Intra‐Continental Collision of the Tarim Basin and the Northern Tibetan Plateau

Abstract The seismic data recorded at 48 broadband stations on an 1,800‐km‐long linear array have been used to image the deep structure and deformation in the intra‐continental collision between the Tarim Basin and the Northern Tibetan Plateau (NTP). Common Conversion Point (CCP) stacking imaging along the linear array and joint inversion of receiver function and surface wave dispersion defined the crustal and upper mantle structure, indicating that the Tarim block underthrusts the Altyn Tagh Range–Qaidam Basin. Whereas Moho is flattened, the lithospheric mantle beneath the Qaidam Basin has unusually low velocity, which is thought to be the consequence of the delamination in the lower crust and mantle lithosphere. Strong positive phase occurring at depths of 150–200 km on the CCP stacking imaging is likely to be associated to the remnant subducted oceanic lithospheric slab or the underthrusting Tianshan lithospheric slab beneath the collision zone. The removal of the Altyn Tagh Range–Qaidam Basin orogenic root may be due to convection‐driven delamination underneath it and subsequent underthrusting of the Tarim block. The spatial variation of the SKS splitting is manifested as the large‐scale pattern of lithospheric deformation and local abrupt changes, transitioning from pure shear on the NTP to simple shear in the Altyn Tagh Range. A comprehensive analysis of SKS splitting and GPS data reveals a simple shear pattern of vertical coherent deformation in the Altyn Tagh Range and its adjacent areas, which is evidence of the lithospheric shear zones.