Role of the Early Miocene Jinhe-Qinghe Thrust Belt in the building of the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau topography

Understanding the role of southeastern Tibetan thrust faults in development plateau topography is key to our assessment geodynamic processes shaping continental topography. Detailed structural analysis along ~400 km long Jinhe-Qinghe belt (JQTB) indicates post Late Eocene motion with a minor left-lateral component, inducing ~0.6 3.6 apparent vertical offset across fault. The exhumation history Baishagou granite, based on thermal modeling new apatite (UTh)/He and fission-track results, suggests an accelerated rate (~0.4 km/Myr) between 20 16 Ma, corresponding ~1.7–2.4 exhumation. We interpret this fast as manifestation activation Nibi thrust, northern branch JQTB, resulting creation significant relief JQTB Early Miocene. When compared previous studies, findings show that Cenozoic Tibet cannot be explained by single mechanism. Rather, at least three stages should invoked. first phase NE-SW compression partly coeval sedimentation. During Oligocene Miocene extrusion Indochina, second thrusting occurred Yulong Longmenshan belts, then migrated 20–16 Ma. third involved Xianshuihe fault re-activation Muli thrust. Uplift hanging wall belts appears explain most present-day Plateau.