Late Cretaceous to Late Eocene Exhumation in the Nima Area, Central Tibet: Implications for Development of Low Relief Topography of the Tibetan Plateau

Much of the interior Tibetan Plateau is characterized by internal drainage, low relief topography and high altitude. How when this landscape formed controversial. In study, we use new zircon U-Pb data temperature thermochronological (apatite (U-Th/He), apatite fission track (AFT)) from Late Cretaceous to Cenozoic Nima basin sedimentary rocks Xiabie granite in adjacent Muggar Thrust hanging wall (part regional Shiquanhe-Gaize-Amdo thrust system), determine palaeodrainage timing exhumation region. Individual AHe ZHe cooling ages range 9 60 Ma 58-118 Ma, AFT 30-90 Ma. The thermal history derived Northern Basin sediments require a period between 70 40 fault wall, 30 Basin. Across region event was followed rates deposition locally-sourced sediment, lacustrine evaporitic deposits that are indicative an drainage system. We suggest associated with development thrust-elevated may have disrupted network favouring endorheic This system, sediment accumulation and/or post-30 tectonic quiescence led generation topography.