Intensified Late Miocene Deformation in the Northern Qaidam Basin, Northern Tibetan Plateau, Constrained by Apatite Fission-Track Thermochronology

Pengju He; Chunhui Song; Yadong Wang; Yihu Zhang; Wenqi Chen; Qingquan Meng; Yuanhao Zhao

doi:10.3389/feart.2021.750993

Frontiers in Earth Science (Nov 2021)

Intensified Late Miocene Deformation in the Northern Qaidam Basin, Northern Tibetan Plateau, Constrained by Apatite Fission-Track Thermochronology

Pengju He,
Chunhui Song,
Yadong Wang,
Yihu Zhang,
Wenqi Chen,
Qingquan Meng,
Yuanhao Zhao

Affiliations

Pengju He: School of Earth Sciences and Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources in Western China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Chunhui Song: School of Earth Sciences and Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources in Western China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Yadong Wang: Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Key Laboratory of Petroleum Resources, Lanzhou, China
Yihu Zhang: School of Earth Sciences and Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources in Western China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Wenqi Chen: School of Earth Sciences and Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources in Western China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Qingquan Meng: School of Earth Sciences and Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources in Western China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
Yuanhao Zhao: School of Earth Sciences and Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources in Western China, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.750993
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 9

Abstract

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The Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the North Qaidam-Qilian Shan fold-thrust belt in the northern Tibetan Plateau is important to understanding the tectonic rejuvenation of orogeny and growth of the plateau. However, the deformation processes in this region remain controversial. This study presents new apatite fission track (AFT) data from Paleogene strata in the northern Qaidam Basin to investigate the time of deformation in this site. Thermal modeling of these partially annealed detrital AFT ages shows a thermal history with a noticeable transition from heating to cooling after ∼10 Ma. This transition is attributed to the intensified thrusting and folding of the northern Qaidam Basin since ∼10 Ma. Integrated with published tectonics and thermochronology results, we suggest the North Qaidam-Qilian Shan fold-thrust belt experienced prevailing tectonism since the late Miocene.

Published in Frontiers in Earth Science

ISSN: 2296-6463 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science
Website: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science

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