The apatite fission track analysis applied to the exploration of the uplifting of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

Due to the rapid and sustained uplifting of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from the Cenozoic onwards, the ancient Earth's surface elevation parameters should be introduced into the calculation of the uplifting rates of the Plateau. However, they are generally not taken into account by using the commonly used "track ages-topographic deviation" method. In these cases, the "track ages-height deviation" method is put forward here as a new technique for the calculation of the uplifting rates of the Plateau. The method is constructed by taking the elevation above sea level of one spot (sampling site) during different periods as an absolute uplifting amount, which is divided by time, and then an uplifting rate may be obtained. The different and reasonable aspects are discussed for the above-mentioned methods. In most cases, the fission track ages may represent those of tectonic uplifting and erosional events in terms of the pulses and episodes of the uplifting of the Plateau.