Paleomagnetic and fission-track dating of a Late Cenozoic red earth section in the Liupan Shan and associated tectonic implications

Abstract

The north-trending Liupan Shan (六盘山) is an important tectonic boundary between the Tibetan Plateau and the Ordos platform. The Late Cenozoic red earth deposits of the Liupan Shan record its tectonic history and environmental effects. In this article we report a new Late Cenozoic red earth section from an intermontane basin in the southern part of the Liupan Shan. Lithofacies analysis, paleomagnetic and fission-track chronologies, and paleocurrent analysis have been employed to identify the tectonic uplift events of the Liupan Shan. Based on the age constraints of mammal fossils, the paleomagnetic polarity zones of the Huating (华亭) Section can be approximately correlated with the standard polarity zones that lie between C3An.2n and C5n.1n of the Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale; the bottom age of this section is approximately 10 Ma. Based on this and the previous studies, we infer that a tectonic event commenced in the southern Liupan Shan in this interval between 8.3 and 8.7 Ma, accompanied by a remarkable increase in sediment accumulation rate. Field observations, fission-track dating, determinations of grain-size frequency distributions and the vertebrate fossils found there suggest that the red earth deposits were reworked by water and mainly transported by fluvial-alluvial processes from the adjacent area.

Keywords

red earth / magnetostratigraphy / paleocurrent / fission-track dating / Liupan Shan

References

An Z S, John E K, Warren L P, . Evolution of Asian Monsoons and Phased Uplift of the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau since Late Miocene Times. Nature, 2001, 411(6833): 62-66.

Burchfiel B C, Zhang P Z, Wang Y P, . Geology of the Haiyuan Fault Zone, Ningxia-Hui Autonomous Region, China, and Its Relation to the Evolution of the Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Tectonics, 1991, 10(6): 1091-1110.

Cande S C, Kent D V. Revised Calibration of the Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale for the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic. Journal of Geophysical Research, 1995, 100(B4): 6093-6095.

Chen G, Sun J B, Zhou L F, . Fission-Track-Age Records of the Mesozoic Tectonic Events in the Southwest Margin of the Ordos Basin, China. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 2007, 50(Suppl.II): 133-143.

Chen J, Lu Y, Ding G. Stages of Quaternary Tectonic Movement in West Qilian Mountain and Jiuxi Basin. Quaternary Sciences, 1996, 16(3): 263-271.

Chen Z L, Wan J L, Wang X F. Rapid Strike-Slip of the Altyn Tagh Fault at 8 Ma and Its Geological Implications. Ma and Its Geological Implications. Acta Geoscientica Sinica, 2002, 23(4): 295-300.

Copeland P, Harrison T M, Kidd W S F, . Rapid Early Miocene Acceleration of Uplift in the Gangdese Belt, Xizang (Southern Tibet), and Its Bearing on Accommodation Mechanisms of the India-Asia Collision. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1987, 86(2–4): 240-252.

Day R, Fuller M, Schmidt V A. Hysteresis Properties of Titanomagnetites: Grain-Size and Compositional Dependence. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, 1977, 13(4): 260-267.

Dewey J F, Burke K C. Tibetan, Variscan and Precambrian Basement Reactivation: Products of Continental Collision. Journal of Geology, 1973, 81(6): 683-692.

Dewey J F, Shackleton R M, Chang C, . The Tectonic Evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Royal Society of London Philosophical Transactions, Series A, 1986, 327(1594): 379-413.

Ding G Y, Chen J, Tian Q J, . Active Faults and Magnitudes of Left-Lateral Displacement along the Northern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Tectonophysics, 2004, 380(3–4): 243-260.

Fang X M, Garzione C, Van der Voo R, . Flexural Subsidence by 29 Ma on the NE Edge of Tibet from the Magnetostratigraphy of Linxia Basin, China. Ma on the NE Edge of Tibet from the Magnetostratigraphy of Linxia Basin, China. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2003, 210(3–4): 545-560.

Fielding E J. Tibet Uplift and Erosion. Tectonophysics, 1996, 260(1–3): 55-84.

Gleadow A J W. Fission-Track Dating Methods: What are the Real Alternatives?. Nuclear Tracks, 1981, 5(1–2): 3-14.

Gleadow A J W, Hurford A J, Quaife R D. Fission Track Dating of Zircon: Improved Etching Techniques. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1976, 33(2): 273-276.

Harrison T M, Copeland P, Hall S A, . Isotopic Preservation of the Himalayan/Tibetan Uplift, Denudation, and Climatic Histories of Two Molasse Deposits. The Journal of Geology, 1993, 101(2): 157-175.

Harrison T M, Copeland P, Kidd W S F, . Raising Tibet. Science, 1992, 255(5052): 1663-1670.

Hurford A J, Green P F. The Zeta Age Calibration of Fission-Track Dating. Chemical Geology, 1983, 41: 285-317.

Jelínek V, Kropáček R V. Statistical Processing of Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility Measured on Groups of Specimens. Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica, 1978, 22(1): 50-62.

Kang T S, Wang S C. Fission Track Analysis Methods for Geothermal History Research, 1991 Beijing: Science Press, 1-112.

Li J J, Wen S X, Zhang Q S, . Discussion on the Timing, Amplitude and Style of the Tibetan Plateau. Science in China Ser. A Math., 1979, 6: 608-616.

Li J J, Zhang J, Song C H, . Miocene Bahean Stratigraphy in the Longzhong Basin, Northern Central China and Its Implications in Environmental Change. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 2006, 49(12): 1270-1279.

Lin X B, Chen H L, Wyrwoll K H, . Commencing Uplift of the Liupan Shan since 9.5 Ma: Evidences from the Sikouzi Section at Its East Side. Ma: Evidences from the Sikouzi Section at Its East Side. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 2010, 37(4): 350-360.

Meivier F, Gaudemer Y, Tapponnier P, . Northeastward Growth of the Tibet Plateau Deduced from Balanced Reconstruction of Two Depositional Areas: The Qaidam and Hexi Corridor Basins, China. Tectonics, 1998, 17(6): 823-842.

Meyer B, Tapponnier P, Bourjot L, . Crustal Thickening in Gansu-Qinghai, Lithospheric Mantle Subduction, and Oblique, Strike-Slip Controlled Growth of the Tibet Plateau. Geophysical Journal International, 1998, 135(1): 1-47.

Mock C, Arnaud N O, Cantagrel J M, . An Early Unroofing in Northeastern Tibet? Constraints from ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar Thermochronology on Granitoids from the Eastern Kunlun Range (Qianghai, NW China). Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1999, 171(1): 107-122.

Molnar P, England P, Martinod J. Mantle Dynamics, Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, and the Indian Monsoon. Reviews of Geophysics, 1993, 31(4): 357-396.

Powell C M, Conaghan P J. Plate Tectonics and the Himalayas. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1973, 20(1): 1-12.

Qiang X K, An Z S, Song Y G, . New Eolian Red Clay Sequence on the Western Chinese Loess Plateau Linked to Onset of Asian Desertification about 25 Ma Ago. Ma Ago. Science China: Earth Sciences, 2011, 54(1): 136-144.

Quade J, Cerling T E, Bowman J R. Development of Asian Monsoon Revealed by Marked Ecological Shift during the Latest Miocene in Northern Pakistan. Nature, 1989, 342: 163-166.

Raymo M E, Ruddiman W F. Tectonic Forcing of Late Cenozoic Climate. Nature, 1992, 359: 117-122.

Rees A I, Woodall W A. The Magnetic Fabric of Some Laboratory-Deposited Sediments. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 1975, 25(2): 121-130.

Ruddiman W F, Raymo M E, Lamb H H, . Northern Hemisphere Climate Regimes during the Past 3 Ma: Possible Tectonic Connections. Ma: Possible Tectonic Connections. Royal Society of London Philosophical Transactions, Series B, 1988, 318(1191): 411-430.

Song C H, Fang X M, Li J J, . Tectonic Uplift and Sedimentary Evolution of the Jiuxi Basin in the Northern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau since 13 Ma BP. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 2001, 44(Suppl.I): 192-202.

Song C H, Fang X M, Gao J P, . Cenozoic Tectonic Uplift and Sedimentary Evolution of the Guide Basin in the Northeast Margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Chinese Journal of Sedimentology, 2001, 19(4): 493-500.

Song Y G, Fang X M, Dong H M, . Geochronological and Stratigraphical Evidences for the Uplift of the Liupan Shan, Northeastern Boundary of the Tibetan Plateau. Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2005, 7: 5223-5226.

Song Y G, Fang X M, Li J J, . The Late Cenozoic Uplift of the Liupan Shan, China. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 2001, 44(Suppl.I): 176-184.

Song Y G, Li J J, Fang X M, . Red Clay Sediment in the Central Chinese Loess Plateau and Its Implication for the Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Journal of Mountain Science, 2005, 2(2): 137-145.

Sun D H, Su R X, Bloemendal J, . Grain-Size and Accumulation Rate Records from Late Cenozoic Aeolian Sequences in Northern China: Implications for Variations in the East Asian Winter Monsoon and Westerly Atmospheric Circulation. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2008, 264(1–2): 39-53.

Tapponnier P, Peltzer G, Armijo R. On the Mechanics of the Collision between India and Asia. Collision Tectonics. Geological Society, London, Special Publication, 1986, 19: 115-157.

Tapponnier P, Xu Z Q, Roger F, . Oblique Stepwise Rise and Growth of the Tibet Plateau. Science, 2001, 294(5547): 1671-1677.

Tarling D H, Hrouda F. The Magnetic Anisotropy of Rocks, 1993 London: CRC Press Boca Raton Fla, 1-217.

Vandenberghe J, Lu H Y, Sun D H, . The Late Miocene and Pliocene Climate in East Asia as Recorded by Grain Size and Magnetic Susceptibility of the Red Clay Deposits (Chinese Loess Plateau). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2004, 204(3–4): 239-255.

Wagner G A, Van den Haute P. Fission-Track Dating, 1992 Dordrecht: Ferdinand Enke Verlag Stuttgart and Kluwer Academic Publishers, 275

Wen L J, Lu H Y, Qiang X K. Changes in Grain-Size and Sedimentation Rate of the Neogene Red Clay Deposits along the Chinese Loess Plateau and Implications for the Palaeowind System. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 2005, 48(9): 1452-1462.

Zhai P J, Zhao Y. Response Characteristics of Domestic Dosimeter Glass to Recording Fission Tracks. Radiation Measurements, 1997, 28(1–6): 575-578.

Zhang J, Ma Z J, Ren W J. The Sedimentary Characteristics of Cenozoic Strata in Central and Southern Ningxia and Their Relationships with the Development of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Acta Geologica Sinica, 2005, 79(6): 757-773.

Zhang P Z, Burchfiel B C, Molnar P, . Amount and Style of Late Cenozoic Deformation in the Liupan Shan Area, Ningxia Autonomous Region, China. Tectonics, 1991, 10(6): 1111-1129.

Zhang P Z, Molnar P, Downs W P. Increased Sedimentation Rates and Grain Sizes 2-4 Myr Ago due to the Influence of Climate Change on Erosion Rates. Myr Ago due to the Influence of Climate Change on Erosion Rates. Nature, 2001, 410: 891-897.

Zhang P Z, Zheng D W, Yin G M, . Discussion on Late Cenozoic Growth and Rise of Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Quaternary Sciences, 2006, 26(1): 5-13.

Zhang R, Kravchinsky V A, Zhu R X, . Paleomonsoon Route Reconstruction along a W-E Transect in the Chinese Loess Plateau Using the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility: Summer Monsoon Model. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2010, 299(3–4): 436-446.

Zhao W L, Morgan W J. Uplift of Tibetan Plateau. Tectonics, 1985, 4(4): 359-369.

Zheng D W, Zhang P Z, Wan J L. Late Cenozoic Deformation Subsequence in Northeastern Margin of Tibet-Detrial AFT Records from Linxia Basin. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences, 2003, 46(Suppl.II): 266-275.

Zheng D W, Zhang P Z, Wan J L, . Rapid Exhumation at ~8 Ma on the Liupan Shan Thrust Fault from Apatite Fission-Track Thermochronolgy: Implications for Growth of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau Margin. Ma on the Liupan Shan Thrust Fault from Apatite Fission-Track Thermochronolgy: Implications for Growth of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau Margin. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 2006, 248(1–2): 198-208.