Underthrusting of the Tarim Lithosphere Beneath the Western Kunlun Range, Insights From Seismic Profiling Evidence

Uplift of the western Kunlun range results from Indian indentation into Eurasia and induced underthrusting Tarim lithosphere. This keeps pace with migration foreland basin. The basin-scale sequences provide a decipherable record migration. To quantify underthrusting, we analyzed ∼323.2-km-long seismic profile crossing middle segment foreland. We traced reflectors to investigate architecture assigned ages by correlating them dated outcropping sections. consist four layers. lowermost Layer 1 starts lap on preforeland unit at ∼40 Ma, indicating that Cenozoic initiated slightly prior Ma. 2 shows large sharp step northward exceed forebulge ∼25 suggesting modern geomorphology Basin took shape. southwestern boundary 4 migrates northeastwards fold row relative 3. gradual retreat reflector terminations ∼30 Ma suggests lithosphere is viscoelastic. linear fitting forelandward envelop termination sites since indicates underthrusted an average rate ∼8.18 mm/yr. comprises shortening ∼3.8–5.7 mm/yr latitudinal propagation ∼4.4–2.5 abrupt increase in sedimentation ∼11 had reached its current elevation.