Magnetostratigraphy and Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility of the Lulehe Formation in the Northeastern Qaidam Basin

The timing of onset of deposition of the Lulehe Formation is a significant factor in understanding the genesis of the Qaidam basin and the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we describe a detailed magnetostratigraphic and magnetic fabric study of the middle and lower parts of the Lulehe Formation. A total of 234 samples were collected from 117 sites throughout a thickness of almost 460 m of fluvial and lacustrine deposits at the Xitieshan section in the northeastern Qaidam basin. Out of these sites, 94 sites yielded well-defined characteristic remanent magnetization components by stepwise thermal demagnetization and were used to establish the magnetostratigraphy of the studied section. Based on correlation with the geomagnetic polarity timescale, the studied section spans the period from 53.8 Ma to 50.7 Ma. Our results show a three-fold decrease in sedimentation rates as well as marked change in facies from braided river to delta and shore-shallow lake around 52.6 Ma, which suggests tectonic uplift of the northeastern Qaidam basin margin ridge was rapid at the onset of formation of the Qaidam basin and subsequently weakened after 52.6 Ma. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility results indicate that tectonic compression stress had reached the northeastern Tibetan Plateau by the early stages of Indo-Eurasian plate collision and that the direction of stress in the study area was NE-SW. Furthermore, a weakening of tectonic compression stress around 52.6 Ma is consistent with sedimentary records. The age of initial deposition of the Qaidam basin （around 53.8 Ma） was almost synchronous with that of the Qiangtang, Hoh Xil, Xining, and Lanzhou basins, which implies that stress was transferred rapidly through the Tibetan Plateau during or immediately after the onset of Indo-Eurasian collision.

Magnetostratigraphy and ^(230)Th dating of a drill core from the southeastern Qaidam Basin:Salt lake evolution and tectonic implications

The Qarhan Salt Lake area is the Quaternary depocenter of the Qaidam Basin, and carries thick lacustrine sediments, as well as rich potassium and magnesium salt deposits. The abundant resources and thick sediments in this lake provide an ideal place for the study of biogas formation and preservation, salt lake evolution, and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we attempt to construct a paleomagnetic and ^(230)Th age model and to obtain information on tectonic activity and salt lake evolution through detailed studies on a 1300-m-long drill core(15DZK01) from the northwestern margin of the Qarhan Salt Lake area(Dongling Lake). Based on gypsum ^(230)Th dating, the age of the uppermost clastic deposit was calculated to be around 0.052 Ma. The polarity sequence consist of 13 pairs of normal and reversed zones,which can be correlated with subchrons C2r.1r-C1n of the geomagnetic polarity timescale(GPTS 2012)(from ~2.070 Ma to ~0.052 Ma). Sedimentary characteristics indicate that Dongling Lake witnessed freshwater environment between ~ 2.070 Ma and 1.546 Ma. During this period, the sedimentary record reflects primarily lakeshore, shallow-water and swamp environments, representing favourable conditions for the formation of hydrocarbon source rocks. Between 1.546 Ma and ~ 0.052 Ma, the Dongling Lake was in sulphate deposition stage, which contrasts with the central Qarhan Salt Lake area, where this stage did not occur in the meantime. During this stage, Dongling Lake was in a shallow saltwater lake environment, but several periods of reduced salinity occurred during this stage. During the late Pleistocene at ~0.052 Ma, the Dongling Lake experienced uplift due to tectonic activity, and saltwater migrated through the Sanhu Fault to the central Qarhan Salt Lake area, resulting in the absence of halite deposition stage. The residual saline water was concentrated into magnesium-rich brine due to the lack of freshwater, and few potassium salt deposits occur in the Dongling Lake area.

Magnetostratigraphy and provenance of the Qingzhou loess in Shandong province

Loess deposits with varying thickness are widely distributed on the intermontane valleys and piedmont zones on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. However, the basal ages and material resources of the loess deposits are not clear. The paper studied the Qingzhou loess profile in Shandong with magnetostratigraphic and optical stimulated luminescence （OSL） methods and further investigated its main provenances with the mineralogical methods. The magnetostratigraphic results showed that the Brunhes/Matuyama （B/M） reversal boundary was not recognized, suggesting a basal age younger than 0.78 Ma. Extrapolations by sedimentation rates, based on the upper part depositional rate from the OSL age, the basal age of the Qingzhou loess is about 0.5 Ma. Until now, older loess deposits have not been reported on the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions. The results of the paper indicate that the loess deposits in this area might have strated from the Middle Pleistocene. The basal age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the Xiashu loess in the middle-lower reaches of Yangtze River. Major components of clay minerals in the Qingzhou profile are dominated by illite. Other clay mineral compositions are mainly smectite, chlorite and kaolinite, which are similar with the Xifeng loess in the Loess Plateau. However, the contents of smectite and the ratios of illite and kaolinte in the Qingzhou loess samples are higher than those in the Xifeng loess samples of the Loess Plateau, indicating that the loess in the northern side of the central Shandong mountainous regions has different sources from that of the loess deposits in the Loess Plateau. The clay mineral analysis further reinforces the earlier conclu- sion that the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of Yellow River during the glacier periods are the main material sources for the Qingzhou loess deposits, which is an indicator to the local aridification of the lower reaches of the Yellow River. Loess deposition in the central Shandong mountainous regions started at around 0.5 Ma. The age of Qingzhou loess is approximately synchronous with the ongoing high-latitude cold since the Middle Pleistocene, which indicates that strengthened East Asian winter monsoon was sufficiently energetic to bring substantial quantities of material from the marine strata exposed in the Laizhou Bay and the fluvial plain of the lower reaches of the Yellow River to the central Shandong mountainous regions. The results therefore suggest that both regional geological process and global changes were responsible for the formation of Qingzhou loess since Middle Pleistocene.

Magnetostratigraphy of a Loess-Paleosol Sequence from Higher Terrace of the Daduhe River in the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau and Its Geological Significance

The eolian deposits distributed in the river valleys in the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau （TP） are very useful in neotectonic and paleoclimatic studies. Firstly, the climate in the eastern margin of the TP is mainly controlled by the Indian summer monsoon, and detailed studies on the loess-paleosol sequences in this region can provide valuable terrestrial evidence of past changes in the Indian summer monsoon. Secondly, the river terraces in the eastern margin of the TP are considered to be a sensitive recorder of neotectonism to reflect the timing and amplitude of the TP uplift.

The Ordovician Magnetostratigraphy and Cyclostratigraphy:A Review

The study of magnetostratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy in the last two decades has provided a great deal of opportunities to improve the geologic time scale.The Cenozoic and Mesozoic geologic timescale have been well calibrated(Gradstein et al..2012;Ogg et al,2012;Cohen et al.,2018).However,for the Paleozoic era the uncertainty over boundary ages are still very large.

Magnetostratigraphy of the Middle Jurassic Sediments from Kachchh Basin, Western India

The palaeoposition of India after its breakup from Gondwana and its subsequent northward journey during the Mesozoic poses many tectonic riddles. A magnetostratigraphy pattern has been constructed for the Ammonoid rich Middle Jurassic Bathonian succession of Jumara Dome, Kachchh, western India. We present the first magnetostratigraphic results from the Ammonoid bearing exposed Bathonian sediments in Kachchh. The Jumara Dome comprised of mixed carbonate-siliciclastic succession is represented by the Jhurio and Patcham formations and siliciclastic-dominating Chari Formation in the Kachchh Mainland. The Jumara Dome sediments were deposited during sea-level fluctuating, and were interrupted by storms in the shallow marine environment. This study is based on collection of 60 oriented samples from 13 successive levels. Both thermal and AF demagnetization investigations were carried out to isolate the Characteristic Remanent Magnetization (ChRM) directions. Palaeolatitudes were computed using the ChRM directions. Magnetostratigraphic column is prepared and correlated with Geological Time Scale (GTS) of [1] [2], and this column readily matched with GTS at M41 to below and exhibits the dominance of normal polarity in Jumara.

Magnetostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental record of late Cenozoic sediments in the Taiyuan Basin,North China

The Taiyuan Basin is of importance for intraplate tectonic deformation in North China and contains Cenozoic strata with a maximum thickness of 3800 m.A~853.5-m-deep borehole(ZK01)with an overall core recovery rate of 85.09%was drilled at Yuci(37°35'37?N,112°39'47?E)in the central Taiyuan Basin,to obtain high-resolution records of paleomagnetism,paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental conditions,and depositional environment of the sediments.The obtained magnetic polarity sequence consists of 13 normal and 12 reverse zones,which correspond to C1n-C4An.2n of the geomagnetic polarity time scale.Magnetostratigraphic data show that the evolution of ZK01 core covers the interval from 8.1 Ma to the present,and the bottoms of Pliocene,Quaternary,and Middle Pleistocene were identified in Taiyuan Basin,with a sedimentary accumulation rate ranging from 62.5 m/Ma to 175.9 m/Ma.Geochemical data reveal that the source rocks in the study area underwent intense weathering and the sediments mainly formed in a semi-arid and oxygen-rich conditions.In addition,paleoclimatic changes occurred at~7 Ma,3.8 Ma,and 1.7 Ma,which can be closely related to the tectonic uplift of the Loess Plateau and Tibetan Plateau,as well as the variations in the Asian monsoon and associated regional and global climatic change.

Magnetostratigraphy of the late Cenozoic Laojunmiao anticline in the northern Qilian Mountains and its implications for the northern Tibetan Plateau uplift

Cenozoic sediments in the foreland basin--Jiuquan Basin in west Hexi Corridor recorded tectonic uplift information of the Qilian Mountains. High resolution paleomagnetic dating of the Laojunmiao (LJM) section across the central LJM anticline in the southern Jiuquan Basin reveals ages of the Getanggou Member, Niugetao Member in the Shulehe Formation, the Yumen Conglomerate, Jiuquan Conglomerate and Gobi Formation at >13-8.3 Ma, 8.3-4.9 Ma, 3.66-0.93 Ma, 0.84-0.14 Ma and 0.14-0 Ma, respectively. Sedimentary evolution study suggests that the Qilian Mountains should begin to rise gradually since ～8-6.6 Ma, accompanied by sedimentary environments changing from lacustrine mudstones-sandstones to alluvial conglomerates. Rapid uplift of the Qilian Mountains began at ～3.66 Ma, followed by a series of stepwise or intermittent intensive uplifts at about <1.8-1.23 Ma, 0.93-0.84 Ma and 0.14 Ma, which finally resulted in the present high Qilian Mountains.

Magnetostratigraphy and palaeoclimate of Red Clay sequences from Chinese Loess Plateau

Two Red Clay profiles near Xi' an and Xifeng were investigated in an attempt to determine magne-tostratigraphic and palaeoclimatic records. The results show that aeolian dust accumulation and the related East Asia palaeomonsoon system had begun by 6.5 Ma, and it is deduced that the Tibetan Plateau had reached a significant elevation at that time. The late Tertiary palaeoclimatic history of the Red Clay as reflected by magnetic susceptibility is reconstructed during the period of 6.5-2.5 Ma. Stepwise increase in susceptibility of aeolian dust accumulation appears to have a close correlation to the uplift processes of the Tibetan Plateau. The remarkable increase of aeolian dust accumulation at 3.2 Ma appears to be due to the influence of global ice volume on the East Asia monsoon. Palaeomonsoon variation during the late Tertiary as recorded in the Red Clay sequences from the Chinese Loess Plateau can be regarded as the product of a number of interacting factors, such as uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, solar radiation, global ice volume, etc.

Magnetostratigraphy of Late Tertiary sediments from the Chinese Loess Plateau and its paleoclimatic significance

The Late Tertiary red clay/bed sediments underlying the Quaternary loess-paleosol in the Chinese Loess Plateau possesses high-resolution paleoclimatic changes related to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Magnetostratigra-phy and susceptibility measurements are discussed in this paper. The paleomagnetic results show that the red clay/bed began to accumulate at about 8.1 Ma, which represents the oldest Late Tertiary deposit continuously in the central Loess Plateau. The magnetic susceptibility curves show stepwise increases since the initiation of red clay, superimposed on several peaks. Moreover, the magnetic susceptibility increased abruptly since 3.8 Ma, which probably indicates the inception of the modern East Asia monsoon system. Between 3.8 and 2.6 Ma, the stepwise increases of susceptibility may imply progressively intensified East Asia summer monsoon activity related with the stepwise uplift process of the Tibetan Plateau.

Late Permian magnetostratigraphy and its global correlation

A calibration among magnetic polarity sequence, biostratigraphy zonation and isotopicage reveals that the boundary between the Carboniferous-Permian reversed Polarity Superzone and Permian-Triassic Mixed Polarity Superzone occurs at the top of the wordian Stage of the Guadalupian Series and is dated as 265 Ma. The Late Permian magnetic polarity sequence integrates four polarity zones, corresponding to the Upper Guadalupian Series, the wuchiapingian Stage, and the Lower and the Upper Changhsingian Stage of the Lopingian Series. This reference magnetostratigraphy polarity sequence may serve as a useful guide to the chronostratigraphic correlation of Late Permian strata across major biogeographic and facies barriers.

Late Jurassic to early Cretaceous magnetostratigraphy of scientific drilling core LK-1 in the Lingshan Island of Riqingwei Basin,eastern China

The Sulu orogenic belt is an uplift zone that was formed in the Late Triassic.Several Jurassic to Cretaceous sedimentary successions have been recognized within the Sulu orogenic belt in recent studies,including outcrops that are considered to be related to the newly discovered Riqingwei Basin.This basin has been the focus of extensive study due to its continuous Cretaceous rock sequence,geological location and petroleum resource potential.However,the lack of a consolidated chronology for the strata has precluded a better understanding of stratigraphy,tectonic evolution and resource potential of the Riqingwei Basin.Here,we present the results of a new magnetostratigraphic study of the continental scientific drilling borehole LK-1,which is located on Lingshan Island,offshore Shandong province,eastern China.The goals of this study are to(1)refine the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous chronostratigraphic framework of the Riqingwei Basin,and(2)investigate the location of the J/K boundary in the Borehole Core LK-1.The observed patterns of the paleomagnetic polarity zone in the LK-1 borehole correlate well with the geomagnetic polarity time scale(GPTS),and the continuous magnetostratigraphy profile defined in this core indicates an age ranging from 146.5 to 125.8 Ma for the samples interval.The sediment accumulation rates(SAR)of LK-1 show one period of high SAR(~10.5 cm kyr^(-1))at 135.3–130.6 Ma and two periods of low SAR(~4.8 and~2.2 cm kyr^(-1))at145.7–135.3 and 130.6–125.8 Ma,respectively.In addition,the magnetostratigraphic results suggest that the Jurassic-Cretaceous(J/K)boundary of the LK-1 is located within the magnetozone N21.2 n(~1254 m).This comprehensive geochronologic framework provides a good correlation of the marine Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous strata in the Riqingwei Basin to other marine strata and continental sequences,in addition to providing a foundation for the study of the structural evolution of eastern China.

MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHY OF PERMO-TRIASSIC BOUNDARY SECTION OF MEISHAN OF CHANGXING,ZHEJIANG

A hundred and eleven samples were collected from the Permian-Triassic boundarysection of Meishan (31.1°N, 119.7°E) which includes the Changxing Formation of thelate Permian and the Qinglong Formation of early Triassic. The thickness of the sectionis about 60 m. Paleomagnetic results indicate that six normal and reversed polarity zoneswere recorded in the section which all belong to the Illawarra mixed interval. Theboundary of Permo-Triassic lies at 1.2 m (or 2.7 m) above the bottom of normal polarityzone V. The magnetic minerals in the rocks of the lower part of the Changxing Forma-tion mainly are goethite, haematite and titaniferous magnetite while in the upper part ofthe formation are chiefly titanomagnetite and magnetite, goethite is secondary. Magne-tite and haematite as the main magnetic minerals were included in marl and mudstone ofthe Qinglong Formation. Based on the results of the magnetically stable samples thepaleopole position of 50.7°N, 230.3°E was obtained, meanwhile, the paleolatitude ofthe sampling location is 12.3°N during the early Triassic.

CRETACEOUS MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHY IN THE SONGLIAO BASIN, CHINA

This paper is the result of research on the Cretaceous magnetostratigraphy in the Songliao Basin. The palaeomagnetic experiment on 2235 specimens from 24 drills and an outcrop profile in Quantou shows that most specimens have stable remanent magnetization.The features of polarities associated with all the rock formations of the Cretaceous in the Songliao plain have been summarized. The reversed polarity zones have been found in the Yingcheng, Dcnglouku, Yaojia and Nenjiang Formations. These reserved-polarity zones and their geologic ages have been argued. Accordingly. the polarity columns for different drills and a comprehensive column have been compiled, and the classification and correlation of the Cretaceous stratigraphy in the Songliao Basin have been discussed.

MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHY OF PRECAMBRIANCAMBRIAN BOUNDARY AT MEISHUCUN SECTION, YUNNAN PROVINCE

Magnetostratigraphic studies of 112 cores specimens (249 samples) in a Precambrian-Cambrian section at Meishucun, Jinning County, Yunnan Province reveal the following: (ⅰ) Around the Sinian-Cambrian boundary in the Meishucun section existed a mixed polarity zone in which the Meishucun fauna went through an evolution of appearance—flourish—extinction. (ⅱ) The Meishucun section had a paleolatitude of no more than 20° during the Sinian-Cambrian, The phosphate deposits in this region and in the Zhongyicun Member were formed in the low-latitude environments.

Cenozoic Evolution of Sediments and Climate Change and Response to Tectonic Uplift of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Through a comprehensive study of magnetostratigraphy and sedimentology of several basins in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau,we reveal that the study area mainly experienced six tectonic uplift stages at approximately 52 Ma,34-30 Ma,24-20 Ma,16-12 Ma,8-6 Ma,and 3.6-2.6 Ma.Comprehensive analyses of pollen assemblages from the Qaidam,Linxia,Xining,and West Jiuquan Basins show that the northeastern Tibetan Plateau has undergone six major changes in vegetation types and climate：50-40 Ma for the warm-humid forest vegetation,40-23 Ma for the warm-arid and temperate-arid forest steppe vegetation,23-18.6 Ma for the warm-humid and temperate-humid forest vegetation,18.6-8.5 Ma for the warm-humid and cool-humid forest steppe vegetation,8.6-5 Ma for the temperate sub-humid savanna steppe vegetation,and 5-1.8 Ma for the cold-arid steppe vegetation.Comprehensive comparisons of tectonic uplift events inferred from sedimentary records,climatic changes inferred from pollen,and global climate changes show that in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau the climate in the Paleogene at low altitude was mainly controlled by the global climate change,while that in the Neogene interval with high altitude landscapes of mountains and basins is more controlled by altitude and morphology.

A large Middle Pleistocene freshwater to oligohaline lake in the contemporary hyperarid Qaidam Basin （China）

The Qaidam Basin （NW China） at the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is one of the driest places on Earth with mean annual precipitation not exceeding 25 mm in the western central part. Flat salt plains and wind-shaped hills characterise the bare ground over thousands of square kilometres. In contrast to presentday conditions, remnants of ancient shorelines in high positions identified by Chen and Bowler （1986） and HiJvermann and Siissenberger （1986） about 20 years ago herald of a former large lake but were not investigated further till now. Here we present the results of microfossil analysis and optically stimulated luminescence （OSL） as well as uranium-series （TIMS） dating of sediments from a thick sequence of predominantly lake deposits in the eastern central Qaidam Basin. Based on abundant ostracod （micro-crustacean） shells from this sequence, we infer that a large lake of several metres depth at least maintained primarily fresh to oligohaline conditions in the late Middle Pleistocene.

Intensification of the East Asian Monsoon in Southern China at about300-400 kaBP Inferred from Eolian Deposits in the Middle-lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

In the East Asian monsoon region, eolian deposits widely distributed in the middle-lower reaches of the Yantgze River are among the best materials available for studies on Quaternary climate change in the subtropical zone of Southern China. Typical eolian deposits in this region include upper Xiashu Loess （XL） and underlying Vermiculated Red Soil （VRS） layers. In this paper, chronological and paleoclimatic studies are conducted on an eolian deposit sequence near Jiujiang （J J） city in northern Jiangxi province. A magnetostratigraphic study, combined with optically stimulated luminescence （OSL） dating, is conducted on the JJ section and provides further evidence that eolian deposits in the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River have been formed since the late Early Pleistocene, and that the boundary age between the XL and VRS layers is about 300-400 kaBP. In grain-size records of the JJ section, the median grain-size and content of the 〉30μn size fraction increase sharply after 300-400 kaBP, representing an East Asian winter monsoon intensification event. Further pollen analysis reveals differing pollen assemblages before and after 300-400 kaBP： there is an evident increase in plants adapted to grow in a warm humid environment after 300-400 kaBP, implying an increase in precipitation caused by intensification of the East Asian summer monsoon. Global ice volume and uplift of the Tibet Plateau （TP） are regarded as crucial factors influencing variations of the East Asian monsoon on a long-term scale. The deep-sea JlSO record, which reflects variations in global ice volume, shows no obvious change after 300-400 kaBP. Moreover, the influence of global ice volume changes on the East Asian summer and winter monsoons is inverse; the global ice volume increase （decrease） implies a strengthened （weakened） winter monsoon and weakened （strengthened） summer monsoon. We therefore interpret the coupled intensifications of the East Asian summer and winter monsoons at about 300-400 kaBP to the uplift of the TP in the Middle Pleistocene. This climate event is also documented in eolian deposits from the southern margin of the Chinese Loess Plateau （CLP） and from the desert-loess transitional belt. However, it is not recorded in the loess-paleosol sequences from the central part of the CLP, thereby indicating differing climate responses to TP uplift in different regions, which requires further study.

MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHIC DATING:IMPLICATIONS FOR TERTIARY EVOLUTION OF THE HOH XIL BASIN, NORTHERN TIBET

The Hoh Xil basin, with an area of 101000km\+2 and an average elevation of over 5000m, is a largest Tertiary sedimentary basin in the hinterland of the Tibetan plateau. It is situated in the western part of the Baya Har terrain (BT) and the northern part of the Qiangtang terrain (QT), and covers the Jinsha River Suture Zone (JRSZ), one of the five continental suture zones on the Tibetan plateau. Strong deformation and crustal shortening of about 40% at the Fenghuoshan area (Coward,et al.1990) or 42.8% at the Wudaoliang—Fenghuoshan area (Wang,et al.1999) happened at the northern Tibet before the Neogene. Therefore, sediments deposited the Hoh Xil basin may contain significant information of crustal shortening and early uplift of the Tibetan plateau. However, anterior researchers met a same painful problem to date the sedimentary sequences in the basin. By using a few fossils, they assessed doubt ages for main strata in the Hoh Xil basin, as the Paleogene / Eocene (Yi,et al.1990) or the Cretaceous (BGMRQ 1991; Zhang & Zheng 1994), since other datable materials like volcanic rocks are absent. Therefore, the precise stratigraphic dating becomes a precondition of more scientific research in the northern Tibet.

Dating of the topmost terrace in the Jingxian Basin,Anhui Province:an indication of the establishment of the Qingyijiang River

On the northern fringe of Mt. Huangshan, many fiver terraces are developed at the junction between mountains and plains. The fiver terraces are most typical in the Jingxian Basin, Anhui Province, where the Qingyijiang River, one of the longest tributaries of the lower Yangtze River, developed three staircase terraces. The topmost terrace （i.e., the T3 terrace） tread is 38 - 39 m above fiver level, and the top of the gravels is generally covered by 3 - 10.9 m of red clay deposits. Systematic magnetostratigraphy and electron spin resonance dating are used to research the timing of the establishment of the Qingyijiang River. The main results show that the topmost terrace developed no later than 900 kyr ago and that the appearance of the Qingyijiang River occurred correspondingly at least before 900 kyr ago on the northern fringe of Mt. Huangshan. In view of the almost synchronous age,the establishment of the Qingyijiang River was seemingly a response to the Mid-Pleistocene Revolution when the 100 kyr cycle commenced, and the Kunlun-Huanghe movement during the early- middle Pleistocene transition. In addition, the establishment of the Qingyijiang River possibly reflected the birth of the modem Yangtze River to some degree. Therefore the timing of the formation of the Yangtze River is restricted to no later than 900 kyr ago based on the appearance of the Qingyijiang River .