S. C. Cande and D. V. Kent, Revised calibration of the geomagnetic polarity timescale for the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, J. Geophys. Res, vol.100, pp.6093-6095, 1995.

C. B. De-boer and M. J. Dekkers, Grain-size dependence of the rock magnetic properties for a natural maghemite, Geophys. Res. Lett, vol.23, pp.2815-2818, 1996.

N. Delville, N. Arnaud, and J. M. Montel, Paleozoic to Cenozoic deformation along Altyn-Tagh fault in the Altun Shan massif area, eastern Qilian Shan, northeast Tibet, China, in Paleozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central and Eastern Asia: From Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation, Mem. Geol. Soc. Am, vol.194, pp.269-292, 2001.

D. L. Dettman, X. Fang, C. N. Garzione, and J. Li, Upliftdriven climate change at 12 Ma: A long small delta, d18O record from the NE margin of the Tibetan plateau, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, vol.214, pp.267-277, 2003.

G. Dupont-nivet, R. F. Butler, A. Yin, D. Robinson, Y. Zhang et al., Concentration of crustal displacement along a weak Altyn Tagh fault: Evidence from paleomagnetism of the northern Tibetan Plateau, Tectonics, vol.23, p.1020, 2004.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02957160

X. Fang, C. Garzione, R. Van-der-voo, J. Li, and M. Fan, Flexural subsidence by 29 Ma on the NE edge of Tibet from the magnetostratigraphy of Linxia Basin, China, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, vol.210, issue.3 -4, pp.545-560, 2003.

X. Fang, Z. Zhao, J. Li, M. Yan, B. Pan et al., Late Cenozoic magnetostratigraphy of Laojunmiao anticlines of northern Qilian shan (Mts.) and its implications for uplift of northern Tibetan Plateau, Sci. China, Ser. D, vol.32, issue.2, pp.97-106, 2004.

X. Fang, M. Yan, R. Van-der-voo, D. K. Rea, C. Song et al., Late Cenozoic deformation and uplift of the NE Tibetan Plateau: Evidence from high-resolution magnetostratigraphy of the Guide Basin, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, vol.117, pp.1208-1225, 2005.

L. J. Flynn, W. Downs, N. D. Opdyke, K. Huang, E. Lindsay et al., Recent advances in the small mammal biostratigraphy and magnetostratigraphy of Lanzhou Basin, Chin. Sci. Bull, vol.44, pp.109-117, 1999.

C. Garzione, M. J. Ikari, and A. R. Basu, Source of Oligocene to Pliocene sedimentary rocks in the Linxia basin in northeastern Tibet from Nd isotopes: Implications for tectonic forcing of climate, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, vol.117, issue.9, pp.1156-1166, 2005.

A. D. George, S. J. Marshallsea, K. Wyrwoll, J. Chen, and Y. Lu, Miocene cooling in the Northern Qilian Shan, northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, revealed by apatite fission-track and vitrinitereflectance analysis, Geology, vol.29, issue.10, pp.939-942, 2001.

S. Gilder, Y. Chen, and S. Sen, Oligo-Miocene magnetostratigraphy and rock magnetism of the Xishuigou section, Subei (Gansu Province, western China) and implications for shallow inclinations in central Asia, J. Geophys. Res, vol.106, issue.B12, pp.505-535, 2001.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00089760

Y. C. Hao, Cretaceous and Palaeogene ostracod biostratigraphy in Xining and Minhe basins of China, Evolutionary Biology of Ostracoda, pp.1163-1171, 1988.

J. D. He, D. S. Van-nieuwenhuise, and F. M. Swain, Biostratigraphy, i. E. of Paleogene non-marine Ostracoda from east China, and e. b. Biology of Ostracoda, Biostratigraphy of Paleogene non-marine Ostracoda from east China, Evolutionary Biology of Ostracoda, pp.1153-1161, 1988.

B. K. Horton, A. Yin, M. S. Spurlin, J. Zhou, and J. Wang, Paleocene-Eocene syncontractional sedimentation in narrow, lacustrinedominated basins of east-central Tibet, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, vol.114, issue.7, pp.771-786, 2003.

B. K. Horton, G. Dupont-nivet, J. Zhou, G. L. Waanders, R. F. Butler et al., Mesozoic-Cenozoic evolution of the Xining-Minhe and Dangchang basins, northeastern Tibetan Plateau: Magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic results, J. Geophys. Res, vol.109, p.4402, 2004.

G. Houseman and P. England, A lithospheric-thickening model for the Indo-Asian collision, World and Regional Geology Series, pp.3-17, 1996.

M. Jolivet, M. Brunel, D. Seward, Z. Xu, J. Yang et al., Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonics of the northern edge of the Tibetan Plateau: Fission-track constraints, vol.343, pp.111-134, 2002.

J. L. Kirschvink, The least-square line and plane and the analysis of paleomagnetic data, Geophys. J. R. Astron. Soc, vol.62, pp.699-718, 1980.

C. Li and Z. Qiu, Early Miocene mammalian fossils of Xining Basin, vol.18, pp.198-214, 1980.

C. Li, Z. Qiu, and S. Wang, Discussion on Miocene stratigraphy and mammals from Xining basin, vol.19, pp.313-320, 1981.

H. J. Li, Z. Yang, Z. Xu, C. Wu, Y. Wang et al., Geological and chronological evidence of Indo-Chinese strike-slip movement in the Altyn Tagh fault zone, Chin. Sci. Bull, vol.47, issue.1, pp.27-32, 2002.

J. Li, Uplift of Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) Plateau and Global Change, p.210, 1995.

J. Li, X. Fang, R. Van-der-voo, J. Zhu, C. Macniocaill et al., Late Cenozoic magnetostratigraphy (11 -0 Ma) of the Dongshanding and Wangjiashan sections in the Longzhong Basin, western China, Geol. Mijbouw, vol.76, pp.121-134, 1997.

G. Liu and R. Yang, Pollen assemblages of the late Eocene Nadu Formation from the Bose basin of Guangxi, southern China, Palynology, vol.23, pp.97-114, 1999.

J. Liu, P. H. , X. Ge, S. Ren, Y. Liu et al., An early faulting along the Altun Mountains, vol.152, pp.379-386, 2001.

Z. Liu, X. Zhao, C. Wang, S. Liu, and H. Yi, Magnetostratigraphy of Tertiary sediments form the Hoh Xil Basin: Implications for the Cenozoic history of the Tibetan Plateau, Geophys. J. Int, vol.154, pp.233-252, 2003.

W. Lowrie, Identification of ferromagnetic minerals in a rock by coercivity and unblocking temperature properties, Geophys. Res. Lett, vol.17, pp.159-162, 1990.

Q. Meng, J. Hu, and F. Yang, Timing and magnitude of displacement on the Altyn Tagh fault: Constraints from stratigraphic correlation of adjoining Tarim and Qaidam basins, vol.13, pp.86-91, 2001.

F. Metivier, Y. Gaudemer, P. Tapponnier, and B. Meyer, Northeastward growth of the Tibet plateau deduced from balanced reconstruction of two depositional areas: The Qaidam and Hexi corridor basins, vol.17, pp.823-842, 1998.
URL : https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01499461

B. Meyer, P. Tapponnier, L. Bourjot, F. Metivier, Y. Gaudemer et al., Crustal thickening in the Gansu-Qinghai, lithospheric mantle, oblique and strike-slip controlled growth of the Tibetan Plateau, Geophys. J. Int, vol.135, pp.1-47, 1998.

C. Mock, N. Arnaud, and J. Cantagrel, An early unroofing in northeastern Tibet? Constraints from 40 Ar/ 39 Ar thermochronology on granitoids from the eastern Kunlun range, vol.171, pp.107-122, 1999.

P. Molnar, P. England, and J. Martinod, Mantle dynamics, uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, and the Indian monsoon, Rev. Geophys, vol.31, issue.4, pp.357-396, 1993.

J. M. Pares, R. Van-der-voo, W. R. Downs, M. Yan, and X. Fang, Northeastward growth and uplift of the Tibetan Plateau: Magnetostratigraphic insights from the Guide Basin, J. Geophys. Res, vol.108, issue.B1, p.2017, 2003.

, Geologic maps of the Duoba, Gaodian, Tianjiazai, and Xining regions, 4 sheets, with regional geologic report (1:50,000 scale), 0199.

Z. , C. Li, and S. Wang, Regional Geology of the Qinghai Province, Miocene mammals fossils from Xining Basin, vol.662, pp.156-173, 1981.

Z. Qiu, W. Wu, and Z. Qiu, Miocene mammal faunal sequence of China: Paleozoogeography and Eurasian relationships, in The Miocene Land Mammals of Europe, pp.443-455, 1999.

Z. Qiu, B. Wang, Z. Qiu, F. Heller, L. Yue et al., Land-mammal geochronology and magnetostratigraphy of mid-Tertiary deposits in the Lanzhou Basin, Eclogae. Geol. Helv, vol.94, pp.373-385, 2001.

B. D. Ritts and U. Biffi, Magnitude of post-Middle Jurassic (Bajocian) displacement on the central Altyn Tagh fault system, northwest China, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, vol.112, pp.61-74, 2000.

E. R. Sobel, N. Arnaud, M. Jolivet, B. D. Ritts, and M. Brunel, Jurassic to Cenozoic exhumation history of the Altyn Tagh Range, northwest China, constrained by 40 Ar/ 39 Ar and apatite fission track thermochronology, in Paleozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central Asia; From Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation, Paleozoic and Mesozoic Tectonic Evolution of Central and Eastern Asia: From Continental Assembly to Intracontinental Deformation, Mem. Geol. Soc. Am, vol.194, pp.247-267, 2001.

E. R. Sobel, G. E. Hilley, and M. R. Strecker, Formation of internally drained contractional basins by aridity-limited bedrock incision, J. Geophys. Res, vol.108, issue.B7, p.2344, 2003.

M. S. Spurlin, A. Yin, B. K. Horton, J. Zhou, and J. Wang, Structural evolution of the Yushu-Nangqian region and its relationship to syncollisional igneous activity, east-central Tibet, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, vol.117, pp.1293-1317, 2005.

J. M. Sun, R. X. Zhu, and Z. S. An, Tectonic uplift in the northern Tibetan Plateau since 13.7 Ma ago inferred from molasse deposits along the Altyn Tagh Fault, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, vol.235, pp.641-653, 2005.

X. Sun, Y. Zhao, and Z. He, The Oligocene-Miocene palynological assemblages from the Xining-Minhe basin, Geol. Rev, vol.30, issue.3, pp.207-216, 1984.

P. Tapponnier, Active thrusting and folding in the Qilian Shan, and decoupling between upper crust and mantle in northeastern Tibet, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, vol.97, pp.382-403, 1990.

P. Tapponnier, Z. Xu, F. Roger, B. Meyer, N. Arnaud et al., Oblique stepwise rise and growth of the Tibetan Plateau, vol.294, pp.1671-1677, 2001.

L. Tauxe, Paleomagnetic Principles and Practice, vol.299, 1998.

L. Tauxe and C. Badgley, Stratigraphy and remanence acquisition of a paleomagnetic reversal in alluvial Siwalik rocks of Pakistan, Sedimentology, vol.35, pp.697-715, 1988.

L. Tauxe and Y. Gallet, A jackknife for magnetostratigraphy, Geophys. Res. Lett, vol.18, pp.1783-1786, 1991.

C. Wang, Z. Liu, H. Yi, S. Liu, and X. Zhao, Tertiary crustal shortening and peneplanation in the Hoh Xil region: Implications for the tectonic history of the northern Tibetan Plateau, J. Asian Earth Sci, vol.20, issue.3, pp.211-223, 2002.

D. Wang, X. Sun, and Y. Zhao, Late Cretaceous to Tertiary palynofloras in Xinjiang and Qinghai, China, Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol, vol.65, issue.1 -4, pp.95-104, 1990.

E. Wang, Displacement and timing along the northern trend of the Altyn Tagh fault zone, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, vol.150, pp.55-64, 1997.

X. Wang, B. Wang, Z. Qiu, G. Xie, J. Xie et al., Danghe area (western Gansu, China) biostratigraphy and implications for depositional history and tectonics of northern Tibetan Plateau, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, vol.208, issue.3 -4, pp.253-269, 2003.

A. Yin and M. T. Harrison, Geologic evolution of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen, Annu. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci, vol.28, pp.211-280, 2000.

A. Yin, Tectonic history of the Altyn Tagh fault system in northern Tibet inferred from Cenozoic sedimentation, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull, vol.114, issue.10, pp.1257-1295, 2002.

J. Yu, H. Zhang, Q. Lin, Y. Gu, and Z. Z. Zhang, Geological implications of Sporopollenites Flora from Tertiary Xining Group in Minhe County, Qinghai Province, vol.28, pp.401-405, 2003.

Q. Yu, C. Li, F. Gu, Y. Hou, and K. Zhang, Regional Geologic Character and Field Mapping in the Northeast Margin of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in Cenozoic (in Chinese), 123 pp, 2001.

L. Yue, F. Heller, Z. Qui, L. Zhang, G. Xie et al., Magnetostratigraphy and paleoenvironmental record of Tertiary deposits of Lanzhou Basin, Chin. Sci. Bull, vol.46, pp.770-774, 2001.

Y. Yue, B. D. Ritts, and S. A. Graham, Initiation and long-term slip history of the Altyn Tagh fault, Int. Geol. Rev, vol.43, pp.1087-1093, 2001.

Y. Yue, B. D. Ritts, S. A. Graham, J. L. Wooden, G. E. Gehrels et al., Slowing extrusion tectonics: Lowered estimate of post-Early Miocene slip rate for the Altyn Tagh fault, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett, vol.217, issue.1 -2, pp.111-122, 2004.

J. Zachos, M. Pagani, L. Sloan, E. Thomas, and K. Billups, Trends, rhythms, and aberrations in global climate 65 Ma to present, Science, vol.292, issue.5517, pp.686-693, 2001.

Y. Zhai and T. Cai, The Tertiary system of Gansu province, pp.1-40, 1984.

S. Dai, J. Gao, C. Song, and W. Zhang, , vol.17, p.730000

X. Fang, Tianshui South Road, Beijing, 100085 China. (fangxm@ itpcas.ac.cn) C. Langereis, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, issue.222