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Southern Tibetan rifting since late Miocene enabled by basal shear of the underthrusting Indian lithosphere

Author

Listed:
  • Bingfeng Zhang

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Xuewei Bao

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Yingkai Wu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Yixian Xu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Wencai Yang

    (Zhejiang University)

Abstract

Syncontractional extension is prominent in present-day Tibet, but its origin remains vigorously debated. Several deep-seated geodynamic processes (e.g., Indian underthrusting, horizontal flow, and mantle upwelling) have been linked to Tibetan rifting. Indian underthrusting is a good candidate because it can well explain why surface rifts are more prominent south of the Bangong–Nujiang suture; however, how Indian underthrusting causes extension is not well understood and lacks observational constraints. Seismic anisotropy, measured by exploiting the birefringence effect of shear waves, can be indicative of the deformation styles within the crust. Here, we unveil the dominant convergence-parallel alignment of anisotropic fabrics in the deep crust of the southern Tibetan rifts using seismic recordings collected from our recently deployed and existing seismic stations. This finding suggests that the strong north-directed shearing exerted by the underthrusting Indian plate is key to enabling present-day extension in southern Tibet.

Suggested Citation

  • Bingfeng Zhang & Xuewei Bao & Yingkai Wu & Yixian Xu & Wencai Yang, 2023. "Southern Tibetan rifting since late Miocene enabled by basal shear of the underthrusting Indian lithosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38296-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38296-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Min Chen & Fenglin Niu & Jeroen Tromp & Adrian Lenardic & Cin-Ty A. Lee & Wenrong Cao & Julia Ribeiro, 2017. "Lithospheric foundering and underthrusting imaged beneath Tibet," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-10, August.
    2. Sarah H. Bischoff & Lucy M. Flesch, 2018. "Normal faulting and viscous buckling in the Tibetan Plateau induced by a weak lower crust," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Byeongkwan Ko & Haemyeong Jung, 2015. "Crystal preferred orientation of an amphibole experimentally deformed by simple shear," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, May.
    4. Alex Copley & Jean-Philippe Avouac & Brian P. Wernicke, 2011. "Evidence for mechanical coupling and strong Indian lower crust beneath southern Tibet," Nature, Nature, vol. 472(7341), pages 79-81, April.
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