Apatite fission track constraints on the Neogene tectono-thermal history of Nimu area, southern Gangdese terrane, Tibet Plateau

Yuan, W., Deng, J., Zheng, Q., Dong, J., Bao, Z., Eizenhöfer, P. , Xu, X. and Huang, Z. (2009) Apatite fission track constraints on the Neogene tectono-thermal history of Nimu area, southern Gangdese terrane, Tibet Plateau. Island Arc, 18(3), pp. 488-495. (doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1738.2009.00669.x)

Abstract

Apatite fission track dating of five samples from Cenozoic volcanic strata in the Nimu District in the southern Gangdese Terrane exhibits single population grain ages with a single mean age and associated central ages ranging from 6.8 ± 0.6 Ma to 9.7 ± 1.2 Ma. Mean track lengths are between 12.9 ± 1.7 µm and 14.2 ± 2.3 µm with a single peak characteristic of a single thermal event. The newly documented ages coincide well with the age of high sedimentation rates in the North Tibet Basin that resulted from a 9–5 Ma compressional event. Track length modeling allows three stages to be identified in the sample cooling. The first stage (12–8 Ma) records a period of relative stability with little, if any, cooling at temperatures of 120–110°C suggesting this region had low relief. The second stage (8–2 Ma) reflects rapid cooling with temperatures decreasing from ∼110°C to surface temperatures of ∼15°C. This stage can be related to far-field effects of the Himalayan collision, which probably generated the surface uplift and relief that defines the present-day Gangdese Mountains. The mean uplift rate of this period is estimated to be 1.41–0.95 mm/y with total uplift reaching ∼5900 m. The final stage is related to surface evolution since the Pliocene.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Eizenhoefer, Dr Paul
• Authors: Yuan, W., Deng, J., Zheng, Q., Dong, J., Bao, Z., Eizenhöfer, P., Xu, X., and Huang, Z.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
• Journal Name: Island Arc
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 1038-4871
• ISSN (Online): 1440-1738