Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chronological dating and tectonic implications of late Cenozoic volcanic rocks and lacustrine sequence in Oiyug Basin of southern Tibet

  • Published:
Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Reconstruction of uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau is crucial for understanding its environmental impacts. The Oiyug Basin in southern Tibet contains multiple periods of sedimentary sequences and volcanic rocks that span much of the Cenozoic and has great potential for further studying this issue. However, these strata were poorly dated. This paper presents a chronological study of the 145 m thick and horizontally-distributed lacustrine sequence using paleomagnetic method as well as a K-Ar dating of the underlying volcanic rocks. Based on these dating results, a chronostratigraphic framework and the basin-developmental history have been established for the past 15 Ma, during which three tectonic stages are identified. The period of 15–8.1 Ma is characterized by intense volcanic activities involving at least three major eruptions. Subsequently, the basin came into a tectonically quiescent period and a lacustrine sedimentary sequence was developed. Around 2.5 Ma, an N-S fault occurred across the southern margin of the basin, leading to the disappearance of the lake environment and the development of the Oiyug River. The Gyirong basin on northern slope of the Himalayas shows a similar basin developmental history and thus there is a good agreement in tectonic activities between the Himalayan and Gangdise orogenic belts. Therefore, the tectonic evolution stages experienced by the Oiyug Basin during the past 15 Ma could have a regional significance for southern Tibet. The chronological data obtained from this study may provide some constraints for further studies with regard to the tectonic processes and environmental changes in southern Tibetan Plateau.

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

  1. Ye D Z, Gao Y X. Meteorology of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau (in Chinese). Beijing: Science Press, 1979. 1–278

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ruddiman W F, Raymo M E. Northern Hemisphere climate regimes during the past 3 Ma: Possible tectonic connections. Philos Trans R Soc B-Biol Sci, 1988, 318: 411–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Kutzbach J E, Guetter P J, Rudduman W F, et al. The sensitivity of climate to late Cenozoic uplift in southern Asia and the American west: Numerical experiments. J Geophys Res, 1989, 94: 18393–18407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Raymo M E, Ruddiman W F. Tectonic forcing of late Cenozoic climate. Nature, 1992, 359: 117–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Prell W L, Kutzbach J E. Sensitivity of the Indian monsoon to forcing parameters and implications for its evolution. Nature, 1992, 360: 647–652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Prell W L, Kutzbach J E. The impact of Tibet-Himalayan elevation on the sensitivity of the monsoon climate system to changes in solar radiation. In: Ruddiman W F, ed. Tectonic Uplift and Climate Change. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation, 1997. 171–201

    Google Scholar 

  7. Turner S, Hawkesworth C, Liu J Q, et al. Timing of Tibetan uplift constrained by analysis of volcanic rocks. Nature, 1993, 364: 50–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Li J J, Fang X M. Uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and environmental changes. Chin Sci Bul (in Chinese), 1998, 43(15): 1569–1574

    Google Scholar 

  9. Shi Y F, Li J J, Li B Y. Uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and Environmental Change During Late Cenozoic (in Chinese). Guangzhou: Guangdong Science and Technology Press, 1998. 1–463

    Google Scholar 

  10. Guo Z, Ruddiman W F, Hao Q, et al. Onset of Asian desertification by 22 Myr ago inferred from loess deposits in China. Nature, 2002, 416: 159–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Harrison T M, Copeland P, Kidd W S F, et al. Raising Tibet. Science, 1992, 255: 1663–1670

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Harrison T M, Copeland P, Kidd W S F, et al. Activation of the Nyainquentanghla Shear Zone: implications for uplift of the southern Tibet Plateau. Tectonics, 1995, 14: 658–676

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Coleman M, Hodges K. Evidence for Tibetan plateau uplift before 14 Myr ago from a new minimum estimate for east-west extension. Nature, 1995, 374: 49–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Rowley D B, Pierrehumbert B S, Currie B S. A new approach to stable isotope-based paleoaltimetry: implications for paleoaltimetry and paleohypsometry of High Himalaya since the Late Miocene. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 2001, 188: 253–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Williams H, Turner S, Kelley S, et al. Age and composition of dikes in Southern Tibet: New constraints on the timing of east-west extension and its relationship to postcollision volcanism. Geology, 2001, 29(4): 339–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Spicer R A, Harris N B W, Widdowson M, et al. Constant elevation of southern Tibet over the past 15 million years. Nature, 2003, 421: 622–624

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Currie B S, Rowley D B, Tabor N J. Middle Miocene paleoaltimetry of southern Tibet: Implications for the role of mantle thickening and delamination in the Himalayan orogen. Geology, 2005, 33: 181–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Rowley D B, Currie B S. Palaeo-altimetry of the late Eocene to Miocene Lunpola basin, central Tibet. Nature, 2006, 439: 677–681

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Mulch A, Chamberlain C P. The rise and growth of Tibet. Nature, 2006, 439: 670–671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Li J J, Wen S X, Zhang Q S, et al. A discussion on the period amplitude and type of the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Sci China-Ser B (in Chinese), 1979, (6): 608–616

  21. Li J. Uplift of Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and Global Change. Lanzhou: Lanzhou University Press, 1995. 1–207

    Google Scholar 

  22. Cui Z J, Gao Q Z, Liu G N, et al. Planation surfaces, palaeokarst and uplift of Xizang (Tibet) Plateau. Sci Chin Ser D-Earth Sci, 1996, 39(4): 391–400

    Google Scholar 

  23. Wang Y, Deng T, Biasatti D. Ancient diets indicate significant uplift of southern Tibet after ca. 7 Ma. Geology, 2007, 34(4): 309–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Geology and Mineral Resources Bureau of Tibetan Autonomous Region. 1:200000 Geological Map, Xietongmen-Namlin, Tibet with Guidebook (in Chinese). Lhasa: Geology and Mineral Resources Burean of Tibetan Autonomous Region, 1996. 130–134

  25. Cui J L, Yan T S, Zhang Y. Pleistocene strata and paleoclimatic bearings in Oiyug Basin, Namlin County of Tibet. J North China Hydropower College (in Chinese), 2004, 25: 58–61

    Google Scholar 

  26. Zijderveld J D A. AC demagnetization of Rocks: Analysis of Results. In: Collinson D W, Creer K M, Runcorn S K, eds. Methods on Paleornagnetic. New York: Elsevier, 1967. 245–286

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kirschvink J L. The least-squares line and plane and the analysis of paleomagnetic data. Geophys J R Astron Soc, 1980, 62: 699–718

    Google Scholar 

  28. Cande S C, Kent D V. Revised calibration of the geomagnetic polarity time scale for the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic. J Geophys Res, 1995, 100: 6093–6095

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Coulon C, Maluski H, Bollinger C, et al. Mesozoic and Cenozoic volcanic rocks from central and southern Tibet: 39Ar-40Ar dating, petrological characteristics and geodynamical significance. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 1986, 79: 281–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Chung S L, Liu D, Ji J, et al. Adakites from continental collision zones: Melting of thickened lower crust beneath southern Tibet. Geology, 2003, 31(11): 1021–1024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Wang F B, Li S F, Shen X H, et al. Formation, evolution and environmental changes of the Gyirong Basin and uplift of the Himalaya. Sci China Ser D-Earth Sci (in Chinese), 1996, 39(4): 401–409

    Google Scholar 

  32. Yue L P, Deng T, Zhang R, et al. Paleomagnetic chronology and records of Himalayan uplift on the Longgugou section of Gyirong-Oma basin in Xizang (Tibet). Acta Geophys Sin, 2004, 47(6): 1009–1016

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China

    Chen HeHai, Han JingTai, Ding ZhongLi, Sun HuiGuo & Guo ZhengFu

  2. Beilun Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau of China, Ningbo, 315800, China

    Chen HeHai

Authors
  1. Chen HeHai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Han JingTai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ding ZhongLi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Sun HuiGuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Guo ZhengFu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Han JingTai.

Additional information

Supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Initiative Program (Grant Nos. KZCX3-SW-145 and KZCX2-SW-133)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, H., Han, J., Ding, Z. et al. Chronological dating and tectonic implications of late Cenozoic volcanic rocks and lacustrine sequence in Oiyug Basin of southern Tibet. Sci. China Ser. D-Earth Sci. 51, 275–283 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-008-0007-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-008-0007-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation