Differential exhumation in response to episodic thrusting along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Arne, Dennis C.; Worley, B.; Wilson, Christopher J.L.; Chen, She Fa; Foster, David A.; Luo, Zhi Li; Liu, Shu Gen; Dirks, Paul H.G.M.

doi:10.1016/s0040-1951(97)00040-1

Cited by 222 publications

(290 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Thus the variation in cooling ages between the topographic margin of the plateau and the interior appears to be a robust feature of both the apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He data. Similar variations in apatite fission track ages were observed in the Longmen Shan [Arne et al, 1997] and to the south, along the Xianshuihe fault [Xu and Kamp, 2000].…”

Section: (U-th)/he Resultssupporting

confidence: 70%

“…A sample from the eastern foot of the Min Shan (97-14, $1100 m elevation) yielded an apatite age of 3.2 ± 0.5 Ma and a zircon age of 4.7 ± 0.4 Ma. It is worth noting that sample 93-3 was collected in close proximity to two apatite fission track samples of Arne et al [1997] and yields an age that is statistically indistinguishable from their results (see Figure 2).…”

Section: (U-th)/he Resultsmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…Arne et al [1997] obtained Late Cretaceous 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages (circa 120 -130 Ma) from muscovites in metamorphic rocks northwest of the Wenchuan-Maowen fault. Although they interpreted these ages as reflecting differential cooling across this shear zone, the extent of Late Cretaceous deformation in the Longmen Shan remains essentially unknown.…”

Section: Mesozoic Tectonics Of the Longmen Shanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Zircon fission track ages west of the Wenchuan-Maowen fault range from 38 to 68 Ma, while a single sample east of the fault yielded an age of 110 Ma. Apatite fission track ages are typically late Miocene within the thrust belt and appear to be invariant across the Wenchuan-Maowen fault [Arne et al, 1997] (Figure 2). Apatites from Mesozoic terrestrial deposits in the Sichuan Basin yield fission track ages between 93 and 189 Ma, in all cases near the depositional age of the sediments [Arne et al, 1997].…”

Section: Cenozoic Tectonics Of the Longmen Shanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Apatite fission track ages are typically late Miocene within the thrust belt and appear to be invariant across the Wenchuan-Maowen fault [Arne et al, 1997] (Figure 2). Apatites from Mesozoic terrestrial deposits in the Sichuan Basin yield fission track ages between 93 and 189 Ma, in all cases near the depositional age of the sediments [Arne et al, 1997]. In the Min Shan region, apatites yielded ages ranging from circa 120 to 70 Ma.…”

Section: Cenozoic Tectonics Of the Longmen Shanmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Inferences from⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and (U‐Th)/He thermochronology

et al. 2002

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[1] High topography in central Asia is perhaps the most fundamental expression of the Cenozoic Indo-Asian collision, yet an understanding of the timing and rates of development of the Tibetan Plateau remains elusive. Here we investigate the Cenozoic thermal histories of rocks along the eastern margin of the plateau adjacent to the Sichuan Basin in an effort to determine when the steep topographic escarpment that characterizes this margin developed. Temperaturetime paths inferred from 40 Ar/ 39 Ar thermochronology of biotite, multiple diffusion domain modeling of alkali feldspar 40 Ar release spectra, and (U-Th)/He thermochronology of zircon and apatite imply that rocks at the present-day topographic front of the plateau underwent slow cooling (<1°C/m.y.) from Jurassic times until the late Miocene or early Pliocene. The regional extent and consistency of thermal histories during this time period suggest the presence of a stable thermal structure and imply that regional denudation rates were low (<0.1 mm/yr for nominal continental geotherms). Beginning in the late Miocene or early Pliocene, these samples experienced a pronounced cooling event (>30°-50°C/m.y.) coincident with exhumation from inferred depths of $8 -10 km, at denudation rates of 1 -2 mm/yr. Samples from the interior of the plateau continued to cool relatively slowly during the same time period ($3°C/m.y.), suggesting limited exhumation (1 -2 km). However, these samples record a slight increase in cooling rate (from <1 to $3°C/m.y.) at some time during the middle Tertiary; the tectonic significance of this change remains uncertain. Regardless, late Cenozoic denudation in this region appears to have been markedly heterogeneous, with the highest rates of exhumation focused at the topographic front of the plateau margin. We infer that the onset of rapid cooling at the plateau margin reflects the erosional response to the development of regionally significant topographic gradients between the plateau and the stable Sichuan Basin and thus marks the onset of deformation related to the development of the Tibetan Plateau in this region. The present margin of the plateau adjacent to and north of the Sichuan Basin is apparently no older than the late Miocene or early Pliocene ($5 -12 Ma).

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Section: (U-th)/he Resultssupporting

confidence: 70%

Section: (U-th)/he Resultsmentioning

confidence: 66%

Section: Mesozoic Tectonics Of the Longmen Shanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cenozoic Tectonics Of the Longmen Shanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cenozoic Tectonics Of the Longmen Shanmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Inferences from⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and (U‐Th)/He thermochronology

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Postorogenic rigid behavior of the eastern Songpan‐Ganze terrane: Insights from low‐temperature thermochronology and implications for intracontinental deformation in central Asia

Tian

Kohn

et al. 2014

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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The Songpan‐Ganze terrane (SGT), formed by Early Mesozoic closure of the Paleo‐Tethys Ocean, occupies a large area of the central‐eastern Tibetan Plateau. Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic strike‐slip deformation has been identified in the surrounding terranes and faults (e.g., western Qinling, Altyn Tagh, and Kunlun faults); however, the coeval evolution of the SGT has not been well explored. We report apatite fission track and apatite and zircon (U‐Th)/He data from a >7 km deep borehole and outcrop samples covering an area of >150 × 150 km in the eastern SGT. Thermal history modeling suggests a distinct phase of Late Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous (∼150–100 Ma) cooling, followed by a prolonged stage of slow cooling, for all samples despite of their differences in depositional age (Mid‐Late Triassic time) and locality within a large area. The ubiquitous Late Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous cooling implies little differential deformation in the eastern SGT and is best explained by regional rock uplift resulting from the transpressional strain field created by the contemporaneous Lhasa‐Qiangtang collision to the south. Projecting the contemporaneous deformation surrounding the SGT onto an Early Cretaceous paleogeographic terrane reconstruction results in a new tectonic model. The model relates the Lhasa‐Qiangtang collision to tens to hundreds of kilometers of shearing along the Altyn Tagh and Kunlun faults, which transferred strain into central Asia (e.g., Qinling‐Dabie orogen). Results of this study suggest a rigid behavior for the eastern SGT and highlight the important role of crustal strength discontinuities in accommodating and transferring crustal deformation.

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A thermochronological perspective on the morphotectonic evolution of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

et al. 2014

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A large part of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (TP) is characterized by low-relief surfaces at high elevations (>3.5 km). The origin of these landscapes and their geodynamic implications with regard to evolution of the southeastern TP has been the subject of considerable debate. Focusing on this topic, this study utilizes fission track and (U-Th)/He thermochronology to reconstruct the thermal history of the Late Triassic Daocheng granite, on which a low-relief high-elevation landscape has developed. Results suggest that the plateau surface experienced widespread Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous cooling (at a rate of~1-2°C/Ma), followed by minimal regional cooling (~0.3°C/Ma) and Early Miocene enhanced cooling (~2-3°C/Ma) along deep valleys at the southern edge of the landscape. Given the subdued Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous crustal deformation in the study area, we relate the coeval cooling to crustal refrigeration and exhumation triggered by northward subduction of the Meso-Tethys Ocean along the Bangong suture. Subsequent Late Cretaceous to Cenozoic minimal cooling supports arguments for the formation of a low-elevation landform prior to uplift of the southeastern TP. The enhanced cooling commenced at the Early Miocene (~15-22 Ma) along deep valleys and heralded the onset of river incision and surface uplift of the southeastern TP. This finding does not support previous proposals claiming that high elevations of the southeastern TP were formed in Late Miocene time resulting from lower crustal flow but rather supports a model highlighting continental subduction and extrusion along the large Tanggula-Yushu-Batang-Red River fault system.

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Differential exhumation in response to episodic thrusting along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Cited by 222 publications

References 61 publications

Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Inferences from⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and (U‐Th)/He thermochronology

Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Inferences from⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and (U‐Th)/He thermochronology

Postorogenic rigid behavior of the eastern Songpan‐Ganze terrane: Insights from low‐temperature thermochronology and implications for intracontinental deformation in central Asia

A thermochronological perspective on the morphotectonic evolution of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

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Differential exhumation in response to episodic thrusting along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Cited by 222 publications

References 61 publications

Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Inferences from40Ar/39Ar and (U‐Th)/He thermochronology

Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Inferences from40Ar/39Ar and (U‐Th)/He thermochronology

Postorogenic rigid behavior of the eastern Songpan‐Ganze terrane: Insights from low‐temperature thermochronology and implications for intracontinental deformation in central Asia

A thermochronological perspective on the morphotectonic evolution of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

Contact Info

Product

Resources

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Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Inferences from⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and (U‐Th)/He thermochronology

Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Inferences from⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar and (U‐Th)/He thermochronology