Paleomagnetic constraints on the paleo-position of the Tethyan Himalayan Terrane during the Late Cretaceous

Principal Investigator: Dr. Yi Zhiyu

Period：2012-2015

Project Description:

Collision of India and Asia has created the third “pole” on earth surface, the Tibetan plateau, which has been considered to be the best natural laboratory to build new theory of the continental dynamics, and thus becomes a hot topic in earth science. The paleoposition of Tethyan Himalayan Terrane plays a role on reconstruction of the India-Asia collision, which has been regarded a start point to understand the revolution and dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, we are to carry out a comprehensive paleomagnetic study to provide an accurate constraint on the paleopositions of Tethyan Himalayan Terrane in the Late Cretaceous. On systematic analysis of the Late Cretaceous paleomagnetic data of the terranes in the collision belt, the relative position relationship between the Lhasa, Himalayan terranes and Indian continent is to be investigated, as well as the figure of the “Greater India”. The initial collision of India and Asia will also be discussed on a comprehensive review of the paleomagnetic data available on terranes at both sides of suture zone during the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary, which can provide a reliable premise and foundation for the studies in the revolution and dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau.