Distributions and ages of the Paleogene deposits in the Kibi Plateau Area, and Paleogene paleogeography

The "Kibi Plateau" forms a unique geomorphic province with the gently-sloping and stable continental feature. Gravel deposites called the "Mountain Gravels", are distributed sporadically in the Kibi Plateau, and have been considered Pliocene deposits. However, recent fission-track ages of the tuff beds intercalated in the deposits have indicated that the ago of deposits are Paleogen in the age. So far, fission-track ages (using zircon) of 61 to 65, 55, 37, 34 to 35 and 27 Ma are obtained. Remaining the belt-like distributions of the Paleogene gravelly valley-full deposits suggest that the Kibe Plateau has been keeping as a stable block, and repeated periods of incision followed by sedimentation of valley-fill deposits are occurred in the area during Paleogene period.