Evidence for Tibetan Plateau Uplift in Qaidam Basin before Eocene-Oligocene Boundary and Its Climatic Implications

Geometry analysis of the Hongsanhan ((sic)) Section in the northwestern Qaidam basin illustrates the typical growth strata in the Xiaganchaigou ((sic)) Formation. The age and sedimentation rates of the Xiaganchaigou and the Shangganchaigou ((sic)) formations were determined by the high-resolution magnetostratigraphy. This result shows that the growth strata began to form at ca. 38.0 Ma and increased sedimentation rates occurred at ca. 37.0 Ma. The uplift of the Tibetan plateau before the Eocene-Oligocene boundary is confirmed, which enables us to better understand the relationship between climatic changes and the tectonic uplift. This uplift event could have resulted in the regional drying by blocking the moisture and contributed to the Eocene-Oligocenc boundary global cooling event due to the declining atmospheric CO2 concentrations by increased weathering of the mountains.