Preliminary observations on the geomorphic evolution of the Guide Basin, Qinghai Province, China: implications for the uplift of the northeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Fothergill, P. A.; Ma, Huimin

doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.1999.162.01.15

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…It is early Pliocene and Messinian (late Miocene) in age; the precise numerical age of its base is uncertain (between 7.0 and 7.8 Ma). The sedimentary rocks have been interpreted as representing deposition in perennial braided-river-deltaic environments (Fothergill, 1998;Fothergill and Ma, 1999;Song et al, 2001a). Because unit 4 is thick and well exposed in the Herjia region, and because it contains numerous fossils there (Zheng et al, 1985), we name it the Herjia Formation.…”

Section: Age Dates and A Refined Division Into Formations For The Neomentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Cenozoic deformation and uplift of the NE Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from high-resolution magnetostratigraphy of the Guide Basin, Qinghai Province, China

Fang

Yan

Voo

et al. 2005

Geol Soc America Bull

318

265

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The Cenozoic intramontane GongheGuide Basin in Qinghai Province, China, is tectonically controlled by the sinistral strikeslip framework of the Kunlun and Altyn Tagh-South Qilian faults in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. The basin is fi lled with thick Cenozoic clastic sedimentary formations, which provide important evidence of the deformation of this part of the plateau, although they have long lacked good age constraints. Detailed magnetostratigraphic and paleontologic investigations of fi ve sections in the Guide Basin and their lithologic and sedimentary characteristics allow us to divide a formerly undifferentiated unit (the Guide Group) into six formations (where ages are now magnetostratigraphically well established, they are given in parentheses): the Amigang (1.8-2.6 Ma), Ganjia (2.6-3.6 Ma), and Herjia formations (3.6 to ca. 7.0-7.8 Ma), and the older Miocene Ashigong, Garang, and Guidemen formations. These rocks document a generally upward coarsening sequence, characterized by increasing accumulation rates. Increasing gravel content and sizes of its components, changes of bedding dips and source rock types, and marginal growth faults collectively refl ect accelerated deformation and uplift of the NE Tibetan Plateau after 8 Ma, punctuated by a sharp increase in sedimentation rate at ca. 3.2 Ma that refl ects the boulder conglomerates of the Ganjia formation. Interestingly, much of the vergence of the compressional deformation in the basin is to the south, accommodated by a sequence of six thrusts (F1-F6), which become active one by one progressively later toward the south, undoubtedly contributing to the uplift of this part of the plateau. F1 likely initiated the Guide Basin due to crustal fl exure in the Oligocene, F2 was active in the early Miocene, F4 and F5 at ca. 3.6 Ma, and F6 was active in the early Pleistocene. The detailed late Miocene and younger magnetostratigraphy allows us to place much improved time constraints on the deformation and, hence, uplift of northeastern Tibet, which, when compared with ages for events on other parts of the plateau, provides important boundary conditions for the geodynamical evolution of Tibet.

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Section: Age Dates and A Refined Division Into Formations For The Neomentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Cenozoic deformation and uplift of the NE Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from high-resolution magnetostratigraphy of the Guide Basin, Qinghai Province, China

Fang

Yan

Voo

et al. 2005

Geol Soc America Bull

318

265

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“…The Guide formation is mainly composed of grayish siltstones and pebbly sandstones that are often cross‐bedded. The fine‐grained sediments of the Guide formation have been interpreted as lacustrine, whereas the gravelly sands are thought to have been deposited in perennial braided‐river environments [ Fothergill and Ma , 1999]. An assemblage of aquatically adapted faunal forms [ Pan , 1994] indeed shows that the Guide formation was deposited predominantly under the influence of an extensive aquatic environment.…”

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Northeastward growth and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau: Magnetostratigraphic insights from the Guide Basin

et al. 2003

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[1] Most of the evidence for the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau comes from its southern and central parts. Although the northern rim has been less studied, it may greatly contribute to the understanding of the mechanism and timing of the uplift. Recent studies on the northeastern part of the plateau suggest that the uplift can largely be explained by Cenozoic thrusting and folding linked to the movement of the Altyn Tagh and Kunlun faults and that diffuse shortening might be a realistic way to explain the thickening of the continental interior. Nevertheless, the age of sediments that record the tectonic processes is poorly known. The terrigenous formations in the Guide-Gonghe Basin, NE Tibet, show several phases of deformation and include thick deposits of conglomerates, interbedded with sandstones and siltstones that are thought to be the result of an increased sediment flux. Dating of these gravel deposits with magnetostratigraphic and faunal studies has permitted the precise timing of the basin infilling and its tectonic evolution to be established. Our results indicate that the onset of conglomerate accumulation occurs in the Pliocene, an observation that is in agreement with those of the Linxia Basin, just east of the Plateau. If the high sedimentation rates ($22 cm/kyr) in the Guide Basin are mostly due to tectonism, then significant uplift occurred as late as Pliocene.

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“…A lowrelief, wide alluvial plain is located at the drainage divide at the head of the catchment. This is likely an inherited geomorphic feature derived from a prior river network, similar to that described at an elevation of 3500 m in a catchment draining the south of Guide basin (Fothergill and Ma, 1999).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…This high relief catchment covers 236 km 2 , ranging in elevation from individual mountain peaks in the upper catchment that extend above 4500 m to 2200 m at the confluence with the Yellow River (a distance of just 36 km). The catchment has a cold and semi‐arid climate, with average annual temperature near 0°C (Fothergill and Ma, ). Mean annual precipitation at Guide (approximately 12 km upstream of the Garang–Yellow confluence) is approximately 250 mm.…”

Section: Regional Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reworking of basin fill deposits along a tributary of the upper Yellow River: Implications for changes to landscape connectivity

Nicoll

Brierley

2017

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Recent emphasis on sediment connectivity in the literature highlights the need for quantitative baseline studies on the patterns and distribution of sediment stores to facilitate understanding of how sediment moves through the landscape at various temporal and spatial scales. This study evaluates the distribution and make‐up of sediment stores within the dramatically incised landscapes of the upper Yellow River, where basin fill deposits up to 1200 m in depth have been extensively reworked following incision by the Yellow River. Field and GIS analyses highlight the discontinuous distribution of sediment stores in Garang catchment, a 236 km2 tributary of the upper Yellow River. Volumetric estimates of sediment storage were obtained through a combination of field mapping, GPR transects, and GIS analyses. Sediment stores cover 20% of the Garang catchment, with an estimated volume of 474.0 × 106 m3, and inferred residence times from OSL and 14C dating of 103–104 years. Fans and terraces reworked from basin fill deposits, and associated cut and fill terrace features, are the dominant forms of sediment storage (~90% of total). A space‐for‐time argument is used to assess stages of basin infilling and subsequent landscape responses to incision, outlining a dramatic example of changes to sediment dynamics and connectivity relationships within the upper Yellow River. Sediments within the upper catchment lie above the regional basin fill level, offering a glimpse of pre‐incisional conditions. This contrasts markedly with the enduring influence of basin incisional history seen within the middle catchment, and the contemporary landscapes of the lower catchment where nearly all available sediment has been excavated from the basin and the landscape effectively operates under post‐incisional conditions. The need to contextualise catchment‐scale studies in terms of landscape history is emphasised. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Preliminary observations on the geomorphic evolution of the Guide Basin, Qinghai Province, China: implications for the uplift of the northeast margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Cited by 8 publications

References 36 publications

Late Cenozoic deformation and uplift of the NE Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from high-resolution magnetostratigraphy of the Guide Basin, Qinghai Province, China

Late Cenozoic deformation and uplift of the NE Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from high-resolution magnetostratigraphy of the Guide Basin, Qinghai Province, China

Northeastward growth and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau: Magnetostratigraphic insights from the Guide Basin

Reworking of basin fill deposits along a tributary of the upper Yellow River: Implications for changes to landscape connectivity

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