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Temporal and spatial patterns of Cenozoic deformation across the Qaidam Basin, Northern Tibetan Plateau
Author(s) -
Wei Yanyan,
Xiao Ancheng,
Wu Lei,
Mao Liguang,
Zhao Haifeng,
Shen Ya,
Wang Liqun
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/ter.12234
Subject(s) - cenozoic , geology , plateau (mathematics) , structural basin , sedimentary rock , traverse , paleontology , geomorphology , sichuan basin , seismology , geochemistry , geodesy , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Abstract We conducted a systematic analysis of the temporal and spatial patterns of Cenozoic deformation of the northeastern ( NE ) and southwestern ( SW ) parts of the Qaidam Basin, the largest and thickest Cenozoic sedimentary basin within the Tibetan Plateau, by constructing balanced cross‐sections traversing the whole basin using high‐resolution seismic‐reflection data. We found that that these two parts deformed synchronously with similar temporal patterns involving nearly constant NE – SW contraction before c . 2.5 Ma and much more intense shortening, possibly enhanced by fierce wind erosion, since then. However, the spatial deformation patterns of these two areas differ markedly: an eastward weakening trend in the SW part is not observed in the NE part. We believe that this difference is due to their different boundary conditions. This result places new constraints on the formation mechanisms of the northern Tibetan Plateau.