Exhumation and Deformation of the Daba Shan Orocline as Determined from Modern River Sands Apatite Fission-Track

The Daba Shan orocline is located at the northeastern margin of the Sichuan Basin and has been inferred as a foreland thrust-fold belt of the Qinling Orogen since the Late Triassic. A complete understanding of rock exhumation history is critical to elucidate how and when this typical orocline structure is developed. Detrital apatite fission-track dating of modern river sands is employed to reveal the regional exhumation history of the Daba Shan orocline. Four age peaks are identified and interpreted as the results of tectonic exhumation. Two older age peaks at similar to 150-140 and similar to 116-86 Ma are agreement with two main shortening deformation episodes of the Yanshanian Movement in the eastern China. The other two younger age peaks at similar to 69 and similar to 37 Ma support that the Daba Shan was reactivated by the Late Cretaceous to Cenozoic deformation which were likely related to the subduction of the Pacific Ocean and eastward growth of the Tibetan Plateau, respectively. It is worth noting that in contrast to the similar to 150-140 Ma rapid rock uplift and exhumation, the Middle Cretaceous exhumation (similar to 116-86 Ma) shifted southward and continued to spread to southern tips of the Daba Shan. These exhumation variations in temporal and spatial allow a southward thrust deformation with piggyback style during the Yanshanian.

Automated summary

The Daba Shan orocline, located in the northeastern margin of the Sichuan Basin, is believed to be a foreland thrust-fold belt of the Qinling Orogen since the Late Triassic. Understanding the exhumation history of the rocks is crucial to determine the development of this orocline structure. Detrital apatite fission-track dating of modern river sands reveals the regional exhumation history of the Daba Shan orocline, showing four age peaks that can be attributed to tectonic exhumation.