Paleozoic Structural Deformation of Bachu Uplift, Tarim Basin of Northwest China： Implications for Plate Drifting

• Published in: Journal of earth science (Wuhan, China) no. 4; pp. 755 - 762
• Main Author: 何光玉 何治亮 张洪亮 林璐 陈强路 钱一雄 顾忆 竺知新 竺国强
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.2009
• Subjects: 古生代; 塔里木盆地; 巴楚隆起; 构造变形
• ISSN: 1674-487X; 1867-111X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11803-009-0059-3

Based on high-resolution 2D seismic profiles, the Paleozoic structural deformation char- acteristics of Bachu （巴楚） uplift of northwestern Tarim basin, NW China, are exhibited in this article. The deformation happened during three main geological periods： the end of Middle-Late Ordovician （O2-3）, the end of Early-Middle Devonian （D1-2）, and the end of Late Permian （P2）. In the Bachu uplift, there developed a series of NW-trending thrust faults and imbricate structures due to the effect of the NW-SE compression stress towards the end of Middle-Late Ordovician （O2-3） （middle Caledonian movement）, and there developed some NNE-trending thrust faults and fault blocks under the control of the NEE-SWW compression stress at the end of Early-Middle Devonian （D1-2） （early Hercynian movement）. However, at the end of Late Permian （P2） （late Hercynian movement）, some NE-trending thrust faults and associated folds developed as a result of the NE-SW compression stress. The first-stage （O2-3） deformation is obviously more violent than those of the latter two stages （D1-2 and P2）, which implies that the Tarim plate drifted quickly to the north at around the same time basin.