TECTONIC CONTROL OF CONTINENTAL SEDIMENTARY BASINS IN ALTAI-BAIKAL, CENTRAL ASIA: INTRODUCTION

Abstract

Since the collision of India with the Asian continent, continuous convergence caused the progressive indentation in India into Asia and the northward propagation of the Cenozoic deformation to Central Asia. The ILP World Stress Map project shows that the compressive stresses generated by the India­Eurasia convergence spread northwards in a fan-shape and affect a large part of the Asian plate. Space geodetic data indicate that the Indian plate is indenting into Asia with 5 em/year velocity. The effect of the indentation is distinctly displayed in the Tibet and Himalayas and, furthermore, in NW China and Mongolia.