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2013•Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis SunyatseniRequires access

Sedimentary Evolution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Cenozoic and its Response to the Uplift of the Plateau

Zhang, Kexin, Wang, Guocan, Xu, Yadong Yadong, Luo, Mansheng, Ji, Junliang, Xiao Xiao, GuoQiao, An, Song, Bowen, Liang Liang, Yinpin, Jiang, Shangsong

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Abstract

We have studied the evolution of the tectonic lithofacies paleogeography of Paleocene-Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by compiling data regarding the type, tectonic setting, and lithostratigraphic sequence of 98 remnant basins in the plateau area. Our results can be summarized as follows. (1) The Paleocene to Eocene is characterized by uplift and erosion in the Songpan-Garze and Gangdise belts, depression (lakes and pluvial plains) in eastern Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil, and the Neo-Tethys Sea in the western and southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. (2) The Oligocene is characterized by uplift in the Gangdise-Himalaya and Karakorum regions (marked by the absence of sedimentation), fluvial transport (originating eastward and flowing westward) in the Brahmaputra region (marked by the deposition of Dazhuka conglomerate), uplift and erosion in western Kunlun and Songpan-Garze, and depression (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. The Oligocene is further characterized by depressional littoral and neritic basins in southwestern Tarim, with marine facies deposition ceasing at the end of the Oligocene. (3) For the Miocene, a widespread regional unconformity (ca. 23 Ma) in and adjacent to the plateau indicates comprehensive uplift of the plateau. This period is characterized by depressions (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Xining-Nanzhou, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. Lacustrine facies deposition expanded to peak in and adjacent to the plateau ca. 18-13 Ma, and north-south fault basins formed in southern Tibet ca. 13-10 Ma. All of these features indicate that the plateau uplifted to its peak and began to collapse. (4) Uplift and erosion occurred during the Pliocene in most parts of the plateau, except in the Hoh Xil-Qiangtang, Tarim, and Qaidam. The continuous uplift and intensive taphrogeny in the plateau divided the original large basin into small basins, deposition of lacustrine facies decreased considerably, and boulderstone accumulated, indicating a response to the

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We have studied the evolution of the tectonic lithofacies paleogeography of Paleocene-Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by compiling data regarding the type, tectonic setting, and lithostratigraphic sequence of 98 remnant basins in the plateau area. Our results can be summarized as follows. (1) The Paleocene to Eocene is characterized by uplift and erosion in the Songpan-Garze and Gangdise belts, depression (lakes and pluvial plains) in eastern Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil, and the Neo-Tethys Sea in the western and southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. (2) The Oligocene is characterized by uplift in the Gangdise-Himalaya and Karakorum regions (marked by the absence of sedimentation), fluvial transport (originating eastward and flowing westward) in the Brahmaputra region (marked by the deposition of Dazhuka conglomerate), uplift and erosion in western Kunlun and Songpan-Garze, and depression (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. The Oligocene is further characterized by depressional littoral and neritic basins in southwestern Tarim, with marine facies deposition ceasing at the end of the Oligocene. (3) For the Miocene, a widespread regional unconformity (ca. 23 Ma) in and adjacent to the plateau indicates comprehensive uplift of the plateau. This period is characterized by depressions (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Xining-Nanzhou, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. Lacustrine facies deposition expanded to peak in and adjacent to the plateau ca. 18-13 Ma, and north-south fault basins formed in southern Tibet ca. 13-10 Ma. All of these features indicate that the plateau uplifted to its peak and began to collapse. (4) Uplift and erosion occurred during the Pliocene in most parts of the plateau, except in the Hoh Xil-Qiangtang, Tarim, and Qaidam. The continuous uplift and intensive taphrogeny in the plateau divided the original large basin into small basins, deposition of lacustrine facies decreased considerably, and boulderstone accumulated, indicating a response to the

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Available abstract

We have studied the evolution of the tectonic lithofacies paleogeography of Paleocene-Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by compiling data regarding the type, tectonic setting, and lithostratigraphic sequence of 98 remnant basins in the plateau area. Our results can be summarized as follows. (1) The Paleocene to Eocene is characterized by uplift and erosion in the Songpan-Garze and Gangdise belts, depression (lakes and pluvial plains) in eastern Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil, and the Neo-Tethys Sea in the western and southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. (2) The Oligocene is characterized by uplift in the Gangdise-Himalaya and Karakorum regions (marked by the absence of sedimentation), fluvial transport (originating eastward and flowing westward) in the Brahmaputra region (marked by the deposition of Dazhuka conglomerate), uplift and erosion in western Kunlun and Songpan-Garze, and depression (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. The Oligocene is further characterized by depressional littoral and neritic basins in southwestern Tarim, with marine facies deposition ceasing at the end of the Oligocene. (3) For the Miocene, a widespread regional unconformity (ca. 23 Ma) in and adjacent to the plateau indicates comprehensive uplift of the plateau. This period is characterized by depressions (lakes) in the Tarim, Qaidam, Xining-Nanzhou, Qiangtang, and Hoh Xil. Lacustrine facies deposition expanded to peak in and adjacent to the plateau ca. 18-13 Ma, and north-south fault basins formed in southern Tibet ca. 13-10 Ma. All of these features indicate that the plateau uplifted to its peak and began to collapse. (4) Uplift and erosion occurred during the Pliocene in most parts of the plateau, except in the Hoh Xil-Qiangtang, Tarim, and Qaidam. The continuous uplift and intensive taphrogeny in the plateau divided the original large basin into small basins, deposition of lacustrine facies decreased considerably, and boulderstone accumulated, indicating a response to the

Key concepts: Geology, Unconformity, Plateau (mathematics), Facies, Tectonic uplift, Cenozoic, Paleontology, Fluvial

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