Extrusion of the Altyn Tagh wedge: A kinematic model for the Altyn Tagh fault and palinspastic reconstruction of northern China

Research Article| May 01, 1996 Extrusion of the Altyn Tagh wedge: A kinematic model for the Altyn Tagh fault and palinspastic reconstruction of northern China Da Zhou; Da Zhou 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephan A. Graham Stephan A. Graham 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Da Zhou 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115 Stephan A. Graham 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1996) 24 (5): 427–430. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0427:EOTATW>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Da Zhou, Stephan A. Graham; Extrusion of the Altyn Tagh wedge: A kinematic model for the Altyn Tagh fault and palinspastic reconstruction of northern China. Geology 1996;; 24 (5): 427–430. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0427:EOTATW>2.3.CO;2 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We propose that the Altyn Tagh uplift of northwest China is a southwest-tapered structural wedge that has been extruded northeastward along the wedge-bounding, left-slip Ruoqiang-Xingxingxia fault and the net-right-slip Altyn Tagh fault, currently active as a left-slip fault. This model posits that the leading edge of the Altyn Tagh wedge lies along the northern margin of a reactivated middle Paleozoic orogenic belt, the Beishan, which is the right-laterally offset equivalent of the Qilian Shan orogen. This internally consistent and testable model explains the partitioning of shortening in the Tarim and Qaidam blocks and adjacent areas, the amount and sense of strike slip on the Ruoqiang-Xingxingxia fault and Altyn Tagh fault, and the location of the westward continuation of the truncated Qilian Shan orogen. The wedge model also implies that the apparent present-day continuity of Precambrian basement from the Tarim block, through the Altyn Tagh wedge, to the North China block actually reflects structural juxtaposition during wedge extrusion of two originally separate blocks. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.