Work

Oligocene to Miocene Topographic Inversion and Accelerated Uplift of Southern Tibet Revealed by the Paleodrainage Evolution of Intermontane Basins

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The uplift history of the Gangdese arc in Southern Tibet is fundamental to understanding when and how the plateau attained its current elevation and topographic relief. Detrital multi‐mineral provenance analysis of the Oligocene–Miocene strata in the intermontane Wuyu Basin provides new key information on the paleodrainage evolution in response to topographic changes. A Qiangtang source affinity is inferred by detrital apatite and zircon provenance, indicating a distal major eastern source at 31 Ma. The west‐flowing drainage system implies Oligocene lowlands in the Gangdese arc, probably related to regional subsidence. The shift of provenance to Linzizong volcanic rocks indicates that the Gangdese arc underwent uplift since 23 Ma, which became rapid at 15 Ma due to complete delamination of the subducted Indian continental lithosphere, as inferred by abundant syn‐sedimentary zircon and apatite. The accelerated uplift and topographic changes provide independent constraints on the Tibetan Plateau growth and associated geodynamic processes.

Source: Geophysical Research Letters

DOI: 10.1029/2025gl116138

Authors: Er‐Kun Xue, Qiang Wang, David Chew, Wei‐Wei Xue, Wang‐Chao Li, Tong‐Yu Huang

Institutions: Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Trinity College Dublin

Language: English

Topic: Geological and Geochemical Analysis

Subfield: Geophysics

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,190

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, National Science and Technology Major Project, Research Ireland