Crustal Uplift and Shortening of the Southern Tibetan Plateau from Thermochronology and Structural Studies

青藏高原和喜马拉雅山脉可能是大规模大陆碰撞影响的最著名的例子。详细了解这一大陆碰撞带对于了解成熟大陆地壳的发育至关重要，因为人们认识到大陆碰撞是这一过程中必不可少的最后一步。该项目的目的是探索在碰撞高原（如西藏）形成过程中主要负责地壳增厚和随之隆起的机制。这项工作将包括对冈底斯、聂英葛扎、当雄和青藏高原附近地区的岩石进行研究。样品将通过40Ar/39Ar年代学、磷灰石裂变径迹测年和U-Pb测年等方法进行分析，为限制拉萨地体南部隆升的时间和速率提供数据。这将与来自详细结构分析的应变数据进行比较，以测试青藏高原演化的几个模型。本研究将在美国国家科学基金会和中国科学院地球科学协议下进行。

The Tibetan plateau and the Himalayas are perhaps the best known example of the effect of a large-scale continental collision. A detailed understanding of this continental collision zone is crucial to help understanding of the development of mature continental crust, since it is recognized that continental collision is the essential last step in this process. The aim of this project is to explore the mechanisms dominantly responsible for crustal thickening and consequent uplift in the formation of a collisional plateau such as Tibet. The work will involve study of rocks from the Gangdise, Nyaingentanglha, Damxung and nearby areas of the Tibetan plateau. Samples will be analyzed by 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, apatite fission track dating and U-Pb dating to provide data to constrain the timing and rates of uplift in southern Lhasa Terrane. This will be compared to strain data from detailed structural analysis to test several models for the evolution of the Tibetan plateau. This research will be conducted under the Earth Sciences Protocol between the NSF and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.