Paleocene tectonic lithofacies paleogeography of the Tibetan Plateau

Based on an integrated study of the geological maps and previous achievements, the authors analyzed the attributes, tectonic settings and lithofacies-stratigraphic sequences of the remnant basins in the Tibetan plateau. In Paleocene, the Tibetan Plateau was characterized by the erosional areas in western Kunlun, Altun, Qilian, western Qinling, Songpan-Garze and Gangdise, the Alxa and Indian ancient lands and the depressed basins (lakes and pluvial plains) in Xining-Lanzhou, Chengdu and Baingoin. There existed Neo-Tethyan remnant sea in western and southern Tibetan Plateau. It is held that the paleogeography of the Neo-Tethyan remnant sea was a remnant oceanic basin to the west of the Saga area and a foreland basin to the east of Saga during the Paleocene. The authors argue that the closure of the Neo-Tethys progressed from east to west.