Crustal rheological strength heterogeneities control the formation of continental plateau margins

Journal of Asian Earth Sciences

Volumn 107, Issue , 2015, Pages 62-71

  Liu, Chang ^a,b,c   Zhu, Bojing ^d   Yang, Xiaolin ^e  

^a ECOLE NORMALE SUPÉRIEURE   (France)

^b HUAZHONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY   (China)

^c INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS   (China)

^d DURHAM UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

^e Earthquake Administration of Shaanxi Province   (China)

Author keywords

Crustal convergence; Crustal strength heterogeneity; Steep plateau margin; Tibetan plateau; Viscosity contrast

Indexed keywords

CONTINENTAL MARGIN; CONVERGENT MARGIN; CRUSTAL STRUCTURE; DEFORMATION; FORELAND BASIN; PLATEAU; RHEOLOGY; VISCOSITY;

CHINA; QAIDAM BASIN; QINGHAI; QINGHAI-XIZANG PLATEAU; SICHUAN BASIN; TARIM BASIN; XINJIANG UYGUR;

EID: 84928339455     PISSN: 13679120     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2015.04.005     Document Type: Article

References (65)

1. Avouac J.P., Burov E.B. Erosion as a driving mechanism of intracontinental mountain growth. J. Geophys. Res. 1996, 101:17747-17769.
2. Bai D., Unsworth M.J., Meju M.A., Ma X., Teng J., Kong X., Sun Y., Sun J., Wang L., Jiang C., Zhao C., Xiao P., Liu M. Crustal deformation of the eastern Tibetan Plateau revealed by magnetotelluric imaging. Nat. Geosci. 2010, 3:358-362.
3. Beaumont C., Jamieson R.A., Nguyen M.H., Lee B. Himalayan tectonics explained by extrusion of a low-viscosity crustal channel coupled to focussed surface denudation. Nature 2001, 414:738-742.
4. Beaumont C., Jamieson R.A., Nguyen M.H., Medvedev S. Crustal channel flows: 1. numerical models with applications to the tectonics of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen. J. Geophys. Res. 2004, 109:B06406. 10.1029/2003JB002809.
5. Bird P. Lateral extrusion of lower crust from under high topography in the isostatic limit. J. Geophys. Res. 1991, 96:10275-10286.
6. Burchfiel B.C., Royden L.H., van der Hilst R.D., Hager B.H., Chen Z., King R.W., Li C., Lu J., Yao H., Kirby E. A geological and geophysical context for the Wenchuan earthquake of 12 May 2008, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. GSA Today 2008, 18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/GSATG18A.1.
7. Cattin R., Avouac J.P. Modelling mountain building and the seismic cycle in the Himalaya of Nepal. J. Geophys. Res. 2000, 105:13389-13407.
8. Chen L., Gerya T., Zhang Z.J., Aitken A., Li Z.H., Liang X.F. Formation mechanism of steep convergent intracontinental margins: insights from numerical modeling. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2013, 40:2000-2005. 10.1002/grl.50446.
9. Chen L., Gerya T., Zhang Z.J., Zhu G.Z., Duretz T., Jacoby W. Numerical modelling of eastern Tibetan-typemargin: influences of surface processes, lithospheric structure and crustal rheology. Gondwana Res. 2013, 24(3):1091-1107.
10. Chung S.L., Chu M.F., Zhang Y.Q., Xie Y.W., Lo C.H., Lee T.Y., Lan C.Y., Li X.H., Zhang Q., Wang Y.Z. Tibetan tectonic evolution inferred from spatial and temporal variations in post-collisional magmatism. Earth Sci. Rev. 2005, 68:173-196.
11. Clark M.K., Royden L.H. Topographic ooze: building the eastern margin of Tibet by lower crustal flow. Geology 2000, 28:703-706.
12. Clark M.K., Bush J.M., Royden L.H. Dynamic topography produced by lower crustal flow against rheological strength heterogeneities bordering the Tibetan Plateau. Geophys. J. Int. 2005, 162:575-590.
13. Ding L., Kapp P., Zhong D.L., Deng W.M. Cenozoic volcanism in Tibet: evidence for a transition from oceanic to continental subduction. J. Petrol. 2003, 44:1833-1865.
14. England P., Houseman G. Finite strain calculations of continental deformation: 2. Comparison with the India-Asia collision zone. J. Geophys. Res. 1986, 91:3664-3676.
15. Enkelmann E., Ratschbacher L., Jonckheere R., Nestler R., Fleischer M., Gloaguen R., Hacker R.B., Zhang Y.Q., Ma Y.S. Cenozoic exhumation and deformation of northeastern Tibet and the Qinling: Is Tibetan lower crustal flow diverging around the Sichuan Basin?. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 2006, 118(5-6):651-671.
16. Fan G.W., Lay T. Strong Lg wave attenuation in the northern and eastern Tibetan plateau measured by a two-station/two-event stacking method. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2003, 30:1530.
17. Gan W., Zhang P., Shen Z., Niu Z., Wang M., Wan Y., Zhou D., Cheng J. Present-day crustal motion within the Tibetan Plateau inferred from GPS measurements. J. Geophys. Res. 2007, 112:B08416. 10.1029/2005JB004120.
18. Godard V., Cattin R., Lavé J. Erosional control on the dynamics of low-convergence rate continental plateau margins. Geophys. J. Int. 2009, 179(2):763-777.
19. Hilley G.E., Burgmann R., Zhang P.Z., Molnar P. Bayesian inference of plastosphere viscosities near the Kunlun Fault, northern Tibet. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2005, 32. 10.1029 /2004GL021658.
20. Holbig E.S., Grove T.L. Mantle melting beneath the Tibetan Plateau: experimental constraints on ultrapotassic magmatism. J. Geophys. Res. 2008, 113:B04210. http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007JB005149.
21. Huang J.L., Zhao D.P., Zheng S.H. Lithospheric structure and it's relationship to seismic and volcanic activity in southwest China. J. Geophys. Res. 2007, 107(B10):1-14.
22. Hubbard J., Shaw J.H. Uplift of the Longmen Shan and Tibetan plateau, and the 2008 Wenchuan (M=7.9) earthquake. Nature 2009, 458:194-197.
23. Lai Q., Ding L., Wang H., Yue Y., Cai F. Constraining the stepwise migration of the eastern Tibetan Plateau margin by apatite fission track thermochronology. Sci. China (D) 2007, 50(2):172-183.
24. Le Pape F., Jones A., Vozar J., Wei W. Penetration of crustal melt beyond the Kunlun Fault into northern Tibet. Nat. Geosci. 2012, 5:330-335. 10.1038/NGEO1449.
25. Li S., Mooney W.D. Crustal structure of China from deep sounding profiles. Tectonophysics 1998, 288:105-113.
26. Li C., van der Hilst R.D., Toksoz M.N. Constraining spatial variations in P-wave velocity in the upper mantle beneath SE Asia. Phys. Earth Planet. Interiors 2006, 154:180-195.
27. Li C., van der Hilst R.D., Engdahl E.R., Burdick S. A new global model for P-wave speed variations in Earth's mantle. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 2008, http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007GC001806.
28. Li Q., Liu M., Zhang H. A 3-Dviscoelastoplasticmodel for simulating long-term slip on non-planar faults. Geophys. J. Int. 2009, 176:293-306. 10.1007/s11434-008-0588-7.
29. Li Y.X., Zhang J.H., Zhou W., Hu X.K., Guo L.Q., Zhang Z.F. The mechanism and dynamic for the generation and occurrence of Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake. Chin. J. Geophys. 2009, 53(2):519-530.
30. Li X.F., Li H., Shen Y., Gong M., Shi D., Sandvol E., Li A. Crustal velocity structure of the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau from ambient noise surface-wave tomography and its tectonic implications. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 2014, 104(3):1045-1055.
31. Li Z.W., Ni S., Roecker S. Interstation Pg and Sg differential travel time tomography in the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: implications for spatial extent of crustal flow and segmentation of the Longmenshan fault zone. Phys. Earth Planet. Interior 2014, 27:30-40.
32. Liang G.P. Finite element program generator and finite element language. Reliability and Robustness of Engineering Software II 1991, Computational Mechanics Publications, London, 385 pp. C.A. Brebbia, A.J. Ferrante (Eds.).
33. Liu M., Yang Y. Extensional collapse of mountain belts: insights from geodynamic modelling. Recent Res. Dev. Geophys. 2000, 3:107-124.
34. Liu M., Yang Y. Extensional collapse of the Tibetan Plateau: results from three dimensional finite element modelling. J. Geophys. Res. 2003, 108. 10.1029/2002JB002248.
35. Liu M., Mooney W.D., Li S., Okaya N., Detweiler S. Crustal structure of the northeastern margin of the Tibetan plateau from the Songpan-Ganzi terrane to the Ordos basin. Tectonophysics 2006, 420:253-266.
36. Liu M., Wang H., Li Q. Inception of the Eastern California Shear Zone and evolution of the San Adreas Fault plate boundary zone: from kinematics to geodynamics. J. Geophys. Res. 2010, 115:B07401. 10.1029/2009JB007055.
37. Liu C., Zhu B.J., Shi Y.L. Stress accumulation of the Longmenshan fault and recurrence interval of Wenchuan earthquake based on viscoelasticity simulation. Acta Geol. Sinica 2012, 86(1):157-169.
38. Liu Q.Y., van der Hilst D.R., Li Y., Yao H.J., Chen J.H., Guo B., Qi S.H., Wang J., Huang H., Li S.C. Eastward expansion of the Tibetan Plateau by crustal flow and strain partitioning across faults. Nat. Geosci. 2014, 7:361-365. 10.1038/NGEO2130.
39. Liu C., Zhu B.J., Yang X.L. How does crustal shortening contribute to the uplift of the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau?. J. Asian Earth Sci. 2015, 98:18-25.
40. Liu C., Zhu B.J., Yang X.L., Shi Y.L. Crustal rheology control on earthquake activity across the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: insights from numerical modelling. J. Asian Earth Sci. 2015, 100:20-30.
41. Luo G., Liu M. Why subduction causes mountain building in the Andes, but not in theCascadia?. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2009, 36:L08301.
42. Luo G., Liu M. Stress evolution and fault interactions in eastern Tibet: implications for the 2008 Mw7.9 Wenchuan earthquake. Tectonophysics 2010, 10.1016/j.tecto.2009.12.019.
43. Luo G., Liu M. Multi-timescale mechanical coupling between the San Jacinto Fault and the San Andreas Fault, southern California. Lithosphere 2012, 10.1130/L1180.1131.
44. Owens T.J., Zandt G. Implications of crustal property variations for models of Tibetan Plateau evolution. Nature 1997, 387:37-43.
45. Pan S.Z., Niu F.L. Large contrasts in crustal structure and composition between the Ordos plateau and the NE Tibetan plateau from receiver function analysis. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 2011, 303:291-298. 10.1016/j.epsl.2011.01.007.
46. Robert A., Zhu J., Vergne J., Cattin R., Chan L.S., Wittlinger G., Herquel G., de Sigoyer J., Pubellier M., Zhu L.D. Crustal structures in the area of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake from seismologic and gravimetric data. Tectonophysics 2010, 491:205-210.
47. Royden L.H., Burchfiel B.C., King W.R., Chen Z., Shen F. Surface deformation and lower crustal flow in eastern Tibet. Science 1997, 276(5313):788-790.
48. Royden L.H., Burchfiel B.C., van der Hilst R.D. The geological evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. Science 2008, 321(5892):1054-1058.
49. Shi Y.L., Cao J.L. Effective viscosity of China continental lithosphere. Earth Sci. Front. 2008, 15(3):83-95.
50. Stone R. An unpredictably violent fault. Science 2008, 320(5883):1578-1580.
51. Tapponnier P., Zhiqin X., Roger F., Meyer B., Arnaud N., Wittlinger G., Yang J.S. Oblique stepwise rise and growth of the Tibet Plateau. Science 2001, 294(5547):1671-1677.
52. Unsworth M., Wei W.B., Jones A.G., Li S.H., Bedrosian P., Booker J., Jin S., Deng M., Tan H.D. Crustal and upper mantle structure of northern Tibet imaged with magnetotelluric data. J. Geophys. Res. 2004, 109:B02403.
53. Wallis S., Tsujimori T., Aoya M., Kawakami T., Terada K., Suzuki K., Hyodo H. Cenozoic and Mesozoic metamorphism in the Longmenshan orogen: implications for geodynamic models of eastern Tibet. Geology 2003, 31:745-748.
54. Wang C.Y., Han W.B., Wu J.P., Lou H., Chan W.W. Crustal structure beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its tectonic implications. J. Geophys. Res. 2007, 112:B07307. 10.1029/2005JB003873.
55. Wang C.Y., Lou H., Silver P.G., Zhu L., Chang L. Crustal structure variation along 30 N in the eastern Tibetan Plateau and its tectonic implications. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 2010, 289:367-376.
56. Wang E., Kirby E., Furlong K.P., van Soest M., Xu G., Shi X., Kamp P.J.J., Hodges K.V. Two-phase growth of high topography in eastern Tibet during the Cenozoic. Nat. Geosci. 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/NGEO1538.
57. Wei W.B., Unsworth M., Jones A.G., Tan H.D., Nelson D., Chen L., Shi S., Solon K., Bedrosian P., Jin S., Deng M., Ledo J., Kay D., Roberts B. Detection of widespread fluids in the Tibetan crust by magnetotelluric studies. Science 2001, 292:716-719. (2001).
58. Wei W., Zhao D.P., Xu J.D. P-wave anisotropic tomography in Southeast Tibet: new insight into the lower crustal flow and seismotectonics. Phys. Earth Planet. Inter. 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2013.07.002.
59. Yang Y., Liu M. Cenozoic deformation of the Tarim Basin and its implications for collisional mountain building in the Tibetan plateau and the Tian Shan. Tectonics 2002, 21. 10.1029/2001TC001300.
60. Yin A., Harrison T.M. Geologic evolution of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 2000, 28(1):211-280.
61. Zhan Y., Zhao G., Wang L., Wang J., Chen X., Zhao L., Xiao Q. Deep electric structure beneath the intersection area of West Qinling orogenic zone with North-South Seismic tectonic zone in China. Chin. J. Geophys. 2014, 57(8):2594-2607. 10.6038/cjg20140819.
62. Zhang Z., Wang Y., Chen Y., Houseman G.A., Tian X., Wang E., Teng J. Crustal structure across Longmenshan fault belt from passive source seismic profiling. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2009, 36:L17310. 10.1029/2009GL0395 80.
63. Zhang Z., Yuan X., Chen Y., Tian X., Kind R., Li X., Teng J. Seismic signature of the collision between the East Tibetan escape flow and the Sichuan Basin. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 2010, 292:254-264.
64. Zhao W.L., Morgan W.J. Injection of Indian crust into Tibetan lower crust: a two dimensional finite element model study. Tectonics 1987, 6(4):489-504.
65. Zhao G., Chen X., Xiao Q., Wang L., Tang J., Zhan Y., Wang J., Zhang J., Utada H., Uyeshima M. Generation mechanism of Wenchuan strong earthquake ofMs8.0 inferred from EM measurements in three levels. Chin. J. Geophys. 2009, 52(2):553-563.