Geological characteristics and evolution of the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau since the late Cenozoic

The eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau developed an integrated series of late Cenozoic lacustrine, loess, red and moraines deposits. Various genetic sediments recorded rich information of Quaternary palaeoenvironment changes. Xigeda Pliocene lacustrine deposits, formed during 4.2 Ma B.P.–2.6 Ma B.P., experienced nine periodic warm-cold stages. Eolian deposition in western Sichuan began at 1.15 Ma B.P., and the loess-soil sequences successively record fourteen palaeomonsoon change cycles. Red clay in the Chengdu plain record five stages of paleoclimatic change stages since 1.13 Ma B.P.. There was an old glacial period of 4.3 Ma B.P. in the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. During the Quaternary, there were five extreme paleoclimatic events corresponding to five glaciations.