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.     

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。     

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.     

柴达木盆地新生代以来的气候变化研究:来自碳氧同位素的证据

青藏高原北缘柴达木盆地内部始新世—更新世的碳酸盐中的碳、氧同位素分析结果显示了几次与区域性气候变化和构造运动相关的地质事件,包括青藏高原形成和隆升。新生代厚层的湖相-陆相沉积物记录了在中新世时气候以干旱条件为主。红三旱剖面中出现了两个较短1 Ma到3 Ma的δ13C变化周期。通过稳定同位素的研究可以识别出4个明显的构造事件:(1)上干柴沟组晚期δ13C和δ18O出现明显的增加,反映周边山脉的隆升;(2)上干柴沟组和下油砂山组界限处δ13C和δ18O的剧减,反映了整个柴达木盆地的总体抬升和喜马拉雅山在24 Ma左右的隆起;(3)19~18 Ma同位素数据出现的正异常峰值应该和阿尔金山的强烈隆起有关,同时盆地相对沉降,地貌高差增大,气候变得干旱;(4)12 Ma的明显负异常反映了整个柴达木盆地的海拔又一次增高,而盆地本身相对沉降周边山脉隆升。     

Cenozoic Environmental Changes in the Northern Qaidam Basin Inferred from n-alkane Records

Cenozoic climatic and environmental changes in the arid Asian interior, and their possible relations with global climatic changes and the Tibetan Plateau uplift, have been intensively investigated and debated over past decades. Here we present 40-Myr （million years）-long n-alkane records from a continuous Cenozoic sediment sequence in the Dahonggou Section, Qaidam Basin, northern Tibetan Plateau, to infer environmental changes in the northern basin. A set of n-alkane indexes, including ACL, CPI and Paq, vary substantially and consistently throughout the records, which are interpreted to reflect relative contributions from terrestrial vascular plants vs. aquatic macrophytes, and thus indicate depositional environments. ACL values vary between 21 and 30; CP1 values range from 1.0 to 8.0; and Paq values change from 〈0.1 to 0.8 over the past 40-Myr. We have roughly identified two periods, at 25.8-21.0 Ma （million years ago） and 13.0-17.5 Ma, with higher ACL and CPI and lower Paq values indicating predominant lacustrine environments. Lower ACL and CPI values, together with higher Paq values, occurred at 〉25.8 Ma, 17.5-21.0 Ma, and 〈13.0 Ma, corresponding to alluvial fan/river deltaic deposits and shallow lacustrine settings, consistent with the observed features in sedimentological facies. The inferred Cenozoic environmental changes in the northern Qaidam Basin appear to correspond to global climatic changes.     

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.     

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。     

柴达木盆地西部新生代构造演化及其对青藏高原北部生长过程的制约

柴达木盆地是青藏高原北部的一个中新生代山间陆相含油气盆地,盆地内新生代地层的构造变形记录了青藏高原北部生长、地壳缩短及其形成过程的重要信息.本文运用高精度卫星影像资料、地球物理资料剖面和磁性地层年代学数据等多种学科资料的综合研究,重点对柴达木盆地西部逆冲-褶皱构造带的形成机制和演化过程进行了详细的解析.研究结果表明:(1)由北向南依次发育分布的红三旱、尖顶山-黑梁子、南翼山和油砂山褶皱构造带均由不对称的直立褶皱或同斜褶皱构成,并且显示出背斜相对紧闭、向斜宽缓的”侏罗山式”褶皱特征,表明其下部滑脱构造带的存在;(2)红三旱、尖顶山-黑梁子逆冲-褶皱构造SW翼缓NE翼陡的不对称褶皱形态显示出是由南向北的逆冲作用形成的;两翼相对较对称的南翼山褶皱形态是由NE-SW向双向逆冲作用形成的;SW翼陡(或地层倒转)NE翼缓的油砂山褶皱带是由NE-SW向双向逆冲挤出作用形成的反映出由北向南的逆冲作用的存在;(3)红三旱、尖顶山-黑梁子和南翼山褶皱构造带的初始生长地层依次为始新统下干柴沟组、上新统狮子沟组和更新统七个泉组,高精度磁性地层限定其沉积时代依次为～39.5Ma、～8.2Ma和～2.5Ma,这不仅代表了这些褶皱的初始形成时代,而且代表了其逆冲断裂的形成时代;油砂山褶皱构造带中七个泉组初始生长地层以及上地表发育的一系列现代水系发生了弯曲,表明该逆冲-褶皱构造带从～2.5Ma形成以来一直持续到现在迄今仍在生长;红山旱地区近SN向的直立褶皱以及柴西地区似穹窿状的叠加褶皱,反映出阿尔金断裂带走滑过程中伴随的近EW向挤压的结果;(4)综合柴西地区逆冲-褶皱带构造地貌、生长地层、地球物理剖面、磁性地层年代学等证据,表明柴西存在的一系列逆冲-褶皱带是由南向北的滑脱构造产生,具有后退式生长演化特征,表明印度/欧亚板块碰撞以来,～40Ma其远程效应已到达柴达木盆地北部,并形成红山旱逆冲-褶皱构造带,随后的持续挤压,高原北部呈现出局部向南后退生长特征,依次形成尖顶山、南翼山和油砂山逆冲-褶皱带,其中～2.5Ma以来强烈的近南北向挤压作用产生的南翼山和油砂山逆冲-褶皱带构成了现今的”英雄岭”;～ 8Ma以来的阿尔金断裂带的强烈走滑活动波及到了柴达木盆地.     

柴达木盆地西部地区晚新生代构造变形及其意义

青藏高原东北缘构造变形研究是认识整个青藏高原隆升过程、机制以及印欧板块碰撞远程效应的重要途径。受控于昆仑山断裂、阿尔金断裂、祁连山断裂的柴达木盆地,新生代地层发育,较完整地记录了高原东北缘的构造变形信息。尤其柴达木盆地西部地区,构造变形强烈,晚新生代地层出露完整,是研究其晚新生代构造变形历史及驱动机制的理想地区。文中应用平衡剖面和古地磁构造旋转方法,结合最新的磁性地层年代,定量恢复该地区的构造变形历史。结果表明,在挤压应力的控制下该地区自22 Ma以来,构造变形主要表现为地层缩短与构造旋转,且其强度呈阶段性增长,具体又可划分为3个阶段：22~9.1 Ma构造活动平静期、9.1~2.65 Ma构造变形相对加强期、2.65 Ma以来构造变形顶峰期。研究表明,造成柴西地区地层持续缩短和顺时针旋转的关键推动力是印欧板块晚新生代的持续向北推挤、昆仑山-祁曼塔格山向柴达木盆地强烈挤压推覆以及阿尔金左旋走滑断裂大规模的复活。     

Thermal History since the Paleozoic in the Eastern Qaidam Basin,Northwest China

The Qaidam Basin is the one of the three major petroliferous basins in northeastern Tibetan Plateau, which has experienced multiphase superimposition and transformation. The study of thermal history not only plays an important role on revealing the tectonic origin of the Qaidam Basin and the forming mechanism and uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau,but also can provide scientific evidence for the assessment of oil and gas resources. This work used balanced cross-section technique and apatite fission track ages with modeling of fission track length distribution to infer that the eastern Qaidam Basin has experienced significant tectonic movement in the Early Jurassic movement(～200 Ma), which caused the carboniferous uplift and denudation, the geological movement in the Late Cretaceous, characterized by early stretching and late northeast-southwest extrusion; the Himalayan movement in multi-stage development in eastern Qaidam Basin, which can be divided into the early Himalayan movement(41.1–33.6 Ma) and the late Himalayan movement(9.6–7.1 Ma, 2.9–1.8 Ma), and large-scale orogeny caused pre-existing faults reactivated in late Himalayan movement. On the basis of burial history reconstruction, the thermal history of eastern Qaidam Basin was restored. The result shows that the thermal history in eastern Qaidam Basin shows slow cooling characteristics; the paleo-geothermal gradient of eastern Qaidam Basin was 38–41.5℃/km, with an average value of 39.0℃/km in the Late Paleozoic, 29–35.2℃/km, with an average value of 33.0℃/km in the Early Paleogene; the geothermal gradient of the Qaidam Basin increased in the Late Paleogene, which was similar to the present geothermal gradient in the Late Neogene. The characteristics of the tectono-thermal evolution since Paleozoic in the eastern Qaidam Basin are mainly controlled by magmatic thermal events in the study area.     

Lacustrine tempestite and its geological significance in the Cenozoic study of the Qaidam Basin

During the Cenozoic a typical lacustrine tempestite deposition was developed in the Lulehe and Xichagou sections of the Qaidam Basin. The sedimentary structures of these two sections above are examined here in detail, which consist of storm erosion, storm tear, storm wave and rapid storm-generated sedimentary structures after storm processes, such as groove casts, scour structures, cutoff structures, hummocky cross-stratification (HCS), parallel bedding and graded bedding. On the basis of these sedimentary characteristics and the vertical facies sedimentary sequence, the causes of the sedimentary succession are analyzed and a Cenozoic sedimentary model of the Qaidam Basin containing shallow proximal, transitional and deep distal tempestites is established. According to the tempestite scale and HCS wavelength, the Cenozoic storm was obviously more intense in the basin’s Upper Ganchaigou formation than that in the Lower Youshashan formation. This variation indicates that a paleoclimatic transition largely corresponded with the second uplift of the whole Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The discovery of a Cenozoic tempestite in the Qaidam Basin is significant in the paleogeographic, paleoclimate and paleostructural fields, which provides a new insight in further study of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau uplift.     

柴达木盆地北缘新生代构造变形的物理模拟

文中设计了3种类型的基底收缩挤压砂箱实验模型和一种基底无收缩挤压砂箱实验模型,用于研究柴达木盆地北缘新生代构造的变形机制.实验结果表明,基底收缩挤压模型以反冲断层发育为特色.在双侧对称对冲挤压模型中,正冲和反冲断层的发育程度基本处于均衡状态;在双侧不对称对冲挤压模型中,反冲断层更加发育,尤其在挤压速度较快一侧更加显著;单侧挤压模型中,以反冲断层发育、正冲断层很少为特征.由此表明,基底收缩作用和挤压作用的不对称性促使反冲断层的发育.根据实验结果与实际剖面的对比,笔者认为,基底收缩和不对称挤压是导致该区特殊剖面结构的可能原因,该区新生代构造变形是在基底收缩作用参与下、以祁连山为主的侧向不对称挤压作用的结果.     

柴达木盆地大浪滩梁 ZK02孔的磁性地层及其古环境研究

对柴达木盆地西部大浪滩盐湖梁-ZK02孔岩芯进行详细的磁性地层研究,确定钻孔岩芯的B—M界线位于315m,Jaramillo位于405～430m,Olduvai位于772～816m。在磁性年代学框架基础上,以蒸发岩沉积序列作为主要依据,结合碎屑岩变化以及孢粉分析,认为该地区在第四纪发生过三次较大的沉积环境变化,分别发生在2.5～2.2Ma,1.2～0.7Ma与0.4Ma。青藏高原第四纪的隆升是造成上述三次变化的主要原因,其中早更新世末—中更新世早期的隆升对柴达木盆地的气候影响较大,导致柴达木盆地的气候由温凉湿润转换为寒冷干旱。高原隆升引起的气候干旱并非简单的逐渐加剧,而是早更新世末期以来,气候湿润期表现得更为湿润,这种现象可能由高原隆升增加了夏季风的强度导致,冰川和积雪面积的增大也起到了叠加效应。     

柴达木盆地西部阿拉尔断裂新生代构造变形特征及意义

依据二维、三维地震资料,精细分析位于柴达木盆地西南部的阿拉尔断裂的几何学特征、水平缩短量及活动时间等,并探讨了其整个新生代的运动学特征、形成机制和油气地质意义。结果表明,阿拉尔断裂平面上可分为NWW走向的西段和近SN走向的东段,两段近于垂直;剖面上,其西段倾向南,倾角相对较小,而东段倾向西,断面近乎直立。阿拉尔断裂自新生代初期开始活动,西段以逆冲为主,水平缩短量和竖直抬升量均达到3 km以上,走滑量约为1 km;东段以右旋走滑为主,水平缩短量和竖直抬升量为1 km左右,走滑量达到3 km。阿拉尔断裂的形成和活动受南侧祁漫塔格造山带向北挤压和西侧阿尔金左旋走滑断裂的共同影响,柴西南地区断裂活动与油气形成具有良好的时空匹配关系,对形成油气藏具有重要意义。     

柴西红沟子地区晚新生代岩石磁学特征及对青藏高原北缘隆升的响应

柴达木盆地为青藏高原东北缘的一个内陆沉积盆地,发育了巨厚的中-新生代沉积地层,这些地层记录了盆地及周缘山地的构造、环境演变历史。本文通过对柴达木盆地西北部红沟子地区晚新生代天然剖面沉积物岩石磁学的研究,表明在约9.8 Ma磁化率值突然增大,同时沉积物中磁铁矿的含量也明显增加。结合剖面沉积物岩相、岩性及沉积速率等分析,依据沉积物磁学性质与环境变化和构造运动之间的关系,我们认为该地区晚新生代物源变化,可能是造成岩石磁学特征在大约9.8 Ma变化的主要原因,同时可能还暗示了青藏高原东北缘一次强烈的构造隆升事件,阿尔金山作为柴达木盆地的物源之一,也响应了此次构造运动,隆升到了一定高度使剥蚀速度增加,这一过程被柴西地区的红沟子构造所记录。     

柴西红沟子地区晚新生代岩石磁学特征及对青藏高原北缘隆升的响应

柴达木盆地为青藏高原东北缘的一个内陆沉积盆地,发育了巨厚的中 新生代沉积地层,这些地层记录了盆地及周缘山地的构造、环境演变历史。本文通过对柴达木盆地西北部红沟子地区晚新生代天然剖面沉积物岩石磁学的研究,表明在约9.8 Ma磁化率值突然增大,同时沉积物中磁铁矿的含量也明显增加。结合剖面沉积物岩相、岩性及沉积速率等分析,依据沉积物磁学性质与环境变化和构造运动之间的关系,我们认为该地区晚新生代物源变化,可能是造成岩石磁学特征在大约9.8 Ma变化的主要原因,同时可能还暗示了青藏高原东北缘一次强烈的构造隆升事件,阿尔金山作为柴达木盆地的物源之一,也响应了此次构造运动,隆升到了一定高度使剥蚀速度增加,这一过程被柴西地区的红沟子构造所记录。     

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。     

柴达木西部地区新生代主控断裂演化过程及其意义

基于主干地震剖面的解释结果,本文探讨了柴达木西部地区新生代主控性断裂的活动模式、活动时间及空间演化过程。结果表明,断裂演化明显存在两个大的旋回:路乐河组—下干柴沟组上段沉积期间(约54～31 Ma)和下油砂山组沉积至今(约22 Ma至今);其中第2个构造期断裂活动强烈,尤其是狮子沟组沉积以来(约8 Ma至今),中部及北部区域北西西向断裂开始大规模逆冲活动,反映了盆地晚期强烈变形过程。断层生长指数定量分析结果与其空间演化过程相吻合,共同记录了印度—欧亚板块碰撞远程效应控制下的柴达木盆地在新生代具有阶段性变形特征,从而为青藏高原东北部分阶段隆升模式提供了新的证据。     

柴达木盆地成因分析

对柴达木盆地新生代沉降机制存在不同的观点。一个合理的模型必须解释柴达木盆地的两个基本问题： 1）为什么柴达木盆地新生代沉积中心主要位于盆地中部;  2）是什么动力学过程导致盆地发生最大幅度超过15 km的基底沉降。通过对柴达木盆地主要地质特征的分析和对已有盆地模型的评述,本文发展了地壳褶皱模型,认为青藏高原北部上部地壳发生纵弯褶皱是柴达木盆地形成的主要原因。该模型不仅解释了盆地沉积中心的位置,而且揭示了柴达木盆地与周缘其它构造单元的关系。上部地壳发生强烈褶皱与下地壳侧向流动和岩石圈地幔向南俯冲的过程有关。     

柴达木盆地西部地区新生代沉积与构造演化

［摘要］新生代柴西地区南北变形具有很好的对称性,盆地边缘发育高角度逆冲断层,古近纪时期库木库里和苏干湖盆地与柴达木盆地相连,据此认为柴西地区是地壳纵弯褶皱的机制下形成的新生代向斜沉降区。其构造演化经历了古新世~渐新世早期纵弯褶皱形成、晚渐新世~中新世纵弯褶皱发展和晚期盆内断褶构造强烈活动三个阶段,控制了相应时期的沉积边界和沉积相分布。古近纪时期库木库里盆地和苏干湖盆地是柴达木盆地的一部分,新近纪以来,由于盆缘逆冲断层的活动,库木库里和苏干湖盆地逐步与柴达木盆地分割开来。据此认为盆地中部一里坪地区和盆地边缘的油气勘探有较大潜力。