Mesozoic tectonic and topographic evolution of Central Asia and Tibet: a preliminary synthesis
Abstract
During the Late Palaeozoic–Mesozoic, Central Asia and Tibet were affected by severalgeodynamic episodes that induced either large-scale compression or widespread extension. TheLate Palaeozoic final amalgamation of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, the accretion of the Cimmerianblocks, the closure of the Mongol–Okhotsk Ocean and the accretion of the Neocimmerianblocks set the structural pattern of the continent. This Mesozoic tectonic heritage plays a first-orderrole in the localization and evolution of the Tertiary deformation of the continent. Similarly,large-scale Mesozoic topographic features are still preserved in Central Asia, where they form anon-negligible part of the present-day topography. This work aims at providing an overview ofthe major tectonic events that affected Central Asia and Tibet during the Late Palaeozoic andMesozoic periods. The general topographic evolution of the continent is also described togetherwith the accompanying climatic changes through time.