Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic relationships between the Kuqa subbasin and Tian Shan, northwest China: constraints from depositional records

Reconstructing the Late Palaeozoic – Mesozoic topographic evolution of the Chinese Tian Shan: available data and remaining uncertainties

“…In the northern Tarim Basin, south to southeasward directed palaeocurrents, as well as detrital zircon U/Pb dating, indicate a sediment source in the Central Tian Shan block and along the southern margin of the South Tian Shan block Peng, 2010). This, associated with the occurrence of Lower Triassic conglomerates in the Early Triassic Ehuobulake Formation of the Kuqa sub-basin (the names of the various sedimentary formations can be found for example in Hendrix et al, 1992, Shao et al, 1999Jin et al, 2008 andQiu et al, 2008), is consistent with the compression-related exhumation phase recognized by the low temperature thermochronology data within the range (Dumitru et al, 2001;Li et al, 2004;. Detrital zircon U/Pb dating in the Middle to Late Triassic along the southern edge of the Junggar Basin (Xiaoquangou Group) indicate a strong widening of the drainage system towards the Central Tian Shan block associated to the progressive erosion of the Permian -Early Triassic topography (Yang et al, 2012).…”

“…Sha et al, 2011). Indeed, from the Middle Triassic to the Middle Jurassic, a widespread coalbearing sediment sequence developed throughout the Tian Shan and surrounding basins, most probably in a warm humid climate (Hendrix et al, 1992;Pfretzschner et al, 2005;Li et al, 2004;Tükten et al, 2004;Ashraf et al, 2010;Pan et al, 2013. During the same period, the relative topography between the range and the northern margin of the Tarim decreased while the Junggar Basin widened towards the south Fang et al, 2005;Li and Peng, 2010;Yang et al, 2012). In Early Jurassic (Sinemurian Badaowan Fm.…”

“…The late Middle Jurassic change to a progradation phase suggests a renewed topography building in the Tian Shan or a strong climate change (Yang et al, 2012). However, the warm humid climate conditions that prevailed since Middle Triassic did not change until the onset of a strong aridification during the Late Jurassic (Qigu Formation) (Allen et al, 1991;Hendrix et al, 1992;Parrish, 1993;Shao et al, 2003;Li et al, 2004;Pan et al, 2013). Detrital zircons U/Pb dating still suggest a wide drainage system encompassing the North Tian Shan and the Central Tian Shan blocks but local recycling of the Early Mesozoic cover may have also occurred (Yang et al, 2012).…”

Osmium concentrations and 187Os/188Os ratios of three sediment reference materials

“…Geologically, the main island of Japan is dominated by Mesozoic and Cenozoic sequences. The radiogenic accumulation of 187 Os should be less in Japan than in western China, where rocks range in age from Precambrian to Cenozoic (Li et al, 2004). The mixing line of Os shows that the data from RM JSd-3 lie near the upper continental crust field (Fig.…”

Seismic Hazard in Tien Shan: Basement Structure Control Over the Deformation Induced by Indo-Eurasia Collision

“…Given the ages, the specific low-T-sensitivity of the various thermochronologic methods applied, and the punctuated character, we interpret the Jurassic-Cretaceous Kyrgyz Tien Shan basement cooling as exhumation of this basement due to denudation of the overlying bedrock. The denudation and erosion can be associated with a phase of tectonic reactivation of the Tien Shan orogen and rejuvenated mountain building [Graham et al, 1993;Cobbold et al, 1994;Allen & Vincent, 1997;Métivier & Gaudemer, 1997;Hendrix, 2000;Li et al, 2004]. This Mesozoic tectonic activity and the resulting sediments are expressed in the field e.g.…”