Regional Exhumation and Tectonic History of the Shanxi Rift and Taihangshan, North China

This study presents a comprehensive low-temperature thermochronometric data set from the Shanxi Rift, Taihangshan, and eastern Ordos block in North China, including new apatite fission track (U-Th-Sm)/He published zircon data. We use these thermal history inversion models to reveal that Rift Taihangshan experienced an increase cooling rates between ca. 110–70 Ma 50–30 Ma. A preceding 160–135 event is generally restricted western rift margin Lüliangshan Hengshan. In contrast, was widespread occurred coevally with opening of Bohai Basin slip across NNE-striking Eastern fault. southern zone, however, exhumation beginning 50 likely associated fault uplift ESE–striking Qinling Huashan faults, which accompanied extensional Weihe Graben. Coeval along NNE–striking faults NW-SE extension China related oblique subduction Pacific plate under Asia slow convergence rates. The commonly attributed Late Miocene younger extension, but our thermochronologic do not precisely record onset rifting. However, suggest ≤∼50°C Neogene–Quaternary cooling, consistent ≤∼2 km footwall most range-bounding faults.