Chronology and tectonic significance of Cenozoic faults in the Liupanshan Arcuate Tectonic Belt at the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

The Liupanshan Arcuate Tectonic Belt (LATB) is located at the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Major strike-slip and thrust faults in the Liupanshan area are prominent Cenozoic structures, which are critical in understanding and reconstructing the tectonic deformation history. This paper not only provides detailed investigations on geometric and kinematic characteristics of these faults in the LATB, but also dates the faults' movements by electron spin resonance (ESR). The LATB underwent a succession of compression, extension and again compression tectonic deformation processes since the Cenozoic. The Liupanshan Curved Faults first experienced sinistral strike-slip shear during 57-61 Ma. The Liupanshan Curved Faults responded to the deformation caused by the eastward escape of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and acted as the northeastern boundary of the deformation. Timing for the formation of the Liupanshan Curved Faults shows that the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates must have occurred earlier than these faults' activity because the latter is reflected the far-field effect of the collision.