Timing, Displacement and Growth Pattern of the Altyn Tagh Fault: A Review

Abstract

The Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF) is the longest, lithospheric scale and strike‐slip fault in East Asia. In the last three decades, multidisciplinary studies focusing on the timing, displacement of strike‐slip and growth mechanics of the ATF have made great progresses. Most studies revealed that the ATF is a sinistral strike‐slip and thrust fault, which underwent multiple episodes of activation. The fault is oriented NEE with a length of 1600 km, but the direction, timing of activity and magnitude of its extension eastward are still unclear. The AFT was predominately active during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic, in relation to the Mesozoic collision of the Cimmerian continent (Qiangtang and Lhasa block) and Cenozoic collision of India with Asia. The AFT strike‐slipped with a left‐lateral displacement of ca. 400 km during the Cenozoic and the displacement were bigger in the western segment and stronger in the early stage of fault activation. The slip‐rates in the Quaternary were bigger in the middle segment than in the western and eastern segment. We roughly estimated the Mesozoic displacement as ca. 150–300 km. The latest paleomagnetic data showed that the clockwise vertical‐axis rotation did not take place in the huge basins (the Tarim and Qaidam) at both side of ATF during the Cenozoic, but the rotation happened in the small basins along the ATF. This rotation may play an important role on accommodating the tectonic deformation and displacement of the ATF. Even if we have achieved consensus for many issues related to the ATF, some issues still need to be study deeply; such as: (a) the temporal and spatial coupling relationship between the collision of Cimmerian continent with Asia and the history of AFT in the Mesozoic and (b) the tectonic deformation history which records by the sediments of the basins within and at both side of AFT and was constrained by a high‐resolution and accurate chronology such as magnetostratigraphy and paleomagnetic data.

Jurassic Evolution of the Dunhuang Basin and Its Implications for the Early History of the Altyn Tagh Fault, Northeast Tibet Plateau

“…and Quaternary strata. Together with the absent of the Cretaceous strata, both indicate that multiple phases of tectonic uplift and deformation events occurred in the DHB and adjacent regions post the Jurassic (Dai et al., 2005, 2017; Fang et al., 2005, 2013; Jolivet et al., 2001; H. B. Li et al., 2006; Y. M. Liu et al., 2020; Sobel et al., 2001; J. M. Sun et al., 2005; Y. H. Tang et al., 2008; Yin & Harrison, 2000; Yin et al., 2002; Zhuang et al., 2011). The Jurassic strata are steeply tilted and folded along the basin margin due to faulting along the ATF and Sanwei Shan fault since the Pliocene (G. Chen et al., 2020; Cunningham et al., 2016; Y. M. Liu et al., 2020) but approximately horizontal within the basin (Figures 2b–2d), indicating that the post Jurassic deformation largely took place along the basin margin, and the uplift probably affected the strata denudation and distribution interior of the basin.…”

“…L. Dong et al, 2021;. Especially after the Indo-Asian collision, the Altyn Tagh strike-slip fault underwent multiple stages of reactivation during the Cenozoic (Cheng et al, 2015(Cheng et al, , 2016Cheng, Carmala, et al, 2019;Dai et al, 2017;Tapponnier et al, 2001;L. Wu et al, 2019;Yin et al, 2002;T.…”

“…The ATF is a distinguished left-lateral strike-slip fault in the eastern Asian continent. It defines the northern boundary of the Tibetan Plateau and plays an important role in the tectonic deformation and uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau (e.g., Dai et al, 2017;H. B. Li et al, 2006;Molnar & Tapponnier, 1975;Tapponnier et al, 2001;Yin & Harrison, 2000).…”

“…Geochronological and low‐temperature thermochronological studies have revealed the initial activity events of the Mesozoic ATF (Cheng, Jolivet, et al., 2019; Gong et al., 2013; Y. J. Liu et al., 2007; Y. Wang et al., 2005; X. D. Zhao et al., 2020), which resulted in the large deposition of Jurassic strata in the DHB and Qaidam Basin on both sides of the fault (Cheng, Jolivet, et al., 2019; Y. L. Dong et al., 2021; J. F. Zhao et al., 2020; X. D. Zhao et al., 2020). Especially after the Indo‐Asian collision, the Altyn Tagh strike‐slip fault underwent multiple stages of reactivation during the Cenozoic (Cheng et al., 2015, 2016; Cheng, Carmala, et al., 2019; Dai et al., 2017; Tapponnier et al., 2001; L. Wu et al., 2019; Yin et al., 2002; T. Zhang et al., 2018), which not only controlled the depositional model of Cenozoic sediments in the surrounding basins, but also transformed the original stratigraphic distribution pattern of the underlying Jurassic strata.…”

Construction of the Continental Asia in Phanerozoic: A Review

“…(4) Large scale strike-slip faulting The subduction-related compression in the late Mesozoic led to the development of large-scale continental margin strike-slip faults and escapement of continental blocks (Shang et al, 1997;Dong et al, 2005). For example, the continued strike-slipping on the Tanlu fault in eastern China (Zhu G et al, 2010), a series of large -scale strike-slip faults along the CCOS (Ratschbacher et al, 2000), the Ocheon fault zone in the Korean Peninsula (Lim and Cho, 2011), the early stage activities of the Altyn Tagh fault (Wang et al, 2005;Dai et al, 2017) and the East Kunlun faults (Mock et al, 1999), and the Xianshuihe River fault (Li H L et al, 2014), all of them may have their strike-slip faulting in the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous.…”