A NEW INTERPRETATION OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE TETHYS CRUSTOBODY AND THE PETROLEUM POTENTIAL OF THE QINGHAI-XIZANG (TIBET) PLATEAU

Although large amounts of data have been collected during the past 30 yesrs in the study of the formation, evolution and dynamics of the Tethys Sea by the use of the theory of plate tectonics, a large volume of geological and geophysical information has also been accumulated which cannot be explained by the plate tectonic hypothesis. For example, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is underlain by many thousands of meters of Ordovician through Eocene, gently-dipping, essentially undeformed, stable platform sequences. Stratigraphic and tectonic investigations reveal that the plateau-wide east-west fracture zones, interpreted as "sutures" in a plate-tectonic model, are not sutures at all. On the other hand, from the Late Carboniferous to the beginning of the Early Permian, it was impossible for the Tethys ocean with a width of several thousand kilometers to."open" and "close" (the speed could not be so great). The east-west fracture zones, with very sharp angles, exerted no control over deposition. Stress analysis of magmatic activity indicates that the Himalayan zone is presently under compression, the Gangdise zone under interwoven comprepsion and tension, and the Qinghai and Deccan Plateaus under weak tension. Lateral compression caused by weak tension at the northern and southern terminations was not enough for Xizang and its surroundings between India and Qinghai Province of China with an area of 2,400,000 km2 to rise to a height of 4,000 m above mean sea level. The authors believe that surge tectonics is the force driving the evolution of the Tethys Sea and the rising of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. G. G. T. demonstrates that two surge channels, an upper and a lower, exist in the Yadong-Anduo litho sphere, and the upper mantle in the southern part is uplifted. During the Eocene, as a result of tectogenesis, molten magma poured out from the channel along the Yarlung Zangbo River,forming ophiolites and melanges, and earthquakes and terrestrial heat are also distributed along the fracture zone. Likewise, at an earlier time the Banggong Co-Nujiang and Longmu Co-Yushu Jinshajiang surge channels and their fracture zones formed. During the Miocene, the three surge channels merged laterally, and then the unified rise of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau took place. The formation and evolution of the surge channels resulted in a variety of worthy Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic exploration targets and a series of sedimentary basins with the largest Qamdo Basin occupying 120, 000 km2 with sediments attaining a thickness of 15, 000 m. These basins contain multiple source-beds, reservoirs, traps and seals of different ages, showing oil and gas every-where. In the northern part lithology and facies are more stable than in the southern, and subsequent tectonic overprinting and volcanic activity are relatively weak. At present commercial oil flow has been penetrated by drilling in the Tertiary Lunpola Basin.

Modeling the Dynamic Gravity Variations of Northeastern Margin of Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau by Using Bicubic Spline Interpolation Function

In this paper, the spatial-temporal gravity variation patterns of the northeastern margin of Qinghal-Xizang （Tibet） Plateau in 1992 - 2001 are modeled using bicubic spline interpolation functions and the relations of gravity change with seismicity and tectonic movement are discussed preliminarily. The results show as follows： ① Regional gravitational field changes regularly and the gravity abnormity zone or gravity concentration zone appears in the earthquake preparation process; ②In the significant time period, the gravity variation shows different features in the northwest, southeast and northeast parts of the surveyed region respectively, with Lanzhou as its boundary;③The gravity variation distribution is basically identical to the strike of tectonic fault zone of the region, and the contour of gravity variation is closely related to the fault distribution.

Episodes of Cenozoic Gold Mineralization on the Eastern Margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau:40Ar/39Ar Dating and Implication for Geodynamic Events

A lot of new gold deposits have been found on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau during the past two decades. Among them, three main types of gold deposits have been recognized, including quartz-vein-type, shear- zone-type and porphyry-type. The former two types of gold deposits are mainly hosted within metamorphic rocks, while the latter is related to Cenozoic magmatism. Although all of these gold deposits are believed to have been formed during the uplift process of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the Cenozoic era (Wang et al., 2002b), precise isotopic age constraints have still been lacking until quite recently. This paper presents new 40Ar/39Ar data of some gold deposits on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which indicate that gold mineralization in the region occurred in response to the episodic stages of the orogenies. Recently obtained 40Ar/39Ar data on quartz and feldspars from several gold deposits, such as the Sandiao deposit, the Baijintaizi deposit, the Pusagang deposits, provide new constraints on gold mineralization on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Geochronological studies of gold deposits along the Daduhe River indicate that there are three stages of gold mineralization. The early two stages occurred as early as 65.1 Ma in the Shuibaiyang deposit and 58.95 Ma in the Ruoji deposit, while the latter stage occurred as late as 25.35 Ma in Baijintaizi and 24.70 Ma in Sandiao. Isotopic dating of three plagioclases from the Beiya deposit, Zhifanggou deposit and Luobodi deposit and a K-feldspar from the Jinchangqing deposit in Yunnan Province indicates that these deposits were formed at two stages. The Zhifanggou and Jinchangqing deposits have early stage records as old as 58.82 Ma in Zhifanggou and 55.49 Ma in Jinchangqing, but all of the above four deposits in Yunnan have late stage records of 23.18 Ma in Jinchangqing, 24.54 Ma in Zhifanggou, 24.60 Ma in Luobodi and 24.56 Ma in Hongnitang. The above results suggest that the gold deposits on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were formed concentratedly at two main episodes, i.e. the end of the Paleocene (about 58 Ma) and the boundary between the Paleogene and the Neogene (about 25 Ma). The later episode appears to be looks like more important and was coupled with the Sichuan movement, which was extensively activated at that period. The beginning of the Cenozoic Era (about 65 Ma) might be another episode of gold mineralization, but only one deposit (Shuibaiyang) in this study has been proved to have been be formed at this stage and might be earlier than the initial collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasia Plate. In view of geology, the above three episodes of gold mineralization are associated with three events of tectonic- magmatism and/or fluid events. Even though the gold deposits (for example, the Shuibaiyang deposit, Ruoji deposit and Pusagang deposit) were formed at different episodes, all of them are genetically related to tectonic movements in large- scale shear zones. It looks like theat tectonic events (including large-scale strike-slip) between Paleogene and Neogene had a wide influence upon gold mineralization, with new deposits formed and old deposits enriched or superimposed to be a higher grade by new stage of mineralization. The above data suggest that gold deposits were not only concentrated in some areas, but also formed mainly at different boundaries of geological times, indicating that there existed some peak stages of gold mineralization (metallogenic episodes), and that the gold deposits were formed mainly by episodic mineralization.

Late Cenozoic Normal Faulting on the Western Side of Wenquan Graben, Central Qianghai-Xizang(Tibet) Plateau

A near NS-strike east-dipping normal fault is developed on the western side of Wenquan graben in the central Qinghal-Xizang（Tibet） Plateau. It is the western marginal fault of the graben and has been intensely active. It is a product of the near EW extension and deformation of the central northern Qinghal-Xizang（Tibet） Plateau since the late Cenozoic under the effect of the collision of the India and Eurasia plates. Since the late Cenozoic, the maximum vertical displacement on the fault was greater than 2. ! km, and the dislocated Mesozoic fold stratum reveals a maximum accumulative throw of 6.0 ± 2.2km. Quaternary faulting took place many times along the fault, creating multi-set piedmont fault facets and multi-level fault scarplets.According to the height of fault scarps that result from the vertical offset of the late Quaternary strata and geomorphic provinces, the maximum slip rate of the fault is estimated to have been less than 1.2mm/a since the late Quaternary, averaging 0.45mm/a. The trenching across the fault reveals that at least 3 paleoearthquakes of varied magnitudes have occurred since the late Epipleistocene. In view of the characteristics of Cenozoic faulting, it is concluded that the fault will act as a dominant seismogenic fault for earthquakes of M6.0 to M7.0 that are most likely to occur in the future.

A very strong summer monsoon event during 30-40 kaBP in the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau and its relation to precessional cycle

Guliya ice core records, high lake-level records in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and at its north side as well as vegetation succession records indicated that during the period of 30-40 kaBP, namely the later age of the megainterstadial of last glacial period, or the marine oxygen isotope stage 3, the climate of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau was exceptionally warm and humid, the temperature was 2-4℃ higher than today and the precipitation was 40% to over 100%

Evolution of Chinese mammalian faunal regions and elevation of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau

On the basis of mammal’s high evolutionary rates and sensitivity to environment, this paper deals with the evolutionary history of the Chinese Cenozoic mammals and environ-mental changes, and explores the relationship between the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and the evolution of zoogeographic provinces of China, through studying fossil mammal and the lithological characters of fossil-bearing beds. Evolutionary tendency and distribution of the mam-mals demonstrate that the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang region, onset of the Asian monsoon and differentiation of the mammalian distribution probably initiated in Oligocene. The elevation of the Plateau seems to be a gradual and relatively stable process, and the uplift not only has resulted in significant environmental changes in Asia, but also caused distinct regional differentiation of mammals in China since the middle Miocene, and as a consequence the modern zoogeographic provinces gradually took shape.

Linkage of liquid conductivity of glacier ice with its alkalinity over the north Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau——Implication to the past dust recovery

Liquid conductivity (EC) measurement was conducted for the samples collected from several snow pits and ice cores over the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau, with their time range covering seasonal, decadal and centennial scales. Unlike the previous attention mostly focused on the acidity (H+) responding to the solid conductance (ECM) of glacial ice, we introduce the alkalinity (OH?) of snow and ice to show how it responds to EC. Strong linear relationship was established between EC and OH? for these snow pits and ice cores. Positive correlation is also established between EC and major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+). Since the cations are known as the proxies for the intensity of mineral dust influx onto glaciers of the northern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, we believe that EC could be used as an indicator for the history of dust input in deep ice core study. In fact, records in Guliya ice core since the Little Ice Age (LIA) indicate that dust load in glacier may depend on the combination of temperature and humidity. "Cold-dry" combination favors the dust arising, and results in higher EC and OH- values, while "warm-wet" combination prevents dust form and EC and OH- values are lower. In the past century, with the atmospheric warming and precipitation increasing over the northern plateau, which means an atmospheric condition of dust decreasing, both EC and OH- displayed rapid decline.

No C_4 Plants Found at the Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station in Qinghai, China: Evidence from Stable Carbon Isotope Studies

Using the measurement of stable carbon isotopes in leaves as a tool to investigate photosynthetic pathway of 102 plant species grown at an alpine meadow ecosystem, at the foot of the Qilian Mountain, Qinghai, China. The results indicate that the delta C-13 values of plants have a narrow range from -28.24parts per thousand to -24.84parts per thousand, which means that none of the species examined belongs to C-4 and crassulaceous acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway and all of these species perform photosynthesis through the C-3 pathway. This is likely due to a long-term adaptation to environments at the alpine meadow ecosystem.

中全新世青藏高原西南部异常高降水机制探讨

青藏高原西部,尤其是西南部阿里地区异常高的古湖岸线揭示出,这一区域可能存在中全新世的异常高降水中心。基于此,本文利用WorldClim数据集资料对中全新世和现代降水进行对比,并使用ERA5数据初步探讨了出现异常高降水的可能机制。结果显示,青藏高原西部中全新世降水远比现代高,尤其是西南部出现了相对的高降水中心。现代青藏高原西南部降水增加时,对应印度夏季风增强,印度次大陆低空对流层低压中心增强,深对流的发生更为频繁,导致向高原西南部输送的水汽增强。与此同时,印度北部降水增加导致的凝结潜热释放增加会使南亚高压增强并向西北方向移动,导致青藏高原西南部上升运动加强,从而导致青藏高原西南部降水增加。相对于现代,中全新世印度季风较强,位于印度次大陆低空的低压可能更强,印度北部的凝结潜热释放也会加强,进而导致中全新世青藏高原西南部出现异常高降水。

Comparative multi-locus assessment of modern Asian newts(Cynops, Paramesotriton, and Pachytriton:Salamandridae) in southern China suggests a shared biogeographic history

Evolutionary biologists are always interested in deciphering the geographic context of diversification,therefore they introduced the concept of comparative phylogeography, which helps to identify common mechanisms that contribute to shared genetic structures among organisms from the same region.Here, we used multi-locus genetic data along with environmental data to investigate shared phylogeographic patterns among three Asianendemic newt genera, Cynops, Paramesotriton and Pachytriton, which occurred in montane/submontane streams or ponds in southern China. Our 222samples from 78 localities covered the entire range of the three genera and represented the largest dataset of this group to date. We reconstructed matrilineal genealogies from two protein-coding,mitochondrial genes, and gene network from two nuclear genes. We also estimated divergence times of major cladogenetic events and used occurrence data to evaluate niche difference and similarity between lineages. Our results revealed a common basal split in all three genera that corresponds to the separation of two geographic terrains of southern China.Those ancient divergence occurred during middle to late Miocene and likely correlate with paleoclimatic fluctuations caused by the uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau (QTP).Particularly,the strengthening and weakening of Asian summer monsoons during the Miocene may have profoundly impacted southern China and led to repeatedly vicariance in those newts.However,despite differences in realized niches between lineages,there is no evidence for divergence of fundamental niches.Preservation of old newt matriline lineages in mountains of southern China suggests that the region acts as both museums and cradles of speciation.Based on those results,we advocate a multi-pronged protection strategy for newts in the three genera.

A Preliminary Study on the Datong Fault Belt

The Datong fault belt is a NE trending fault in the northern Qinghai-Xizang （Tibet） Plateau and controls the boundary of the Xining Basin and Datong Basin. It consists of the Maziying- Miaogou （F1） fault and the Laoye Mountain-Nanmenxia fault （F2）. There is obvious displacement in vertical direction along the belt. The field investigation results show that this belt has long-term activity. There are several meters long crushed zones and veins along the fault side in the basement rock. On the fault section, the Cambria system thrusts over the red- brick-colored Quaternary Period gravel, and there is a fault gouge of several centimeters thick developed on the fault plane. The fault gouge date （ESR） on the fault plane is 610 ± 61ka. The covering deluvial loess is not dislocated, and the OSL result is 14.6 ± 1.5ka. So it can be concluded that the fault belt was active in the middle Pleistocene, but inactive in the late Pleistocene according to the age data and geomorphologic features. Interior formations of the Datong basin features fold with the major axis orienting northwest. According to the relation of fault and fold deformation, Datong fault is a trausversal tear, which is due to uneven compression of the folds in different parts and NNE trending regional compressive stress. It is common among the NE trending faults in the northeast of Qinghai-Xizang （Tibet） Plateau. These NE trending faults aren＇t large, and most are located in the active plate. They are all nearly vertical to the axis of the folds and compressive basins.

Crust Shortening of the Daliangshan Tectonic Zone in the Cenozoic Era and Its Implications

The Daliangshan tectonic zone is a rhombic area to the east of the Anninghe and Zemuhe fault zones in the middle segment of the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system along the southeast margin of the Qinghai-Xizang （Tibet） Plateau. Since the Cenozoic era, the neotectonic deformation in the Daliangshan tectonic zone has presented not only sinistral slip and reverse faulting along the Daliangshan fault zone, but also proximate SN-trending crust shortening. It is estimated that the average crust shortening in the Daliangshan tectonic zone is 10.9 ± 1.6 km, with a shortening rate of 17.8 ± 2.2% using the method of balanced cross-sections. The crust shortening from folding occurred mainly in the Miocene and the Pliocene periods, lasting no more than 8.6 Ma. Based on this, a crust shortening velocity of 1.3 ± 0.2 mm/a can be estimated. Compared with the left offset along the Daliangshan fault zone, it is recognized that crust shortening by folding plays an important part in transferring crustal deformation southeastward along the Xianshulhe-Xiaojiang fault system.

The Rotational Structure along the Eastern Segment of the Altyn Tagh Fault and Its Implications in Dynamics

As a result of the left-lateral strike-slipping of the Altyn Tagh fault in Neotectonic period, a contra-rotational structure, namely the Zhaobishan vortex structure, has developed at the juncture of the main Altyn Tagh fault and the northern fringe fault of the Qilian Mountains. Preliminary analysis on the deformation and evolution of the Zhaobishan vortex structure. In combination with the previous data, suggests that the tectonic transform between the Altyn Tagh fault and the northern fringe fault of the Qilian Mountains attributes to the deformation of the rotational structure. The existence of a series of rotational structures along the Altyn Tagh fault and on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibet) plateau indicate that as the substance in the northern Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) plateau moves clockwise around the eastern tectonic knot of the Himalayas, rotational structures become the principal mode on the northern marginal zone of the Plateau of transforming and absorbing tectonic deformation.

Phylogenetic Origin of Phyllolobium with a Further Implication for Diversification of Astragalus in China

Astragalus is a species-rich genus occurring in the western arid habitats in China and its diversification and infrageneric relationships in this region remain unclear. In the present study, based on molecular data, we aim to （i） test whether Phyllolobium （previously treated as a subgenus Pogonophace in Astragalus） should be warranted; and （ii） date the origin of Phyllolobium and probable diversification of Astragalus sensu stricto （s.s.）. We sequenced five species from Phyllolobium first and collected all related sequences from the genus, Astragalus s.s and their close relatives （Oxytropis and Caragana etc.）. Our phylogenetic analyses suggested that all species of Phyllolobium comprise a monophyletic sister-group to genera of the subtribe Coluteinae. Molecular dating suggested that Phyllolobium and Astragalus s.s. originated around 8 and 10 million years ago. These two estimates are highly consistent with the intense uplifts of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau inferred from geological evidence. In addition, one section of Pogonophace （Sect. Robusti） was estimated to originate 2.5 million years ago and this section with a tendency for dry habitats seems to be evidence of Asian intensified aridity resulting from the intense uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.