The Tibetan plateau and the Himalayas are perhaps the best known example of the effect of a large-scale continental collision. A detailed understanding of this continental collision zone is crucial to help understanding of the development of mature continental crust, since it is recognized that continental collision is the essential last step in this process. The aim of this project is to explore the mechanisms dominantly responsible for crustal thickening and consequent uplift in the formation of a collisional plateau such as Tibet. The work will involve study of rocks from the Gangdise, Nyaingentanglha, Damxung and nearby areas of the Tibetan plateau. Samples will be analyzed by 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, apatite fission track dating and U-Pb dating to provide data to constrain the timing and rates of uplift in southern Lhasa Terrane. This will be compared to strain data from detailed structural analysis to test several models for the evolution of the Tibetan plateau. This research will be conducted under the Earth Sciences Protocol between the NSF and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
