Isotope studies reveal a complete Himalayan section in the Nanga Parbat syntaxis

Research Article| December 01, 2003 Isotope studies reveal a complete Himalayan section in the Nanga Parbat syntaxis Tom Argles; Tom Argles 1Department of Earth Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gavin Foster; Gavin Foster 2Department of Earth Sciences, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol LE1 7RH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alan Whittington; Alan Whittington 3Department of Geological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Nigel Harris; Nigel Harris 4Department of Earth Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark George Mark George 5Waters Corporation, Atlas Park, Simonsway, Manchester M22 5PP, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Tom Argles 1Department of Earth Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK Gavin Foster 2Department of Earth Sciences, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road, Bristol LE1 7RH, UK Alan Whittington 3Department of Geological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA Nigel Harris 4Department of Earth Sciences, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK Mark George 5Waters Corporation, Atlas Park, Simonsway, Manchester M22 5PP, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 13 Jun 2003 Revision Received: 02 Sep 2003 Accepted: 03 Sep 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2003) 31 (12): 1109–1112. https://doi.org/10.1130/G19937.1 Article history Received: 13 Jun 2003 Revision Received: 02 Sep 2003 Accepted: 03 Sep 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Tom Argles, Gavin Foster, Alan Whittington, Nigel Harris, Mark George; Isotope studies reveal a complete Himalayan section in the Nanga Parbat syntaxis. Geology 2003;; 31 (12): 1109–1112. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G19937.1 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Many models of orogenesis invoke simple anatomies for mountain belts, comprising a small number of major tectonic provinces separated by major faults. In the Himalayan arc, three main tectonic provinces (the Lesser Himalayan, High Himalayan and Tethyan Series) have been recognized over 2500 km along strike from Bhutan to Kashmir. However, their extension westward to the Nanga Parbat syntaxis remains equivocal. We have supplemented detailed field work in the area with isotopic analysis aimed at revealing distinct signatures for each of the three main provinces. Using Sr isotopic data to refine previous Nd-based discrimination, we demonstrate that the three main tectonic provinces of the central Himalaya also occur in the western syntaxis of northern Pakistan. These three units are thus continuous along the entire orogenic arc. However, their metamorphic grade is generally higher in the syntaxis than in the central Himalaya, challenging the validity of distinctions commonly drawn on this basis elsewhere in the mountain belt. The corollary is that these high-grade units probably continue beyond the syntaxis into northwestern Pakistan, which suggests that, although the precollisional materials may be identical, the western syntaxis marks a change in tectonic style from the main orogen. This conclusion in turn requires that the burial and exhumation history in the western Himalaya be radically different from that in the central Himalaya and thus necessitates a reexamination of models for India-Asia collision. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.