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The formation and evolution of the Qiaojia pull-apart basin, North Xiaojiang Fault Zone, Southwest China

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Abstract

Sedimentary sequences with drastic thickening over short distances have been observed in Qiaojia County, Yunnan Province, Southwest China. These are related to a pull-apart basin controlled by the Xiaojiang strike-slip fault. Our field investigations include determining the surface characteristics of the Qiaojia basin which consists of three terrace sequences and a series of alluvial fans. Several drill holes were used to reveal the internal structure of the basin. The results suggest that the basinal sediments are over 300 m thick. From bottom to top, they can be classified into five different units. We inferred that the units of lacustrine sediments are deposited in a paleo-lake which was formed by a paleo-landslide. Accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating (AMS 14C dating) was used to estimate the ages of the terrace and lacustrine sediments. We use the results to infer that the paleo-lake has existed about 15,000 years and that the Qiaojia basin was uplifted at an average rate of 3.3 mm/a. Furthermore, we then model the evolution process of the basin and interpreted 6 phases of development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Tian-tao Li, Xiang-jun Pei & Run-qiu Huang

  2. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia, 30332, USA

    Long-de Jin

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  1. Tian-tao Li
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  2. Xiang-jun Pei
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  3. Run-qiu Huang
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  4. Long-de Jin
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Correspondence to Xiang-jun Pei.

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http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4467-4691

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0790-4099

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2560-4962

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1346-750X

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Li, Tt., Pei, Xj., Huang, Rq. et al. The formation and evolution of the Qiaojia pull-apart basin, North Xiaojiang Fault Zone, Southwest China. J. Mt. Sci. 13, 1096–1106 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-015-3778-1

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