Thoughts on Pairing Assistance to Tibet for Promoting Agricultural High-quality Development in Southern Tibet from the Perspective of Agricultural Power

In the new era,there is an urgent need to further promote pairing assistance to Tibet,promote the simultaneous construction of a strong agriculture in Tibet and the China's Mainland,and compose a Chinese-style modernization.Southern Tibet,located in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region,includes Shannan City and Nyingchi City,is a region assisted by four provincial partners including Hubei Province.This paper introduces the agricultural environment in southern Tibet,studies its agricultural characteristics,and analyzes the main issues of its pairing assistance.Taking forging the strong consciousness of the Chinese national community as the main line,the paper explores strategies for promoting agricultural high-quality development in southern Tibet through pairing assistance to Tibet from the perspective of agricultural power,and proposes some strategies,such as inheriting agricultural cultural heritage,promoting the upgrading of modern seed industry,enhancing the characteristic advantages of highland barley(naked barley)and animal husbandry industries,and developing edible fungi and cold water fish industries.

Zircon U-Pb Geochronological Constraints on Rapid Exhumation of the Mantle Peridotite of the Xigaze Ophiolite, Southern Xizang(Tibet)

The Xigaze ophiolite crops out in the central segment of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone,southern Tibet(Fig.1).It is characterized by large amounts of ultramafic units with minor mafic rocks.The mafic rocks consist of gabbros,

“Tibet”或“Xizang”——关于“西藏”英译的讨论

西藏英文翻译采用汉语拼音Xizang取代Tibet,能够更准确地表达西藏作为地名的真实含义,符合国家地名翻译的规范标准,获得国际上中国的文化话语权,抵制十四世达赖分裂集团提出"大藏区"分裂祖国的图谋。

An Important Spreading Event of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous: Evidence from Zircon U-Pb SHRIMP Dating on Diabase in Nagarze, Southern Tibet

Widely distributed in Gyangzê-Chigu area, southern Tibet, NW- and nearly E-W-trending diabase（gabbro）-gabbro diorite dykes are regarded as the product of the large-scale spreading of the late Neo-Tethys Ocean. In order to constrain the emplacement age of these dykes, zircons of two samples from diabases in Nagarzê were dated by using the U-Pb SHRIMP method. Two nearly the same weighted mean ^206pb/^23SU ages were obtained in this paper, which are 134.9±1.8 Ma （MSWD=0.65） and 135.5 ± 2.1 Ma （MSWD=1.40）, respectively. They not only represent the crystallization age of the diabase, but also documented an important spreading event of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the late Jurassic and early Cretaceous. This dating result is of great significance to reconstruct the temporal framework of the late Neo-Tethys Ocean in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Late Triassic Granites From the Quxu Batholith Shedding a New Light on the Evolution of the Gangdese Belt in Southern Tibet

The Gangdese magmatic belt formed during Late Triassic to Neogene in the southernmost Lhasa terrane of the Tibetan plateau. It is interpreted as a major component of a continental margin related to the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic slab beneath Eurasia and it is the key in understanding the tectonic framework of southern Tibet prior to the India-Eurasia collision. It is widely accepted that northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic crust formed the Gangdese magmatic belt, but the occurrence of Late Triassic magmatism and the detailed tectonic evolution of southern Tibet are still debated. This work presents new zircon U-Pb-Hf isotope data and whole-rock geochemical compositions of a mylonitic granite pluton in the central Gangdese belt, southern Tibet. Zircon U-Pb dating from two representative samples yields consistent ages of 225.3~=1.8 Ma and 229.9~1.5 Ma, respectively, indicating that the granite pluton was formed during the early phase of Late Triassic instead of Early Eocene （47-52 Ma） as previously suggested. Geochemically, the mylonitic granite pluton has a sub-alkaline composition and low-medium K calc-alkaline affinities and it can be defined as an I-type granite with metaluminous features （A/CNK〈I.1）. The analyzed samples are characterized by strong enrichments of LREE and pronounced depletions of Nb, Ta and Ti, suggesting that the granite was generated in an island-arc setting. However, the use of tectonic discrimination diagrams indicates a continental arc setting. Zircon Lu-Hf isotopes indicate that the granite has highly positive till（t） values ranging from ＋13.91 to ＋15.54 （mean value ＋14.79）, reflecting the input of depleted mantle material during its magmatic evolution, consistent with Mg# numbers. Additionally, the studied samples also reveal relatively young Hf two-stage model ages ranging from 238 Ma to 342 Ma （mean value 292 Ma）, suggesting that the pluton was derived from partial melting of juvenile crust. Geochemical discrimination diagrams also suggest that the granite was derived from partial melting of the mafic lower crust. Taking into account both the spatial and temporal distribution of the mylonitic granite, its geochemical fingerprints as well as previous studies, we propose that the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys oceanic slab beneath the Lhasa terrane had already commenced in Late Triassic （-230 Ma）, and that the Late Triassic magmatic events were formed in an active continental margin that subsequently evolved into the numerous sub- terranes, paleo-island-arcs and multiple collision phases that form the present southern Tibet.

Early Eocene Radiolarian Fauna from the Sangdanlin, Southern Tibet: Constraints on the Timing of Initial India-Asia Collision

This is a new report on the early Eocene radiolarian fauna from the Sangdanlin section in the Gyirong region, along the southern margin of the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone. The Sangdanlin section measured in this study is divided into three lithostratigraphic units from bottom to top： the Zongzhuo, Sangdanlin, and Zheya formations. Abundant radiolarian fossils were obtained from the Sangdanlin section and 54 species of 30 genera were identified and assigned as follows： Cryptamphorella conara-C. macropora the late Cretaceous Zone and Amphis_phaera coronate, Bur）ella tetradica-Bekoma campechensis, and B.bidartensis-B. divaricata the Paleocene-early Eocene Interval Zones. The Paleocene- early Eocene radiolarian zones are comparable to the radiolarian zones RP4-RP8 in New Zealand. Based on the data of radiolaria and lithofacies, it is suggested that the Zongzhuo Formation should be deposited along the base of the north-facing, continental slope of the Greater Indian continental margin, and the Sangdanlin Formation should be a deep marine, sedimentary sequence located in a foreland basin. The early Eocene radiolarian fauna in the Sangdanlin Formation constrains the initial age of the India-Asia collision to no later than 53.6 Ma.

Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy of the Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds in Kangmar,Southern Tibet,China

The planktic foraminifera of the Chuangde Formation （Upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Beds, CORBs） as exposed at Tianbadong section, Kangmar, southern Tibet has been firstly studied for a detailed for a detailed biostratigraphy elaboration. A rich and well-preserved planktic foraminifera were recovered from the Chuangde Formation of the Tianbadong section and the Globotruncanita elevata, Globotruncana ventricosa, Radotruncana calcarata, Globotruncanella havanensis, Globotruncana aegyptiaca, Gansserina gansseri and Abathomphalus mayaroensis zones have been recognized. The planktic foraminiferal assemblage points to an early Campanian to Maastrichitian age for the CORBs of the eastern North Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt, which also provides a better understanding of the shifting progress of the Indian Plate to the north and the evolution of the Neotethyan ocean. The lithostratigraphy of the Chuangde Formation of the Tianbadong section comprises two lithological sequences observed in ascending succession： a lower unit （the Shale Member） mainly composed of purple （cherry-red, violet-red） shales with interbedded siltstones and siliceous rocks; and an upper unit （the Limestone Member） of variegated limestones. The strata of the Chuangde Formation in the Tianbadong section are similar to CORBs in other parts of the northern Tethyan Himalaya area of Asia （Gyangze, Sa＇gya, Sangdanlin, northern Zanskar, etc.）. The fossil contents of the Chuangde Formation in the sections （CORBs） studied provide a means of correlation with the zonation schemes for those of the northern Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt and the Upper Cretaceous of the southern Tethyan Himalayan sub-belt. Paleogeographic reconstruction for the Late Cretaceous indicates that the Upper Cretaceous Chuangde Formation （CORBs） and correlatable strata in northern Zanskar were representative of slope to basinal deposits, which were situated in the northern Tethyan Belt. Correlatable Cretaceous strata in Spiti and Gamba situated in the southern Tethyan Belt in contrast were deposited in shelf environments along the Tethyan Himalayan passive margin. CORBs are most likely formed by the oxidation of Fe（II）-enriched, anoxic deep ocean water near the chemocline that separated the oxic oceanic surface from the anoxic.

Burial Records of Reactive Iron in Cretaceous Black Shales and Oceanic Red Beds from Southern Tibet

One of the new directions in the field of Cretaceous research is to elucidate the mechanism of the sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shales to oceanic red beds. A chemical sequential extraction method was applied to these two types of rocks from southern Tibet to investigate the burial records of reactive iron. Results indicate that carbonate-associated iron and pyrite are relatively enriched in the black shales, but depleted or absent in red beds. The main feature of the reactive iron in the red beds is relative enrichment of iron oxides （largely hematite）, which occurred during syn-depostion or early diagenesis. The ratio between iron oxides and the total iron indicates an oxygen-enriched environment for red bed deposition. A comparison between the reactive iron burial records and proxies of paleo-productivity suggests that paleo-productivity decreases when the ratio between iron oxides and the total iron increases in the red beds. This phenomenon could imply that the relationship between marine redox and productivity might be one of the reasons for the sedimentary transition from Cretaceous black shale to oceanic red bed deposition.

Tempo-spatial rupture process of the 1997Mani, Xizang(Tibet), China earthquake of Ms=7.9

An earthquake of Ms=7.4 occurred in Mani, Xizang (Tibet), China on November 8, 1997. The moment tensor ofthis earthquake was inverted using the long period body wave form data from China Digital Seismograph Network(CDSN). The apparent source time functions (AS TFs) were retrieved from P and S waves, respectively, using thedeconvolution technique in frequency domain, and the tempo-spatial rupture process on the fault plane was imagedby inverting the azimuth dependent AS TFs from different stations. The result of the moment tensor inversionindicates that the P and T axes of earthquake-generating stress field were nearly horizontal, with the P axis in theNNE direction (29), the T axis in the SEE direction (122) and that the NEE-SWW striking nodal plane andNNW-SSE striking nodal plane are mainly left-lateral and right-lateral strike-slip, respectively; that this earthquakehad a scalar seismic moment of 3.4xl02o N. .m, and a moment magnitude of Mw=7.6. Taking the aftershock distribution into account, we proposed that the earthquake rupture occurred in the fault plane with the strike of 250,the dip of 88 and the rake of 19. On the basis of the result of the moment tensor inversion, the theoretical seismograms were synthesized, and then the AS T Fs were retrieved by deconvoving the synthetic seismograms fromthe observed seismograms. The A S T Fs retrieved from the P and S waves of different stations identically suggestedthat this earthquake was of a simple time history, whose ASTF can be approximated with a sine function with thehalf period of about 10 s. Inverting the azimuth dependent A S T Fs from P and S waveforms led to the imageshowing the tempo-spatial distribution of the rupture on the fault plane. From the 'remembering' snap-shots, therupture initiated at the western end of the fault, and then propagated eastward and downward, indicating an overallunilateral rupture. However, the slip distribution is non-uniform, being made up of three sub-areas, one in thewestern end, about 10 km deep ('western area'), another about 55 kin away from the western end and about 35 Iondeep ('eastern area'), the third about 30 km away from the western end and around 40 km deep ('central area').The total rupture area was around 70 km long and 60 km wide. From the 'forgetting' snap-shots, the rupturingappeared quite complex, with the slip occurring in different position at different time, and the earthquake being ofthe characteristics of 'healing pulse'. Another point we have to stress is that the locations in which the ruptureinitiated and terminated were not where the main rupture took place. Eventually, the static slip distribution wascalculated, and the largest slip values of the three sub-areas were 956 cm, 743 cm and 1 060 cm, for the western.eastern and central areas, respectively. From the slip distribution, the rupture mainly distributed in the fault about70 km eastern to the epicenter; from the aftershock distribution. however, the aftershocks were very sparse in thewest to the epicenter while densely clustered in the east to the epicenter It indicated that the Maul Ms=7.9 earthquake was resulted from the nearly eastward extension of the NEE-SWW to nearly E-W striking fault in thenorthwestern Tibetan plateau.

Response of Reactive Phosphorus Burial to the Sedimentary Transition from Cretaceous Black Shales to Oceanic Red Beds in Southern Tibet

The mechanism of sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shales to the oceanic red beds is a new and important direction of Cretaceous research. Chemical sequential extraction is applied to study the burial records of reactive phosphorus in the black shale of the Gyabula Formation and oceanic red beds of the Chuangde Formation, Southern Tibet. Results indicate that the principal reactive phosphorus species is the authigenic and carbonate-associated phosphorus （CAP） in the Gyabula Formation and iron oxides-associated phosphorus （FeP） in the Chuangde Formation which accounts for more than half of their own total phosphorus content. While the authigenic and carbonate-associated phosphorus （CAP） is almost equal in the two Formations; the iron oxidesassociated phosphorus is about 1.6 times higher in the Chuangde Formation than that in the Gyabula Formation resulting in a higher content of the total phosphorus in the Chuangde Formation. According to the observations on the marine phosphorus cyde in Modern Ocean, it is found that preferential burial and regeneration of reactive phosphorus corresponds to highly oxic and reducing conditions, respectively, leading to the different distribution of phosphorus in these two distinct type of marine sediments. It is the redox-sensitive behavior of phosphorus cycle to the different redox conditions in the ocean and the controlling effects of phosphorus to the marine production that stimulate the local sedimentary transition from the Cretaceous black shale to the oceanic red beds.

Triassic Sequence Stratigraphy and Sea-Level Changes in Qomolongma Area, Southern Tibet, China: From Epicontinental Sea to Rift Basin

The Triassic in the Qomolongma area, southern Tibet, was deposited under an extensional tectonic setting from the Pangea supercontinent to continental rifting. From the Induan to Rhaetian, 12 depositional sequences (3rd order) have been recognized, which can be grouped into 5 sequence sets and in turn make up a well defined mesosequence (2nd order). Among the recognized marine transgressions, those at 250 Ma, 239 Ma, 231 Ma and 223 Ma respectively are particularly of significance and can be correlated widely across continents. The study shows that in Triassic the Qomolongma area experienced a sedimentary evolution from epicontinental sea to rift basin with the turning point at ca 228 Ma. During the early and middle epochs, the area was under epeiric sea, with carbonate ramp to mixed shoal environments predominant. In the late Carnian, the strong extension initiated listric faulting, thus resulting in rapid basement subsidence and the onset of a rift basin. From the late Norian to Rhaetian, it manifested as a rapid basin filling process in the area. Coupled with long term sea level fall, the excessive terrigenous influx led to the shift of environment from deep water prodelta to shore and finally to fluvial plain.

CRETACEOUS AND TERTIARY BOUNDARY IN THE TINGRI REGION OF SOUTHERN TIBET

Marine uppermost Cretaceous to lowermost Tertiary sequence occurs in the Gamba and Tingri regions of southern Tibet. In previous work, the sequences in both regions were divided into the Zongshan, Jidula and Zhepure Formations (Wan, 1985; Hao and Wan, 1985; Xu, Wan, et al. 1990). The K/T boundary in Gamba was studied by Wan Xiaoqiao (1988). This paper deals with the boundary in the Tingri region. Willems (1993) discussed the Cretaceous to Tertiary sequence in the Tingri region. In his work, the Upper Cretaceous to Lower Tertiary passage beds involved the Zongshan, Zhepure Shanpo, Jidula and Zhepure Shan Formations. The lithologies in the Tingri and Gamba regions are generally comparable, and we describe the boundary sequence in the Tingri region as follows:1\ Zongshan Formation (Campanian—Middle Maastrichtian) Hao and Wan (1985) first described this formation in Tingri. It consists of limestones equivalent to the strata in Gamba. The nomination of the Zongshan formation has been used in both regions. The Formation in Gamba ranges from Campanian to Late Maastrichtian age. In Tingri, however, the upper beds were referred to the Zhepure Shanpo Formation because they are clastic sediments (Willems, 1993). Planktonic foraminifera are abundant, such as Globotruncana spp. and Omphalocyclus sp.

Climatic changes have led to significant expansion of endorheic lakes in Xizang (Tibet) since 1995

Robust climate warming has led to significant expansion of lakes in the central Tibetan Plateau. Using remote sensing data, our quantitative analysis indicates that Siling Co, a saline lake in a characteristic endorheic basin in the central region of the Plateau, has expanded more than 600 km2 in area since 1976. Particularly since 1995, the lake has signif- icantly expanded in response to increasing precipitation, decreasing water surface evaporation caused by weaker winds and less solar radiation, and increased glacier meltwater draining to the lake. Glacie^lake interactions are important in governing lake expansion and are also part of a feedback loop that influences the local climate. Worsening climatic conditions （decreased precipitation and increased temperatures） that could have caused the lake to shrink during 1976-1994 were offset by increasing glacier meltwater feeding the lake, which made the lake nearly stable. We demonstrate that this pattern changed during 1995-2009, when glacier meltwater actually decreased but participation runoff increased and evaporation decreased, leading to expansion of the lake. If climatic conditions became suitable for further lake development, which would be indicated by expansion in lake area, glacier meltwater could be saved in a stable reservoir.

Geothermal-type Lithium Resources in Southern Xizang,China

High-temperature geothermal water has abundant lithium(Li)resources,and research on the development and utilization of geothermal-type lithium resources around the world are increasing.The Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau contains huge geothermal resources;especially,Li-rich geothermal resources in southern Xizang,southwestern China,are widely developed.The Li-rich geothermal spots in Xizang are mainly distributed on both sides and to the south of the Yarlung Zangbo suture zone.Such resources are often found in the intensely active high-temperature Li-rich geothermal fields and,compared with other Li-rich geothermal fields around the world,the Li-rich geothermal fluid in the Xizang Plateau,southern Xizang is characterized by good quality:the highest reported Li concentration is up to 239 mg/L;the Mg/Li ratio is extremely low and ranges from 0.03 to 1.48 for most of the Li-rich geothermal fluid;the Li/TDS value is relatively high and ranges from 0.25–1.14%compared to Zhabuye Li-rich salt lake(0.19%)and Salar de Uyuni(Bolivia)(0.08–0.31%).Continuous discharge has been stable for at least several decades,and some of them reach industrial grades of salt lake brine(32.74 mg/L).In addition,elements such as boron(B),caesium(Cs),and rubidium(Rb)are rich and can be comprehensively utilized.Based on still-incomplete statistics,there are at least 16 large-scale Li-rich hot springs with lithium concentration of 20 mg/L or more.The total discharge of lithium metal is about 4300 tons per year,equivalent to 25,686 tons of lithium carbonate.Drilling data has shown that the depth is promising and there is a lack of volcanism(non-volcanic geothermal system).With a background of the partial-melting lower crust caused by the collision of the Indo-Asia continent and based on a comprehensive analysis of the tectonic background of southern Xizang and previous geological,geophysical,and geothermal research,deep molten magma seems to provide a stable heat source for the high-temperature Li-rich geothermal field.The Li-rich parent geothermal fluid rushes to the surface to form hot springs along the extensively developed tectonic fault zones in southern Xizang;some of the Li-rich fluid flows in to form Li-rich salt lakes.However,most of the Li-rich geothermal fluid is remitted to seasonal rivers and has not been effectively exploited,resulting in great waste.With the continuous advance of lithium extraction technologies in Li-rich geothermal fluid,the lithium resource in geothermal water is promising as a new geothermal type of mineral deposit,which can be effectively exploited.This is the first study to undertake a longitudinal analysis on the characteristics,distribution and scale,origin and utilization prospects of Li-rich geothermal resources in southern Xizang,research that will contribute to a deeper understanding of Li-rich geothermal resources in the area and attract attention to these resources in China.

A Primary Observation on Palynofacies of the Chuangde Section(Late Jurassic-Cretaceous),Gyangze,Southern Tibet

A primary study on palynofacies, which concerns the paleoenvironments from the sight of association of sedimentary organic matter preserved in sedimentary rocks, is conducted for a Late Jurassic-Cretaceous succession at Gyangze, southern Tibet. Two palynofacies are recognized, which are formed in different sedimentary environments. The one in the pelagic is infertile in organic productivity and monotonous in component and is dominated by AOMA, while the other, being closely bound up with the slope, is characterized by abundant black phytoclasts that are possibly of algal origin and contains much AOM. The influence of terrestrial input is clear in the latter, for particles generated from terrestrial plants are common. A number of fossil spores and pollen together with some dinocysts are discovered, but they are normally in a bad condition of preservation. Nevertheless, this convinces us that the late Jurassic-Cretaceous succession in the Gyangze area has a potential for palynological stratigraphy. We have also proved that the volume of PM can achieve similar results in presenting the productivity of organic matter as the weight of TOC does. This technique is much easier in the laboratory than that we do with TOC.

An Outline of Mesozoic to Paleogene SequenceStratigraphy and Sea－Level Changes in Northern Himalayas，Southern Xizang

In the Northern Himalayan region of Southern Xizang (Tibet),from the Lower Triassic to Upper Eocene 73 Sequences have been identified, with an average duration of 2.9 Ma;these can in turn be grouped into 24 super-Sequences and 6 super-sequence sets. During Mesozoic and Paleogene, several large sea - level falls occurred in the Eastern Neo-Tethys. Among the recognized sea- level falls, the important ones include those at the ages of 255 Ma, 215 Ma,177 Ma, 138 Ma, 103 Ma and 68 Ma .Those at 239 Ma, 215 Ma, 157 Ma,80 Ma, 50Ma and 36 Ma are also significant. The third-order Sequences and sea-level cycles Probably reflect mainly global sea - level fluctuations, while the higher rank cycles seem more closely related to the basin evolution of the Neo-Tethys. Based on the study, six major periods have been suggested for ths tectonic evolution of the Eastern Neo-Tethys and the plates, i. e. the Pangea Period (Pre-Triassic), continental rifting Period (Triassic to Early Jurassic ), inter-continental sea Period (Middle Jurassic ), continental divergence period (late Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous ), continental convergence period (Late Cretaceous ) and the continental collision Period (Paleogene ). These major Periods can be further subdivided into eight stages according to the basin evolution. In each of the periods and Stages, Sequences and their boundaries show clear characters related to the tectonic background. The study indicater that the initial breakup of the Pangea along the Indus- Yarlung may have taken Place around 239 Ma. The Late Bathonian to Early Callovian seems to have been a critical time in the evolution of the Neo-Tethys, with the turning Point around 158 Ma. The blocks split from the northern margin of the Gondwana continual did not obviously drift away from the Indian Plate until Callovian .The oceanic crust subduction in the Neo- Tethys may have Started at 113Ma, while the contraction of the ocean probably began at 107- 103 Ma. The initial contact of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian plate may have taken Place around 80 Ma, with strong uplifting and thrushng in Late Paleocene.

PALEOCEANOGRAPHY AND EVOLUTION OF THE CENO-TETHYS: MICROPALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FROM PELAGIC SEDIMENTS IN THE YARLUNG ZANGBO SUTURE ZONE, SOUTHERN TIBET

The Ceno\|Tethys is a southern branch of the Tethyan ocean and existed in the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic times. The evolution of the Ceno\|Tethys has been discussed based mainly on geological and paleontological data obtained from shallow marine sediments on the both sides of the ocean. Pelagic sediments deposited in a deep ocean basin of the Ceno\|Tethys are often incorporated in suture zones. However, geological and paleontological data from the pelagic sediments, which enable us to elucidate the paleoceanography and tectonic evolution of the Ceno\|Tethys, are still limited. The Xialu chert crops out about 30 km south of Xigaze and occupies the southern marginal part of the E—W trending Yarlung Zangbo Suture zone. As a result of radiolarian biostratigraphic research along two continuous sections, we identified seven different aged radiolarian assemblages from pelagic and hemipelagic sediments ranging early Middle Jurassic (Aalenian) to Early Cretaceous. The Aalenian radiolarian fauna is the oldest known record so far for the Xialu chert. It is noteworthy to point out that the fauna came from a chert sample which contains no terrigenous elements other than clay minerals. There is a possibility that radiolarian faunas older than Aalenian age will be discovered from the Xialu chert in the future.

Characteristic of crustal structure beneath the rifts in southern Tibetan plateau

The method of 2-D travel time inversion, which can be applied to determining 2-D velocity structure and interfaces simultaneously, is used in this paper to reprocess the data of Paiku Co-Pumoyingcuo seismic profile across the Nyima-Tingri rift and Shenzha-Dinggye rift. P-wave velocity structure and interfaces beneath the profile are obtained. The interfaces in the crust near Tingri and Dinggye which are located on rifts have a tendency to uplift, and velocities of middle and lower crusts are high. Low velocity layer in upper crust has an offset. Compared with the distribution of the earthquakes in this region, it is speculated that normal faults near Tingri and Dinggye extend to the upper mantle. Apparently it is affected by deep material： the uplift of mantle causes partial melting in the crust, thus the thickness of crust in this area becomes thin, and tension failures occur in this region easily. On the basis of the characteristics of the earthquakes＇ distribution and the structures of the crustal velocity and interfaces, materials from the mantle still uplifts and the failures are still active.

Petrogenesis of an Early Cretaceous Xiabie Co I-type Granite in Southern Qiangtang,Tibet:Evidence from Geochemistry,Geochronology,Rb-Sr,Sm-Nd,Lu-Hf and Pb isotopes

Cretaceous magmatism is widely distributed on both sides of the Bangong-Nujiang suture zone(BNSZ).These rocks record the subduction to closure history of the Bangong-Nujiang Tethys Ocean(BNO)and the collisional history between the Lhasa(LS)and Qiangtang(QT)terranes.The Xiabie Co granite in Nyima County,which located on the southern margin of the QT terrane,Tibet.In this study,whole-rock geochemistry;Rb-Sr,Sm-Nd,and Pb isotopes;and laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS)zircon U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotopes of the Xiabie Co granite in the Nyima area have been studied to constrain its petrogenesis and tectonic setting.Our study can help explain the tectonic evolution of the BNSZ and crust-mantle interaction.Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the granite was emplaced at ca.120 Ma.The granite contains a small amount of hornblende and has high silicon(SiO2=73.97-78.03 wt%),potassium(K_(2)O=4.75-6.53 wt%),and total alkali(K_(2)O+Na_(2)O=7.98-8.98 wt%)contents;low calcium content(CaO=2.33-4.11 wt%);and variable A/CNK(1.00-1.18)and A/NK(1.09-1.22)values.The P_(2)O_(5) content of the granite negatively correlated with the SiO_(2)content.Thus,the Xiabie Co granite is a weakly peraluminous I-type granite belonging to the high-K calcalkaline to Shoshone series.It is enriched in light rare earth elements(LREEs)and relatively depleted in heavy rare earth elements(HREEs),with LREE/HREE ratios of 8.03-16.40 and La_(N)/Yb_(N) ratios of 10.2-27.1.Samples show right-leaning chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns with pronounced negative Eu anomalies(Eu/Eu*=0.67-0.76).The primitive-mantle-normalized trace element spider diagrams of the samples are right-leaning zigzag curves,showing relative enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements(LILEs,e.g.,Rb,Th,U,and K)and depletion in high-field-strength elements(HFSEs,e.g.,Nb,P,Ti,and Yb)and displaying striking Sr and Ba negative anomalies.The graniteεHf(t)values were positive(2.9-9.9),whereas the whole-rockεNd(t)values were negative(−2.841 to−2.33).The calculated(^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr)t,(^(206)Pb/^(204)Pb)t,(^(207)Pb/^(204)Pb)t,and(^(208)Pb/^(204)Pb)t values are 0.7014-0.7057(0.7044 on average),18.422-18.851(18.670 on average),15.625-15.642(15.633 on average),and 38.332-38.681(39.571 on average),respectively.On the basis of the aforementioned data,we propose that the Xiabie Co granite was derived from a primitive magma that originated from partial melting of juvenile lower crust with the addition of mantle materials.In addition,strong fractional crystallization occurred during the rock-forming process.Given the geodynamic setting,our new data,together with previously reported achievements,imply that the Xiabie Co granite was formed during the LS-QT collision.

Finite element modelling of the pull-apart formation: implication for tectonics of Bengo Co pull-apart basin, southern Tibet

The tectonic deformation and state of stress are significant parameters to understand the active structure, seismic phenomenon and overall ongoing geodynamic condition of any region. In this paper, we have examined the state of stress and crustal deformation during the formation of the Beng Co pull-apart basins produced by an enéchelon strike-slip fault systems using 2D Finite Element Modelling (FEM) under plane stress condition. The numerical modelling technique used for the experiments is based on FEM which enables us to analyze the static behavior of a real and continues structures. We have used three sets of models to explore how the geometry of model (fault overlap and pre-existing weak shear zone) and applied boundary conditions (pure strike-slip, transpressional and transtensional) influence the development of state of stress and deformation during the formation of pull-apart basins. Modelling results presented here are based on five parameters: 1) distribution, orienttation, and magnitude of maximum (σH max) and minimum (σH max) horizontal compressive stress 2) magnitude and orientation of displacement vectors 3) distribution and concentration of strain 4) distribution of fault type and 5) distribution and concentration of maximum shear stress (σH max) contours. The modelling results demonstrate that the deformation pattern of the en-échelon strike-slip pull-apart formation is mainly dependent on the applied boundary conditions and amount of overlap between two master strike-slip faults. When the amount of overlap of the two master strike-slip faults increases, the surface deformation gets wider and longer but when the overlap between two master strike-slip faults is zero, block rotation observed significantly, and only narrow and small surface deform ation obtained. These results imply that overlap between two master strike-slip faults is a significant factor in controlling the shape, size and morphology of the pull-apart basin formation. Results of numerical modelling further show that the pattern of the distribution of maximum shear stress (τmax) contours are prominently depend on the amount of overlap between two master strike-slip faults and applied boundary conditions. In case of more overlap between two masters strike-slip faults, τ max mainly concentrated at two corners of the master faults and that reduces and finally reaches zero at the centre of the pull-apart basin, whereas in case of no overlap, τmax largely concentrated at two corners and tips of the master strike-slip faults. These results imply that the distribution and concentration of the maximum shear stress is mainly governed by amount of overlap between the master strike-slip faults in the en-échelon pull-apart formation. Numerical results further highlight that the distribution patterns of the displacement vectors are mostly dependent on the amount of overlap and applied boundary conditions in the en-échelon pull-apart formation.