Active alluvial systems in the Korla Basin, Tien Shan, northwest China: sedimentation in a complex foreland basin

Abstract

AbstractThe Tien Shan is a Cenozoic orogenic belt in central Asia caused by the post-collisional convergence of India with Asia that reactivated Palaeozoic faults. The Korla Basin is a complex foreland basin within the Chinese Tien Shan; elongate sub-basins within it have received sediment from both the hangingwall and footwall blocks above and below reverse faults on their northern margins. The footwall blocks are themselves uplifted by the next fault to the south: the greater part of the sediment supply measured by area comes from the footwall block. This sediment supply pattern is analogous to that of extensional half-graben.