Paleogene-Neogene stratigraphic realm and sedimentary sequence of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and their response to uplift of the plateau

Abstract

Based on the data of 1:250000 geological mapping completed by CGS and the previous literature of the Cenozoic strata, 98 remnant basins and 5 stratigraphic realms with 13 stratigraphic subrealms have been recognized on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent area. Through the research of the types of remnant basins, tectonic setting, stratigraphic sequence and sedimentary characteristics, contact relationship between the strata, the formation time and evolution history of sediments, we divided the uplift process and sedimentary response of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau into 3 stages and 8 sub-stages, namely, subduction-collision uplift stage (65-34 Ma) with three sub-stages, intercontinental convergence and compressive uplift stage (34-13 Ma) with three sub-stages, and intercontinental isostatic adjustment uplift stage (since 13 Ma) with two sub-stages. Paleogene-Neogene, remnant basin, stratigraphic realm, sedimentary evolution, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Citation:Zhang K X, Wang G C, Ji J L, et al. Paleogene-Neogene stratigraphic realm and sedimentary sequence of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and their response to uplift of the plateau.

Extended stratigraphy, palynology and depositional environments record the initiation of the Himalayan Gyirong Basin (Neogene China)

“…This is in good agreement with the coeval increase in climate variations associated to the global Pliocene climate deterioration which may explain deposition of coarse conglomerates in the Tibetan Plateau region (Zhang et al, 2001). However, we cannot rule out a regional tectonic contribution such as so-called tectonic Episode B of the Qinghai-Tibet reported at 2.6 Ma (Shi et al, 1998;Li et al, 2001;Zhang et al, 2010).…”

“…Uplift of the Himalayas is a product of the collision between India and Eurasia that started at the beginning of the Cenozoic (Molnar et al, 1993;Li and Fang, 1998;Yin and Harrison, 2000;Yin, 2006;Zhang et al, 2010;Dupont-Nivet et al, 2010), and strongly affected local and global climate Garzione, 2008;Dupont-Nivet et al, 2008;Ruddiman, 2010). Long-term paleoenvironmental records of the High Himalayas are well-suited for determining the complex relationships between climate change and tectonism, particularly in the Late Cenozoic period that was marked by intense Himalayan tectonic uplift and regional monsoon intensification (Kroon et al, 1991;Harrison et al, 1992;Molnar et al, 1993;Sanyal et al, 2010).…”

A mammalian fossil from the Dingqing Formation in the Lunpola Basin, northern Tibet, and its relevance to age and paleo-altimetry

“…Originally, and in general terms, the ostracod fossils of the Dingqing Formation were considered to be of Oligocene age [4,13,14]. However, the fossils from different layers or members should have different ages.…”

“…These are the Limnocythere-Eucypris, LimnocythereCypris-Cyprinotus, Limnocythere-Cypris-Eucypris-Candona, and Cypinotus-Candona assemblages from the Eocene [12]. The Dingqing Formation has two ostracod assemblages from its base to top, the Austrocypris-Cyprinotus-Pelocypris and Ilyocypris-Limnocythere assemblages [13] from the Oligocene [14].…”

Early middle Miocene tectonic uplift of the northwestern part of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau evidenced by geochemical and mineralogical records in the western Tarim Basin

“…The sedimentary facies and lithostratigraphy of the Qimugan section in the Tarim Basin have been previously documented by Jin et al (2003) and Zhang et al (2010). They reveal a relatively complete Cenozoic sedimentary succession including the change from a marine to a continental depositional setting.…”