U-PB DETRITAL ZIRCON AGES REVEAL PALEOGENE EMERGENCE OF MUZTAGHATA, EAST PAMIR, CHINA

While a rough framework has emerged describing the tectonic evolution of the Pamir plateau related to the successive accretion of multiple oceanic and continental crustal terranes onto Eurasia, research to understand the spatial and temporal evolution of strain accommodation across the Pamir is still in its infancy. This study sheds light on Cenozoic deformation in the Pamir related to India’s ongoing collision with Eurasia through U-Pb detrital zircon ages from foreland basin deposits in the western Tarim Basin, China. Previous studies suggest crustal shortening dominated Paleogene deformation followed by east-west extension on the eastern margin of the Pamir plateau beginning in the late Miocene. Here, we present new data which shows a change in provenance of foreland basin deposits near Wuyitake in west Tarim during the late Paleogene. This is inferred to be the result of Muztaghata massif doming, causing the south fork of the Ghez river to be “captured” by the Tashkorgan river. Our results suggest that igneous rock exhumation during the Eocene was followed by folding of surrounding basement.