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Magnetostratigraphy and Biostratigraphy of the Jurassic sedimentary sequences, Qiangtang Basin, revealed the initial time of the Lhasa-Qiangtang collision

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Abstract

The Qiangtang Basin, located in the Tibetan Plateau, is an appropriate area to verify the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision, which was recorded by the middle-upper part of the Yanshiping Group (the Xiali and Suowa Fms) in the basin. However, the chronology of the Xiali and Suowa Fms is HYPERLINK “javascript:;” controversial, which limits comprehending the timing of the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision. More importantly, HYPERLINK “javascript:;” oil HYPERLINK “javascript:;” shale and salt springs were exposed in the Xiali and Suowa Fms in the basin. 544 paleomagnetic samples were collected from the Yanshiping section in the basin in order to reveal the timing of the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision from the view of paleomagnetic ages of the two formations. However, we did not give credible magnetostratigraphic ages of the two formations because of ammonite fossils, a global primary standard for the Jurassic strata correlation, without being found in the last study. Yin (2016) revised the long-term HYPERLINK “javascript:;” controversial paleontological age of the Suowa Fm. from a Tithonian age of the Late Jurassic or a Berriasian age of the Early Cretaceous, to a Middle Bathonian–Middle Callovian age of the Middle Jurassic based on new ammonite fossils. Considering ammonite fossils as a powerful tool and a global primary standard for the Jurassic strata correlation, we attempted to correlate the last magnetostratigraphy with the GPTS 2012 again. Magnetostratigraphic ages of 164.0–160.2 Ma and 160.2–156.8 Ma for the Xiali and Suowa Fms are suggested, respectively. The timing of the Lhasa–Qiangtang collision (156.8–154.9 Ma) is revealed from the magnetostratigraphic ages and the zircon U–Pb age of the Xueshan Fm, 154.9 (+6.8/−1.6) Ma, overlying the Suowa Fm in the Yanshiping section.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2011CB403003). Professors Shuang Dai and Defei Yan from Lanzhou University are thanked for their constructive suggestions for magnetostratigraphic correlations and for identifying a biostratigraphical framework. We are grateful to the reviewer for their constructive and thoughtful comments. And Gang Niu, Song Wu, Jiaqiu Pan and Jiwei Yang are thanked for laboratory and fieldwork assistance.

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  1. Lanzhou Resources & Environment Voc-Tech University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Yong-Yao Zeng

  2. Key Laboratory of Western China’s Mineral Resources (Gansu Province), Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China

    Chong-Hui Sun

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  1. Yong-Yao Zeng
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Correspondence to Yong-Yao Zeng.

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This work was supported by National 973 Basic Research Program of China (No. 2011CB403003).

Zeng Yong-Yao, Ph.D., is a geologist at the Lanzhou Resources and Environment Voc-Tech University, Department of Geology. His research interests involve two primary subject areas: Paleoclimate evolution and Jurassic magnetostratigraphy. He is the author of over 20 peer-reviewed papers. He is a significant contributor to the No.3 subject of the National 973 Basic Research Program of China (2011CB403003).

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Zeng, YY., Sun, CH. Magnetostratigraphy and Biostratigraphy of the Jurassic sedimentary sequences, Qiangtang Basin, revealed the initial time of the Lhasa-Qiangtang collision. Appl. Geophys. 20, 572–591 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11770-023-1046-7

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