Low‐temperature thermochronological insights into the Mesozoic–Cenozoic exhumation history of the Taihang–Lvliangshan region: A review

Abstract

The Taihang–Lvliangshan region is located in the central part of the North China Craton (NCC), which has undergone significant reactivation and reconstruction during the Mesozoic–Cenozoic period. Documenting its long‐term uplift and exhumation history is critical for accurately characterizing the reformation extent of the NCC. In order to further reveal the Mesozoic and Cenozoic exhumation stages and spatial exhumation pattern of the Taihang–Lvliangshan, we present a comprehensive low‐temperature thermochronometric datasets from the region. The compilation revealed five distinct rapid exhumation episodes within the Taihang–Lvliangshan, including the Middle‐Late Jurassic (~160–150 Ma), Early Cretaceous (~120–110 Ma), Late Cretaceous (~100–60 Ma), Eocene (~50–40 Ma), and Late Oligocene–Early Miocene (~30–20 Ma). During the Middle–Late Jurassic, the Taihang–Lvliangshan underwent a strong thrusting deformation caused by the synthesis of northwestward subduction of the Palaeo‐Pacific Plate and southward subduction/collision of the Mongol–Okhotsk suture zone. Subsequently, rapid exhumation under an extensional tectonic environment occurred during the Early Cretaceous primarily owing to the subduction of the Palaeo‐Pacific Plate. During the Late Cretaceous, the collision between the Okhotomorsk Block and East Asia resulted in the regional northwest–southeast shortening and uplift of the Taihang–Lvliangshan. During the Eocene, normal fault activations were occurring throughout the range, likely owing to the change in the convergence rate and direction between the Palaeo‐Pacific Plate and East Asia. Another important exhumation event occurred during the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene period, which was likely attributed to the result of combined effects from both the India–Eurasia collision and Pacific Plate subduction. Furthermore, differential exhumation of the Taihang–Lvliangshan were clearly revealed according to the five separate E–W elevation–distance profiles of the Taihang–Lvliangshan. They displayed greater exhumation thicknesses at the southern regions than those along the northern regions, which can be explained by the development of the Shanxi Rift that began to form following the Oligocene–Miocene period.