Stable isotope evidence for topographic growth and basin segmentation: Implications for the evolution of the NE Tibetan Plateau

Research Article| January 01, 2011 Stable isotope evidence for topographic growth and basin segmentation: Implications for the evolution of the NE Tibetan Plateau Brian G. Hough; Brian G. Hough * 1Department of Earth Carmala N. Garzione 1Department of Earth Zhicai Wang 2State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard O. Lease; Richard O. Lease 3Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Douglas W. Burbank; Douglas W. Burbank 3Department of Earth Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daoyang Yuan Daoyang Yuan 4Lanzhou Institute of Seismology, China Earthquake Administration, Lanzhou 730000, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Brian G. Hough * 1Department of Earth Stable isotope evidence for topographic growth and basin segmentation: Implications for the evolution of the NE Tibetan Plateau. GSA Bulletin 2011;; 123 (1-2): 168–185. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30090.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Lithologic, magnetostratigraphic, and stable isotope records from the Neogene Xunhua and Linxia basins along the Tibetan Plateau's northeastern margin suggest that topography in the intervening Jishi Shan mountain range began to develop between 16 and 11 Ma. Perturbations to local climate patterns resulting from the evolution of local topography are tracked through comparison of stable isotope compositions of calcareous basin-fill materials across the Jishi Shan. Similarity of isotopic compositions is interpreted to reflect the presence of integrated basins, whereas distinct isotopic compositions reflect unique basin hydrologies. Divergent isotope trends develop between ca. 16 and 11 Ma and are indicative of hydrologic separation in the adjacent Xunhua and Linxia basins and increased aridity in the leeward Xunhua basin. The development of aridity in the lee of the growing topography along the plateau's northeast margin highlights the importance of evaporative enrichment in this extremely continental setting and explains the presence of anomalously positive δ18O values in modern rainfall. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence for deformation along the plateau's north and northeastern margins in the middle to late Miocene. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.