MAJOR SEDIMENTARY CYCLES AND BASIN EVOLUTION OF MESOZOIC IN NORTHERN HIMALAYAS, SOUTH TIBET

The northern Himalayas was situated on the north margin of the Indian plate and was part of the Gondwana. During Mesozoic and Cenozoic, the geological development of the region was mainly controlled by the evolution of the Neotethyan ocean as well as the movement of the plates (or blocks) on its two sides, showing as a typical passive continental margin [1] . The Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentation forms a giant transgression\|regression cycle in this region [2] . The strata have clearly recorded the processes that the Gondwana continent broke up, the Indian plate drifted northward, and consequently collided with the Eurasia, suggesting a Wilson cycle. They also reveals the evolution of the Neotethyan ocean from breakup to expanding, contracting and finally to closing. 1\ The major sedimentary cycles\;The marine Mesozoic and Cenozoic developed continuously in the northern Himalayas, south Tibet, with a total thickness of about 8000m. From the Triassic to Eocene, 70 third\|order sequences have been recognized [2] . Among them 12 are in the Triassic, 22 in the Jurassic, 27 in the Cretaceous and 9 in the Paleogene, with an average duration of 3m.y for each. These can in turn be grouped as 21 sequence sets and 6 mesosequences (2nd order). All of the mesosequences are bounded by prominent discontinuity at bottom, either with subaerial erosion or submarine truncation [2] , suggesting abrupt falls of sea\|level in long\|term changes. The approximate ages for the basal boundaries of these mesosequences are respectively at ca. 257Ma (latest Capitanian), 215Ma (latest Norian), 177Ma (early Aalenian), 138Ma (mid Tithonian), 103Ma (mid Albian) and 68Ma (late Maastrichtian). Each of mesosequences forms a major sedimentary cycles in the region and may result from the joint effects of global sea\|level changes and regional tectonic\|basin evolution.