Cenozoic faults and faulting phases in the western Tarim Basin (NW China): Effects of the collisions on the southern margin of the Eurasian Plate. (15th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Yue-Jun; Zhang, Qiang; Zhang, Guang-Ya; Tian, Zuo-Ji; Peng, Geng-Xin; Qiu, Bin; Huang, Zhi-Bin; Luo, Jun-Cheng; Wen, Lei; Zhao, Yan; Jia, Tie-Gan
• Is Part Of: Journal of Asian earth sciences. Volume 132(2016)
• Page Start: 40
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2016-12-15
• Subjects: Cenozoic faulting -- Faulting phases, thrust pulse -- Tectonic pause -- Far-field effect of India-Asia collision -- Far-field effect of Lhasa-Asia collision -- Western Tarim Basin -- Bachu Rise; Earth sciences -- Asia -- Periodicals; Sciences de la terre -- Asie -- Périodiques; Earth sciences; Asia; Periodicals; 555.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2016.09.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1367-9120

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Bachu Rise is the fore-bulge of the Kunlun late Cz foreland basin system. Ca . 65, 23, 5, 3–2 and <1.5 Ma faulting phases identified out in W Tarim. Ca . 65 Ma faulting phase formed under the far-field effect of the Lhasa-Asia collision. The other faulting phases formed under the far-field effect of the India-Asia collision. The late Cz faulting in the W Tarim Basin is characterized with pulse thrust. Abstract: The Bachu Rise in the western Tarim Basin is the fore-bulge of the Kunlun late Cenozoic intra-continental foreland basin system formed under the far-field effect of India-Asia collision. Cenozoic faults and faulting are abnormally developed in the Bachu Rise and its adjacent area. Taking the Niaoshan-Gudongshan area on the southern boundary of the Bachu Rise as the key study area, 5 Cenozoic faulting phases were identified in the Bachu Rise and its adjacent area after careful seismic interpretation. They are end Cretaceous ∼ beginning Paleogene ( ca. 65 Ma) décollement-thrusting, end Paleogene ∼ beginning Neogene ( ca . 23 Ma) décollement-thrusting, end Miocene ∼ beginning Pliocene ( ca. 5 Ma) basement-involved thrusting, late Pliocene ∼ early Pleistocene ( ca . 3–2 Ma) normal faulting, middle Pleistocene ∼ Holocene ( ca. <1.5 Ma) décollement-thrusting and strike-slip faulting. The Middle Cambrian and Paleogene gypsum-salt layers serve as the two main décollement layers in the study area. Thrusting of ca . 65 Ma was under the far-field effect of the collision between Lhasa (part of the Cimmerian Continent) and Asia; and the other 4 Cenozoic faulting phases were all under the far-field effect of the India-Asia collision. The late Cenozoic faulting is characterized by pulse thrust. There is one tectonic pause between each two successive thrust pulses. The compressive tectonic stress is weaker and even evolved into a slight tensional tectonic stress and forms normal fault in the tectonic pauses.