Below-Moho Earthquakes of Tibet,Himalaya,the Indian Foreland,and Worldwide:How,Where and Why?

We seek to understand lithospheric rheology by mapping continental earthquake depths relative to Moho depth,across the entire India/Asia convergent orogen,and eventually worldwide.Such mapping has particular value in geothermometry,and potentially in identifying regions of delamination.How:We are extending our Sn/Lg method beyond amplitude ratios of regional seismic phases measured on arrays(array Sn/Lg method,Wang and Klemperer,2021)to include frequency proxies for earthquake depth relative to Moho(Wang&Klemperer,2024a,b;Harris et al.,2024).

Heterogeneity and differential hydrocarbon accumulation model of deep reservoirs in foreland thrust belts: A case study of deep Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation clastic reservoirs in southern Junggar Basin, NW China

Using the data of drilling, logging, core, experiments and production, the heterogeneity and differential hydrocarbon accumulation model of deep reservoirs in Cretaceous Qingshuihe Formation(K1q) in the western section of the foreland thrust belt in southern Junggar Basin are investigated. The target reservoirs are characterized by superimposition of conglomerates, sandy conglomerates and sandstones, with high content of plastic clasts. The reservoir space is mainly composed of intergranular pores. The reservoirs are overall tight, and the sandy conglomerate has the best physical properties. The coupling of short deep burial period with low paleotemperature gradient and formation overpressure led to the relatively weak diagenetic strength of the reservoirs. Specifically, the sandy conglomerates show relatively low carbonate cementation, low compaction rate and high dissolution porosity. The special stress-strain mechanism of the anticline makes the reservoirs at the top of the anticline turning point more reformed by fractures than those at the limbs, and the formation overpressure makes the fractures in open state. Moreover, the sandy conglomerates have the highest oil saturation. Typical anticline reservoirs are developed in deep part of the thrust belt, but characterized by "big trap with small reservoir". Significantly, the sandy conglomerates at the top of anticline turning point have better quality, lower in-situ stress and higher structural position than those at the limbs,with the internal hydrocarbons most enriched, making them high-yield oil/gas layers. The exponential decline of fractures makes hydrocarbon accumulation difficult in the reservoirs at the limbs. Nonetheless, plane hydrocarbon distribution is more extensive at the gentle limb than the steep limb.

Diagenesis of the Paleogene Sandstones in the DN2 Gas Field,Kuqa Foreland Basin and its Link to Tectonics

We investigated diagenesis of the sandstones from the DN2 Gas Field of the Kuqa Foreland Basin(KFB),in order to infer the timing of fluid migration and discuss the linkage between fluids and tectonics.The textures and chemical composition of authigenic minerals,fluid evidence from fluid inclusions and formation water measurements were all used to fulfill this aim.Eodiagenesis occurred with the participation of meteoric water and connate water.Mesodiagenesis is related to high salinity fluids,which were attributed as originating from the overlying Neogene Jidike Formation evaporite(principal minerals including halite,anhydrite,glauberite,carnallite and thenardite).The onset of high salinity fluid migration is inferred to occur during the late Miocene(12.4-9.2 Ma)through the use of homogenization temperatures measured in the present study and K-Ar dating of authigenetic illites from previous work.This period is consistent with the crucial phase(13-10 Ma)that witnessed the rapid uplift of the southern Tianshan Mts and the stage when calcite and anhydrite veins formed in the studied strata.We thus argue that diagenesis related to high salinity fluids occurred as a response to the Tianshan Mts'rapid uplift and related tectonic processes.The flow of high salinity fluids was probably driven by a density gradient and channeled and focused by fractures formed contemporaneously.

Characteristics of Hydrocarbon Fluid Inclusions and Their Significance for Evolution of Petroleum Systems in the Dabashan Foreland,Central China

Field investigation combined with detailed petrographic observation indicate that abundant oil,gas,and solid bitumen inclusions were entrapped in veins and cements of sedimentary rocks in the Dabashan foreland,which were used to reconstruct the oil and gas migration history in the context of tectonic evolution.Three stages of veins were recognized and related to the collision between the North China block and the Yangtze block during the Indosinian orogeny from Late Triassic to Early Jurassic（Dl）,the southwest thrusting of the Qinling orogenic belt towards the Sichuan basin during the Yanshanian orogeny from Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous（D2）,and extensional tectonics during Late Cretaceous to Paleogene（D3）,respectively.The occurrences of hydrocarbon inclusions in these veins and their homogenization temperatures suggest that oil was generated in the early stage of tectonic evolution,and gas was generated later,whereas solid bitumen was the result of pyrolysis of previously accumulated hydrocarbons.Three stages of hydrocarbon fluid inclusions were also identified in cements of carbonates and sandstones of gas beds in the Dabashan foreland belt and the Dabashan foreland depression（northeastern Sichuan basin）,which recorded oil/gas formation,migration,accumulation and destruction of paleo-reservoirs during the D2.Isotopic analysis of hydrocarbon fluid inclusions contained in vein minerals shows that δ^（13）C_1 of gas in fluid inclusions ranges from-17.0‰ to-30.4‰（PDB） and δD from-107.7‰ to-156.7‰（SMOW）,which indicates that the gas captured in the veins was migrated natural gas which may be correlated with gas from the gas-fields in northern Sichuan basin.Organic geochemical comparison between bitumen and potential source rocks indicates that the Lower Cambrian black shale and the Lower Permian black limestone were the most possible source rocks of the bitumen.Combined with tectonic evolution history of the Dabashan foreland,the results of this study suggest that oil was generated from the Paleozoic source rocks in the Dabashan area under normal burial thermal conditions before Indosinian tectonics and accumulated to form paleo-reservoirs during Indosinian collision between the North China block and the Yangtz block.The paleo-reservoirs were destroyed during the Yanshanian tectonic movement when the Dabashan foreland was formed.At the same time,oil in the paleo-reservoirs in the Dabashan foreland depression was pyrolyzed to transform to dry gas and the residues became solid bitumen.

The Uplift of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt and Subsidence of the West Sichuan Foreland Basin

Based on fission track dating of apatite, and measurement of vitrinite reflectance of rock samples from the Longmenshan (Longmen Mountain)area and the West Sichuan foreland basin and computer modelling it is concluded that (l)the Songpan-Garze fold belt has uplifted at least by 3-4 km with an uplift rate of no less than 0.3-0.4 mm/a since 10 Ma B.P.; (2) the Longmenshan thrust nappe belt has uplifted at least by 5-6 km with an uplift rate of more than 0.5- 0.6 mm /a since 10 Ma B.P.; (3) the Longmenshan detachment belt has uplifted by 1 - 2 km at a rate of 0.016-0.032 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (4) the West Sichuan foreland basin has uplifted by 1.7-3 km at a rate of 0.028-0.05 mm/a since 60 Ma B.P.; (5) the uplift rate of the area on the west side of the Beichuan-Yingxiu-Xiaoguanzi fault for the last 10 Ma is 40 times as much as that on its east side; (6) the uplifting of the the Songpan - Garze fold belt and the subsidence of the West Sichuan foreland basin 60 Ma ago exhibit a mirro-image correlation, i.e. the rapid uplifting of the the Songpan-Garze fold belt was corresponding to the rapid subsidence of the basin;the Songpan-Garze fold belt has uplifted at a much greater rate than the West Sichuan foeland basin in the last 60 Ma;and (7) the palaeogeothermal gradient was 25℃ /km in the West Sichuan foreland basin.

Tectonic evolution of the Dabashan orocline, central China: Insights from the superposed folds in the eastern Dabashan foreland

The Dabashan orocline is situated in the northwestern margin of the central Yangtze block,central China.Previous studies have defined the orthogonal superposed folds growing in its central-western segment thereby confirming its two-stage tectonic evolution history.Geological mapping has revealed that more types of superposed folds have developed in the eastern segment of the orocline,which probably provides more clues for probing the structure and tectonic history of the Dabashan orocline.In this paper,based on geological mapping,structural measurements and analyses of deformation,we have identified three groups of folds with different trends （e.g.NW-,NE-and nearly E-trending folds） and three types of structural patterns of superposed folds in the eastern Dabashan foreland （e.g.syn-axial,oblique,and conjunctional superposed folds）.In combination with geochronological data,we propose that the synaxial superposed folds are due to two stages of ～N-S shortening in the west and north of the Shennongjia massif,and that oblique superposed folds have been resulted from the superposition of the NW-and NE-trending folds onto the early ～ E-W folds in the east of the Shennongjia massif in the late Jurassic to early Cretaceous.The conjunctional folds are composed of the NW-and NE-trending folds,corresponding to the regional-scale dual-orocline in the eastern Sichuan as a result of the southwestward expansion of the Dabashan foreland during late Jurassic to early Cretaceous,coeval with the northwestward propagation of the Xuefengshan foreland.Integration of the structure and geochronology of the belt shows that the Dabashan orocline is a combined deformation belt primarily experiencing a twostage tectonic evolution history in Mesozoic,initiation of the Dabashan orocline as a foreland basin along the front of the Qinling orogen in late Triassic to early Jurassic due to collisional orogeny,and the final formation of the Dabashan orocline owing to the southwestward propagation of the Qinling orogen during late Jurassic to early Cretaceous intra-continental orogeny.Our studies provide some evidences for understanding the structure and deformation of the Dabashan orocline.

From Flysch to Molasse—Sedimentary and Tectonic Evolution of Late Caledonian -Early Hercynian Foreland Basin in North Qilian Mountains

The Late Caledonian to Early Hercynian North Qilian orogenic belt in no rthwestern China is an elongate tectonic unit situated between the North China p late in the north and the Qaidam plate in the south. North Qilian started in the latest Proterozoic to Cambrian as a rift basin on the southern margin of North China, and evolved later to an archipelagic ocean and active continental margin during the Ordovician and a foreland basin from Silurian to the Early and Middle Devonian. The Early Silurian flysch and submarine alluvial fan, the Middle to L ate Silurian shallow marine to tidal flat deposits and the Early and Middle Devo nian terrestrial molasse are developed along the corridor Nanshan. The shallowin g upward succession from subabyssal flysch, shallow marine, tidal flat to terre strial molasse and its gradually narrowed regional distribution demonstrate that the foreland basin experienced the transition from flysch stage to molasse stag e during the Silurian and Devonian time.

Control of neotectonic movement on hydrocarbon accumulation in the Kuqa Foreland Basin,west China

Neotectonic movement refers to the tectonic movement that has happened since the Cenozoic, which is the latest movement. It has the most important influence on the basins in west China, especially on the hydrocarbon accumulation in the western foreland basins. We determined the time of neotectonic movement in the Kuqa Foreland Basin, which began from the Neogene, and analyzed the patterns of movement, which were continuous and fast subsidence in the vertical direction and intense lateral compression. The structure styles are that the faulting is weakened and the folding is strengthened gradually from north to south. We studied the control of neotectonic movement on the hydrocarbon accumulation process and model in the Kuqa Foreland Basin with basin simulation technique. The largest subsidence rate of the Kuqa Foreland Basin reached 1,200 m/Ma during the neotectonic movement, leading to rapid maturing of source rock within 5 Ma and a large quantity of hydrocarbon being generated and expelled. The thick neotectonic strata can form high quality reservoirs with the proved gas and oil reserves accounting for 5% and 27% of the total reserves, respectively. 86% of the structural traps were formed in the neotectonic movement period. The faults formed during the neotectonic movement serve as important migration pathways and they exist in the region where the hydrocarbon reservoirs are distributed. Abnormally high pressure caused by the intense lateral compression, thick neotectonic strata deposition and rapid hydrocarbon generation provide driving force for hydrocarbon migration. The accumulation elements match each other well over a short period, leading to many large gas fields formed later in the Kuqa Foreland Basin.

Formation of Natural Bitumen and its Implication for Oil/gas Prospect in Dabashan Foreland

Natural bitumen is the evolutionary residue of hydrocarbon of sedimentary organic matter. Several kinds of bitumen with different occurrences, including bitumen in source rock, migration bitumen filled in fault, oil-bed bitumen and paleo-reservoir bitumen, are distributed widely in the Dabashan foreland. These kinds of bitumen represent the process of oil/gas formation, migration and accumulation in the region. Bitumen in source rock fiUed in fractures and stylolite and experienced deformation simultaneously together with source rock themselves. It indicated that oil/gas generation and expelling from source rock occurred under normal buried thermal conditions during prototype basin evolution stages prior to orogeny. Occurrences of bitumen in source rock indicated that paleo- reservoir formation conditions existed in the Dabashan foreland. Migration bitumen being widespread in the fault revealed that the fault was the main channel for oil/gas migration, which occurred synchronously with Jurassic foreland deformation. Oil-bed bitumen was the kind of pyrolysis bitumen that distributed in solution pores of reservoir rock in the Dabashan foreland depression, the northeastern Sichuan Basin. Geochemistry of oil-bed bitumen indicated that natural gas that accumulated in the Dabashan foreland depression formed from liquid hydrocarbon by pyrolysis process. However, paleo-reservior bitumen in the Dabashan forleland was the kind of degradation bitumen that formed from liquid hydrocarbon within the paleo-reservior by oxidation, alteration and other secondary changes due to paleo-reservior damage during tectonics in the Dabashan foreland. In combination with the tectonic evolution of the Dabashan foreland, it is proposed that the oil/gas generated, migrated and accumulated to form the paleo-reservoir during the Triassic Indosinian tectonic movement. Jurassic collision orogeny, the Yanshan tectonic movement, led to intracontinental orogeny of the Dabashan area accompanied by geofluid expelling and paleo-reservoir damage in the Dabashan foreland. The present work proposed that there is liquid hydrocarbon exploration potential in the Dabashan foreland, while there are prospects for the existence of natural gas in the Dabashan foreland depression.

A Large-scale Tertiary Salt Nappe Complex in the Leading Edge of the Kuqa Foreland Fold-Thrust Belt, the Tarim Basin, Northwest China

The tectono-stratigraphic sequences of the Kuqa foreland fold-thrust belt in the northern Tarim basin, northwest China, can be divided into the Mesozoic sub-salt sequence, the Paleocene-Eocene salt sequence and the Oligocene-Quaternary supra-salt sequence. The salt sequence is composed mainly of light grey halite, gypsum, marl and brown elastics. A variety of salt-related structures have developed in the Kuqa foreland fold belt, in which the most fascinating structures are salt nappe complex. Based on field observation, seismic interpretation and drilling data, a large-scale salt nappe complex has been identified. It trends approximately east-west for over 200 km and occurs along the west Qiulitag Mountains. Its thrusting displacement is over 30 km. The salt nappe complex appears as an arcuate zone projecting southwestwards along the leading edge of the Kuqa foreland fold belt. The major thrust fault is developed along the Paleocene-Eocene salt beds. The allochthonous nappes comprise large north-dipping faulting monoclines which are made up of Paleocene-Pliocene sediments. Geological analysis and cross-section restoration revealed that the salt nappes were mainly formed at the late Himalayan stage (c.a. 1.64 Ma BP) and have been active until the present day. Because of inhomogeneous thrusting, a great difference may exist in thrust displacement, thrust occurrence, superimposition of allochthonous and autochthonous sequences and the development of the salt-related structures, which indicates the segmentation along the salt nappes. Regional compression, gravitational gliding and spreading controlled the formation and evolution of the salt nappe complex in the Kuqa foreland fold belt.

Hydrodynamic Evolution and Hydrocarbon Accumulation in the Dabashan Foreland Thrust Belt,China

There are two plays in the Dabashan foreland tectonic belt： the upper and the lower plays. The lower play experienced one sedimentary hydrodynamic stage, two burial hydrodynamic stages, two tectonic hydrodynamic stages and two infiltration hydrodynamic stages from the Sinian to the Cenozoic, while the upper play had one sedimentary hydrodynamic stage, one burial hydrodynamic stage, two tectonic hydrodynamic stages and one infiltration hydrodynamic stage from the Permian to the Cenozoic. Extensive flows of both sedimentary water, including hydrocarbons, and deep mantle fluid occurred in the Chengkou faults during collision orogeny in the Middle-Late Triassic Indosinian orogeny, and fluid flow was complicated during intracontinental orogeny in the Middle-Late Jurassic. In addition to these movements, infiltration and movement of meteoric water took place in the Chengkou faults, whereas in the covering-strata decollement tectonic belt, extensive sedimentary water flow （including hydrocarbons） occurred mainly in the Zhenba and Pingba faults. During the stage of rapid uplift and exhumation from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic, the fluid flow was characterized mainly by infiltration of meteoric water and gravity-induced flow caused by altitude difference, whereas sedimentary water flow caused by tectonic processes was relatively less significant. Sedimentary water flow was more significant to the lower play in hydrocarbon migration and accumulation during collision orogeny in the Middle-Late Triassic Indosinian orogeny, but its influence is relatively slight on the upper play. On one hand, hydrodynamics during intracontinental orogeny in the Middle-Late Jurassic adjusted, reformed or oven destroyed oil reservoirs in the lower play; on the other hand, it drove large amounts of hydrocarbons to migrate laterally and vertically and is favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation. Infiltration hydrodynamics mainly adjusted and destroyed oil reservoirs from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic.

Oil and Gas Accumulation in the Foreland Basins,Central and Western China

Foreland basin represents one of the most important hydrocarbon habitats in central and western China. To distinguish these foreland basins regionally, and according to the need of petroleum exploration and favorable exploration areas, the foreland basins in central and western China can be divided into three structural types： superimposed, retrogressive and reformative foreland basin （or thrust belt）, each with distinctive petroleum system characteristics in their petroleum system components （such as the source rock, reservoir rock, caprock, time of oil and gas accumulation, the remolding of oil/gas reservoir after accumulation, and the favorable exploration area, etc.）. The superimposed type foreland basins, as exemplified by the Kuqa Depression of the Tarim Basin, characterized by two stages of early and late foreland basin development, typically contain at least two hydrocarbon source beds, one deposited in the early foreland development and another in the later fault-trough lake stage. Hydrocarbon accumulations in this type of foreland basin often occur in multiple stages of the basin development, though most of the highly productive pools were formed during the late stage of hydrocarbon migration and entrapment （Himalayan period）. This is in sharp contrast to the retrogressive foreland basins （only developing foreland basin during the Permian to Triassic） such as the western Sichuan Basin, where prolific hydrocarbon source rocks are associated with sediments deposited during the early stages of the foreland basin development. As a result, hydrocarbon accumulations in retrogressive foreland basins occur mainly in the early stage of basin evolution. The reformative foreland basins （only developing foreland basin during the Himalayan period） such as the northern Qaidam Basin, in contrast, contain organic-rich, lacustrine source rocks deposited only in fault-trough lake basins occurring prior to the reformative foreland development during the late Cenozoic, with hydrocarbon accumulations taking place relatively late （Himalayan period）. Therefore, the ultimate hydrocarbon potentials in the three types of foreland basins are largely determined by the extent of spatial and temporal matching among the thrust belts, hydrocarbon source kitchens, and regional and local caprocks.

Efectiveness and petroleum geological signifcance of tectonic fractures in the ultra‑deep zone of the Kuqa foreland thrust belt:a case study of the Cretaceous Bashijiqike Formation in the Keshen gas feld

The buried depth of the gas-producing reservoir in the Kuqa foreland thrust belt of the Tarim Basin exceeds 6000 m.The average matrix porosity of the reservoir is 5.5%,and the average matrix permeability is 0.128×10^(−3)μm^(2).In order to reveal the characteristics and efectiveness of ultra-deep fractures and their efects on reservoir properties and natural gas production,outcrops,cores,thin section,image logs and production testing data are used to investigate the efectiveness of tectonic fractures in ultra-deep reservoirs in the Kuqa foreland thrust zone,and the corresponding geological signifcance for oil and gas exploration and development are discussed.Tectonic fractures in the thrust belt include EW-trending high-angle tensile fractures and NS-trending vertical shear fractures.The former has a relatively high flling rate,while the latter is mostly unflled.Micro-fractures are usually grain-piercing-through cracks with width of 10-100 microns.In the planar view,the efective fractures are concentrated in the high part and wing zones of the long axis of the anticline,and along the vertical direction,they are mainly found in the tensile fracture zone above the neutral plane.The adjustment fracture zone has the strongest vertical extension abilities and high efectiveness,followed by the nearly EW longitudinal tensile fracture zone,and the netted fracture zone with multiple dip angles.The efectiveness of fracture is mainly controlled by fracture aperture and flling degrees.Efective fractures can increase reservoir permeability by 1-2 orders of magnitude.The higher part of the anticline is associated with high tectonic fracture permeability,which control enrichment and high production of natural gas.The netted vertical open fractures efectively communicate with pores and throats of the reservoir matrix,which forms an apparent-homogenous to medium-heterogeneous body that is seen with high production of natural gas sustained for a long term.

Characteristics of Triassic Petroleum Systems in the Longmenshan Foreland Basin,Sichuan Province,China

The Triassic in the Longmengshan foreland basin is rich in oil and gas resources. Its reservoirs feature low-porosity, low-permeability, small pore throat, high water saturation, and strong heterogeneity. The existence of abnormally high pressure and various reservoir-cap combinations developed at different times provide favorable conditions for trapping oil and gas. Taking the theory of petroleum systems as a guide, and beginning with research on tectonics, sedimentary history, distribution and evolution of source rocks, reservoir evolution, hydraulic force distribution, and hydrocarbon migration, analysis and study of static factors like source rocks, reservoirs and cap rocks, and dynamic factors such as hydrocarbon generation, migration, and accumulation revealed the characteristics of the Upper Triassic petroleum system in western Sichuan province. The deepbasin gas in the central hydrocarbon kitchen of the Upper Triassic, structural-lithological combination traps on the surrounding slopes, and the structural traps of the Indo-Chinese-Yangshan paleohighs, are potential plays. The relatively well- developed fault zones in the southern segment of the Longmengshan foothill belt are favorable Jurassic gas plays. Pengshan-Xinjin, Qiongxi, and Dayi are recent exploration targets for Jurassic oil/gas reservoirs.

The Coupling Relationship between the Uplift of Longmen Shan and the Subsidence of Foreland Basin,Sichuan,China

Depending on the analysis of the coeval sedimentary geometry and subsidence mechanism in the Longmen Shan foreland basin, three models about the coupling relationship between Longmen Shan uplift and foreland basin subsidence since the Indosinian have been proposed：（1） crustal shortening and its related wide wedge-shaped foreland basin,（2） crustal isostatic rebound and its related tabular foreland basin, and（3） lower crustal flow and its related narrow wedge-shaped foreland basin. Based on the narrow wedge-shaped foreland basin developed since 4 Ma, it is believed that the narrow crustal shortening and tectonic load driven by lower crustal flow is a primary driver for the present Longmen Shan uplift and the Wenchuan（Ms 8.0） earthquake.

Interpreting the Coseismic Uplift and Subsidence of the Longmen Shan Foreland Basin System during the Wenchuan Earthquake by a Elastic Flexural Model

The coseismic surface uplift of the Longmen Shan（LMS） created an instantaneous topographic load over the western margin of the Sichuan Basin, where surface subsidence, decreasing eastward, has been measured using several methods, such as GPS, SAR and levelling. Using an elastic flexural model, we aim to interpret the coseismic surface uplift and subsidence, and constrain the effective lithospheric elastic thickness（Te） of the Sichuan Basin. Using different effective elastic thickness values for the Sichuan Basin, a series of subsidence curves were computed by the elastic flexure model equation for a broken elastic plate. The curves, produced by models using an effective elastic thickness of 30–40 km, provided the best fit to the general pattern of observed coseismic subsidence of the Sichuan Basin. However, the calculated subsidence（-40–70 cm） at the front of the LMS is evidently lower than the observed values（-100 cm）, suggesting that the effective elastic thickness therein should be lower. These results indicate that the lithospheric strength may decrease westward from the Sichuan Basin to the LMS.

Simulation of the Subsidence and Deposition Processes of the Foreland Basin in the Southwestern Margin of Ordos

Characteristics of deformation in the thrust belt and sequence stratigraphic framework in the foreland basin, structural features of the basin margin, and the episodic thrusting are studied in this paper by combining the eastern Qilian thrust belt and the Late Triassic foreland basin on the southwestern margin of Ordos. On this basis, a geological model and a mechanical model of coupling mechanism were established for the pair of thrust belt and foreland basin, and the subsidence and deposition process of the foreland basin were simulated on given parameters.

Indosinian Foreland Fold-and-Thrust Belt Bordering Yunnan and Guangxi, China

Recent discoveries of ophiolites indicate that there must be a Palaeotethyan geosuture zone bordering China and Vietnam, which separates the Vietbac block from the South China subcontinent. The Indosinian foreland fold-and-thrust belt bordering Yunnan and Guangxi provided further evidence for the palaeotethysides. The oceanic crust was subducted southwestwards while the magmatic arc migrated northeastwards, and the continent-arc collision occurred in the Late Triassic with the thrusting being extended towards the north or northeast. The features of thrust-nappe structure are discussed, which proved the continental margin of the Palaeotethyan ocean there to be a complicated one. A face-to-face collision occurred first along the NW-striking segment and then along the ENE-striking segment accompanied by transpression or oblique thrusting occurring along the NW-striking one.

Structural Styles of the Longmenshan Thrust Belt and Evolution of the Foreland Basin in Western Sichuan Province, China

The Longmenshan thrust system consists of two major groups of structural styles according to the depth of their involvement: basement thrusts-compressional fault blocks; fold-thrust system in the cover. In cross-section, the Longmenshan structural belt is divided into 5 zones. The propagation of the Longmenshan thrust system is piggy-back due to pushing at the early stage and overstep due to gravity sliding at the late stage. Balanced cross-sections and palinspastic reconstruction reveal that the total sliding displacement of the thrust system amounts to 120 km. The tectonic evolution of the Tethys domain in western Sichuan has experienced 5 stages: continental break-up; ocean-continent subduction ; continent-arc collision; orogenic thrusting; uplift of western Sichuan.

Tectonic Evolution of the Junggar Foreland Basin in the Late Carboniferous-Permian

A comprehensive study has been carried out to subdivide and correlate the Upper Carboniferous and Permian sedimentary successions in the Junggar basin based on outcrops and drilling and geophysical data. The study results, combined with geological analyses of the basin's periphery and the basement, as well as studies of the sedimentary rocks within the basin, the unconformities, tectonic geometry, kinematics and geodynamics, lead to the conclusion that the Junggar basin was characterized by the development of foreland basin systems during the Late Carboniferous and Permian. During that period, three foreland basin systems were developed: (1) the northwest foreland basin system, which trended nearly north-south from Mahu to the Chepaizi Palaeo-mountain during its early stage of development and thus it was also referred to as the west foreland basin system; (2) the Karamaili foreland basin system in the east and (3) the Northern Tianshan foreland basin system in the south. These systems are different in size, development stage and time of formation. The first two are developed earlier than the third, but they are smaller in size. All the structures in the Junggar basin have resulted from the integration and superposition of structural elements in the above three systems. In general, the development of the Junggar basin can be divided into four stages. Stage I was marked by the creation and evolution of the marginal western foreland and the peripheral Karamaili foreland basin systems during the Late Carboniferous-early Early Permian (C3P1ja). Stage II was characterized by the development of complicated foreland basin systems during the middle-late Early Permian (P1jb-P1f) when the three foreland basin systems took their shapes. Stage III was the integration stage of peripheral foreland basin systems during the Middle Permian (P2) in which steady and slow tectonic subsidence prevailed. Stage IV coincided with the shrinking of foreland basin development during the Late Permian (P3).