Discussion on the Cenozoic tectonic evolution and dynamics of southern Tibet

Abstract

Opening-closing tectonics is a new idea for exploring the global tectonics, which holds that every tectonic movement of all materials and geological bodies on earth is characterized by opening and closing. The opening-closing tectonic view can be used to explain some geological phenomena developing in continents which cannot be reasonably explained by the theory of plate tectonics. Based on the available basic geological data and combining with the opening-closing view, we analyzed the divisions and characteristics of tectonic units in South Tibet, and propose that Tibet can be divided into gravitational detachment and detachment fault zones, which are superimposed thrust fault zones and reconstructed normal fault zones, respectively. Although the mainstream opinion believed that the Tibetan Plateau is formed by collision-compression orogenesis, field investigation revealed the existence of the Rongbu Temple normal fault in the 1970s. We consider that the Rongbu Temple normal fault and the Main Central Thrust were formed earlier than the South Tibet detachment fault, and the former two faults constitute the two boundaries of the southern Tibet extrusion structure. The South Tibet detachment fault partially superimposes on the Main Central Thrust and manifests a relatively high angle in following the Rongbu Temple normal fault north of the Chomolangma. We suggest that the three fault systems are the products of different periods and tectonic backgrounds. The tectonic units, such as klippes and windows identified by previous researchers in southern Tibet, belong to thrust fault system but usually have no obvious extrusion or thrust characteristics; however, they are characterized by missing strata columns as younger strata overlapping the older ones. These klippes and windows should be the results of later gravitational decollement and must be characterized as extensions and slips, respectively. Based on opening-closing theory, we suggest that since the Cenozoic the study area had undergone multistage development, which can be divided into the oceanic crust expansion (opening) and subduction (closing) and the continental collision (closing) and intracontinental extension (opening) stages. Geothermal energy from the deep earth, gravitational potential energy from the earth’s interior, and additional stress energy from tectonic movements, all played a key role in the multistage tectonic evolutionary process.