Tectonic evolution of the Thakkahola Graben and Dhaulagiri Himalaya, Central Nepal

Three extensional fault systems intersect in the central Nepal Himalaya: the South Tibetan fault system (STFS); the Thakkhola graben; and structures bounding the Upper Mustang Massif (UMM). Interactions between these systems are investigated using integrated field studies, remote sensing analyses, geodynamic modeling, and a wide variety of geochronologic tools. The goals are to characterize the relationships between the three extensional systems, document their neotectonic histories in relation to their older manifestations, and develop a model for how the geodynamic phenomena driving them have produced the observed patterns of tectonism and deformation. 14C geochronology, remote sensing analyses, and field observations in the southern Thakkhola graben show that the STFS has been active in the Quaternary and that the kinematically-linked Thakkhola graben acts as a tear structure in its hanging wall. In the northern Thakkhola graben, neotectonic, structural, and 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb geochronologic data from the UMM record its Late Miocene to Quaternary exhumational history and reveal a kinematic and geometric relationship between core-complex extension in the UMM and rift extension in the Thakkhola graben.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• Hurtado, José Miguel, 1974-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Kip V. Hodges.

• Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/33160

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/33160