Reply to Comment by Zhao et al. on Paleomagnetism of the Late Cretaceous Red Beds From the Far Western Lhasa Terrane: Inclination Discrepancy and Tectonic Implications

In this manuscript, we checked all the pieces of evidence separately and conclude that the evidence Zhao et al. (2021, ) provided cannot be regarded as arguments supporting their points. Our observations show that (i) sampling units and depositional environment support that the Jingzhushan Formation red beds could be affected by the syntectonic sedimentation, (ii) characteristic remanent magnetization directions observed from the Jingzhushan Formation red beds represent primary magnetization acquired during the syntectonic sedimentation, not secondary remagnetization due to strain reorientation of remanence, and (iii) inclination discrepancy of the Jingzhushan Formation red beds could be attributed to syntectonic sedimentation. Therefore, the paleomagnetic results obtained from the Jingzhushan Formation red beds are reliable for paleogeographic reconstructions.

Automated summary

Through detailed observation and analysis, we conclude that the paleomagnetic results obtained from the Jingzhushan Formation red beds are reliable and support paleogeographic reconstructions.