Initial movement of the Karakorum Fault in western Tibet: constraints from SHRIMP U-Pb dating of zircons

Publication type

Journal Article

Research Area

Tectonics

Abstract

The Karakorum Fault zone (KFZ) plays an important role in understanding the formation, evolvement and deformation of the Tibetan Plateau. The high-Tdextral shearing metamorphic rocks, e.g., mylonites or mylonitized gneisses-granites, locally crop out along the southeastern part of the KFZ in the Ayila Ri'gyu Range area. The SHRIMP U-Pb dating of the syn-kinematic crystallized zircons indicates that the initial age of the KFZ is similar to 27 Ma, similar to 10 Ma older than previous results. The extensive high-T dextral shearing along the KFZ started at least at 27-20 Ma, accompanied by the syn-kinematic emplacement of leuco-granites. Deformation and concomitant fluid circulation during shearing most likely occurred as early as at 25-13 Ma. The KFZ probably grew from southeast to northwest along the fault as a result of continuous convergence between the India plate and Eurasia plate.

Publication Details

Journal

Chinese Science Bulletin

Volume

52

Pagination

1089-1100

Date Published

Apr

Access Date

8

Identifiers

ISBN Number

1001-6538

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