CAREER: Giant Nonmarine Sedimentary Basins of China and Intracontinental Tectonics - an Integrated Research and Education Plan in Asia and Western North America

东亚和中亚的特点是复杂的板内变形，而不是简单地与同步构造板块边界有关。这种变形伴随着大型的、长期存在的、非海相的陆内盆地的耦合演化，而现有的盆地模型并没有充分描述这种演化。通过对变形、沉降、沉积的分布、样式和时间的详细分析，可以更好地理解板内变形与盆地形成的联系过程，以及沉积与构造演化的反馈机制。中生代鄂尔多斯盆地和新生代柴达木盆地是这种体系的典型例子，因为它们都是大的地质省，其特征是在盆地边缘和内部的变形过程中积累了厚的、相对连续的同构造沉积包体。因此，这些盆地提供了记录变形和沉积轨迹如何随时间相互关联，以及它们如何相互影响的机会。本文结合地质图、实测地层剖面、古流、物源分析、沉降模拟等盆地特征，研究了中生代鄂尔多斯盆地和新生代柴达木盆地的沉积构造史。鄂尔多斯盆地的研究重点是盆地北半部中生代盆地边缘露头。柴达木的研究包括结合盆地东北缘和西南缘的露头地质，以及盆地内部的地震反射资料分析。在这些地区，通过比较特定构造的位置和运动学，以及沉降沉积中心的几何形状和物源，可以确定控制可容纳空间和沉积物供应的机制。揭示了厚层沉积层序的聚集及其相关的热流、地壳厚度和物质横向分布的变化对基底内变形的影响机制。本研究旨在对中国盆地板内应变与沉积的长期和空间关系提供更清晰的认识。这将阐明这些盆地如何演化的构造控制，并检验沉积分布的动态变化是否影响构造的样式或位置。除了增加对中国板内变形历史的认识和改进“中国型”后继盆地的模型外，该项目还为海外本科生研究提供了平台，并增加了与中国同事的合作。美国西部的模拟沉积体系为中国的盆地研究提供了比较范例，可以作为培养本科研究人员的天然课堂，并将本研究项目的经验教训转化为公众。

Eastern and central Asia is characterized by complex intraplate deformation that is not related simply to synchronous tectonic plate boundaries. This deformation is accompanied by the coupled evolution of large, long-lived, nonmarine intracontinental basins, which are not adequately described by existing basin models. The processes that link intraplate deformation and concomitant basin formation, and feedback mechanisms between sedimentation and structural evolution can be understood better through detailed analysis of distribution, style and timing of deformation, subsidence and sedimentation. The Mesozoic Ordos basin and Cenozoic Qaidam basin are excellent examples of such systems because both are large geologic provinces characterized by thick, relatively continuous packages of syntectonic sediment that accumulated during deformation on the margins of, and within, each basin. Thus, these basins provide the opportunity to document how loci of deformation and sedimentation correlate through time, and how they may exert influences on each other. The sedimentary and structural history of the Mesozoic Ordos and Cenozoic Qaidam basin is being documented with a combination of geologic maps, measured stratigraphic sections, and other basin characterization such as paleocurrent and provenance analysis, and subsidence modeling. In the Ordos basin, efforts are focused on Mesozoic basin-margin outcrops in the northern half of the basin. In Qaidam, studies include a combination of outcrop geology along the northeast and southwest basin margins, and analysis of seismic reflection data in the basin interior. In these areas, comparison between location and kinematics of specific structures and the geometry and provenance of subsiding depocenters allows the mechanisms that control accommodation space and sediment supply to be determined. It also provides clues to the ways that accumulation of thick sedimentary sequences and associated changes in heat flow, crustal thickness, and lateral distribution of mass affect mechanisms of intrabasinal deformation. This research is attempting to provide a clearer understanding of the secular and spatial relationships between intraplate strain and sedimentation in Chinese basins. This will clarify the structural controls on how such basins evolve and test whether the dynamic changes in sedimentary distribution affect the style or location of structure. In addition to added insights gained into the history of intraplate deformation in China and improved models for "Chinese-type" successor basins, this project is a platform for undergraduate research overseas and increased collaboration with Chinese co-workers. Analog sedimentary systems in the western United States provide comparative examples to the basins studies in China, and can be used as natural classrooms to train undergraduate researchers and translate the lessons of this research project to the public.