| Abstract: | Eocene Fenghuoshan Group and lower Oligocene Yaxicuo Group are represented by mainly fluvial, lacustrine and fan\|deltaic redbeds cropping out in Hoh Xil basin, the largest redbed basin in northern Tibet plateau. Lithic sandstone, lithic quartzose sandstone, conglomerate, as well as siltstone, consist of the major rock composition of the redbeds. The petrography of sandstone and conglomerate reveals the relationship between regional tectonic uplift events and the provenance of lower Tertiary redbeds.The outcrop rock data show that the detritus were derived from sedimentary rocks, volcanic rocks, and metamorphic rocks. Phyllite and quartzite rock fragments are most common in the metamorphic rock fragments .The sedimentary rock fragments are composed of chert, limestone, siltstone, and mudstone fragments. But volcanic rock fragments are minor and occasionally occur. In Hantaishan area, the northwestern part of Hoh Xil basin, clastic composition of sandstones and conglomerates testify to mainly southward and northeastward provenances. The metamorphic rock fragments, which are more common than volcanic and sedimentary rock fragments, can be directly correlated with metamorphic rock of Triassic metasedimentary Bayankara Group around the basin. In Fenghuoshan area, the southwestern part of the basin, there are less metamorphic rock fragment composition and more limestone fragments than in Hantaishan area.The limestone fragments were obviously derived from Carboniferous—Permian or Jurassic limestone beds. These limestone strata can not be found in the Bayankara block mass at which Hoh Xil basin locates, thus it is deduced that the limestone detritus were derived from the south, that is, Qiangtang blockmass. |
