Long‐Distance Lateral Magma Propagation and Pamir Plateau Uplift.

Long‐distance lateral magma propagation may reflect the complex interaction between regional tectonics and crustal uplift. Here, we report observations on the Taxkorgan intrusive complex (TIC) of the Central Pamir. TIC is a 70 km long, 10–18 km wide, north‐northwest–elongated body intruded into mid‐upper crust in parallel with, and close to, the Kongur Shan Extensional System. New zircon U‐Pb dating shows that syenite samples exhibit a clear younging pattern from south to north along the pluton axis within an interval between 11.5 and 10.3 Ma, which is interpreted as lateral magma propagation from a single feeder zone at its northwestern margin. The lateral magma propagation was caused by a combination of crustal rigidity differences, and a topography‐induced pressure gradient that is nearly orthogonal to the least compressive stress. We propose that long‐distance lateral magma propagation plays an important role in plateau expansion, restraining the thickness and elevation of the Pamir Plateau. Plain Language Summary: Long‐distance lateral magma propagation within the crust has been documented for diverse magmatic systems. The Miocene Taxkorgan intrusive complex was formed during India‐Asia collision in the Central Pamir Plateau, and it consists of a syenite pluton and several discrete lobes of monzogranites. New SIMS zircon U‐Pb dating results shows that monzogranites across TIC have overlapping ages between 12.4 and 12.2 Ma, indicating they were emplaced from a series of synchronous and independent magma feeder zones. In contrast, syenite samples exhibit a clear younging pattern from south to north within an interval between 11.5 and 10.3 Ma. The pattern of decreasing ages along the pluton axis is interpreted as lateral magma propagation from a single feeder zone at its northwestern margin. It is inferred that long‐distance lateral magma propagation, such as documented for the Taxkorgan intrusive complex, played a key role in plateau expansion, restraining the thickness and elevation of the Pamir Plateau. Key Points: Taxkorgan intrusive complex (TIC) syenite pluton shows a clear younging pattern from south to north within an interval between 11.5 and 10.3 MaTIC syenite pluton formed by lateral magma propagation from a single feeder zone at its northwestern marginLong‐distance lateral magma propagation plays an important role in plateau expansion, restraining the thickness and elevation of Plateau [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]