Geological characteristics and evolution of the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau since the late Cenozoic

Abstract

The eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau developed an integrated series of late Cenozoic lacustrine, loess, red and moraines deposits. Various genetic sediments recorded rich information of Quaternary palaeoenvironment changes. Xigeda Pliocene lacustrine deposits, formed during 4.2 Ma B.P.-2.6 Ma B.P., experienced nine periodic warm-cold stages. Eolian deposition in western Sichuan began at 1.15 Ma B.P., and the loess-soil sequences successively record fourteen palaeomonsoon change cycles. Red clay in the Chengdu plain record five stages of paleoclimatic change stages since 1.13 Ma B.P.. There was an old glacial period of 4.3 Ma B.P. in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. During the Quaternary, there were five extreme paleoclimatic events corresponding to five glaciations.

References

1. An Z S 2001 The relationship between evolution of the Asian monsoon,the formation of the Northern Hemisphere glaciation and the upliftof Tibetan plateauChina Basic Science8911 (in Chinese with English abstract)
2. Chen F B Gao S H Chen J L et al. 1990 Primary research of magnetic stratigraphyof Ganzi Loess SectionChinese Science Bulletin35(20)1600 (in Chinese)
3. Chen F B Zhao Y T 1988 New Tectonicin Panxi RegionChengduScience and Technology Press214 (in Chinese)
4. Chen S Y Fang X M Wang S M 2002 Relation between the loess stratigraphyon the eastern Tibetan plateau and Indian monsoonMarine Geology and Quaternary Geology22(3)4146 (in Chinese with Englishabstract)
5. Chen Z L Sun Z M Royden L H et al. 2004 Landslide blocked lake: Originof the Xigeda Formation in Luding, Sichuan and its significanceQuaternary Sciences24(6)614620 (in Chinese with Englishabstract)
6. Compiling Group ofSichuan Provincial Stratigraphic Chart. 1978 StratigraphicChart of Southwest Area (Fascicule on Sichuan)BeijingGeological Press356358396398 (in Chinese)
7. Duan W T 1998 Commemoration of Mr. Li Chengsan's contribution to Chineseglaciology and geologyJournal of ChengduUniversity of Technology25(2)124126 (in Chinese with English abstract)
8. Fang X M Chen F B Shi Y F et al. 1990 Ganzi loess and Qinghai-Tibetanplateau cryosphere evolutionChinese ScienceBulletin41(20)18651867 (in Chinese)
9. Han T L 1991 Qinghai-Tibetan Huge Ice CapBeijingGeological Publishing House7071 (in Chinese)
10. Jiang F C Wu X H Xiao H G et al. 1997 The Ganzi loess stratigrphy inthe west Sichuan plateauActa GeoscientiaSinica-Bulletin of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences18(4)413420 (in Chinesewith English abstract)
11. Jiang F C Wu X H Xiao H G et al. 1999 On the age of Xigeda Formationin Luding, Sichuan and its Neotectonic significanceActa Geologica Sinica73(1)16 (in Chinese with English abstract)
12. Li C S Wu Y S Li Y Z et al. 1964 Quaternary glacial remains of northhillside of south part and foreland belt of Longmen Moutain, SichuanProvinceIn: Contribution to Chinese QuaternaryGlaciology and GeologyBeijingScience Press1484 (in Chinese)
13. Li J J Fang X M 1998 Research ofQinghai-Tibetan uplift and its environmental change effectChinese Science Bulletin43(15)15691574 (in Chinese)
14. Li J J Feng Z D 1984 Quaternaryglacial remains of Transverse Mountain chainJournal of Lanzhou University16172 (in Chinesewith English abstract)
15. Liu D S Zhang X S Xiong S F et al. 1999 Qinghai-Xizang plateau glacialenvironment and global coolingQuaternarySciences5385396 (in Chinese with Englishabstract)
16. Luo Y L Liu D S 1998 Depositionalenvironment evolution a cycling stratigrphy research on Xigeda groupQuaternary Sciences4373 (in Chinese)
17. Qian F Xu S J Chen F B et al. 1984 Study on the paleomagnetism ofthe Xigeda FormationJournal of MountainResearch2(4)275282 (in Chinese with English abstract)
18. Quaternary GlacierSurvey Team. 1977a Initial Research of Xigeda Group in SouthwestChinaIn: Contribution to Chinese QuaternaryGlaciology and Geology, Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academyof Geological SciencesBeijingGeological Publishing House144154 (in Chinese)
19. Quaternary Glacier Survey Team. 1977b Quaternary Glacial Geology of Luojishan Mountain Area in Xichang,SichuanBeijingGeological Publishing House143 (in Chinese)
20. Quaternary GlacierSurvey Team. 1977c Primary research of Quaternary Jinshaglacial period in Dukou area, Sichuan ProvinceIn: Contribution to Chinese Quaternary Glaciology and GeologyBeijingGeologicalPublishing House4454 (in Chinese)
21. Raymo M E Ruddiman W F Backman S et al. 1989 Late Pliocene variation in northernhemisphere ice sheets and north Atlantic deep water circulationPaleoceanography4413446. doi:10.1029/PA004i004p00413
22. Ruddiman W F Raymo M E Martinson D G et al. 1989 Pleistocene evolution: Northernhemisphere ice sheets and North Atlantic OceanPaleoceanography4353412. doi:10.1029/PA004i004p00353
23. Shi Y F 1998 Evolution of cryosphere in the Tibetan plateau, China,and its relationship with the global change in the mid-QuaternaryJournal of Glaciology and Geocryology20(3)197208 (in Chinesewith English abstract)
24. Su Z Shi Y F Zheng B X 2002 Quaternary glacial remains on the GonggaMountain and the division of glacial periodAdvance in Earth Sciences17(5)639647 (in Chinese with English abstract)
25. Wang J M Pan B T 1997 Loess depositin eastern part of Qinghai-Xizang plateau: Its characteristics andenvironmentJournal of Dessert Research17(4)395402 (in Chinesewith English abstract)
26. Wang P X 1998 Deformation of Asia and global cooling: searching linkbetween climate and tectonicsQuaternarySciences3213221 (in Chinese with Englishabstract)
27. Wang Y S Li Y Z Xiang F 2003 The Ganzi loess origin in the west SichuanplateauJournal of Geomechanics9(1)9196 (in Chinesewith English abstract)
28. Wu X H Li Y Z 1990 Moraine andenvironments in Qinghai-Xizang plateauQuaternarySciences2146158 (in Chinese with Englishabstract)
29. Xu D M Shen Y P 1995 On ancitentice-sheet and ice age in the Tibetan plateauJournal of Glaciology and Geocryology17(3)213229 (in Chinese with Englishabstract)
30. Yan M D Fang X M Chen S Y et al. 2001 Pleistocene magnetic susceptibilityand paleomagnetism of the Tibetan loess and its implication on largeclimatic change eventsScience in China(Ser D)44(Supp)227232
31. Yuan F L 1958 Some Quaternary geological data on Southwest ChinaQuaternary Research in China1(2)130140 (in Chinese)
32. Zhang Z H 1994 Geological Research of Central Part of Sichuan-Yunnan South-NorthTectonic BeltBeijingPetroleum Industry Press161169 (in Chinese)