Development of a pediment on western slopes of Liupan Mountain related to the Neotectonic Uplift

Abstract

The late Cenozoic uplift of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau plays an important role in adjacent geomorphic evolution and depositional environments. Liupan Mountain, located at the northeast margin of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, has different landforms on the east and west sides. Recently, a pediment, which lies above the highest terrace of the Yellow River at the northeast edge of Longzhong Basin, has been described. The paleomagnetic measurements indicate that the pediment had developed at least 1.8 MaBP and its age is in accordance with that of the peneplains near Lanzhou and Linxia, in the southwest of Longzhong Basin. The results suggest that the Longzhong Basin lying to the west of Liupan Mountain had been subject to erosion and developed an extensive pediment; this pediment is named the Gansu Period Peneplain. It also indicates that Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and Liupan Mountain were uplifted strongly at that time, which caused not only the end of pediplanation but also Yellow River appearance and loess accumulation.