Growth of the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau by squeezing up of the crust at the boundaries.

ABSTRACT: In classic orogenic models, the mountain range is underlain by a deep crustal root. Here we present the crustal and upper mantle structures along two receiver function profiles across Qilian, an orogen experiencing recent growth at the northern margin of the Tibetan plateau. Opposite to an expected crustal root beneath the orogen, the Moho beneath Qilian is arch-like, shallower beneath the center and deepens by up to 10 km beneath its southern and northern boundaries. Additional velocity interfaces sub-parallel to the Moho are observed in the lower crust of the basins south of Qilian, which we interpret as the top of a mechanically strong lower crust thrusting several tens of kilometers underneath Qilian. In the north, the small lateral offset between the surface and mantle traces of the t

SUBMITTER: Shi J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5587744 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature