Strike-slip faulting clearly dominates the western margin of the Tibetan plateau, and thrust and normal faulting dominates the southern margin, but how these two systems interact is unclear. This has led to two distinct classes of models, one emphasizing orogen-parallel strike-skip faulting and the other emphasizing southward extrusion of Tibetan crust along the southern margin. This project will examine the timing and kinematics of the Karakoram fault system and other faults in the juncture between the western and southern margins of the Tibetan Plateau in order to discriminate between the viable models. Results should clarify the role that strike-slip faulting may play in controlling the dynamics of the southern margin of Tibet in the High Himalaya of Nepal.
