The Tula uplift, northwestern China: Evidence for regional tectonism of the northern Tibetan Plateau during late Mesozoic–early Cenozoic time

Research Article| January 01, 2003 The Tula uplift, northwestern China: Evidence for regional tectonism of the northern Tibetan Plateau during late Mesozoic–early Cenozoic time Delores M. Robinson; Delores M. Robinson 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Guillaume Dupont-Nivet; Guillaume Dupont-Nivet 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar George E. Gehrels; George E. Gehrels 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Yueqiao Zhang Yueqiao Zhang 2Institute of Geomechanics, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Delores M. Robinson 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Guillaume Dupont-Nivet 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA George E. Gehrels 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Yueqiao Zhang 2Institute of Geomechanics, Beijing 100081, People's Republic of China Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Aug 2001 Revision Received: 18 Apr 2002 Accepted: 07 May 2002 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2003) 115 (1): 35–47. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2003)115<0035:TTUNCE>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 24 Aug 2001 Revision Received: 18 Apr 2002 Accepted: 07 May 2002 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Delores M. Robinson, Guillaume Dupont-Nivet, George E. Gehrels, Yueqiao Zhang; The Tula uplift, northwestern China: Evidence for regional tectonism of the northern Tibetan Plateau during late Mesozoic–early Cenozoic time. GSA Bulletin 2003;; 115 (1): 35–47. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2003)115<0035:TTUNCE>2.0.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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Geologic mapping combined with petrographic and geochronologic studies in the Tula uplift of western China provides insights into the tectonic evolution of the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau. The Mesozoic and early Cenozoic history of the area is preserved in the Tula uplift, which includes basin strata now exposed in a large syncline, pre-Mesozoic metamorphic basement, and Cretaceous plutons. Petrographic analyses of Upper Jurassic through Paleogene syntectonic sandstones show that rocks in the area were derived from lithologically diverse source terranes consisting of sedimentary, metasedimentary, and igneous rocks. These relationships imply that uplift in the Tula area began in Late Jurassic time and that uplift of the Tibetan Plateau's northern edge may have been initiated long before the early Tertiary India-Asia collision. Continued orogenic activity in the Tula area is recorded by intrusion of ca. 74 Ma granitoid bodies, latest Cretaceous to Paleogene shortening, uplift of Precambrian basement rock, the syntectonic nature of Cretaceous and Paleogene sandstones, and folding of all the basin strata into a regional north-vergent syncline. The northern range-bounding thrust of the Tula uplift has been recently active, suggesting that uplift and thickening continue in the northern Tibetan Plateau. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.