The Cenozoic terrestrial chemical weathering records from the surrounding areas of the Tibetan Plateau are of great significance for understanding the relationship between Tibetan Plateau uplift, chemical weathering and global cooling. In this study, detailed mineralogical and geochemical analysis were performed on the early Cenozoic sediments from the Hongliugou section (54-26 Ma) in the Qaidam Basin, the Xiejia section in the Xining Basin (52-26 Ma) and the Caijiachong section in the Qujing Basin (46.6-36 Ma). Then a comprehensive chemical weathering history of the Early Cenozoic (54-26 Ma) in the northeastern and southeastern Tibetan Plateau was established. Specially, clay minerals of 315 samples from the Hongliugou section, 131 samples from the Xiejia section and 230 samples from the Caijiachong section were analyzed using Bruker D8+ X-ray diffraction analyzer. Major and trace elements of 310 samples from the Hongliugou section, 120 samples from Xiejia section and 201 samples from the Caijiachong section were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES; Leeman Labs Prodigy-H) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS; X-7; Thermo-Elemental, USA), respectively. While the hematite content of 835 samples from the Hongliugou section were determined using a Purkinje General TU1901 UV-VIS spectrophotometer. The regional chemical weathering intensity as suggested by clay mineral assemblage (i.e. (illite/smectite mixed layers + smectite)/illite), elemental geochemical indices (e.g., CIA) and hematite content shows a long-term decreasing trend in 54-26Ma, resembling the contemporary benthic oxygen isotopes variations, thus indicating that global temperature is the main controlling factor regulating the reginal chemical weathering in the early Cenozoic.

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The data file is named as “A weathering data set about the Cenozoic climate and environment evolutions within and around the Tibetan Plateau” based on its content. It was stored as .xlsx file and can be open and read by the Excel program directly.

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Cite as:

Fang, X., Han, W. (2022). A weathering data set about the Cenozoic climate and environment evolutions within and around the Tibetan Plateau. A Big Earth Data Platform for Three Poles, DOI: 10.11888/Paleoenv.tpdc.272001. CSTR: 18406.11.Paleoenv.tpdc.272001. (Download the reference： RIS | Bibtex )

Related Literatures:

1. Lü, S., Ye, C.C., Fang, X.M., Appel, E., Han, F.Q., & Yan, M.D., et al. (2021). Middle to late Eocene chemical weathering history in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau and its response to global cooling. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 562, 110136.( View Details | Bibtex)

2. Fang, X.M., Galy, A., Yang, Y.B., Zhang, W.L., Ye, C.C., & Song, C.H. (2019). Paleogene global cooling–induced temperature feedback on chemical weathering, as recorded in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Geology, 47(10), 992-996.( View Details | Bibtex)

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Support Program

The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program (STEP)(2019QZKK0707) (No:2019QZKK0707)

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