Comment on "Remagnetization of the Paleogene Tibetan Himalayan carbonate rocks in the Gamba area: Implications for reconstructing the lower plate in the India-Asia collision" by Huang et al.

The recent publication of "Remagnetization of the Paleogene Tibetan Himalayan carbonate rocks in the Gamba area: Implications for reconstructing the lower plate in the India-Asia collision" by Huang et al. [J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 122, doi:10.1002/2016JB013662] argued for a complete chemical remagnetization on the characteristic remanence of carbonate rocks from the Zongpu Formation (Fm) at Gamba, southern Tibet, and discussed its implications for the reconstruction of India-Asia collision. To support their conclusion, the authors performed nonparametric fold tests on the paleomagnetic data obtained from the Zongpuxi section, we previously published in Yi et al. [Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 2011, 309 (1-2):153-165] and argued for a synfolding or postfolding origin. In this comment, we demonstrate that their reinterpretation of the fold tests is invalid, and a prefolding origin of the ChRMs from the Zongpu Fm is still supported by the data. We agree that the new rock magnetic and SEM results are robust evidence for a secondary origin of the magnetite fraction in the Zongpu Fm; however, the associated secondary remanence was most likely acquired shortly after deposition of the carbonates, or even in an early diagenetic stage. We conclude that the paleomagnetic results from Gamba area can still be used for reconstructing the precollisional extent of Greater India.Chinese Academy of Sciences [XDB0310104]SCI(E)ARTICLE74852-485812