Large-scale geometry, offset and kinematic evolution of the Karakorum fault, Tibet

Other

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

33

Tectonics, Geochronology, Shear Zone, Strike-Slip Fault, Collision, Asia, Tibet

Scientific paper

The total offset, lifespan and slip rate of the Karakorum fault zone (KFZ) (western Tibet) are debated. Along the southern fault half, ongoing oblique slip has exhumed dextrally sheared gneisses intruded by synkinematic leucogranites, whose age (~23 Ma, U/Pb on zircon) indicates that right-lateral motion was already in progress in the late Oligocene. Ar/Ar K-feldspar thermochronology confirms that rapid cooling started around 12 Ma, likely at the onset of the present dextral normal slip regime. Correlation of suture zones across the fault requires a total offset greater than 250 km along the active - northern - fault branch. An average long-term slip rate of 1+/-0.3 cm/yr is inferred assuming that this offset accrued in a time span of 23-34 Ma. Southwest of the Ladakh-Karakorum Range, the large-scale boudinage of ophiolitic units suggests that an offset of several hundreds of kilometers exists along another - southern - branch of the KFZ. Towards the southeast, in the Mount Kailas region, the fault zone does not end at Gurla Mandatha, but continues eastwards, as a transpressive flower structure, along the Indus-Tsangpo suture. Our new data thus suggest that the KFZ contributed to absorb hundreds of kilometers of India-Asia convergence.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Large-scale geometry, offset and kinematic evolution of the Karakorum fault, Tibet does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Large-scale geometry, offset and kinematic evolution of the Karakorum fault, Tibet, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Large-scale geometry, offset and kinematic evolution of the Karakorum fault, Tibet will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1132890

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.