1887
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Basin Research
  4. Volume 15, Issue 1
  5. Article
Volume 15, Issue 1
  • E-ISSN: 1365-2117

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The Dzereg Basin is an actively evolving intracontinental basin in the Altai region of western Mongolia. The basin is sandwiched between two transpressional ranges, which occur at the termination zones of two regional‐scale dextral strike‐slip fault systems. The basin contains distinct Upper Mesozoic and Cenozoic stratigraphic sequences that are separated by an angular unconformity, which represents a regionally correlative peneplanation surface. Mesozoic strata are characterized by northwest and south–southeast‐derived thick clast‐supported conglomerates (Jurassic) overlain by fine‐grained lacustrine and alluvial deposits containing few fluvial channels (Cretaceous). Cenozoic deposits consist of dominantly alluvial fan and fluvial sediments shed from adjacent mountain ranges during the Oligocene–Holocene. The basin is still receiving sediment today, but is actively deforming and closing. Outwardly propagating thrust faults bound the ranges, whereas within the basin, active folding and thrusting occurs within two marginal deforming belts. Consequently, active fan deposition has shifted towards the basin centre with time, and previously deposited sediment has been uplifted, eroded and redeposited, leading to complex facies architecture. The geometry of folds and faults within the basin and the distribution of Mesozoic sediments suggest that the basin formed as a series of extensional half‐grabens in the Jurassic–Cretaceous which have been transpressionally reactivated by normal fault inversion in the Tertiary. Other clastic basins in the region may therefore also be inherited Mesozoic depocentres. The Dzereg Basin is a world class laboratory for studying competing processes of uplift, deformation, erosion, sedimentation and depocentre migration in an actively forming intracontinental transpressional basin.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1046/j.1365-2117.2003.00198.x
2003-02-28
2024-04-23

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1046/j.1365-2117.2003.00198.x
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Allen, M.B., ŞEngÖr, A.M.C. & Natal'in, B.A. (1995) Junggar, Turfan and Alakol basins as Late Permian to Early Triassic extensional structures in a sinistral shear zone in the Altaid orogenic collage, Central Asia. J. Geol. Soc. London, 151, 327–338.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Badarch, G., Cunningham, W.D. & Windley, B.F. (2002) A new terrane subdivision for Mongolia: implications for the Phanerozoic crustal growth of Central Asia. J. Asian Earth Sci.,21, 87–110.
  3. Baljinnyam, I., Bayasgalan, A., Borisov, B.A., Cisternas, A., Den'yanovich, M.G., Ganbaatar, L., Kochetkov, V.M., Kurushin, R.A., Molnar, P., Philip, H. & Vashchilov, Y.Y. (1993) Ruptures of major earthquakes and active deformation in Mongolia and its surroundings. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem., 181, 62p.
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Blair, T.C. & McPherson, J.G. (1994) Historical adjustments by Walker river to lake‐level fall over a tectonically tilted half‐graben floor, Walker lake basin, Nevada. Sedim. Geol., 92, 7–16.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Burch, D.E.J. (1992) Petrology and stratigraphy of the Upper Triassic–Lower Jurassic Eagle Mills Formation, Choctaw County, Alabama. Masters Thesis, University of New Orleans, USA.
  6. Christie‐Blick, N. & Biddle, K.T. (1985) Deformation and basin formation along strike‐slip faults. In: Strike‐Slip Deformation, Basin Formation, and Sedimentation (Ed. by K.T.Biddle & N.Christie‐Blick ), Soc. Econ. Paleol. Min. Spec. Publ., 37, 1–34.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Cobbold, P.R., Davy, P., Gapais, E.A., Rossello, E., Thomas, J.C., Tondji, J.J. & De Urreiztieta, M. (1993) Sedimentary basins and crustal thickening. Sedim. Geol., 86, 77–89.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Collinson, J.D. (1996) Alluvial Sediments. In: Sedimentary Environments: Processes, Facies and Stratigraphy (Ed. by H.G.Reading ), pp. 37–82. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Cunningham, W.D., Dijkstra, A., Howard, J.P., Quarles, A. & Badarch, G. (in press) Active intraplate strike‐slip faulting and transpressional uplift in the Mongolian Altai. In: Intraplate Strike‐Slip Deformation Belts. Spec. Vol. Geol. Soc. London .
    [Google Scholar]
  10. Cunningham, W., Windley, B.F., Dorjnamjaa, D., Badamgarov, G. & Saandar, M. (1996) A structural transect across the Mongolian Western Altai: active transpressional mountain building in central Asia. Tectonics, 15, 142–156.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Devjatkin, E.V. (1981) The Cenozoic of Inner Asia Stratigraphy, Geochronology and Correlation (Ed. by K.V.Nikiforova ). Comb. Sov.‐Mongolian Sci. Res. Geol. Exped. Transactions, 27, Nauka, Moscow. (In Russian).
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Devjatkin, E.V., Nagibina, P. & Khosbayar. (1975) Neotectonic structures of western Mongolia. In: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Tectonics and Magmatism of Mongolia (Ed. by. A.L.Yanshin ). Comb. Sov.‐Mongolian Sci. Res. Geol. Exped. Transactions, 11, Nauka, Moscow, pp. 44–102. (In Russian).
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Dumitru, T.A. & Hendrix, M.S. (2001) Fission‐track constraints on Jurassic folding and thrusting in southern Mongolia and their relationship to the Beishan thrust belt of northern China. In: Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central and Eastern Asia: from Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation (Ed. by M.S.Hendrix & G.A.Davis ). Geol. Soc. Am. Memoir., 194, 215–230.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Dumitru, T.A., Zhou, D., Chang, E.Z., Graham, S.A., Hendrix, M.S., Sobel, E.R. & Carroll, A.R. (2001) Uplift, exhumation, and deformation in the Chinese Tian Shan. In: Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central and Eastern Asia: from Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation (Ed. by M.S.Hendrix & G.A.Davis ). Geol. Soc. Am. Mem., 194, 71–100.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Gibling, M.R., Nanson, G.C. & Maroulis, J.C. (1998) Anastomosing River sedimentation in the channel country of central Australia. Sedimentology, 45, 595–619.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Graham, S.A., Hendrix, M.S., Barsbold, R., Badamgarav, D., Sjostrom, D., Kirschner, W. & Mcintosh, J.S. (1997) Stratigraphic occurrence, paleoenvironment, and description of the oldest known dinosaur (Late Jurassic) from Mongolia. Palaios, 12, 292–297.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Greene, T.J., Carroll, A.R., Hendrix, M.S., Graham, S.A., Wartes, M.A. & Abbink, O.A. (2001) Sedimentary record of Mesozoic deformation and inception of the Turpan–Hami basin, northwest China. In: Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central and Eastern Asia: from Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation (Ed. by M.S.Hendrix & G.A.Davis ). Geol. Soc. Am. Memoir., 194, 317–340.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Hardie, L.A., Smoot, J.P. & Eugester, H.P. (1978) Saline lakes and their deposits: a sedimentological approach. In: Modern and Ancient Lake Sediments (Ed. by A.Matter & M.E.Tucker ), Spec. Publ. Int. Assoc. Sedim., 2, 7–41.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Hartley, A.J. (1993) Sedimentological response of an alluvial system to source area tectonism: the Seilao Unit of the Late Cretaceous–Eocene Purilactis Formation of northern Chile. In: Alluvial Sedimentation (Ed. by M.Marzo & C.Puigdefabregas ), Spec. Publ. Int. Assoc. Sedim., 17, 489–500.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Hendrix, M.S. & Davis, G.A. (2001) Paleozoic and Mesozoic tectonic evolution of central Asia: From Continental assembly to intracontinental deformation. GSA memoir194.
  21. Hendrix, M.S., Graham, S.A., Amory, J.Y. & Badarch, G. (1996) Noyon Uul (King Mountain) syncline, southern Mongolia: Early Mesozoic sedimentary record of the tectonic amalgamation of central Asia. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 108, 1256–1274.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Hendrix, M.S., Graham, S.A., Carroll, A.R., Sobel, E.R., McKnight, C.L., Schulein, B.J. & Wang, Z. (1992) Sedimentary record and climatic implications of recurrent deformation in the Tian Shan: evidence from Mesozoic strata of the north Tarim, south Junggar, and Turpan Basins, northwest China. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 104, 53–79.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Johnson, C.L., Webb, L.E., Graham, S.A., Hendrix, M.S. & Badarch, G. (2001) Sedimentary and structural records of Late Mesozoic high‐strain extension and strain partitioning, East Gobi Basin, southern Mongolia. In: Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central and Eastern Asia: from Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation (Ed. by M.S.Hendrix & G.A.Davis ). Geol. Soc. Am. Memoir, 194, 413–434.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Kelly, S.B. & Olsen, H. (1993) Terminal fans – a review with reference to Devonian examples. Sedim. Geol., 85, 339–379.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Khil'ko, S.D., Kurushin, R.A., Kochetkov, V.M., Balzhinnyam, I. & Monkoo, D. (1985) Strong Earthquakes, Paleoseismogeological and Macroseismic data. Nauka, Moscow, pp. 19–83.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Khosbayar, P. (1973) New data on Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous sediments of western Mongolia. Acad. Sci. USSR, Doklady Earth Sci. Section, 208, 115–116.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Lowe, D.R. (1975) Water escape structures in coarse‐grained sediments. Sedimentology, 22, 157–204.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Miall, A.D. (1996) The geology of fluvial deposits: sedimentary facies, In: Basin Analysis, and Petrolium Geology. Springer, Berlin.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Nanson, G.C., Rust, B.R. & Taylor, G. (1986) Coexistent mud braids and anastomosing channels in an arid‐zone river: Cooper Creek, central Australia. Geology14, 175–178.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Nanson, G.C., Young, R.W., Price, D.M. & Rust, B.R. (1988) Stratigraphy, sedimentology and late‐Quaternary chronology of the channel country of western Queensland. In: Fluvial Geomorphology of Australia (Ed. by R.F.Warner ), pp. 151–175. Academic Press, London.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Nemec, W. & Postma, G. (1993) Quaternary alluvial fans in southwestern Crete; sedimentation processes and geomorphic evolution. In: Alluvial Sedimentation (Ed. by M.Marzo & C.Puigdefabregas ). Int. Assoc. Sediment. Spec. Publ.,17, 235–276.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Nemec, W. & Steel, R.J. (1984) Alluvial and coastal conglomerates; their significant features and some comments on gravelly mass‐flow deposits. In: Sedimentology of Gravels and Conglomerates (Ed. by E.H.Koster & R.J.Steel ), pp. 1–31. Can. Soc. Petrol. Geol., Calgary.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Parkash, B., Awasthi, A.K. & Gohain, K. (1983) Lithofacies of the Markanda terminal fan, Kurukshetra district, Haryana, India. In: Modern and Ancient Fluvial Systems (Ed. by J.D.Collinson ), Int. Assoc. Sediment. Spec. Publ.,6, 337–344.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Rasnitsyn, A.P. (1985) Fossil insects of Siberia and Mongolia Moscow, In: Rossiyskaya Akademiya Nauk, Paleontologicheskiy Institut, USSR.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Rust, B.R. & Nanson, G.C. (1989) Bedload transport of mud as pedogenic aggregates in modern and ancient rivers. Sedimentology, 36, 291–306.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. ŞEngÖr, A.M.C., Natal'in, B.A. & Burtman, V.S. (1993) Evolution of the Altaid tectonic collage and Palaeozoic crustal growth in Eurasia. Nature, 364, 299–307.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Shuvalov, V.F. (1969) Continental red beds of the upper Jurassic of Mongolia. Doklady Academii Nauk, SSSR, 189, 1088–1091.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Sjostrom, D.J. (1997) Lower–Middle Jurassic through Lower Cretaceous Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, and Tectonics of western Mongolia. Masters Thesis, The University of Montana, USA.
  39. Sjostrom, D.J., Hendrix, M.S., Badamgarav, D., Graham, S.A. & Nelson, B.K. (2001) Sedimentology and provenance of Mesozoic nonmarine strata in western Mongolia: a record of intracontinental deformation. In: Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central and Eastern Asia: from Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation (Ed. by M.S.Hendrix & G.A.Davis ). Geol. Soc. Am. Memoir, 194, 361–388.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Stear, W. (1985) Comparison of the bedform distribution and dynamics of modern and ancient sandy ephemeral flood deposits in the southwestern Karoo region, South Africa. Sedim. Geol., 45, 209–230.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Talbot, M.R., Holm, K. & Williams, M.A.J. (1994) Sedimentation in low‐gradient desert margin systems; a comparison of the Late Triassic of northwest Somerset (England) and the late Quaternary of east‐central Australia. In: Paleoclimate and Basin Evolution of Playa Systems (Ed. by M.R.Rosen ). Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper,289, 97–117.
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Tapponnier, P. & Molnar, P. (1979) Active faulting and tectonics of the Tien Shan, Mongolia and Baykal regions. J. Geophys. Res., 84, 3425–3459.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Togtoh, B. & Baatarhuyag, A. (1991) Open‐file report of the Tonhil mapping project, Ulaan Baatar. (In Mongolian).
  44. Traynor, J.J. & Sladen, C. (1995) Tectonic and stratigraphic evolution of the Mongolian People's Republic and its influence on hydrocarbon geology and potential. Mar. Pet.Geol., 12, 35–52.
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Tunbridge, I.P. (1981) Sandy high‐energy flood sedimentation – some criteria for recognition, with an example from the Devonian of SW England. Sedim. Geol., 28, 79–95.
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Vincent, S.J. & Allen, M.B. (2001) Sedimentary record of Mesozoic intracontinental deformation in the eastern Junggar Basin, northwest China: response to orogeny at the Asian margin. In: Palaeozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central and Eastern Asia: from Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation (Ed. by M.S.Hendrix & G.A.Davis ). Geol. Soc. Am. Memoir, 194, 341–360.
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Webb, L.E., Graham, S.A., Johnson, C.L., Badarch, G. & Hendrix, M.S. (1999) Occurrence, age and implications of the Yagan–Onch Hayrhan metamorphic core complex, southern Mongolia. Geology, 27, 143–146.
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Williams, G. (1971) Flood deposits of the sand bed ephemeral streams of central Australia. Sedimentology, 17, 1–40.
    [Google Scholar]
  49. Wright, V.P. (1992) Paleopedology: stratigraphic relationships and empirical models. In: Weathering Soils and Paleosols (Ed. by I.P.Martini & W.Chesworth ), pp. 475–499. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Yeats, R.S., Huftile, G.J., & Stitt, L.T. (1994) Late Cenozoic tectonics of the east Ventura Basin, transverse ranges, AAGP Bulletin, California., 78 (7), 1040–1074.
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Yin, A. & Harrison, T.M. (1996) The Tectonic Evolution of Asia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
    [Google Scholar]
  52. Young, A.A. (1993) Sheetflood sedimentology and stratigraphy of the middle Proterozoic Revett Formation, Scotchman Peak proposed wilderness area, Masters Thesis, University of Montana, Montana, USA
  53. Zaitsev, N.S. (1978) Geological Map of the Mongolian Altai, scale 1 : 500 000, Acad. of Sci., USSR, Acad. of Sci., Mongolian People's Republic, Comb. Sov.‐Mongolian Sci. Res. Geol. Exped., Nakau, Moscow. (In Russian).
  54. Zoback, M.L. (1992) First‐ and second‐order patterns of stress in the lithosphere: the world stress map project. J. Geophys. Res., 97, 11703–11711, 11728.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1046/j.1365-2117.2003.00198.x
Loading
The stratigraphic and structural evolution of the Dzereg Basin, western Mongolia: clastic sedimentation, transpressional faulting and basin destruction in an intraplate, intracontinental setting
Basin Research 15, 45 (2003); https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2117.2003.00198.x
/content/journals/10.1046/j.1365-2117.2003.00198.x
/content/journals/10.1046/j.1365-2117.2003.00198.x
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error