TY - JOUR

T1 - Constraints on the exhumation and erosion of the High Himalayan Slab, NW India, from foreland basin deposits.

AU - White, Nikki M.

AU - Pringle, M.

AU - Garzanti, E.

AU - Bickle, M.

AU - Najman, Y.

AU - Chapman, H.

N1 - White was my PhD student, other co-authors provided analyses. This was one of the first papers to demonstrate an integrated use of techniques in the 'detrital approach' towards solving tectonic problems. It provided insights into crustal deformation models. RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

PY - 2002/1/30

Y1 - 2002/1/30

N2 - Petrography, Sr–Nd isotope compositions and single-grain laser 40Ar–39Ar ages of detrital white mica from Early–Middle Miocene molasse of the Dharamsala and Lower Siwalik Formations of Northern India, dated by magnetostratigraphy, determine the sediment sources, their metamorphic grade and exhumation rates in the Himalayan palaeo-hinterland. Deposition of the Lower Dharamsala Member (21–17 Ma) occurred during the period of rapid isothermal decompression and crustal anatexis (24–18 Ma) of the metamorphic core. This episode of decompression is thought to be coeval with thrusting on the Main Central Thrust and normal faulting on the South Tibetan Detachment System. The sediment composition and detrital mica ages indicate erosion from the rapidly exhumed metamorphic slab of the High Himalayan Crystalline Series. Deposition of the Upper Dharamsala Member (17–13 Ma) and basal Siwalik Group (13–12.5 Ma) spanned the period in which thrusting transferred south from the Main Central Thrust. The sediment composition and detrital mica ages contrast strongly with those of the Lower Dharamsala, indicating erosion from sedimentary and low grade rocks. The isotopic composition indicates that these rocks were part of the High Himalayan Series unaffected by Tertiary metamorphism, i.e. from upper structural levels of the High Himalayan Slab. This suggests that a major reorganisation of the orogenic wedge occurred at 17 Ma involving forward propagation of the MCT and cessation of rapid exhumation of the metamorphic slab.

AB - Petrography, Sr–Nd isotope compositions and single-grain laser 40Ar–39Ar ages of detrital white mica from Early–Middle Miocene molasse of the Dharamsala and Lower Siwalik Formations of Northern India, dated by magnetostratigraphy, determine the sediment sources, their metamorphic grade and exhumation rates in the Himalayan palaeo-hinterland. Deposition of the Lower Dharamsala Member (21–17 Ma) occurred during the period of rapid isothermal decompression and crustal anatexis (24–18 Ma) of the metamorphic core. This episode of decompression is thought to be coeval with thrusting on the Main Central Thrust and normal faulting on the South Tibetan Detachment System. The sediment composition and detrital mica ages indicate erosion from the rapidly exhumed metamorphic slab of the High Himalayan Crystalline Series. Deposition of the Upper Dharamsala Member (17–13 Ma) and basal Siwalik Group (13–12.5 Ma) spanned the period in which thrusting transferred south from the Main Central Thrust. The sediment composition and detrital mica ages contrast strongly with those of the Lower Dharamsala, indicating erosion from sedimentary and low grade rocks. The isotopic composition indicates that these rocks were part of the High Himalayan Series unaffected by Tertiary metamorphism, i.e. from upper structural levels of the High Himalayan Slab. This suggests that a major reorganisation of the orogenic wedge occurred at 17 Ma involving forward propagation of the MCT and cessation of rapid exhumation of the metamorphic slab.

KW - Himalayas

KW - exhumation

KW - Siwalik System

KW - provenance

U2 - 10.1016/S0012-821X(01)00565-9

DO - 10.1016/S0012-821X(01)00565-9

M3 - Journal article

VL - 195

SP - 29

EP - 44

JO - Earth and Planetary Science Letters

JF - Earth and Planetary Science Letters

SN - 0012-821X

IS - 1-2

ER -