Cenozoic Tectono‐Geomorphologic Evolution of the Pamir‐Tian Shan Convergence Zone: Evidence From Detrital Zircon U‐Pb Provenance Analyses

Abstract

The Pamir, a high plateau with a mean elevation around 4,500 m, is located south of the Tian Shan mountain range and separates the Tajik and Tarim basins (Figure 1). As the western salient of the Tibet Plateau, the Pamir-Karakoram-Kohistan orogen was formed by the amalgamation of a number of terranes during Carboniferous to Paleocene times (Figure 1) (e.g.,

Provenance and Fluvial‐Aeolian Process of Kyzylkum Desert: Constrained by Detrital Zircon U–Pb Dating

“…The middle and lower reaches of Syr Darya River flowing along the northeast Kyzylkum Desert into the Aral Sea, bring a considerable number of sediments from Tianshan Mountains and Fergana Basin, and deposit them surrounding the desert where the terrain is flat and water flow is slow. Detrital zircon U‐Pb data of the Southwest Tianshan Mountains (Figure 4g; Chen et al, 2019; De Grave et al, 2011; Jepson et al, 2018; Jia et al, 2021) and Fergana Basin (Figure 4f; De Pelsmaeker et al, 2018) reveal a remarkably similar age composition. Both regions exhibit major age peaks at 300 Ma and 450 Ma, with the latter being more predominant.…”

“… Single‐grain detrital zircons U‐Pb age spectra of the Kyzylkum Desert and potential provenances, shown as histograms (columns) and kernel density estimates (blue‐shaded curves). (Data sources: a–d: this study; e: Kyzylkum Desert Basement from Konopelko et al, 2021; X. Zhang et al, 2021; f: Fergana Basin from De Pelsmaeker et al, 2018; g: Southwest Tianshan from Chen et al, 2019; De Grave et al, 2011; Jepson et al, 2018; Jia et al, 2021; h: Tajik Basin from Chapman et al, 2019; Sun et al, 2020; Wang et al, 2019; i: North Pamir from Carrapa et al, 2014; Lukens et al, 2012). …”

“…Additionally, sample from the Zeravshon River constitutes 5%-10% and 12%-19% of the NW Ky and SE Ky, respectively. In summary, the Kyzylkum Desert Chen et al, 2019;De Grave et al, 2011;Jepson et al, 2018;Jia et al, 2021;h: Tajik Basin from Chapman et al, 2019;Sun et al, 2020;Wang et al, 2019;i: North Pamir from Carrapa et al, 2014;Lukens et al, 2012).…”

Mesozoic–Cenozoic multistage tectonic evolution of the Pamir: Detrital fission‐track constraints from the Tajik Basin

“…In contrast, only the easternmost part of the Pamir is drained by rivers into the Tarim Basin (Figure 1a). Due to this asymmetrical modern drainage configuration, and the argument that this asymmetrical configuration has existed at least since the Early Miocene (Carrapa et al, 2014), or even since the late Eocene (Jia et al, 2021), the Tajik Basin detritus, compared to detritus from the Tarim Basin, is more likely to record a comprehensive exhumation and tectonic history of the Pamir.…”