Cenozoic sediments in the southern Tarim Basin: implications for the uplift of northern Tibet and evolution of the Taklimakan Desert

• DOI: 10.1144/sp342.6
• Publication Date: 2010-08-16T18:07:49Z
• Authors: Hongbo Zheng; Ryuji Tada; Juntao Jia; Colin Lawrence; Ke Wang
• Keywords: Tarim basin; Desert (philosophy)

Abstract Cenozoic sedimentary successions along the southern margin of Tarim Basin, western China, reach up to 10 km in thickness. The two studied sections, Yecheng and Aertashi, comprise c . 4.5 7.0 clastic rocks respectively. base section has been dated palaeomagnetically be about 8 Ma. Age control Aertashi is based on 87 Sr/ 86 Sr measurements (for basal marine bed), together with magnetostratigraphy regional stratigraphic correlation. lower part each mainly composed fine-grained mudstone fine sandstone, which makes Wuqian Group (Miocene). palaeoenvironment low-energy, meandering braided streams. middle red mudstone, sandstone thin conglomerate beds, make Artux Formation (Pliocene). a distal- mid-fan environment. uppermost section, known as Xiyu (Plio-Pleistocene), consists cobble boulder intercalated massive siltstone lenses, formed proximal alluvial fan aeolian deposits. Neogene beds passing upward into upward-coarsening debris-flow deposits record change palaeoslope related uplift northern Tibetan Plateau. formation dunes at Ma, underlying playa lake (as Aertashi), may indicate an arid, enclosed basin after this time. Sedimentological characteristics, grain size distribution geochemistry bands Formations, point origin. This indicates that Taklimakan Desert climate regime have fully developed by Early Pliocene. onset sedimentation Basin coincided Plateau, inferred from lithofacies change. Plateau resulted shift environments northwards could well triggered full aridity region whole.