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Eastern Qaidam Basin of the northern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is located in a transitional zone between the Permo–Triassic Paleo-Tethyan orogenic belt in the south and the early Paleozoic Qilian orogenic belt in the north. Here we present geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb–O isotopic data for the Permo–Triassic plutons in eastern Qaidam Basin. Bulk-rock geochemical data and regional geological studies indicate that these plutons consist mainly of subduction-related high-K calc-alkaline metaluminous, I-type granitoids, which occurred during the northward subduction of the Paleo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere below the southern continental margin of the Kunlun–Qaidam terrane. The ε Nd( t ) values of these Permo–Triassic granitoids are between −9.4 and −3.0, and ε Sr( t ) values are from −20.33 to +168.20. Nd isotopic compositions indicate that the granitoids can come from a pre-existed materials formerly originated from an enriched mantle (EM II) source. The T DM2 model ages of 1.28–1.78 Ga implies that the arc-induced Triassic granitoids were derived melts of Meso-Proterozoic basement rocks of the Kunlun–Qaidam terrane that is bounded by the early Paleozoic Qilian suture zone to the north and the Triassic Kunlun suture zone in the south. The Permo–Triassic granitoids yield initial ratios of 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb values from 18.295 to 19.096, 15.617 to 15.692, and 37.960 to 38.531, respectively. The Pb isotope composition of the granitoids is very similar to that of the Mesozoic granitoids from the western segment of the east of the study area. Geochemical analyses of the plutons, integrated with previous LA ICP-MS U–Pb zircon dating, reveal two series of Permo–Triassic arc magmatisms in eastern Qaidam Basin. Both the series of magmatism display reversed trends with the classic Bowen’s reaction series. The new geochemical evidence suggest that the arc magmatism in eastern Qaidam Basin was induced by fluid-fluxing melting of an enriched lithospheric mantle and rock composition is best explained by mixing of mantle-derived mafic magma mixed with felsic rocks of the Qaidam basement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sedimentary strata in the Lhasa terrane of southern Tibet record a long but poorly constrained history of basin formation and inversion. To investigate these events, we sampled Palaeozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks in the Lhasa terrane for detrital zircon uranium–lead (U–Pb) analysis. The >700 detrital zircon U–Pb ages reported in this paper provide the first significant detrital zircon data set from the Lhasa terrane and shed new light on the tectonic and depositional history of the region. Collectively, the dominant detrital zircon age populations within these rocks are 100–150, 500–600 and 1000–1400 Ma. Sedimentary strata near Nam Co in central Lhasa are mapped as Lower Cretaceous but detrital zircons with ages younger than 400 Ma are conspicuously absent. The detrital zircon age distribution and other sedimentological evidence suggest that these strata are likely Carboniferous in age, which requires the existence of a previously unrecognized fault or unconformity. Lower Jurassic strata exposed within the Bangong suture between the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes contain populations of detrital zircons with ages between 200 and 500 Ma and 1700 and 2000 Ma. These populations differ from the detrital zircon ages of samples collected in the Lhasa terrane and suggest a unique source area. The Upper Cretaceous Takena Formation contains zircon populations with ages between 100 and 160 Ma, 500 and 600 Ma and 1000 and 1400 Ma. Detrital zircon ages from these strata suggest that several distinct fluvial systems occupied the southern portion of the Lhasa terrane during the Late Cretaceous and that deposition in the basin ceased before 70 Ma. Carboniferous strata exposed within the Lhasa terrane likely served as source rocks for sediments deposited during Cretaceous time. Similarities between the lithologies and detrital zircon age-probability plots of Carboniferous rocks in the Lhasa and Qiangtang terranes and Tethyan strata in the Himalaya suggest that these areas were located proximal to one another within Gondwanaland. U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from our samples and differences between the geographic distribution of igneous rocks within the Tibetan plateau suggest that it is possible to discriminate a southern vs. northern provenance signature using detrital zircon age populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

U-Pb geochronologic analyses have been conducted on 413 detrital-zircon grains collected from 16 samples in the Altun Shan, Nan Shan, and Qilian Shan. The samples come primarily from quartz arenites and metaturbidites of Middle to Late Proterozoic age and from feldspathic and volcanic clast-rich sandstones of early Paleozoic age. Zircon grains in Proterozoic strata resting on Tarim basement yielded mainly 2.0-1.9 Ga ages, whereas Proterozoic strata of the Qaidam and Qilian terranes yielded mainly ca. 930-820 Ma and ca. 1.9-1.1 Ga ages. The younger grains were apparently shed from local igneous rocks, whereas the grains older than 1.1 Ga were shed from an undetermined continental source. Grains in the lower Paleozoic strata are mainly ca. 500-430 Ma and were shed from nearby plutonic and possibly volcanic rocks that formed in a magmatic arc setting. Our detrital-zircon ages are consistent with a model (first proposed by E.R. Sobel and N. Arnaud) in which early Paleozoic magmatism occurred within a single northeast-facing magmatic arc that was constructed across an assemblage of Middle to Late Proterozoic accretionary complexes, remnants of magmatic arcs, and shallowmarine strata. This arc system was accreted to the Tarim and Sino-Korean cratons during Silurian-Devonian time. The resulting suture has been reactivated as Tertiary thrust faults that currently define the structural and topographic margin of the Tibetan plateau. Our data also provide two new estimates for the offset along the eastern Altyn Tagh fault. A belt of Middle Proterozoic shallowmarine strata is offset by ∼400 km, whereas a belt of 490-480 Ma magmatic arc rocks is offset by ∼370 km. These values are generally similar to the 350-400 km offset reported in most previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New sedimentologic, stratigraphic, and compositional data from the Paleogene-Neogene stratigraphic succession exposed in the northwest Hexi Corridor and within the North Qilian Shan, provide evidence to suggest that crustal shortening in the North Qilian Shan fold-thrust belt initiated during the Miocene. The section is composed of four lithostratigraphic units: Oligocene-Miocene fine- to coarse-grained Unit 1, Miocene conglomeratic Unit 2, and Pliocene-Pleistocene conglomeratic Units 3 and 4. Unit 3 lies in angular unconformity over both Units 1 and 2, and Unit 4 contains a progressive unconformity. The onset of conglomerate deposition at the base of Unit 2 suggests an increase in depositional energy, which we interpret as the result of proximal orogenesis in the North Qilian Shan fold and thrust belt. Supporting evidence includes the appearance of strongly northeast-trending paleocurrents, indicating paleoflow away from the Qilian Shan, clast lithologies that match sources in the North Qilian Shan, and sandstone with detrital framework modes that indicate a recycled orogen source. In contrast, Unit 1 contains paleocurrent indicators that are variable but generally trend northward and sandstone and clast compositions which are more diagnostic of a continental block source. Detrital zircon age determinations from Unit 1 are also not consistent with a source in the North Qilian Shan; rather, they suggest a provenance in hinterland regions within the South Qilian Shan and North Qaidam terranes. In sum, these results are all consistent with initiation of proximal uplift of the North Qifian Shan during deposition of the gradational transition from Unit 1 to Unit 2, demonstrating shortening in the Qiian Shan before the late Miocene. This comprehensive study tightens our understanding of when far-field stress related to the India-Eurasia continent-continent collision reached the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the tectonic evolution of the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau in China. Preservation of the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic history of the area; Conduction of petrographic analysis; Derivation of the area from lithologically diverse source terranes.

Cenozoic Qaidam basin, the largest active intermountain basin inside Tibet, figures importantly in the debates on the history and mechanism of Tibetan plateau formation during the Cenozoic Indo-Asian collision. To determine when and how the basin was developed, we conducted detailed geologic mapping and analyses of a dense network of seismic reflection profiles from the southern Qilian Shan-Nan Shan thrust belt and northern Qaidam basin. Our geologic observations provide new constraints on the timing and magnitude of Cenozoic crustal thickening in northern Tibet. Specifically, our work shows that the southernmost part of the Qilian Shan-Nan Shan thrust belt and contractional structures along the northern margin of Qaidam basin were initiated in the Paleocene-early Eocene (65-50 Ma), during or immediately after the onset of the Indo-Asian collision. This finding implies that stress was transferred rapidly through Tibetan lithosphere to northern Tibet from the Indo-Asian convergent front located >1000 km to the south. The development of the thrust system in northern Qaidam basin was driven by motion on the Altyn Tagh fault, as indicated by its eastward propagation away from the Altyn Tagh fault. The eastward lengthening of the thrust system was spatially and temporally associated with eastward expansion of Qaidam basin, suggesting thrust loading was the main control on the basin formation and evolution. The dominant structure in northern Qaidam basin is a southwest-tapering triangle zone, which started to develop since the Paleocene and early Eocene (65-50 Ma) and was associated with deposition of an overlying southwest-thickening, growth-strata sequence. Recognition of the triangle zone and its longevity in northern Qaidam basin explains a long puzzling observation that Cenozoic depocenters have been located consistently along the central axis of the basin. This basin configuration is opposite to the prediction of classic foreland-basin models that require the thickest part of foreland sediments deposited along basin edges against basin-bounding thrusts. Restoration of balanced cross sections across the southern Qilian Shan-Nan Shan thrust belt and northern Qaidam basin suggests that Cenozoic shortening strain is highly inhomogeneous, varying from ~20% to >60%, both vertically in a single section and from section to section across the thrust belt. The spatially variable strain helps explain the conflicting paleomagnetic results indicating different amounts of Cenozoic rotations in different parts of Qaidam basin. The observed crustal shortening strain also implies that no lower-crustal injection or thermal events in the mantle are needed to explain the current elevation (~3000-3500 m) and crustal thickness (45-50 km) of northern Qaidam basin and the southern Qilian Shan-Nan Shan thrust belt. Instead, thrusting involving continental crystalline basement has been the main mechanism of plateau construction across northern Qaidam basin and the southern Qilian Shan-Nan Shan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Knowledge of the Cretaceous–Tertiary history of upper crustal shortening and magmatism in Tibet is fundamental to placing constraints on when and how the Tibetan plateau formed. In the Lhasa terrane of southern Tibet, the widely exposed angular unconformity beneath uppermost Cretaceous–lower Tertiary volcanic-bearing strata of the Linzizong Formation provides an excellent geologic and time marker to distinguish between deformation that occurred before vs. during the Indo-Asian collision. In the Linzhou area, located ∼ 30 km north of the city of Lhasa, a > 3-km-thick section of the Linzizong Formation lies unconformably on Cretaceous and older rocks that were shortened by both northward- and southward-verging structures during the Late Cretaceous. The Linzizong Formation dips northward in the footwall of a north-dipping thrust system that involves Triassic–Jurassic strata and a granite intrusion in the hanging wall. U–Pb zircon geochronologic studies show that the Linzizong Formation ranges in age from 69 Ma to at least 47 Ma and that the hanging wall granite intrusion crystallized at ∼ 52 Ma, coeval with dike emplacement into footwall Cretaceous strata. 40Ar/39Ar thermochronologic studies suggest slow cooling of the granite between 49 and 42 Ma, followed by an episode of accelerated cooling to upper crustal levels beginning at ∼ 42 Ma. The onset of rapid cooling was coeval with the cessation of voluminous arc magmatism in southern Tibet and is interpreted be a consequence of either (1) Tertiary thrusting in this region or (2) regional rock uplift and erosion following removal of overthickened Gangdese arc lower crust and upper mantle or break-off of the Neo-Tethyan oceanic slab. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]