Neotectonics of the Min Shan, China: Implications for mechanisms driving Quaternary deformation along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Research Article| March 01, 2000 Neotectonics of the Min Shan, China: Implications for mechanisms driving Quaternary deformation along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau Eric Kirby; Eric Kirby 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kelin X. Whipple; Kelin X. Whipple 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar B. Clark Burchfiel; B. Clark Burchfiel 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Wenqing Tang; Wenqing Tang 2Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Glenn Berger; Glenn Berger 3Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zhiming Sun; Zhiming Sun 2Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Zhiliang Chen Zhiliang Chen 2Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Eric Kirby 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Kelin X. Whipple 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 B. Clark Burchfiel 1Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 Wenqing Tang 2Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Glenn Berger 3Desert Research Institute, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, Nevada 89512 Zhiming Sun 2Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Zhiliang Chen 2Chengdu Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 20 Aug 1999 Revision Received: 23 Nov 1999 Accepted: 07 Dec 1999 First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2000) 112 (3): 375–393. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2000)1122.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 20 Aug 1999 Revision Received: 23 Nov 1999 Accepted: 07 Dec 1999 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 Eric Kirby, Kelin X. Whipple, B. Clark Burchfiel, Wenqing Tang, Glenn Berger, Zhiming Sun, Zhiliang Chen; Neotectonics of the Min Shan, China: Implications for mechanisms driving Quaternary deformation along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. GSA Bulletin 2000;; 112 (3): 375–393. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(2000)1122.0.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 The Min Shan region, located along the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau north of the Sichuan Basin, provides an important natural laboratory in which to study the rates and patterns of deformation and their relationship to mountain building at the margin of the plateau. The topographic margin of the plateau is coincident with a north-trending mountain range, the Min Shan, that stands nearly 2 km above the mean elevation of the plateau (∼3500 m in this region). We exploit the preservation of a series of variably deformed Quaternary sediments along the western flank of the range to investigate the Pleistocene-Holocene deformation field within the Min Shan region. Mapping and field observations of remnant alluvial fans of late Pleistocene age indicate that deformation within the Min Shan involved substantial (∼10°), rapid, down-to-the-northwest tilting. The geometry of the deposits and the partial preservation of an erosion surface beneath the basin suggest that much of the modern relief of the Min Shan relative to the Tibetan Plateau is a consequence of this late Pleistocene tilting. Rates of tilting inferred from luminescence dating of interbedded loess have been remarkably rapid (∼10−8 rad/yr). Similarly rapid rates of Holocene differential rock uplift are inferred from tilted lacustrine sediments in the southwestern part of the range. The range is bounded on the west by the Min Jiang fault zone, an east-vergent reverse fault. However, Holocene alluvial terraces in headwaters of the Min River are preserved across the fault in several places, indicating that displacement rates on the Min Jiang fault are <1 mm/yr. Active faulting only occurs along the eastern foot of the range (Huya fault) for a short distance (∼60 km), despite 3 km of relief on the eastern range front. The relationship between these structures and the tilting observed in the Min Jiang basin is enigmatic; the faults do not appear to exert a strong control on the rates and pattern of deformation within the basin. A simple flexural model demonstrates that rates of tilting on the western flank of the Min Shan are too high to be simply attributed to an isostatic response to surficial loading and unloading of the lithosphere. Present-day horizontal shortening across the Min Shan is geodetically determined to be less than 2–3 mm/yr, suggesting that only a small part of the observed tilting can be attributed to horizontal shortening. Thus, tilting and concomitant differential rock uplift in the Min Shan appear to require an additional driving component. We suggest that Quaternary deformation along the western Min Shan may reflect the surface response to thickening of a weak lower crust at the margin of the Tibetan Plateau. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.