Geomorphic Mesozoic and Cenozoic evolution in the Oka-Jombolok region (East Sayan ranges, Siberia)

The East Sayan ranges are a key area to understand the interactions between the transpressive deformation linked to the far-field effects of the India–Asia collision and the extension linked to the opening of the Baikal Rift System. The active deformation that affects this range is very recent (around 5 Ma) but occurs in a very complex morphotectonic setting and the understanding of the Tertiary deformation relies entirely on a detailed knowledge of the pre-deformation situation. Using apatite fission track thermochronology, cosmogenic 10Be and morphological study on Tertiary lava flows we demonstrate that prior to the Oligocene the morphology of the East Sayan area was characterized by a wide, constantly rejuvenated erosion surface. Apatite fission track thermal modelling indicates that this surface started to form at least in Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous (140–120 Ma). The long-term exhumation rates (several tens of million years) derived from apatite fission track data (17.5 m/Ma) and the short-term erosion rates (over a few hundred thousand years) derived from cosmogenic 10Be data (12–20 m/Ma) are coherent implying a near constant mean erosion rate since Late Jurassic. This constant, slow erosion prevented the formation of a lateritic–kaolinic weathering crust on the planation surface. By Oligocene–early Miocene times a long wavelength uplift that remains to be explained, induced incision that created shallow valleys later filled by basaltic lava flows. Finally, the present short-wavelength topography initiated during the Pliocene.

► The planation surface preserved in the East Sayan ranges formed during Mesozoic times. ► Long term (several 100 Ma) and short term (few Ma) erosion rates are similar. ► Oligocene uplift of the East Sayan initiated the disruption of the surface.