Spatio-temporal framework of tectonic uplift stages of the Tibetan Plateau in Cenozoic

Four intensive uplift periods, i.e., 60–35, 25–17 and 12–8 Ma (but 18–13 Ma in the Himalayas of the southern Tibet), and since about 5 Ma, can be determined on the Tibetan Plateau by synthetical analysis of low-temperature thermo-chronology data, sedimentary deposit records, and structural deformation records of different areas. The strong tectonic uplift periods in different areas on the Tibetan Plateau are penecontemporaneous, except for the Himalayan area of the southern Tibet, where a rapid uplift and exhumation period, controlled by the activity of the South Tibetan Detachment System faults, occurred during 18–13 Ma. These strong uplift and exhumation periods correspond well to intensive deformation activity periods, suggesting tectonically-controlled uplift and exhumation. The deposit records, such as the distribution of coarse clastic sediments, the distribution of tectonically-controlled basins, stratigraphic discontinuousness or unconformity, and fault-controlled geomorphologic evolution, also match well with the strong uplift and exhumation periods. Expanding processes of the plateau are also discussed.