后岩浆活动及相关热液作用的产物。梭沙和再阿地区具有良好的铁铋等多金属成矿地质、地球化学条件,有良好的找矿前景,应加强该区的找矿评价工作。     

西藏嘎拉勒铜金矿床金和银的赋存状态研究

班公湖-怒江成矿带是西藏重要的铜多金属成矿带。嘎拉勒铜金矿床是该成矿带中发现较晚、研究程度较低且具代表性的矽卡岩型铜金矿床,矿石有用组分中金、银的赋存状态研究相对开展的较少,限制了矿床进一步的综合开发利用。作者通过野外地质调查与采样,采用光学显微镜鉴定、扫描电镜观察和X射线能谱仪测试分析等手段和方法,对矿石成分组分做了详细的研究,重点研究了矿床中金、银的赋存状态及主要载金矿物的特征。嘎拉勒铜金矿床金矿物以自然金、银金矿为主,其次为金银矿,可见粒间金、裂隙金及相对较少的包裹金形式,主要的载金矿物为石英、白云石、方解石、金属氧化物、硫化物及自然铋等。银矿物主要以金银系列矿物形式存在,少量自然银与放射性元素共生,此外,还有少量辉银矿。研究成果填补了该矿区金、银赋存状态研究的空白,对矿床的开发、利用有着重要的指示意义。     

西藏冈底斯多金属成矿带斑岩铜矿定位预测与资源潜力评价

自1999年开展地质大调查以来,冈底斯成矿带斑岩铜矿研究取得了重大进展.本文在全面收集冈底斯成矿带地质、矿产和物化探资料基础上,建立了本区GIS平台上的资源预测评价系统.采用数理统计分析,确定了冈底斯成矿带斑岩铜矿定位预测的定量化标志35个,认为对斑岩铜矿预测影响比较重要的地质变量(因素权重>0.2)为花岗岩体(不限时代)、Cu、Mo、W、Au、Ag、Bi化探异常、Cu-Mo、Cu-Mo-Au、Cu-Au-Ag组合化探异常、矿床规模、重力场中低负异常场等.在此基础上,开展了工作区斑岩铜矿的定位预测,圈定了斑岩铜矿成矿远景区33处,计算结果与实际矿产分布和地质理论分析相吻合.采用面金属量法对冈底斯成矿带斑岩铜矿的资源潜力进行了估算,结果表明,冈底斯地区仍具有良好的斑岩铜矿找矿远景,1 000 m以浅的潜在铜资源量可达1亿吨以上.其中,驱龙-甲马-拉抗俄、松多雄、白容-冲江、松多握、吉如、达布、汤不拉、龙卡朗、崩不弄金矿、洞嘎、雄村、麦热-仁钦则、蒙哑啊东北、吹败子、岗达、沙让-亚贵拉、青龙-龙马拉、冲木达、洛麦南、拉屋找矿潜力较大.     

Geology,geochronology, and exploration of the Jiama giant porphyry copper deposit (11 Mt), Tibet,China: A review

Jiama, with more than 11 Mt of copper metal, is the largest porphyry-skarn copper system in the Gangdese metallogenic belt, Tibet, China, creating ideal conditions for deciphering the origin of porphyry ores in a collision setting. Despite massive studies of the geology, chronology, petrogenesis, and ore-related fluids and their sources in Jiama, there is a lack of systematic summaries and reviews of this system. In contrast to traditional porphyry copper systems in a subduction setting, recent studies and exploration suggest that the Jiama deposit includes porphyry-type Mo-Cu, skarn-type Cu polymetallic, vein-type Au and manto orebodies. This paper reviews the latest studies on the geology, chronology, petrogenesis, fluid inclusions, and isotopic geochemistry (hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and lead) of the Jiama deposit. Accordingly, a multi-center complex mineralization model was constructed, indicating that multi-phase intrusions from the same magma reservoir can form multiple hydrothermal centers. These centers are mutually independent and form various orebodies or are superimposed on each other and form thick, high-grade orebodies. Finally, a new comprehensive exploration model was established for the Jiama porphyry copper system. Both models established in this study help to refine the theories on continental-collision metallogeny and porphyry copper systems.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.     

西藏青草山斑岩铜矿化探异常特征及找矿潜力

青草山斑岩铜矿位于班公湖―怒江斑岩成矿带西段,是西藏地勘局地质二队在开展1∶200 000区域化探工作时新发现的矿床。经过查证发现了厚大铜矿体,认为青草山化探异常为矿致异常,矿区具有较好的成矿条件,找矿潜力巨大。     

西藏冈底斯成矿带与俯冲-碰撞作用相关的斑岩铜矿的找矿方向

本文从构造-岩浆演化、典型矿床特征、构造-岩浆产物空间分布特征等方面,对冈底斯成矿带形成于195~80Ma的与俯冲-碰撞作用相关的斑岩(-矽卡岩)型铜矿的找矿方向进行了探讨。认为研究区与俯冲-碰撞作用相关的斑岩型铜矿大致可分为早-中侏罗世、晚侏罗-早白垩世、晚白垩世3个成矿时期,分别对应于雅鲁藏布江洋向北、班公湖怒江洋向南相向俯冲、班公湖怒江洋碰撞关闭、雅鲁藏布江洋向北持续俯冲、雅鲁藏布江洋向北晚期俯冲等构造-岩浆事件。与早期相向俯冲相关的雄村式矿床,在拉萨东部达孜-工布江达一带具有良好找矿前景;与中期俯冲-碰撞相关的多龙式矿床,在昂龙岗日、东恰错、桑日等火山岩浆弧区成矿条件较佳;与晚期俯冲相关的尕尔穷式矿床,在冈底斯东段和西段具有较大的找矿潜力。     

冈底斯成矿带林周县程巴矽卡岩铜多金属矿床特征：对藏南区域古新世铜矿床的找矿启示

冈底斯是全球重要的斑岩-矽卡岩铜矿床的成矿带之一,发育侏罗纪(173～160 Ma)和中新世(26～12 Ma)两期矿化事件.印度与亚洲大陆主碰撞期(65～50 Ma)形成了该带规模最大的壳幔混源岩浆岩,而藏南能否形成大中型规模的斑岩-矽卡岩铜矿床一直是个未解之谜.文章获得冈底斯带东部程巴大型矽卡岩铜多金属矿床中与黄铜矿共生的辉钼矿Re-Os模式年龄和含矿花岗闪长岩U-Pb年龄分别为(58.9±0.9)Ma、(57.6±0.4)Ma,认为它是主碰撞期首例矽卡岩铜矿床.含矿岩体可见自形角闪石早于斜长石,与甲玛超大型斑岩-矽卡岩型铜矿床具有类似的含矿地层、矽卡岩矿物组合和成矿元素分带特征.结合区域构造背景的资料,笔者提出冈底斯成矿带东部具有寻找古新世斑岩-矽卡岩铜矿床的潜力.     

西藏斑岩铜矿的前景展望

世界斑岩铜矿主要产于中生代一新生代环太平洋带、古特提斯带和古生代中亚—蒙古带，因为上述3带为聚合板块集中分布地区。中国西藏集中了金沙江聚合带、雅鲁藏布江聚合带和怒江—班公错聚合带，为世界上聚合板块最发育地区之一，具有较长的大洋板块俯冲和陆—陆碰撞的造山历史，构造—花岗质岩浆十分发育，其中深源高侵位的花岗质斑岩分布广泛，对于形成斑岩铜矿和其他相关矿床十分有利，为找矿评价斑岩铜(金)矿很有前景的地区。笔者借鉴世界和中国评价斑岩铜矿的经验，同时收集了西藏近年来找寻评价斑岩铜矿有关的地质资料，对西藏斑岩铜矿的前景进行了展望。     

西藏玉龙铜矿带南段马牧普铜多金属矿床矿物学特征

西藏马牧普铜多金属矿床是玉龙铜矿带南段的重要组成部分，最新勘查进展揭示其铜、金资源量均已达到中型规模，但理论研究工作仍十分薄弱。本文基于系统的镜下鉴定和电子探针分析，对马牧普铜多金属矿床矿物学进行详细研究，进而探究矿床成因。马牧普矿床主矿体为中—厚层板状的角砾岩型矿体，矿石类型以角砾状为主，局部矿体呈透镜状产于角岩中。矿区发育广泛的绿泥石化、角岩化、金云母化和弱绢云母化蚀变。电子探针分析结果表明，矿区内矽卡岩矿物中辉石主要为透辉石，云母主要为金云母，角闪石则以透闪石为主。马牧普矿床成矿阶段和矿物组合为：Ⅰ进变质阶段，矿物组合为透辉石- 石榴子石- 磁铁矿±白钨矿；Ⅱ退变质阶段，矿物组合为透闪石- 金云母±磁铁矿±绿泥石±绿帘石±白钨矿；Ⅲ硫化物阶段，矿物组合为黄铁矿- 黄铜矿±辉钼矿±磁黄铁矿±辉铋矿±方铅矿±闪锌矿±萤石±石英，为主成矿阶段；Ⅳ碳酸盐阶段，矿物组合为赤铁矿±萤石±方解石±石英±玉髓。矿物学特征表明，矽卡岩演化经历了岩浆期后高温—中低温演化的过程，随着温度的降低，镁质矽卡岩矿物从进变质阶段的透辉石转变为退变质阶段的金云母；矽卡岩形成过程中经历了早期相对较为氧化的环境到晚期相对较为还原环境的转变。矿区角砾岩层为原沉积地层中存在的白云质、钙质碳酸盐夹层，广泛的热液交代作用使得大部分碳酸盐呈角砾状。含矿岩浆热液流体沿着碳酸盐岩产状侵位并发生交代作用，使得金属矿物在角砾岩层中沉淀并富集成矿。     

西藏洛巴堆矽卡岩型铁多金属矿床石榴子石和锆石U-Pb测年及地质意义

石榴子石是矽卡岩型矿床中最常见的蚀变矿物之一,因此,对石榴子石进行年代学研究能够准确限定矽卡岩型矿床的成矿时代.青藏高原冈底斯成矿带中部发育众多矽卡岩型多金属矿床,由于缺乏精确的成矿年代学数据,制约着对这些矿床成因和动力学背景的深入认识.因此,文章以该成矿带具有代表性的洛巴堆矽卡岩型铁多金属矿床为研究对象,通过对赋矿矽...     

西藏冈底斯西段银锡铜多金属成矿系列与找矿方向

作为目前我国规模第一的冈底斯巨型铜多金属成矿带,其东段斑岩铜多金属找矿已取得历史性重大突破,发现了驱龙、甲玛等一系列大-超大型矿床.而西段由于复杂的构造背景、不便的交通条件、极低的地质研究和矿产工作程度,相对于东段具有不同的地壳结构和性质,不均一的地幔属性及壳幔作用方式,以及大面积的火山岩覆盖,使得冈底斯西段的成矿类型...     

藏北阿里地区新发现的尕尔穷铜金多金属矿床地质特征及其找矿前景

尕尔穷铜金矿床是近年来在西藏阿里地区发现的一个与斑岩成矿作用有关的铜金矿床,该矿床产于冈底斯陆块北缘与班公湖-怒江成矿带的结合部位.Ⅰ号矿体呈似层状,矿体长度大于900m,沿倾向方向延伸大于400m,产状受接触带所控制;Ⅲ号矿体沿北东构造破碎带分布,长度超过3km,已控制矿体的长度大于700m.主要矿石类型为浸染状、网...     

The first discovery of Xinlong epithermal gold deposit in southern margin of the Bangonghu-Nujiang metallogenic belt: A new expansion of gold prospecting in Northern Tibet

The Xinlong gold deposit is located in Niyma County, Naqu area of Tibet and was discovered by the Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences through the 1∶50000 mineral geological survey. The ore bodies occur in the Zenong Group volcanic rocks in the middle section of the central Lhasa subterrane and are structurally controlled by the NNW-striking faults. Four ore bodies have been found, exhibiting cloddy, dense-sparse, disseminated, and breccia structures. The ore minerals are mainly tetrahedrite group minerals, and other ore minerals include pyrite, chalcopyrite, nevskite, bornite, anglesite, native gold, and silver-gold bearing selenide, etc. The types of alteration are dominated by silicification, as well as middle- and high-graded argillization. The alteration mineral assemblages contain quzrtz, pyrophyllite, and kaolinite. The Zaliela Formation volcanic rocks of Zenong Group are silicified by later hydrothermal fluid with vuggy quartz in some fractured zones. The middle- and high-graded argillization are characterized by pyrophyllitization and kaolinization. The Xinlong gold deposit shows great metallogenetic potentiality and has been revealed by 1∶10000 geological mapping, IP sounding, and trial trenching in the mining area. Combined with the regional metallogenic geological setting, we suppose that a potential epithermal gold belt probably exists in the middle of the Lhasa terrane. The discovery of the Xinlong gold deposit opens a new chapter for the gold prospecting in Northern Tibet.©2023 China Geology Editorial Office.     

西藏墨竹工卡县甲玛铜多金属矿床勘查模型

甲玛铜多金属矿床是西藏藏中有色金属开发基地的重要矿床.文章重点研究了该矿床的成矿地质条件、找矿标志、地球化学勘查模型、地球物理勘查模型、矿体空间结构等.研究表明:赋矿地层为林布宗组(K1 l)砂板岩、角岩和多底沟组(J3d)大理岩、灰岩,角岩控制了钼(铜)矿体的分布,角岩与大理岩之间的层间构造是矽卡岩型矿体的赋存部位....     

西藏班公湖-怒江成矿带西段拿厅斑岩Cu(Au)矿床的火成岩岩石成因与成矿物质来源

位于西藏班公湖-怒江成矿带西段多龙矿集区内的拿厅斑岩Cu(Au)矿床是近年来开展勘查取得重大找矿突破的矿床之一,控制Cu资源量已达到大型规模。但目前对该矿床的地质特征、成矿岩石成因及成矿物质来源还缺乏深入的了解和研究。本文基于系统的野外地质观察、岩相学研究,结合精细的锆石SIMS U-Pb定年、锆石Hf-O同位素、岩石地球化学和蚀变-矿石矿物的H-O-S同位素分析,认为该矿床是形成于121～118Ma的斑岩型Cu(Au)矿床,与多龙Cu(Au)矿集区内多不杂、波龙、拿顿、色那、拿若和铁格隆南(荣那)矿床为同一期岩浆-热液成矿事件,其成岩-成矿峰期为120～118Ma。拿厅斑岩铜(金)矿床成矿岩体显示轻稀土富集的分配型式和缺少Eu异常,且富集大离子亲石元素(如Rb、Ba等),而亏损高场强元素(如Nb、Ta等),显示弧岩浆的特征,形成于班公湖-怒江洋向北俯冲的大陆边缘弧背景。锆石Hf-O同位素模拟结果显示,矿区早期的安山-英安质次火山岩(ε_(Hf)(t)=-2. 0～10. 3;δ~(18)O=5. 07‰～6. 77‰)具有早期幔源岩浆和经历MASH过程混入壳源的岩浆(10%～20%壳源物质)的特征;而二长花岗斑岩和成矿花岗闪长斑岩(ε_(Hf)(t)=1. 7～3. 3;δ~(18)O=6. 40‰～6. 95‰)则是MASH过程逐渐演化(壳源-幔源混合,约20%～40%壳源物质)的产物。在形成拿厅斑岩铜金矿成矿岩浆的过程中,没有发生陆壳加厚的过程;岩浆演化过程中有较少斜长石分离结晶,主要为角闪石和钛铁氧化物结晶分异。另外,热液蚀变(石英、磁铁矿)和硫酸盐-硫化物(硬石膏、黄铜矿、黄铁矿)的H-O-S同位素结果显示,拿厅成矿流体和成矿物质主要来源于岩浆,与岩浆流体出溶过程密切有关。     

西藏乌鲁穷含铜磁铁矿床的发现及地质特征

继尼雄、弗野、材玛等铁矿床的发现之后,新一轮1：5万区域地质调查又在班公湖-怒江成矿带西段乌鲁穷地区发现了较大规模的含铜磁铁矿矿床。野外路线调查、剖面实测和大比例尺填图表明,乌鲁穷磁铁矿形成于南羌塘南缘中-晚侏罗世中酸性岩体与上三叠统日干配错群二组（T₃R²）碳酸盐岩外接触带中,矿体受后期近南北向高角度正断层改造,成矿作用表现出多期次、多阶段特征。通过对矿体邻近的石英闪长岩、二长花岗岩和控矿断层中同构造碳酸盐脉进行锆石LA-ICP-MS U-Pb同位素测年,获得石英闪长岩、二长花岗岩成岩年龄分别为：（161.3±0.72）Ma、（157.5±1.7）Ma,并获得同构造碳酸盐脉热液锆石年龄为（84.2±1.1）Ma。结合前人研究和1：5万地质调查成果,认为乌鲁穷含铜磁铁矿在中-晚侏罗世（157.5~161.3 Ma）班公湖-怒江洋北向俯冲过程中初步富集成矿,形成矽卡岩型含铜磁铁矿矿床,矿体在晚白垩世（84.2 Ma）陆内伸展过程中再次富集;提出班公湖地区在晚白垩世中期存在一期横跨缝合带的陆内伸展成矿事件,成矿作用与班公湖-怒江洋闭合后地幔软流圈底辟及其相关的地壳线性热隆伸展是一个机理关联的系统。     

Variation of copper isotopes in chalcopyrite from Dabu porphyry Cu-Mo deposit in Tibet and implications for mineral exploration

The study presents copper (Cu) isotope data of mineral separates of chalcopyrite from four drill core samples in the Miocene Dabu porphyry Cu-Mo deposit formed in a post-collisional setting in the Gangdese porphyry copper belt, southern Tibet. Copper isotope values in hypogene chalcopyrite range from –1.48‰ to +1.12‰, displaying a large variation of up to 2.60‰, which demonstrates Cu isotope fractionation at high-temperature during hydrothermal evolution. The majority of measured chalcopyrite isotopic compositions show a gradual increasing trend from –1.48‰ to +1.12‰ with the increase of drilling depth from 130m to 483m, as the alteration assemblages change from potassic to phyllic. Similarly, the other δ⁶⁵Cu values (δ⁶⁵Cu = ((⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu)_sample/(⁶⁵Cu/⁶³Cu)_standard − 1) × 1000) of the chalcopyrite show a gradual increasing trend from −1.48‰ to +0.59‰ with the decrease of drilling depth from 130 m to 57 m, as the alteration assemblages change from potassic, phyllic, through argillic to relatively fresh. These observations suggest a genetic link between Cu isotope variation and silicate alteration assemblages formed at different temperatures, indicative of a Rayleigh precipitation process resulting in the large variation of δ⁶⁵Cu values at Dabu. In general, samples closest to the center of hydrothermal system dominated by high-temperature potassic alteration are isotopically lighter, whereas samples dominated by low-temperature phyllic alteration peripheral to the center are isotopically heavier. The predicted flow pathways of hydrothermal fluids are from No. 0 to No. 3 exploration line, and the lightest δ⁶⁵Cu values are the most proximal to the hydrothermal source. Finally, we propose that the northwest side of the No. 0 exploration line has high potential for hosting undiscovered orebodies. The pattern of Cu isotope variation in conjunction with the features of silicate alteration in porphyry system can be used to trace the hydrothermal flow direction and to guide mineral exploration.     

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.