Oscillation of mineral compositions in Core SG-1b, western Qaidam Basin, NE Tibetan Plateau.

ABSTRACT: Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau since the Late Miocene has greatly affected the nature of sediments deposited in the Qaidam Basin. However, due to the scarcity of continuously dated sediment records, we know little about how minerals responded to this uplift. In order to understand this response, we here present results from the high-resolution mineral profile from a borehole (7.3-1.6 Ma) in the Basin, which shows systematic oscillations of various evaporite and clay minerals that can be linked to the variation of regional climate and tectonic history. In particular, x-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses show that carbonate minerals consist mainly of calcite and aragonite, with minor ankerite and dolomite. Evaporates consist of gypsum, celesite and halite. Clay minerals are principally Fe-Mg illi

SUBMITTER: Fang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5021985 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature