Magnetostratigraphy of the Kelasu section in the Baicheng depression, Southern Tian Shan, northwestern China

In order to better constrain chronology of the Cenozoic sediments in the foreland basin of the Southern Tian Shan, we carried out a magnetostratigraphic study along the Kelasu River, in the Baicheng depression, northwestern China. This is the basis for future studies of the tectonic shortening history and paleoclimatic changes. Stepwise thermal demagnetization was used to isolate the high-temperature characteristic component (ChRM) from 1521 oriented samples collected along two overlapped sections. The ChRM directions are interpreted to be acquired at or close to the time of rock formation. A composite magnetostratigraphic column composed of 86 (45 normal and 41 reversed) polarity chrons can correlate with GPTS (CK95) from ∼54 Ma to ∼7.6 Ma. The basal ages of the Kumugeliemu, Suweiyi, Jidike and the Kangcun formations are ∼54 Ma, ∼46 Ma, ∼34 Ma and ∼9.7 Ma, respectively. The changes of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) parameters (Pj and T) cannot be used to reflect the Cenozoic uplift of the southern Chinese Tian Shan due to the parameters have a significant linear positive correlation with the bulk magnetic susceptibility (Km), suggesting a sedimentary provenance control. Based on the alignments of the AMS, we concluded that the paleo-river channel flowed from north to south, being similar to the present river flowing direction, suggesting that there was still a residue relief of the Tian Shan orogen after the long-term Mesozoic denudation or the reactivation of the Tian Shan may have been initiated as early as ∼54 Ma.