Our route steps through the mountains, taking advantance of the major E-W valleys by following the Golmud River as it cuts across the ranges. The road emerges on the Plateau near where the XTM fault branches. We are in the Xidatan-Dongdatan valley, which follows the XTM Fault. Professor Lin tells us that the fault displays some thrust movement, but is dominantly strike-slip. Its trace is indicated by triangular facets and scarps at the base of the mountains.
Spectacular glaciers descend from the Kunlun Mountains.
Lateral moraines embrace its long tongue of ice. The final stretch of road up to Kunlun Pass follows a steep stream. Along it, gold miners are working the placer deposits. Their equipment consists of a few water pumps and hoses, many shovels and some sluice boxes. Judging from the places that they are concentrating their efforts, the gold is concentrated at the base of the alluvial fans along the stream.