Zhijun Zhao

Tectonic uplift and sedimentary evolution of the Jiuxi Basin in the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau since 13 Ma BP

Sediments shed from the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, the Qilian Mountains, are widely deposited in the foreland basin, the Jiuxi Basin, archiving plenty of information about the mountain surface uplift and erosion history. The Laojunmiao section, 1960 m thick, representing the upper sequence of the Cenozoic basin sediments, is paleomagnetically dated to about 13-0 Ma BP. Detailed sedimentary study of this sequence has revealed five sedimentary facies associations which determine four stages of sedimentary environment evolution. They are: (I) the half-deep lake system before 12.18 Ma BP, (II) the shallow lake system between 12.18 and 8.26 Ma BP, (III) the fan delta dominated sedimentary system in dry climate between 8.26 and 6.57 Ma BP, and (IV) alluvial fan system since 6.57 Ma BP. The associated mountain erosion and uplift are suggested to have experienced three phases, that is, tectonic stable (13-8.26 Ma BP), gradual uplift (8.26-<4.96 Ma BP), and rapid intermittent uplift (>3.66-0 Ma BP). The uplift at ∼3.66 Ma BP is of great importance in tectonics and geomorphology. Since then, tectonic uplift and mountain building have been accelerated and become strong intermittent. At least three significant tectonic events took place with ages at <1.80-1.23, 0.93-0.84 and 0.14 Ma BP, respectively. Thus, the uplift of the northern Tibetan Plateau is a complex process of multiple phases, unequal speed and irregular movements.

Paleomagnetic dating of the Jiuquan Gravel in the Hexi Corridor: Implication on mid-Pleistocene uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

The sediments in the foreland basins around the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau preserved crucial information to reveal its tectonic history. In the Hexi Corridor, north periphery of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, the angular unconformity between the Jiuquan Gravel and the Yumen Conglomerate has been well known to represent an intensive tectonic event of the plateau. However, its age is poorly constrained. Our paleomagnetic dating at the Laojunmiao section in the Jiuxi Basin show that the bottom of the Jiuquan Gravel reaches 0.84 MaBP, the top of the Yumen Conglomerate is about 0.93 MaBP. This result clearly demonstrates that the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau experienced an intensive movement at mid-Pleistocene.

The Qingzang movement: The major uplift of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Thirty-five years ago, the idea of a young Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau was proposed based on a comprehensive investigation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. This hypothesis suggested that the plateau began to rise from a planation surface (relict surface) that was less than 1000 m high formed during the Miocene to Pliocene. The fast uplift, i.e., the Qingzang Movement, began since ~3.6 Ma, evidenced by massive molasse deposits around the plateau margin and the synchronous occurrence of faulted basins within the plateau. However, later studies challenged this idea and suggested earlier (8, 14 or 35 Ma) formation of the huge plateau topography. Here we reevaluate the Qingzang Movement on the basis of our previous results and in light of new studies in the recent decades. The plateau margin has been subjected to intensive incision by very large drainages and shows the landscape characteristics of an “infant” stage of the geomorphological cycle. However, these drainages were not formed until 1.7–1.9 Ma; headwater erosion has not yet reached the hinterland of the plateau, so the interior of Tibet is free of significant erosion despite its lofty elevation, and remains an “old stage” landform. If the mean erosion rate is equivalent to the sum of clastic and soluble discharges of the modern rivers draining the Tibetan Plateau, it should have been worn down to a lowland within 8.6 Ma, ignoring tectonic uplift and isostasy. The massive conglomerate around the plateau margin began to deposit at about 3.6 Ma, indicating an increased relief after that time. Furthermore, the Hipparion fauna sites were widely distributed, and elephants, giraffes, and rhinos were abundant in the Qaidam Basin until the early Pliocene. Cenozoic climate change alone is not able to account for the dense occurrence of Hipparion fauna, unless the paleo-elevation of Tibet was lowered. The rise of Tibet since the Qingzang Movement has had a great influence on the Asian interior aridification.

Biomarkers Aid Paleoenvironment Studies of Asian Aridification

The broad, arid region of central Asia is one of the most important dust sources on Earth, its eolian dust output being critical to global biogeochemical cycles. For example, dust contains iron, and wind transport flings the dust to the ocean, where it serves as an important nutrient for phytoplankton. In turn, phytoplankton colonies fueled by dust uptake carbon dioxide (CO2), a key greenhouse gas, from the ocean, allowing the ocean to draw more carbon from the atmosphere. As such, dust availability helps determine how much carbon gets sunk into the ocean.