Paleoelevation reconstruction of Red River drainage areas in Western Yunnan Plateau since Miocene

The materials denudated from Western Yunnan Plateau were transported to the Yinggehai basin and southeast Hainan basin to accumulate by the Red River drainage. Thus, a relatively closed system formed between uplift and erosion areas in the Western Yunnan Plateau and accumulation areas in the Yinggehai basin and southeast Hainan basin. Based on mass balance between erosion areas and (accumulation) areas, sediments accumulated in catchment basins were distributed back to the erosion areas in plateau, and the paleoelevation can be reconstructed for the Red River drainage areas in Western (Yunnan) Plateau since Miocene. The elevation of the Red River drainage areas was lower than 560 m (during) 16.2~19.6 Ma and attained 860~950m during 16.2~11 Ma, an uplift of 16.2~11 Ma can be suggested. The elevation of the Red River drainage areas was lowered to 800 m because of planation during 11 Ma to 5.3 Ma. The Red River drainage areas were uplifted about 1800~1925 m and attained the (highest) elevation about 2600~2725 m during 5.3~1.6 Ma, Western Yunnan Plateau was formed (basically) and a rapid uplift can be inferred. After that, the Red River drainage areas were denudated and lowered from 2560 m to 2300 m at the present. About 3900 m thickness materials were denudated from the Red River drainage areas since Miocene.