Propagation of the thrust system and erosion in the Lesser Himalaya: Geochemical and sedimentological evidence

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 2001 Propagation of the thrust system and erosion in the Lesser Himalaya: Geochemical and sedimentological evidence Pascale Huyghe; Pascale Huyghe 1Maison des Géosciences, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Albert Galy; Albert Galy 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jean-Louis Mugnier; Jean-Louis Mugnier 3Maison des Géosciences, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christian France-Lanord Christian France-Lanord 4Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, BP 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Pascale Huyghe 1Maison des Géosciences, Université Joseph Fourier, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble, France Albert Galy 2Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK Jean-Louis Mugnier 3Maison des Géosciences, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, BP 53, 38041 Grenoble, France Christian France-Lanord 4Centre de Recherches Pétrographiques et Géochimiques, BP 20, 54501 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 26 Jan 2001 Revision Received: 07 Jun 2001 Accepted: 09 Jun 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2001) 29 (11): 1007–1010. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1007:POTTSA>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 26 Jan 2001 Revision Received: 07 Jun 2001 Accepted: 09 Jun 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Pascale Huyghe, Albert Galy, Jean-Louis Mugnier, Christian France-Lanord; Propagation of the thrust system and erosion in the Lesser Himalaya: Geochemical and sedimentological evidence. Geology 2001;; 29 (11): 1007–1010. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<1007:POTTSA>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Sedimentological and Nd isotope data of two sections of the sub-Himalaya of western Nepal are used as new constraints for understanding the erosion history of the Himalaya. Throughout the deposition of the middle and upper members of the Siwalik Group, the Lesser Himalaya contribution to the total detrital input progressively increased from less than 20% to 40%. The increasing proportion of Lesser Himalaya sediments started at ca. 10–8 Ma and is associated with a coarsening of the maximum grain size at both microscopic and macroscopic scales. Thin-skinned tectonics of the Lesser Himalaya thrust system would have controlled the exhumation of the Lesser Himalaya rocks and would have begun at 12–10 Ma, taking into account the delay for denudation. Together with other studies, these data restrict the onset of movement on the Lesser Himalaya thrust system to less than 3 m.y. along more than 1750 km. This short time frame implies a ratio of lateral propagation rate to shortening rate far too high for the propagation of a single crustal thrust; thus we suggest instead the simultaneous initiation of several thrusts ahead of the Main Central thrust at ca. 12 Ma. We suggest that a rapid rise of the Tibetan Plateau at this time has transformed the Himalaya to an overcritical thrust wedge that has propagated forward to return to a stable state. This regional rising could be the prime cause of the increase of sediment influx at ca. 11 Ma around the Himalaya. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.