Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Late cretaceous tectonic change of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau — results from multisystem thermochronology

  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Partially due to lack of structural and sedimentary records to constrain the Jurassic-to-Cretaceous evolution, there was a missing process here in the eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau as it changed from the Paleo-Tethyan to Neo-Tethyan regime. Based on the analysis of 125 thermochronology ages (U/Pb, 40Ar/39A, 87Rb/86Sr, FT, U-Th/He) of igneous rocks from the eastern margin of Tibet, we propose a multisystem thermochronology approach to restore the cooling and emplacement of granites and decipher the missing process. Our integrated study suggests that a key Late Cretaceous (about 100Ma) tectonic change from the Paleo-Tethyan to Neo-Tethyan regime took place there. In the Late Triassic period, the initial emplacement of granite in the Songpan-Ganzi Fold Belt (SGFB) was characterized by a decrease in emplacement age and depth from west to east, and from north to south. Subsequently, all were followed by a very long period of slow cooling, which was followed by a rapid emplacement of about 100Ma. The intensive granite emplacement took place all over except northeastern SGFB, with a decrease in emplacement depth from west to east, which was linked with the far-field effect of Lhasa-Qiangtang collision. After this episode, the cooling history of granite in SGFB had a rapid emplacement on the subsurface under the control of the Neo-Tethyan regime. This process has control of the post Late Cretaceous regional magmatic activity and tectonics, as well as the sedimentary response in Sichuan and Xichang basin.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arne, D., Worley, B., Wilson, C., Chen, S.F., Foster, D., Luo, Z.L., Liu, S.G. and Dirks, P. (1997) Differential exhumation in response to episodic thrusting along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Tectonophysics, v.280, pp.239–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger, G.W. and York, D. (1981) Geothermometry from 40Ar/39Ar dating experiments. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.45, pp.795–811.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandon, M.T., Roden-Tice, M.K. and Garver, J.I. (1998) Late Cenozoic exhumation of the Cascadia accretionary wedge in the Olympic Mountains, northwest Washington State. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v.110, pp.985–1009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BGMRSP (Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Sichuan Province). (1991) Regional Geology of Sichuan Province. Geological Publishing House, Beijing, pp.1–735.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burchfiel, B.C., Chen, Z., Liu, Y. and Royden, L.H. (1995) Tectonics of the Longmen Shan and adjacent regions, Central China. Internat. Geol. Rev., v.37, pp.661–735.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, M.K., House, M.A., Royden, L.H., Whipple, K. X., Burchfiel, B. C., Zhang, X. and Tang, W. (2005) Late Cenozoic uplift of southeastern Tibet. Geology, v.33, pp.525–528.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S.F., Wilson, C.J.L. and Worley, B.A. (1995) Tectonic transition from the Songpan-Ganzi fold belt to the Sichuan basin, south-western China. Basin Res., v.7, pp.235–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, S.F. and Wilson, C.J.L. (1996) Emplacement of the Longmen Shan Thrust-Nappe Belt along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Jour. Struct. Geol., v.18, pp.413–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherniak, D.J., Lanford, W.A. and Ryerson, F.J. (1991) Lead diffusion in apatite and zircon using ion implication and Rutherford backscattering techniques. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.55, pp.1663–1673.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherniak, D.J. (1993) Lead diffusion in titanite and preliminary results on the effects of radiation damage on Pb transport. Chem. Geol., v.110, pp.177–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherniak, D.J. and Watson, E.B. (2001) Pb diffusion in zircon. Chem. Geol., v.172, pp.5–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cherniak, D.J., Watson, E.B., Grove, M. and Harrison, T.M. (2004) Pb diffusion in monazite: a combined RBS/SIMS study. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.68, pp.829–840.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Decelles, P.G., Kapp, P., Ding, L. and Gehrels, G.E. (2007) Late Cretaceous to middle Tertiary basin evolution in the central Tibetan Plateau: changing environments in response to tectonic partitioning, aridification, and regional elevation gain. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v.119, pp.654–680.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, B., Liu, S.G., Li, Z.W. and Liu, S. (2009) Uplifting characteristics in Eastern Margin area of Tibetan Plateau: evidence from low-temperature thermochronology. Quanternary Sci., v.29, pp.574–586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, B., Liu, S.G., Liu, S., Li, Z.W., Si, J.T., Guo, B. and Tian, X.B. (2010a) The structural features of Jiaochang Arc Belt in Songpan-Ganzi Fold Belt and its tectonic implications. Geological Rev., v.56, pp.31–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deng, B., Liu, S.G., Liu, S. and Li, Z.W. (2010b) The micro-strain mechanism of Jiaochang arc structure in Songpan-Ganzi fold belt, Sichuan, China. Geol. Bull. China, v.29, pp.23–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dirks, P.H.G., Wilson, C.J.L., Chen, S., Luo, Z.L. and Liu, S. (1994) Tectonic evolution of the NE margin of the Tibetan Plateau: evidence from the central Longmen Mountains, Sichuan Province. Jour. Southeast Asian Earth Sci., v.9, pp.181–192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodson, M.H. and Mcclelland-brown, E. (1985) Isotopic and paleomagnetic evidence for rates of cooling, uplift and erosion. In: the Chronology of Geological Record. Geol. Soc. Mem. (London), v.10, pp.315–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farley, K.A. (2000) Helium diffusion from apatite: General behavior as illustrated by Durango fluorapatite. Jour. Geophys. Res., v.105, pp.2903–2914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gleadow, A.J.W., Duddy, I.R. and Lovering, J.F. (1983) Fission track analysis: a new tool for the evaluation of thermal histories and hydrocarbon potential. Aust. Petrol. Explor. Assoc. Jour., v.23, pp.93–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Godard, V., Pik, R., Lave, J., Cattin, R., Tibari, B., De Sigoyer, J. and Pubellier, M. (2009) Late Cenozoic evolution of the central Longmen Shan, eastern Tibet: Insight from (U-Th)/He thermochronometry. Tectonics, v.28, pp.1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrowfield, M.J. and Wilson, J.L. (2005) Indosinian deformation of the Songpan-Ganzi Fold Belt, northeast Tibetan Plateau. Jour. Struct. Geol., v.27, pp.101–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, T.M. (1981) Diffusion of 40Ar in hornblende. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.78, pp.324–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodges, K. (2003) Geochronology and thermochronology in orogenic systems. In: K.K. Turekian and H.D. Holland (Ed.), Treatise on Geochemistry. Elsevier, pp.263–292.

  • Huang, M.H., Maas, R., Buick, I.S. and Willliams, I.S. (2003a) Crustal response to continental collisions between the Tibet, Indian, South China and North China Blocks: geochronological constraints from the Songpan-Ganzi Orogenic Belt, western China. Jour. Metamorp. Geol., v.21, pp.223–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huang, M.H., Buick, I.S. and Hou, L.W. (2003b) Tectonometamorphic evolution of the Eastern Tibet Plateau: evidence from the central Songpan-Ganzi Orogenic Belt, western China. Jour. Petrol., v.44, pp.255–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kapp, P., Decelles, P.G., Gehrels, G.E., Heizler, M. and Ding, L. (2007) Geological records of the Lhasa-Qiangtang and Indo-Asian collisions in the Nima area of central Tibet. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v.119, pp.917–932.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, E., Reiners, P.W., Krol, M.A., Whipple, K.X. and Hodges, K.V. (2002) Late Cenozoic evolution of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: inferences from 40Ar/39Ar and (U-Th)/He thermochronology. Tectonics, v.21, pp.1001–1021.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krogstad, E.J. and Walker, R. (1994) High closure temperatures of the U-Pb system in large apatites from the Tin Mountain pegmatite, Black Hill, South Dakota, USA. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.18, pp.3845–3853.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lai, Q.Z., Ding, L., Wang, H.W., Yue, Y.H. and Cai, F.L. (2007) Constraining the stepwise migration of the eastern Tibetan Plateau margin by apatite fission track thermochronology. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, v.50, pp.172–183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, T. and Wang, Z.X. (2008) Thermochronology of the uplift of the BayanHar Mountains, Qinghai, China. Geol. Bull. China, v.27, pp.469–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, J.K., Yang, X.J., Wang, D.H., Xiong, C.L. and Fu X.F. (2009) Cooling process of granite in northwestern Sichuan province and its constraint to regional mineralization. Acta Geological Sinica, v.83, pp.1141–1149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, S.G., Li, Z.W., Cao, J.X., Liu, S., Deng, B., Wang, G.Z. and Deng, B. (2009) 4-D textural and structural characteristics of Longmen intracontinental composite orogenic belt, southwest China. Chinese Jour. Geol, v.44, pp.1151–1180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, W.Z., Xu, S.J., Wan, J.L., Yao, Z.D., Yu, H.B. and Fang, Z. (2003) The elevation history of crustal blocks in Panzhihua-Xichang region (western Yangtze craton) since early Cretaceous time-constraints from fission track dating of granulites. Jour. Nanjing University (Natural Sciences), v.29, pp.337–344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid, A.J., Wilson, C.J.L. and Liu, S. (2005a) Structural evidence for the Permo-Triassic tectonic evolution of the Yidun Arc, eastern Tibetan Plateau. Jour. Struct. Geol., v.27, pp.119–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, A.J., Wilson, C.J.L., Phillip, D. and Liu, S. (2005b) Mesozoic cooling across the Yidun Arc, central-eastern Tibetan Plateau: A reconnaissance 40Ar/39Ar study. Tectonophysics, v.398, pp.45–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, A.J., Fowler, A.P., Phillip, D. and Wilson, C.J.L. (2005c) Thermochronology of the Yidun Arc, central eastern Tibetan Plateau: constrains from 40Ar/39Ar K-feldspar and apatite fission track data. Jour Asian Earth Sci, v.25, pp.915–935.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiners, P.W., Spell, T.L., Nicolescu, S. and Zanetti, K.A. (2004) Zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometry: He diffusion and comparisons with 40Ar/39Ar dating. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, v.68, pp.1857–1887.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiners, P.W., Ehlers, T. A. and Zeitler, P.K. (2005) Past, present, and future of thermochronology. Reviews in Mineralogy & Geochemistry, v.58, pp.1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reiners, P.W. and Brandon, M.T. (2006) Using thermochronology to understand orogenic erosion. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., v.34, pp.419–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, F., Calassou, S., Lancelot, J., Malavieille, J., Mattauer, M., Xu, Z.Q., Hao, Z.W. and Hou, L.W. (1995) Miocene emplacement and deformation of the Konga Shan granite (Xianshui He fault zone, west Sichuan, China): Geodynamic implications. EPSL, v.130, pp.201–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, F., Malavieille, J., Leloup, Ph. H., Calassou, S. and Xu, Z. (2004) Timing of granite emplacement and cooling in the Songpan-Ganzi Fold Belt (eastern Tibetan Plateau) with tectonic implications. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.22, pp.465–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, F., Jolivet, M. and Malavieille, J. (2008) Tectonic evolution of the Triassic fold belts of Tibet. C. R. Geoscience, v.340, pp.180–189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roger, F., Jolivet, M. and Malavieille, J. (2010) The tectonic evolution of the Songpan-Garze (North Tibet) and adjacent areas from Proterozoic to Present: A synthesis. Jour. of Asian Earth Sci., v.39, pp.254–269.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallis, S., Tsujimori, T., Aoya, M., Kawakami, T., Terada, K., Suzuki, K. and Hyodo, H. (2003) Cenozoic and Mesozoic metamorphism in the Longmenshan orogen: Implications for geodynamic models of eastern Tibet. Geology, v.31, pp.745–748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, E.Q. and Burchfiel, B.C. (2000) Late Cenozoic to Holocene deformation in southwestern Sichuan and adjacent Yunnan, China, and its role in formation of the southeastern part of the Tibet Plateau. GSA Bull., v.112, pp.413–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, C.Y., Han, W.B., Wu, J.P., Lou, H. and Chan, W.W. (2007) Crustal structure beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its tectonic implications. Jour. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, v.112, pp.1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, J.H., Yin, A., Harrison, T.M., Vrove, M., Zhang, Y.Q. and Xie, G.H. (2001) A tectonic mode for Cenozoic igneous activities in the eastern Indo-Asian collision zone. EPSL, v.18, pp.123–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weislogel, A.L., Graham, S.A., Chang, E.Z., Wooden, J.L., Gehrels, G.E. and Yang, H. (2006) Detrital zircon provenance of the Late Triassic Songpan-Ganzi complex: Sedimentary record of collision of the North and South China blocks. Geology, v.34, pp.97–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weislogel, A.L. (2008) Tectonostratigraphic and geochronologic constraints on evolution of the northeast Paleotethys from the Songpan-Ganzi complex. central China. Tectonophysics, v.451, pp.331–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, C.J.L., Harrowfield, M.J. and Reid, A.J. (2006) Brittle modification of Triassic architecture in eastern Tibet: implications for the construction of the Cenozoic plateau. Jour. Southeast Asian Earth Sci., v.27, pp.341–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, F.Y., Li, X.H., Yang, J.H. and Zheng, Y.F. (2007) Discussion on the petrogenesis of granites. Acta Petrologica Sinica, v.23, pp.1217–1238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, L., Zhang, H.F., Clemens, J.D., Wang, Q.W., Kan, Z.Z., Wang, K.M., Ni, P.Z. and Liu, X.M. (2007) Late Triassic granitoids of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Geochronology, petrogenesis and implication for tectonic evolution. Lithos, v.96, pp.436–452.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, G.Q. and Kamp, P. (2000) Tectonics and denudation adjacent to the Xianshuihe Fault, eastern Tibetan Plateau: constrains from fission track thermochronology. Jour. Geophys. Res., v.105, pp.19231–19251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, A. and Nie, S.Y. (1993) An indentation model for the North and South China collision and the development of the Tan-Lu and Honam fault systems, eastern Asia. Tectonics, v.12, pp.801–813.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, A. (2010) Cenozoic tectonic evolution of Asia: A preliminary synthesis. Tectonophysics, v.488, pp.293–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, C., Zhou, M.F., Sun, M., Zhao, Y.J., Wilde, S., Long, X.P. and Yan, D.P. (2010) Triassic granitoids in the eastern Songpan-Ganzi Fold Belt, SW China: Magmatic response to geodynamics of the deep lithosphere. EPSL, v.290, pp.481–492.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, H.Z. and Zhang, Z.L. (1994) A study of the chronology of granitoid rocks in Indosinian-Yanshan period at the west of Longmen mountains. In: Z.L. Luo (Ed.), Uplift of Longmen mountain orogenic belt and the formation and evolution of Sichuan basin. Press of Chengdu University of Science and Technology, Chengdu, pp.330–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H.F., Zhang, L., Harris, N., Jin, L.L. and Yuan, H.L. (2006) U-Pb zircon ages, geochemical and isotopic compositions of granitoids in Songpan-Ganzi fold belt, eastern Tibetan Plateau: constraints on petrogenesis and tectonic evolution of the basement. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v.152, pp.75–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H.F., Parrish, R., Zhang, L., Xu, W.C., Yuan, H.L., Gao, S. and Crowley, Q.G. (2007) A-type granite and adakitic magmatism association in Songpan-Ganzi fold belt, eastern Tibetan Plateau: Implication fro lithospheric delamination. Lithos, v.97, pp.323–335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, G.W., Guo, A.L. and Yao, A.P. (2004) Western Qinling-Songpan continental tectonic node in China’s continental tectonics. Earth Science Frontiers (China University of Geosciences, Beijing), v.11, pp.23–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, D. and Graham, S.A. (1996) The Songpan-Ganzi complex of the western Qinling Shan as a Triassic remnant ocean basin. In: A. Yin and T.M. Harrison (Ed.), The Tectonic Evolution of Asia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp.281–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, M.F., Yan, D.P., Vasconcelos, P.M., Li, J.W. and Hu, R.Z. (2008) Structural and geochronological constraints on the tectono-thermal evolution of the Danba domal terrane, eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.33, pp.414–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation/Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China

    Bin Deng, Shugen Liu, Zhiwu Li, Junxing Cao & Wei Sun

  2. Institute für Geowissenschaften, Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Bin Deng

Authors
  1. Bin Deng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shugen Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhiwu Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Junxing Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wei Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shugen Liu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Deng, B., Liu, S., Li, Z. et al. Late cretaceous tectonic change of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau — results from multisystem thermochronology. J Geol Soc India 80, 241–254 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-012-0134-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-012-0134-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation