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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Bulletin

Abstract


Volume: 66 (1982)

Issue: 7. (July)

First Page: 971

Last Page: 971

Title: Structural Styles of Mesozoic-Cenozoic Petroliferous Basins of China: ABSTRACT

Author(s): Liu Hefu

Article Type: Meeting abstract

Abstract:

The continental lithosphere of China is situated at the junction of the Marginal Pacific tectonic domain and the Tethys-Himalayan tectonic domain. The former is characterized by a series of extensional tectonics, including taphrogenesis and the latter by a series of compressional tectonics with orogenesis, all taking place during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras.

The Marginal Pacific crust of east China was attenuated by rifting and a north-northeast-trending of Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins developed, e.g., the Songliao basin, the North China basin, etc. Rifting followed mainly preexisting zones of basement weakness for the most part. Then, basin and range structures formed and large, fault-bounded basins subsided. Extensional structural styles have prevailed in Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins of east China: listric normal faults and tilted blocks in the basement; detached normal faults, rollover anticlines, and drape fold in the sedimentary cover. These structural styles are favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation, and indeed the famous Daqing and Huabei oil fields are located in the above-mentioned basins.

The crust of west China was thickened by collision and a series of Mesozoic-Cenozoic intermontane basins or foredeeps were formed, e.g., the Qaidam basin, Jinquan basin etc. Compressional tectonic styles are predominant in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins of west China; compressive fault blocks and ramps in the basement; detached reverse faults and parallel folds in the cover.

The Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins of China have undergone numerous tectonic events, with earlier structural styles always overprinted by later ones, e.g., compressional structural styles are sometimes converted into extensional ones. On the other hand, most basins of China have twofold mechanical behavior, e.g., extensional shear and subsequent compressional shear. The combination of taphrogenesis, orogenesis, shearing, and gravitation, which seems to have controlled the development of Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins, formed favorable traps for hydrocarbon accumulation in China.

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