从西秦岭晚中生代-新生代红层沉积的岩石组合、空间分布和构造变形特征分析,西秦岭晚中生代-新生代红层沉积可以分为三个构造层,分别对应于三个构造演化阶段。1)晚侏罗世-早白垩世构造层:该构造层以深紫红色、灰色砾岩、砂岩为主,并含有特征性的黑色页岩和煤层为特征;构造变形以北东东向褶皱和断裂构造变形为特征,反映了早白垩世末期(燕山运动)的构造变形动力学为北西-南东向地壳挤压收缩,可能与扬子板块与华北板块陆内斜向汇聚有关。2)晚白垩世-古近纪构造层:该构造层以砖红色、紫红色砾岩、砂岩、页岩为主,间夹有灰色、灰黄色、灰绿色泥岩和页岩层,具有不连续面状分布的特征,指示了其沉积时地壳的广泛拉伸的构造背景;古近纪末期的构造变形以与现今北西向构造线一致的宽缓褶皱和断裂构造变形为特征,可能指示了新生代初印度板块和亚洲板块碰撞的构造动力作用第一次远程构造响应。3)新近纪构造层:该构造层以近水平的产状、典型的细碎屑沉积为主要特征,特别是红粘层、淡水碳酸盐层的存在以及含有的三趾马化石特征,空间上与主夷平面的密切联系指示了新近纪早期经历一个夷平剥蚀期,这一阶段地壳构造稳定,变形以块断作用为主。西秦岭在经历了上述三个阶段构造演化过程后,开始进入了第四纪以来以块体变形和快速隆升的构造阶段,这与印度板块与亚洲板块的持续汇聚导致的周缘山系的崛起和变形相一致。
Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic red bed deposit strata in the western Qinling, based upon their rock association, spatial distribution and tectonic deformation characteristics, can be divided into three tectonic sequences. They are J3-K1, K2-E and N tectonic sequence, which are corresponded to three tectonic evolution stages. J3-K1 tectonic sequence is composed of deep pink-gray conglomerates sandstones and shales with the black shale and coal bed. It is characteristed structurally by NEE trend folding and faulting, which could be related to NW-SE direction compression and crustal shortening lead by the oblique convergence between North China Block and Yangtze Block in Yanshan Movement. K2-E tectonic sequence is mainly composed of brick-red, pink conglomerate, sandstone and shale with grey or yellow-green shale or mud rocks. Its spatially extensive distribution indicated that at that time when it was formed, regional crustal extention existed. At the end of Eogene, NE-SW direction tectonic compression lead to form the NW trend fold and fault, which could be the results of the tectonic response to the India-Euasia plate collision. Neogence tectonic sequence is characteristed by horizontal occurrence, fined sedimentary rocks, in which the existence of red soil, fresh water carbonate and Happarion fossil and mainly distribution on the Planation surface shows that at the beginning of Neogence Period western Qinling had ever underwent long time planation, finally formed an extensive plantation surface. As the part of Tibet Plateau, rapid uplift of western Qinling could begin at the end of Neogence Period.