Propagation of the deformation and growth of the Tibetan-Himalayan orogen: A review

Long-standing problems in the geological evolution of the Tibetan-Himalayan orogen include where the India-Asia convergence was accommodated and how the plateau grew. To clarify these problems, we review the deformations and their role in the plateau's growth. Our results show that similar to 1630 km of shortening occurred across the Tibetan-Himalayan orogen since similar to 55 Ma, with more than similar to 1400 km accommodated by large-scale thrust belts. These thrust belts display an outward expansion from central Tibet and couple with the surficial uplift The development of the Tibetan plateau involved three significant steps: Primitive plateau (similar to 90-55 Ma), Proto-plateau (similar to 55-40 Ma), and Neoteric plateau (similar to 40-0 Ma). Several processes have collaborated to produce the Proto-plateau, including the pre-existing Primitive plateau, the India-Asia collision, and subductions of Greater India and Songpan-Ganzi beneath the Lhasa-Qiangtang terrane. Since similar to 40 Ma, the Proto-plateau, which was dominated by a topographic gradient, lower crustal flow and continuous India-Asia convergence, experienced three periods of rapid outward growth (similar to 40-23, similar to 23-10, and similar to 10-0 Ma) in general. The N-S trending rifts were caused by the eastward growth of the plateau dominated by thrusting and crust flow in central Tibet, while they were the results of intense N-S shortening in Himalaya. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.