The deformation mechanism in the Western Qiangtang terrane and its surroundings: Evidence from magnetotelluric data

Located in the central part of the Tibetan Plateau, the Qiangtang terrane preserves important record of the uplift and deformation history of the Plateau, and therefore remains an attractive area of research. However, deep geophysical investigations of its western part are still limited. Here we present a new 3-D crustal electrical model of the western Qiangtang terrane and its surrounding area, computed from magnetotelluric array data. The electrical structure suggests the Longmu Co-Gozha Co fault, once believed to be a major regional deformation boundary, may not have cut the crust. The melt content and rheological parameters derived from the electrical structures show dominant ductile-type deformation in most of the study area, which contributes block extrusion along the slip faults. Viscous deformation regions formed by mantle melt upwelling in the mid-lower crust may contribute to the formation of the N-S directed normal faults on the surface.