Review and Prospects for the Late Cenozoic Sediments in Panzhihua-Xichang Area

Abstract

Late Cenozoic sediments in Panzhihua-Xichang region provide great potentials for studies of the uplift process of the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau and its environmental effects of global climatic changes,the late Cenozoic deformation of the east-west geomorphological boundary zone,and the formation and evolution of the drainage patterns.The progress in the research of late Cenozoic sediments during the past 70 years are summarized in detail,such as the research history,the sequence classification,timing of late Cenozoic sediments,and their paleoenvironmental and paleogeographical significances.Moreover,different views on the lithostratigraphy and chronology of the Xigeda formation and the Daqingliangzi formation are especially and comprehensively commented.Furthermore,glacial stages,neotectonic deformation and uplift process and river system change recorded in the sediments are reviewed.After analyzing and discussing on the disputes of the researchers,we suggest it is necessary to combine stratigraphy and physiognomy and other subjects to obtain reliable age determination of the Cenozoic sediments in Panzhihua-Xichang area in the future work.