Insights into episodic exhumation of the western Tibetan Plateau since the Late Cretaceous from low-temperature thermochronology

We provided low temperature thermochronometry, thermal history, and exhumation rate modeling for samples from the western Tibet Plateau. Three stages of accelerated exhumation and one regional slow exhumation since the Eocene were recognized in different geological units. The first stage was related to the regional thrust-induced crustal thickening and led to the formation of the proto-TP. The second stage of accelerated exhumation is caused by the activity of local thrust, and the last stage is related to the enhanced river incision during Miocene. Our results highlight that tectonic and drainage network reorganization play an important role in shaping the geomorphology of the western TP.

本研究针对西藏高原西部样本，提供了低温热年代学、热历史以及抬升速率建模。自始新世以来，在不同地质单元中识别出三个加速抬升阶段和一个区域缓慢抬升阶段。首个阶段与区域逆冲引起的地壳增厚相关，导致了原青藏高原的形成。第二个加速抬升阶段由局部逆冲活动引起，而最后一个阶段则与中新世的河流侵蚀增强有关。研究结果表明，构造与排水网络的重构在塑造西藏高原西部地貌过程中发挥着至关重要的作用。