Tertiary basin evolution along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence for basin formation during Oligocene transtension

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 2013 Tertiary basin evolution along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence for basin formation during Oligocene transtension Weitao Wang; Weitao Wang † 1State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China †E-mail: weitaoww@gmail.com. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Eric Kirby; Eric Kirby 2Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zhang Peizhen; Zhang Peizhen 1State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zheng Dewen; Zheng Dewen 1State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zhang Guangliang; Zhang Guangliang 1State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zhang Huiping; Zhang Huiping 1State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zheng Wenjun; Zheng Wenjun 1State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Chai Chizhang Chai Chizhang 3Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Yinchuan 750001, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (2013) 125 (3-4): 377–400. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30611.1 Article history received: 23 Sep 2011 rev-recd: 22 Jun 2012 accepted: 15 Jul 2012 first online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Weitao Wang, Eric Kirby, Zhang Peizhen, Zheng Dewen, Zhang Guangliang, Zhang Huiping, Zheng Wenjun, Chai Chizhang; Tertiary basin evolution along the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Evidence for basin formation during Oligocene transtension. GSA Bulletin 2013;; 125 (3-4): 377–400. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30611.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The development of high topography associated with the Indo-Asian collision plays a central role in ongoing debates over the linkages between development of the Tibetan Plateau and climate. In northeastern Tibet, the widespread appearance of coarse terrestrial sediment during the Oligocene is commonly interpreted to herald the development of a foreland basin in response to crustal thickening along the present-day margin of the plateau. However, a lack of direct observations relating sediment accumulation to fault activity leaves this interpretation uncertain. Here, we present new stratigraphic observations along the northern margin of the Longzhong basin that provide insight into the tectonic setting of basin development. A combination of field and subsurface observations, including the geometry of basin-bounding faults, sedimentary provenance, paleoflow direction, isopach and sedimentary facies distribution patterns, constrains basin evolution from the Middle Tertiary through Quaternary time. Our results suggest that NE-SW extension across normal faults controlled development of accommodation space in the northern Longzhong basin during the Oligocene to early Miocene. Continued sediment accumulation from the mid-Miocene through Pliocene occurred in a broad, shallow basin, consistent with thermal subsidence following extension. Basin inversion initiated between 10 Ma and 6 Ma, associated with the development of the modern Haiyuan fault system. Our results imply that the onset of Tertiary sedimentation in the Longzhong basin does not represent a developing foredeep associated with a nascent Tibetan Plateau, but rather reflects transtensional deformation inboard of extensional basins along the East Asian margin. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.