Late Eocene–Oligocene High Relief Paleotopography in the North Central Tibetan Plateau: Insights From Detrital Zircon U–Pb Geochronology and Leaf Wax Hydrogen Isotope Studies

A new study reveals that the Hoh Xil Basin on the north central Tibetan Plateau experienced high relief paleotopography during the late Eocene to Oligocene, with source regions reaching elevations of approximately 4 kilometers. This discovery challenges traditional models of plateau growth by demonstrating a transition from foreland to hinterland basin, driven by northward propagation of upper crustal shortening and deep tectonic processes. Researchers used detrital zircon U–Pb geochronology and leaf wax hydrogen isotope analysis on sediments from the Yaxicuo Group in the Tuotuohe subbasin. The study suggests that these sediments were primarily sourced from the northern Qiangtang and Songpan-Ganzi terranes, with distinct age spectra indicating a watershed formation within the basin.

Lin, J., Dai, J.-G., Zhuang, G., Jia, G., Zhang, L., Ning, Z., Li, Y., & Wang, C. (2020). Late Eocene–Oligocene High Relief Paleotopography in the North Central Tibetan Plateau: Insights From Detrital Zircon U–Pb Geochronology and Leaf Wax Hydrogen Isotope Studies. Tectonics, 39(2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019tc005815