Surface Processes Driving Intracontinental Basin Subsidence in the Context of India–Eurasia Collision:Evidence from Flexural Subsidence Modeling of the Cenozoic Southern Tarim Basin along the West Kunlun Foreland,NW Tibetan Plateau

The India–Eurasia collision has produced a number of Cenozoic deep intracontinental basins,which bear important information for revealing the far-afield responses to the remote collision.Despite their significance,their subsiding mechanism remains the subject of debate,with end-member models attributing it to either orogenic or sedimentary load.In this study,we conduct flexural subsidence modeling with a two-dimensional finite elastic plate model on the Hotan-Mazatagh section along the southern Tarim Basin,which defines a key region in the foreland of the West Kunlun Orogen,along the NW margin of the Tibetan Plateau.The modeling results indicate that the orogenic load of West Kunlun triggers the southern Tarim Basin to subside by up to less than ~6 km,with its impact weakening towards the basin interiors until ~230 km north from the Karakax fault.The sedimentary load,consisting of Cenozoic strata,forces the basin to subside by ~2 to~7 km.In combination with the retreat of the proto-Paratethys Sea and the paleogeographic reorganization of the Tarim Basin,we propose that surface processes,in particular a shift from an exorheic to an endorheic drainage system associated with the consequent thick sedimentary load,played a decisive role in forming deep intracontinental basins in the context of the India-Eurasia collision.

Investigation of plateau basin crustal structures and thickening mechanisms in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau

This paper uses deep seismic sounding （DSS） data to contrast and analyze the crustal structures of three plateau basins （Songpan-Garze, Qaidam, Longzhong） in the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang （Tibetan） plateau, as well as two stable cratonic basins （Ordos, Sichuan） in its peripheral areas. Plateau basin crustal structures, lithological variations and crustal thickening mechanisms were investigated. The results show that, compared to the peripheral stable cratonic basins, the crystalline crusts of plateau basins in the northeastern margin are up to 10 15 km thicker, and the relative medium velocity difference is about 5% less. The medium velocity change in crustal layers of plateau basin indicates that the upper crust undergoes brittle deformation, whereas the lower crust deforms plastically with low velocity. The middle crust shows a brittle-to-plastic transition zone in this region. Thickening in the lower crust （about 5 10 km）, and rheological characteristics that show low- medium velocity （relatively reduced by 7%）, suggest that crustal thickening mainly takes place in lower crust in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau. The crust along the northeastern margin shows evidence of wholesale block movement, and crustal shortening and thickening seem to be the main deformation features of this region. The GPS data show that the block motion modes and crustal thickening in the Tibetan plateau is closely related to the peripheral tectonic stress field and motion direction of the Indian plate. The Mani-Yushu- Xianshuihe fold belt along the boundary between the Qiangtang block and the Bayan Har block divides the different plateau thickening tectonic environments into the middle-western plateau, the northeastern margin and the southeastern plateau.

The Mid-Miocene Pollen Record of the Xunhua Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau: Implications for Global Climate Change

The northeastern Tibetan Plateau is located at the convergence of the Asian winter and summer monsoons and westerlies; thus, this area has witnessed historic climate changes.The Xunhua basin is an intermontane basin on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.The basin contains more than 2000 m of Cenozoic fluvial–lacustrine sediments, recording a long history of climate and environmental changes.We collected the mid-Miocene sediments from the Xunhua basin and used palynological methods to discuss the relationship between aridification in the interior of Asia, global cooling, and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.Based on the palynological analysis of the Xigou section, Xunhua basin, the palynological diagram is subdivided into three pollen zones and past vegetation and climate are reconstructed.Zone I, Ephedripites–Nitraridites–Chenopodipollis–Quercoidites（14.0–12.5 Ma）, represents mixed shrub–steppe vegetation with a dry and cold climate.In zone II, Pinaceae–Betulaepollenites–Ephedripites–Chenopodipollis–Graminidites（12.5–8.0 Ma）, the vegetation and climate conditions improved, even though the vegetation was still dominated by shrub–steppe taxa.Zone III, Ephedripites–Nitrariadites–Chenopodipollis（8.0–5.0 Ma）, represents desert steppe vegetation with drier and colder climate.The palynological records suggest that shrub–steppe dominated the whole Xigou section and the content gradually increased, implying a protracted aridification process, although there was an obvious climate improvement during 12.5–8.0 Ma.The aridification in the Xunhua basin and surrounding mountains during 14.0–12.5 Ma was probably related to global cooling induced by the rapid expansion of the East Antarctic ice-sheets and the relatively higher evaporation rate.During the 12.5–8.0 Ma period, although topographic changes（uplift of Jishi Shan） decreased precipitation and strengthened aridification in the Xunhua basin on leeward slopes, the improved vegetation and climate conditions were probably controlled by the decrease in evaporation rates as a result of continuous cooling.From 8.0 to 5.0 Ma, the rapid development of the desert steppe can be attributed to global cooling and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.

Pliocene cyprinids (Cypriniformes,Teleostei) from Kunlun Pass Basin,northeastern Tibetan Plateau and their bearings on development of water system and uplift of the area

Here described are the cyprinid fossils from the Pliocene Lower Member of Qiangtang Formation of the Kunlun Pass Basin,northeastern Tibetan Plateau,collected at a locality 4769 m above the sea level(asl).The materials consist of numerous disarticulated and incomplete bones as well as thousands of pharyngeal teeth,fin rays,and vertebrae.The fossils were referred to the genus Gymnocypris,lineage Schizothoracini,family Cyprinidae;the lineage Schizothoracini;and the family Cyprinidae respectively.The Schizothoracini is a freshwater fish group endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding area.Previous workers on living schizothoracins regarded that Gymnocypris belongs to the highly specialized grade of the group,colonizing higher altitudes than other members of the group.Two species are so far unequivocally assigned to the genus,i.e.,G.przewalskii and G.eckloni,and they are inhabiting Qinghai Lake and the waters on both north(the Golmud River) and south(upper reach of the Yellow River) sides of the East Kunlun Mountain,respectively.The abundant fossil schizothoracins occur in the Kunlun Pass Basin on the southern slope of the East Kunlun Mountain(at 4769 m asl),close to the present Golmud River,indicating comparatively rich waters in the area and possible connections between the water systems on north and south sides of the East Kunlun Mountain during the Pliocene.This also suggests a more humid climate in the area during the Pliocene than it is today.The presence of the highly specialized schizothoracin Gymnocypris may also imply less amplitude of uplift(approximately 1000 m) in the area since the Pliocene than previously proposed.

Late Cenozoic high-resolution magnetostratigraphy in the Kunlun Pass Basin and its implications for the uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau

The Kunlun Pass Basin, located in the middle of the eastern Kunlun Mountains, received relatively continuous late Cenozoic sediments from the surrounding mountains, archiving great information to understand the deformation and uplift histories of the northern Tibetan Plateau. The Kunlun-Yellow River Movement, identified from the tectonomorphologic and sedimentary evolution of the Kunlun Pass Basin by Cui Zhijiu et al. (1997, 1998), is roughly coincident with many important global and Plateau climatic and environmental events, becoming a crucial time interval to understand tectonic-climatic interactions. However, the ages used to constrict the events remain great uncertainty. Here, we present the results of detailed magnetostratigraphy of the late Cenozoic sediments in the Kunlun Pass Basin, which show the basin sediments were formed between about 3.6 Ma and 0.5 Ma and the Kunlun-Yellow River Movement occurred at 1.2 to ～0.78 Ma. The lithology, sedimentary facies and lithofacies associations divide the basin into five stages of tectonosedimentary evolution, indicating the northern Tibetan Plateau having experienced five episodes of tectonic uplifts at ～3.6, 2.69－2.58, 1.77, 1.2, 0.87 and ～0.78 Ma since the Pliocene.

Teleseismic shear wave splitting and intracontinental collision deformation of the northern Tibetan Plateau and the eastern Tarim basin

Shear wave splitting measurement of teleseismic data has been used to determine the fast polarization directions and delay times for 38 temporary stations and 15 permanent stations from a NW linear seismic array across the eastern Tarim basin(ETB) and the northern Tibetan Plateau(NTP),and 10 permanent stations on both sides of the array.We present an image of upper mantle anisotropy in the ETB and NTP using the 63 new measurements.The results show that the fast directions and delay times have complex spatial distribution characteristics.The delay times within the interior of the Tarim basin are very small,with an average value of 0.6 s,which is not only smaller than that in the Altyn Tagh fault and Tianshan on the southern and northern margins of the basin,but also smaller than that in the NTP,reflecting that the delay time of stable blocks is smaller than that of active blocks.Along the array,from east to west,the fast directions contrarotate from NNW in the southern Songpan-Garze terrane to NW in the northern Songpan-Garze terrane,to near E-W or ENE in the north of the East Kunlun fault and southern margin of the Qaidam basin,then first abruptly rotate to NW in the Qiman Tagh fault on the northwestern margin of the Qaidam basin,second abruptly rotate to ENE in the Altyn Tagh fault and south of the ETB,and third abruptly rotate to NW in the north of the ETB,then finally rotate to WNW in the Tianshan.The comparative analysis between the fast wave directions measured by shear wave splitting and predicted from the surface deformation field shows that,with the exclusion of the five observations with larger misfits within the interior of the ETB(with an average misfit of 27°),the misfits in the NTP and northern and southern margins of the Tarim basin are relatively small(with an average misfit of 9°).In addition,the fast wave directions of the tectonic units such as the Altyn Tagh fault,East Kunlun fault,and Tianshan are parallel to the strikes of faults and mountains in the region,which indicates that the deep and shallow deformations of the NTP and northern and southern margins of the ETB are consistent,where the crust-mantle coupling extent of lithospheric deformation is higher,according with the vertical coherent deformation of the lithosphere.Conversely,the crust-mantle coupling extent within the interior of the Tarim Basin is weak,and it is characterized by weak anisotropy,stable rigidity,and thick lithosphere,which may remain the “fossil” anisotropy of ancient craton.

Cenozoic tectonic and sedimentary evolution of southern Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau and its implication for the rejuvenation of Eastern Kunlun Mountains

The Eastern Kunlun Mountains play an important role in the growth and eastward extrusion of the Tibetan Plateau. Tectonic and sedimentary study of the Cenozoic Qaidam Basin, especially the southern part, provides key evidence for understanding their evolution. Here we present evidence including isopach maps, seismic sections and sedimentary analysis of single well to illustrate the sedimentary development of the basin and the structural features of its southern margin. The Qaidam Basin extended across Qiman Tagh-Eastern Kunlun Mountains in the early Cenozoic and withdrew northward at ca. 35.5 Ma, and then buckled as an EW striking elliptical depression since ca. 14.9 Ma, with the main depocenter migrating eastward. Our results support the view that the Kumukol and Hoh Xil basins joined the Qaidam Basin in the early Cenozoic time and we propose the Eastern Kunlun Mountains uplifted in the mid-Miocene.

Solar forcing of desert vegetation and drought frequency during the last 2700 years in the interior Qaidam Basin, northeastern Tibetan Plateau

Knowledge of long-term change in vegetation and climate in semi-arid/arid regions is essential for the study of current climate and development of mitigation strategies against severe drought. Here, a fossil pollen record of annually-varved core from Sugan Lake in interior Qaidam Basin was quantitatively analyzed to reconstruct changes in vegetation, floristic diversity and drought frequency. Results of biomization suggested that regional vegetation was desert vegetation with three short-term occupations of temperate steppe/xerophytic shrub during the last 2700 years. Floristic diversity generally increased/decreased with the expansion/degradation of desert vegetation. Moisture fluctuations showed three distinct stages(extremely dry between 742 BC and ~AD500, relatively wet with an increasing trend between ~AD500 and 1200 and relatively wet with frequent fluctuations after AD1200), interrupted by 14 drought events. Spectral analysis and continuous wavelet transform of moisture variation revealed 200-and 120-year cycles. According to cross-wavelet transform analysis, major drought frequency of ~200-year was explicitly correlated to solar activity. It's suggested that the centennial-scale drought frequency was mainly driven by solar activity, through modulation of large-scale atmospheric circulation. Furthermore, the effect of surface temperature–evaporation and uplifting/subsiding air flow should be notable. The climatic drought in interior Qaidam Basin could be intensified under the continuous global warming.

青藏高原东北缘活动构造与共和盆地高温热异常形成机制

构造作用是影响地球深部内热向地表传输和热能再分配过程的关键因素之一。青藏高原东北缘共和盆地发现高温地热资源,其热源成因机制一直是研究焦点。为理解构造作用对地热资源分布的控制过程,本文选取共和盆地高温地热异常区,分析边界断裂构造性质、活动期次、演化历程,结合钻井、大地电磁和背景噪声成像地球物理异常特征,提出新生代构造演化和地热异常形成的耦合关系。认为:1)青藏高原东北缘共和盆地及周缘变形区形成于昆仑断裂和海源断裂大型活动左旋走滑作用的滑动消减带;2)共和盆地新生代以来经历中新世(12–6 Ma)旋转泛湖盆凹陷、上新世—第四纪(6–3 Ma)盆内张扭变形两期主要演化阶段;3)共和盆地上地壳发育的与高温相关的地球物理低速-高导异常层(Vs<3.2 km/s,R<10Ω·m)是主导热源;4)上新世持续左旋走滑变形导致的岩石圈隆起变形是深部热能向浅层传输的主要动力学机制,浅部热能聚集成热过程至少延续到了3 Ma;5)预测青藏高原东北缘与共和盆地具有类似构造演化性质的次生盆地具有高温地热资源发育的条件。

Discovery of fossil Nemacheilids (Cypriniformes,Teleostei,Pisces) from the Tibetan Plateau,China

Here described are the nemacheilid fossils from the Pliocene Lower Member of Qiangtang Formation in the Kunlun Pass Basin,northeastern Tibetan Plateau,at a locality 4769 m above the sea level (a.s.l.).The materials consist of numerous disarticulated and incomplete bones.The fish remains are assigned to the Nemacheilidae based on the fused compound centrum of the 2nd and 3rd vertebrae with developed bifurcate lateral processes of the 2nd vertebra.The fossils also include the maxilla,the dentary,the anguloarticular,the quadrate,the hyomandibular,the opercle,the basihyal,the urohyal,the anterior ceratohyal,the posterior ceratohyal,the interhyal and the supracleithrum.These bones are very similar to their counterparts in some species of a Recent nemacheilid genus,Triplophysa (Nemacheilidae,Cypriniformes),which is widely distributed on the Tibetan Plateau.The nemacheilid fossils are much more abundant than the remains of schizothoracines embedded in the same horizon at the same locality.This would imply that the number of individuals of Triplophysa was much higher than that of schizothoracines when they were alive in the area.In Recent ichthyofauna of the Tibetan Plateau,Triplophysa prevails over schizothoracines in the number of individuals in the high elevations and small water bodies.Based on the fossil dominance of Triplophysa over schizothoracines and their taphonomical conditions,it appears that the water system at the Kunlun Pass area during the Pliocene might not be extensive lakes or large rivers with broad valleys.There might have been a few mountainous,relatively torrential rivers with many small,shallow streams connecting the water systems from the north and south of the East Kunlun Mountain.The environment of the Kunlun Pass Basin area during the Pliocene must be very harsh,and the altitude of the area might already have been higher than we previously suggested.The uplift of the area must be less than 1000 m since the Pliocene.

Deep seismic reflection profile across the juncture zone between the Tarim Basin and the West Kunlun Mountains

Fine structures of the crust and upper mantle of the basin-and-range juncture on the northwestern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau are first delineated by the deep seismic reflection profile across the juncture zone between the Tarim Basin and the West Kunlun Mountains. Evidence is found for the northward subduction of the northwest marginal lithosphere of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its collision with Tarim lithosphere beneath the West Kunlun Mountains. The lithosphere image of the face-to-face subduction and collision determines the coupling relationship between the Tarim Basin and the West Kunlun Mountains at the lithosphere scale and reflects the process of continent- continent collision.

接收函数成像揭示东昆仑断裂带及其周缘地壳结构

前人的研究结果表明,自中新世以来青藏高原持续进行着穿时性的向东逃逸,而东昆仑断裂的左旋走滑运动正是这种变形的表现。正确地厘定断裂的位置与地壳结构,对于更加深入地认识高原的变形、应力传递和物质运输起着至关重要的作用。有大地测量学和地貌学研究指出,东昆仑断裂沿走向向东的滑移速率逐渐递减,在被第四纪沉积物所覆盖的若尔盖盆地内尤为明显。然而,该盆地分布有广袤的高山草甸、低洼沼泽,使得通过地表追踪断裂的地貌学迹象研究尤为困难。因此,东昆仑断裂带在若尔盖盆地内的位置无法确认。本次研究采用了由167个间隔约1 km的短周期地震仪站组成的密集阵列以及9个宽频带台站,对若尔盖盆地内东昆仑断裂的地壳结构进行成像。通过比较地壳中地层的不连续性和莫霍面的深度变化,确定了东昆仑断裂在若尔盖盆地内继续向东延伸。此外,塔藏断裂和东昆仑断层在地壳结构上的相似性说明它们之间存在继承关系。高分辨率的接收函数结构为高原的向外生长提供了新的证据。

新疆地学断面深地震反射剖面揭示的西昆仑-塔里木结合带岩石圈细结构

横过西昆仑 塔里木结合地带的深地震反射剖面 ,首次揭露出新疆地学断面南部山盆结合部位地壳与上地幔顶部的精细结构 ,发现了塔里木岩石圈下部南倾、西昆仑山岩石圈下部北倾的强反射特征 ,它们相向倾斜、相互交织 ,构成了塔里木岩石圈挤入到西昆仑北带之下 ,与青藏高原西北缘岩石圈相碰撞的地震证据。深地震反射剖面还揭示出西昆仑山与塔里木盆地在岩石圈尺度呈“V”型的盆山耦合关系 ,这种“V”型的耦合关系代表了陆内陆

西昆仑—塔里木—天山岩石圈深地震探测综述

沿新疆地学断面走廊域实施了3种深地震探测方法:近垂直深地震反射剖面、宽角反射与折射深地震测深剖面和移动式宽频地震观测,揭露出西昆仑—塔里木—天山岩石圈的结构与横向变化,发现了塔里木大陆地块与青藏高原西北部西昆仑造山带碰撞的地震学证据,揭示出天山与塔里木、天山与准噶尔,以及昆仑山与塔里木之间的岩石圈尺度盆山耦合关系。阶段成果发表后引起国内外学者广泛注意,本文结合相关资料对这些新成果进行了系统综述,旨在对比研究青藏高原南北两缘不同的碰撞变形之深部过程。

青藏高原东北缘共和盆地第四纪磁性地层学研究

共和盆地第四纪剖面磁性地层学研究表明,该剖面包含了四个正极性段,三个负极性段,剖面底部地层年龄约为2.11Ma B.P.。结合剖面的沉积特征和已有的孢粉组合特征分析,可以确定该剖面记录了共和盆地2.11Ma B.P.以来的气候变化,且气候发生转型的主要时期依次为1.92 Ma B.P、1.75Ma B.P.、1.40Ma B.P.、1.02 Ma B.P.和0.87Ma B.P.。其主要原因可能是青藏高原强烈隆升远程效应的结果。共和盆地气候变化时间序列的建立为研究青藏高原隆升及环境效应提供有力证据。

宁夏南部晚更新世沉积物沉积特征及其构造意义

通过研究宁夏南部第四纪沉积物类型及沉积作用,结合沉积物年代学分析,初步确定宁夏南部晚更新世发育众多沉积盆地。其沉积学特征研究表明,晚更新世沉积盆地主要发育冲积扇沉积物、湖相泥质粉砂质沉积物、盆地边缘斜坡岩相组合、现代河流一级阶地沉积物以及黄土等几种沉积物。沉积作用特点显示,晚更新世沉积盆地的大范围出现主要受构造伸展作用控制,表明青藏高原北东扩展过程中,宁夏南部地区于晚更新世期间还存在较明显的构造伸展活动,从而证实青藏高原隆升及其北东向扩展具明显的阶段性。

祁连山北缘早中更新世新构造运动的地层记录

已有研究发现在早、中更新世之交 ,青藏高原及其邻区发生重大的构造隆升事件 ,并命名为“昆仑—黄河运动”,简称昆黄运动 .河西走廊是青藏高原北缘祁连山的山前凹陷 .在走廊西端酒西盆地老君庙背斜开展的古地磁和 ESR年代学研究发现祁连山在约 1.2 3Ma BP发生构造活动 ,造成玉门砾岩内部出现不整合 ;第 2幕强烈活动发生于 0 .93～ 0 .84 Ma,造成了河西走廊地区酒泉砾石层和玉门砾岩区域性角度不整合 .这两次构造运动在时间上与昆黄运动吻合 ,因此 ,本研究提供了昆黄运动在青藏高原北部表现的新证据 .

青藏高原昆仑山垭口不同深度土壤可培养细菌群落特征研究

以青藏高原昆仑山垭口不同深度土壤样品为研究对象,研究了可培养细菌数量及多样性.结果表明：可培养细菌数量与多样性在一定程度上均与土壤深度呈负相关关系.可培养细菌数量以表层土壤最多,而细菌多样性最低.基于16S r DNA基因序列分析共发现了6个门,18个属,21种细菌,其中表层土壤Arthrobacter siccitolerans为绝对优势种,比例达95%;冻土区（0～82.15 m）之间不同土样Mycetocola miduiensis菌株所占比例较大;而冻土层以下没有明显的优势菌.冗余分析（RDA）显示：可培养细菌数量主要受土壤有机碳影响,土壤含水量则是影响细菌多样性的主要因素.

四川盆地西北部新生代构造变形模式讨论--对认识青藏高原东北缘新生代变形机制的意义

综合造山带内的构造热年代学及盆地内部进行的磷灰石裂变径迹研究,提出了四川盆地西北部的三个背斜(潼梓关背斜、九龙山背斜和南阳坝背斜)主要是新生代构造变形的产物。野外观察发现汉中盆地是一个第四纪的拉分盆地,其主控断层具左行走滑性质。新生代青藏高原东缘大型地块向东挤出,遭遇强硬的四川克拉通阻挡之后,沿着龙门山形成了一个右行的走滑挤压带,并且影响到邻近的四川盆地,形成北东向背斜。这期构造变形往北延伸进入米仓山,形成具有逆冲性质的北东向断层。四川盆地北面也存在向东的挤出作用,这和汉中盆地主控断层的左行走滑性质是匹配的。四川盆地北面的地块挤出影响了米仓山前缘的四川盆地,由于龙门山和米仓山构造变形的叠加,使得最东面的南阳坝背斜相对于其它两个背斜在褶皱轴上发生了偏转。

天水盆地晚新生代构造演化——对青藏高原北东向扩展的指示意义

天水盆地是一个位于青藏高原东北缘的晚新生代盆地,西秦岭北缘断裂穿盆而过。盆地内充填了较为完整的晚新生代地层,记录了该区晚新生代以来的构造变形历史,对研究青藏高原北东向扩展的构造响应具有重要意义。本文基于详细的野外构造变形分析与测量,结合已有的年代学与沉积学研究,初步提出天水盆地晚新生代以来构造变形序列与构造应力场,重建其晚新生代构造演化历史。详细研究表明,天水盆地晚新生代以来主要经历了3期构造演化:即中新世早-晚期NW-SE向构造伸展,沉积盆地发育,并伴随碱性超基性火山岩喷发和金刚石矿床形成;中新世晚期-早、中更新世NE-SW向挤压,盆地发生构造反转,其动力学背景可能源于晚新生代青藏高原的北东向扩展,指示高原物质扩散开始显著影响到西秦岭地区;晚更新世以来受近N-S向伸展作用控制,盆地发生向东有限挤出并伴随顺时针旋转,主要由于青藏高原向北东扩展过程中,区域构造挤压应力方向发生顺时针偏转所致。