Geological Society of America

197 D40. Tectonics/Tectonophysics (Posters)

Tuesday, 6 November 2018
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Halls J-K

TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS AND PALEOCLIMATE ANALYSES OF SEDIMENTARY CARBONATES FROM THE CENOZOIC QAIDAM BASIN, QINGHAI PROVINCE, CHINA, USING STABLE ISOTOPES AND CLUMPED ISOTOPE THERMOMETRY

Paper number: 197-16
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Greg Jesmok Presenting Author
California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA
Greg Jesmok Presenting Author
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Deepshikha Upadhyay
University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Xing Jian
Xiamen University, Xiamen
Mahala Herron-Rutland
University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Aradhna Tripati
19963 Observation DriveEarth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, Topanga, CA

Abstract

The paleotectonic and paleoclimatic history of the Tibetan Plateau is a long-standing challenge in the geosciences, with far-reaching implications in fields including geodynamics, paleobiology, and paleoclimate dynamics. Yet the history is frequently debated, with past studies diverging significantly on these topics (Yin et al., 2008, Miao et al., 2011, Zhuang et al., 2011, Jian et. al, 2013, Song et al., 2014). Here we use stable isotopes to constrain a portion of the history of the thick Mesozoic to Cenozoic sedimentary succession from the Qaidam basin, a large intracontinental sedimentary basin which lies approximately 3 km above sea level and is located on the northeastern corner of the Tibetan Plateau, in northwestern China.

While previous research in the region has used provenance studies, coupled with stable isotope and geochemical analyses to assess the paleoclimate, with particular foci on palynological and biomarker proxies for determining paleotemperature (Hough et al., 2011, Jian et. al, 2013, Jian et al. 2014), we use clumped isotope data for lacustrine sediments and paleosols to assess paleotemperatures. These temperature analyses are evaluated, in conjunction with carbonate oxygen isotope values, to determine water isotope ratios and to further examine paleoclimatic changes of the region in the late Cenozoic.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2018AM-325077

© Copyright 2018 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.