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Palynological evidence sheds new light on the age of the Liuqu Conglomerates in Tibet and its geological significance

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Abstract

The Liuqu Conglomerates consist of a suit of terrestrial molasse deposits formed in a foreland basin of the Himalaya-Tibet orogenic belt before the collision of India and Eurasia. These deposits record considerable geological information regarding the late tectonic evolution of the Neotethyan ocean. The palynological study of interlayers of mudstone and mud-sandstones indicates an Oligocene age. The palynological assemblage consists mainly of deciduous broad-leaved angiosperms, with some coniferous gymnosperms and evergreen broad-leaved angiosperms. The deposits reflect a broad-leaved deciduous forest or mixed with conifer-broad-leaved forest ecotypes, showing a warm-temperate or temperate zone climatic environment. This work provides significant new information about the tectonic evolution, paleogeography, and paleoenvironment of southern Tibet during the Cenozoic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China

    LiJie Wei, XiaoHan Liu, GuangWei Li, XiaoBing Liu & XueJun Zhou

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    LiJie Wei

  3. Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, 100029, China

    FuHua Yan & XueShun Mai

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  1. LiJie Wei
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Wei, L., Liu, X., Yan, F. et al. Palynological evidence sheds new light on the age of the Liuqu Conglomerates in Tibet and its geological significance. Sci. China Earth Sci. 54, 901–911 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-010-4149-y

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