Pliocene-Quaternary crustal melting in central and northern Tibet and insights into crustal flow

Qiang Wang (), Chris J. Hawkesworth (), Derek Wyman, Sun-Lin Chung, Fu-Yuan Wu, Xian-Hua Li, Zheng-Xiang Li, Guo-Ning Gou, Xiu-Zheng Zhang, Gong-Jian Tang, Wei Dan, Lin Ma and Yan-Hui Dong
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Qiang Wang: State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Chris J. Hawkesworth: School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building
Derek Wyman: School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney
Sun-Lin Chung: Institute of Earth Sciences, Academia Sinica
Fu-Yuan Wu: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xian-Hua Li: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Zheng-Xiang Li: ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems (CCFS) and the Institute for Geoscience Research (TIGeR), Curtin University
Guo-Ning Gou: State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiu-Zheng Zhang: State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Gong-Jian Tang: State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wei Dan: State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lin Ma: State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yan-Hui Dong: State Key Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract There is considerable controversy over the nature of geophysically recognized low-velocity–high-conductivity zones (LV–HCZs) within the Tibetan crust, and their role in models for the development of the Tibetan Plateau. Here we report petrological and geochemical data on magmas erupted 4.7–0.3 Myr ago in central and northern Tibet, demonstrating that they were generated by partial melting of crustal rocks at temperatures of 700–1,050 °C and pressures of 0.5–1.5 GPa. Thus Pliocene-Quaternary melting of crustal rocks occurred at depths of 15–50 km in areas where the LV–HCZs have been recognized. This provides new petrological evidence that the LV–HCZs are sources of partial melt. It is inferred that crustal melting played a key role in triggering crustal weakening and outward crustal flow in the expansion of the Tibetan Plateau.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11888

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