Abstract

In order to better understand the Cenozoic uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau resultant from the Indo-Asian collision, we carried out a study of 2D seismic profile for petroleum exploration across the Northern Qilian Thrust Belt near/within the Hexi Corridor, northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. We found the two-stage uplift of the Northern Qilian Orogenic Zone in Late Cenozoic. The first stage was in the Late Pliocene, the uplift rate of the Northern Qilian Orogenic Zone was ≥ 1.7mm/a, and the northern margin/front thrust fault of the Northern Qilian Thrust Belt reached at the central Hexi Corridor, indicating the general emergence and horizontal propagation period. The second stage was during the Late Pleistocene, the uplift rate of the Northern Qilian Orogenic Zone was ≥ 3.7 mm/a, but the northern margin/front thrust fault of the Northern Qilian Thrust Belt retreated back to the southern Hexi Corridor, indicating the main uplift period. This result provides a foundation for future work to study the uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau, China.

Keywords: Uplift rate; Two-stage evolution; Growth strata; Tibetan plateau; Northern qilian thrust belt; Hexi corridor