Rate and Mechanisms of Faulting and Growth Folding Over 10Ka to 20Ma and Chronology of Maximum Glacial Advances in the Southern Tian Shan Fold-and-Thrust Belt, China

Princeton University, Princeton NJ

Investigators

Abstract

Suppe 0073759 The Tian Shan intracontinental mountain range related to the Indian-Eurasian collision has been studied to understand the dynamic processes responsible for this type of orogenesis. However, the timing and short-term versus long-term rates of deformation are controversial, leading to models in which deformation in Tian Shan may have accelerated significantly in the last few millions of years. A goal of this study is to test these models by providing new constraints derived from growth strata analysis on the rate of deformation in Tian Shan over different timescales. Results will be applicable to understanding the Indian-Eurasian collision and should contribute to models of such collisions generally.