Abstract The Tibet Geoscience Transect (Yadong-Golmud-Ejin) has revealed the basic structures, tectonic evolution and geodynamic process of the lithosphere of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The evidence of northward thrus...Abstract The Tibet Geoscience Transect (Yadong-Golmud-Ejin) has revealed the basic structures, tectonic evolution and geodynamic process of the lithosphere of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The evidence of northward thrusting of the Indian plate beneath the Himalayans on the southern margin and to southward compression of the Alxa block on the northern margin has been found. They were the driving forces causing the plateau uplift. The plateau is a continent resulting from amalgamation of eight terranes. These terranes are separated by sutures or large-scale faults, and different terranes have different lateral inhomogeneities and multi-layered lithospheric structures. At depths of about 20–30 km of the crust in the interior of the plateau there commonly exists a low-velocity layer. It is an uncoupled layer of the tectonic stress; above the layer, the upper crustal slices were thrust and overlapped each other and the rocks underwent brittle deformation, thus leading to shortening and thickening of the upper crust. Below the layer, the lateral change of the structure of the lower crust varies most greatly and ductile deformation occurs. The lower crust velocity of southern Tibet shows the reversed feature; whereas the lower crust velocity of northern Tibet increases and displays strong gradient variation and the character of the double Moho. On the whole, the Moho of the plateau is greatly undulatory. Although the crust of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a great thickness, the lithosphere does not thicken markedly. The plateau is in a state of bi-directional compression. The unstable change of the Moho, the interaction between the crust and mantle and between the lithosphere and asthenosphere caused by the sinking of the lithospheric mantle and the strike slip and extension of the crust are the major dynamic factors for maintaining the present height and scope of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.展开更多
On the basis of abundant geological and geophysical data. 6 terranes have been distinguished on theQinghai-Tibet Plateau. The plateau is a single integrated lithospheric unit although it is divided into blocks.With Am...On the basis of abundant geological and geophysical data. 6 terranes have been distinguished on theQinghai-Tibet Plateau. The plateau is a single integrated lithospheric unit although it is divided into blocks.With Amdo as a boundary. the crust may be divided into two parts with different crustal structures. The struc-ture in the southern part is complex, while that in the northern part is simple. The current study has revealedthat 8 factors such as slab subduction. overthrust and superimposition are responsible for crustal shorteningand thickening in the region. The uplift of this region is possibly due to northward compression of the Indianplate and southward compression of the Eurasian plate with the former predominating. The compression led tothe asthenospheric movements which were also influenced by thermal activity caused by doming at the bound-ary between the core and mantle.展开更多
文摘Abstract The Tibet Geoscience Transect (Yadong-Golmud-Ejin) has revealed the basic structures, tectonic evolution and geodynamic process of the lithosphere of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The evidence of northward thrusting of the Indian plate beneath the Himalayans on the southern margin and to southward compression of the Alxa block on the northern margin has been found. They were the driving forces causing the plateau uplift. The plateau is a continent resulting from amalgamation of eight terranes. These terranes are separated by sutures or large-scale faults, and different terranes have different lateral inhomogeneities and multi-layered lithospheric structures. At depths of about 20–30 km of the crust in the interior of the plateau there commonly exists a low-velocity layer. It is an uncoupled layer of the tectonic stress; above the layer, the upper crustal slices were thrust and overlapped each other and the rocks underwent brittle deformation, thus leading to shortening and thickening of the upper crust. Below the layer, the lateral change of the structure of the lower crust varies most greatly and ductile deformation occurs. The lower crust velocity of southern Tibet shows the reversed feature; whereas the lower crust velocity of northern Tibet increases and displays strong gradient variation and the character of the double Moho. On the whole, the Moho of the plateau is greatly undulatory. Although the crust of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a great thickness, the lithosphere does not thicken markedly. The plateau is in a state of bi-directional compression. The unstable change of the Moho, the interaction between the crust and mantle and between the lithosphere and asthenosphere caused by the sinking of the lithospheric mantle and the strike slip and extension of the crust are the major dynamic factors for maintaining the present height and scope of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
文摘On the basis of abundant geological and geophysical data. 6 terranes have been distinguished on theQinghai-Tibet Plateau. The plateau is a single integrated lithospheric unit although it is divided into blocks.With Amdo as a boundary. the crust may be divided into two parts with different crustal structures. The struc-ture in the southern part is complex, while that in the northern part is simple. The current study has revealedthat 8 factors such as slab subduction. overthrust and superimposition are responsible for crustal shorteningand thickening in the region. The uplift of this region is possibly due to northward compression of the Indianplate and southward compression of the Eurasian plate with the former predominating. The compression led tothe asthenospheric movements which were also influenced by thermal activity caused by doming at the bound-ary between the core and mantle.
