Tectonic Uplift of the Yili Basin during the Last Stage of the Late Pleistocene: Evidence from ESR and OSL Dating of Sediments in the Huocheng Area, Xinjiang

The Quaternary sediments in the Yili Basin can serve as archives for studying the Cenozoic basin–mountain relationship. In this study, based on typical natural sections and boreholes, the surficial sediments of the Huocheng area were studied, and their sedimentary ages were obtained using the optically stimulated luminescence(OSL) and electron spin resonance(ESR) dating methods. These dates, combined with changes in the sedimentary facies, provided details of the neotectonic movement in the Yili Basin and adjacent areas. By dating sediments from five sections and three boreholes, we determined that the surficial sediments of the Huocheng area were mainly formed in the Late Pleistocene, with scattered instances of Holocene sediments. The surficial sediments mainly consisted of alluvial fan facies, fluvial facies, lacustrine facies, and desert facies. Based on the activity on the Hongshanzui fault and the northern margin fault of the Wusun Mountains, the Huocheng area was uplifted synchronously with the Tianshan Mountains during the last stage of the Late Pleistocene, causing the desert facies sediments to be superimposed on the former paleo–lake sediments.     

Sedimentary Characteristics of the Cretaceous in the Songliao Basin

The rupture of the lithosphere in Late Jurassic brought about the eruption of basaltic magma in the Songliao Basin. The evolution of the basin in Cretaceous progressed through six stages: pre-rift doming, extensional fracturing, fault subsidence, fault downwarping, downwarping and shringkage, resulting in the deposition of terrstrial facies nearly 10,000 m thick. There are different depositional sequences in these stages: the depositional period of the Early Cretaceous Shahezi and Yincheng Formations is the development stage of the down-faulted basin, forming a volcanic rock-alluvial fan-fan delta-lacustrine (intercalated with episodic turbidites)-swamp facies sequences; the period of the Early Cretaceous Dengluku Formation is the transformation stage of fault subsidence into fault downwarping of the basin, forming a sequence mainly of alluvial plain-lacustrine facies; the depositional period of the Early Cretaceous Quantou Formation-Late Cretaceous Nenjiang Formation is the downwarping stage of the basin, forming an alluvial plain-delta-lacustrine facies sequence; the period of the Late Cretaceous Sifangtai Formation-Mingshui Formation is the shringkage stage of the basin, forming again a sequence mainly of alluvial plain-alluvial fan and small relict lacustrine facies. These vertical depositional sequences fully display the sedimentary characteristics of a failed continental rift basin. Many facts indicate that the two large-scale lake invasions, synchronous with the global rise of sea level, which took place in the downwarping stage of the basin development, led to the connection between the lake and sea.     

Changes of Late Mesozoic Tectonic Regimes around the Ordos Basin (North China) and their Geodynamic Implications

A synthesis is given in this paper on late Mesozoic deformation pattern in the zones around the Ordos Basin based on lithostratigraphic and structural analyses. A relative chronology of the late Mesozoic tectonic stress evolution was established from the field analyses of fault kinematics and constrained by stratigraphic contact relationships. The results show alternation of tectonic compressional and extensional regimes. The Ordos Basin and its surroundings were in weak N-S to NNE-SSW extension during the Early to Middle Jurassic, which reactivated E-W-trending basement fractures. The tectonic regime changed to a multi-directional compressional one during the Late Jurassic, which resulted in crustal shortening deformation along the marginal zones of the Ordos Basin. Then it changed to an extensional one during the Early Cretaceous, which rifted the western, northwestern and southeastern margins of the Ordos Basin. A NW-SE compression occurred during the Late Cretaceous and caused the termination of sedimentation and uplift of the Ordos Basin. This phased evolution of the late Mesozoic tectonic stress regimes and associated deformation pattern around the Ordos Basin best records the changes in regional geodynamic settings in East Asia, from the Early to Middle Jurassic post-orogenic extension following the Triassic collision between the North and South China Blocks, to the Late Jurassic multi-directional compressions produced by synchronous convergence of the three plates (the Siberian Plate to the north, Paleo-Pacific Plate to the east and Lhasa Block to the west) towards the East Asian continent. Early Cretaceous extension might be the response to collapse and lithospheric thinning of the North China Craton.     

The Late Palaeozoic Rifting on Hainan Island, China

There occurred rifting on Hainan Island in the Late Palaeozoic. Bimodal volcanic rocks composed ofbasalt and rhyolite developed in the Carboniferous. Widespread in the Late Palaeozoic formations are severallayers of fluvial intermontane conglomerates whose distribution is controlled by rift faults. The Late Palaeozoicdeposits dominaled by clastic rocks are, for a major part, of marine facies and of continental facies in the lowerand upper parts. Lithological and lithochemical studies indicate that the detrital rocks were formed in atectonic setting of continental rifting. The evolution of the rifting terminated at the stage of transition form anintra continental rift to an intercontinental one and the rift basin was a bay opening westward to the sea.     

The Sedimentary Sequence and Palaeogeographic Changes of the South Yellow Sea Since the Olduvai Subchron

According to the alternation of terrestrial beds and transgressive beds, the sedimentary sequence of the South Yellow Sea since the Olduvai subchron can be divided into 15 stratigraphical intervals. According to the facies analysis, there are 7 transgressive beds and one bed with transgression marks, and classical transgressive-regressive facies sequence also appears in the major transgressive beds.Palaeogeographic evolution in the shelf area involved 4 periods: (1) 1.70-0.5 Ma B. P. was the stage for the development of the Palaeo-Yangtze River alluvial plain and delta. Tide influenced -river channel sediments formed during the Olduvai have been found in borehole QC2. The river mouth was located near 124°E and during the transgressive stage from 0.97-0.73 Ma B.P. to the east of 122.2°E, a large-scale undersea delta was formed. In the regressive stage, the shelf area became an alluvial plain. (2) 0.50-0.75 Ma B.P. was a multi-transgressive fluctuation stage during which 3 transgressive beds (HVI, HV, H     

Continental- Margin Structure of Northeast China and Its Adjacent Areas

The continental margin of Northeast China and its adjacent areas is composed of two tectonic belts. The inner belt is a collage made up of fragments resulting from breakup of an old land with the north part related to the evolution of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean and the south part to the evolution of the Palaeo - Pacific Ocean. The outer belt is a Mesozoic terrane, which is a melange made up of fragments of the Late Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic oceanic crust and the Late M esozoic trench accumulations.There existed another ocean-the Palaeo - Pacific Ocean during the period from the closing of the Palaeo-Asian Ocean to the opening of the modern Pacific Ocean or from the Devonian to Jurassic, and the ocean-floor spreading of the Palaeo - Pacific Ocean led to the formation of the above-mentioned tectonic belts. The development of the strike-slip fault system after the Late Jurassic and the formation of an epicontinental volcano -plutonic rock belt in the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary are attributed to the i     

Provenance of the Late Permian Xuanwei Formation in the Upper Yangtze Block: Constraints from the Sedimentary Record and Tectonic Implications

Xuanwei Formation is composed of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone, with local conglomerate. However, its provenance and tectonic setting have been scarcely studied. In this paper, we use sedimentology, electron probe microanalysis(EPMA), and detrital zircon dating to investigate its source area and depositional tectonic setting. The facies assemblages indicate that it formed in alluvial fan and fluvial river sedimentary environments. The strata thicknesses and facies distribution indicate that the sediment supply was from the west. The results of EPMA show that chromian spinels within the sediments are characterized by high Cr# and varying Mg#. Discrimination plots suggest that these spinels were sourced from large igneous province(LIP) magmatic rocks. The laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb chronology of detrital zircons suggests that the sediments were derived from intermediate–acid igneous rocks dating back to 251–260? Ma. We could, therefore, conclude that the provenance of the Xuanwei Formation is from Emeishan basalt and synchronous felsic igneous rocks, which is consistent with the composition of the detrital framework. The detrital zircon dates also suggest that felsic magmatism occurred during the Late Permian, not after the eruption of the Emeishan basalt. Based on the sedimentary successions and provenance analysis, the tectonic setting for Xuanwei Formation deposition was a volcanic rifted margin.     

The Intra-Pontide ophiolites in Northern Turkey revisited:From birth to death of a Neotethyan oceanic domain

The Anatolian peninsula is a key location to study the central portion of the Neotethys Ocean(s)and to understand how its western and eastern branches were connected.One of the lesser known branches of the Mesozoic ocean(s)is preserved in the northern ophiolite suture zone exposed in Turkey,namely,the Intra-Pontide suture zone.It is located between the Sakarya terrane and the Eurasian margin(i.e.,Istanbul-Zonguldak terrane)and consists of several metamorphic and non-metamorphic units containing ophiolites produced in supra-subduction settings from the Late Triassic to the Early Cretaceous.Ophiolites preserved in the metamorphic units recorded pervasive deformations and peak metamorphic conditions ranging from blueschist to eclogite facies.In the nonmetamorphic units,the complete oceanic crust sequence is preserved in tectonic units or as olistoliths in sedimentary melanges.Geochemical,structural,metamorphic and geochronological investigations performed on ophiolite-bearing units allowed the formulation of a new geodynamic model of the entire"life"of the IntraPontide oceanic basin(s).The reconstruction starts with the opening of the Intra-Pontide oceanic basins during the Late Triassic between the Sakarya and Istanbul-Zonguldak continental microplates and ends with its closure caused by two different subductions events that occurred during the upper Early Jurassic and Middle Jurassic.The continental collision between the Sakarya continental microplate and the Eurasian margin developed from the upper Early Cretaceous to the Palaeocene.The presented reconstruction is an alternative model to explain the complex and articulate geodynamic evolution that characterizes the southern margin of Eurasia during the Mesozoic era.     

Sedimentary Response of Different Fan Types to the Paleogene–Neogene Basin Transformation in the Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Province

A group of alluvial fans formed in the early Paleogene represent marginal sedimentary facies at the foot of the South Tianshan Mountain, Kuqa Depression, Tarim Basin, Xinjiang province. Two types of fans occurred in the middle–late Paleogene Kumugeliemu and Suweiyi formations: one alluvial, and the other fan delta deposited in a lacustrine setting. Within the early Neogene Jidike Formation, coastal subaqueous fans developed, probably in a deeper water lacustrine setting. The three types of fans are stacked vertically in outcrop with the sequence in ascending order: bottom alluvial, middle fan-delta, and top subaqueous. The subaqueous is a typical coarse-fan deposit occurring in the glutinite member of the Jidike Formation in some wells. Laterally, from the foreland to the lacustrine settings, the distribution pattern of sedimentary facies represents the same three fan types sequentially. The spatial distribution of these fans was controlled by the Paleogene–Neogene Basin transformation, and evolution with different types of fans developed in the Kuqa Depression in response. In the Paleogene, the Kuqa Depression was a rift basin where an alluvial fan was deposited in the foreland setting, which, by early Neogene, became a foreland basin when the lake level changed. With any rise in lake level, fan-deltas migrated from lacustrine to foreland settings, whereas when the lake level fell, fan migration was reversed. In the early Neogene, with increasing slope and rising lake level, fans progressed and covered the previous fan-delta and lacustrine mudstone. Eventually, subaqueous fans developed, forming the present spatial configuration of these three fan types.     

Latest Triassic to Early Jurassic Thrusting and Exhumation in the Southern Ordos Basin,North China: Evidence from LA‐ICP‐MS‐based Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology

The contractional structures in the southern Ordos Basin recorded critical evidence for the interaction between Ordos Basin and Qinling Orogenic Collage. In this study, we performed apatite fission track(AFT) thermochronology to unravel the timing of thrusting and exhumation for the Laolongshan-Shengrenqiao Fault(LSF) in the southern Ordos Basin. The AFT ages from opposite sides of the LSF reveal a significant latest Triassic to Early Jurassic time-temperature discontinuity across this structure. Thermal modeling reveals at the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic, a ~50°C difference in temperature between opposite sides of the LSF currently exposed at the surface. This discontinuity is best interpreted by an episode of thrusting and exhumation of the LSF with ~1.7 km of net vertical displacement during the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic. These results, when combined with earlier thermochronological studies, stratigraphic contact relationship and tectono-sedimentary evolution, suggest that the southern Ordos Basin experienced coeval intense tectonic contraction and developed a north-vergent fold-and-thrust belt. Moreover, the southern Ordos Basin experienced a multi-stage differential exhumation during Mesozoic, including the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic and Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous thrust-driven exhumation as well as the Late Cretaceous overall exhumation. Specifically, the two thrust-driven exhumation events were related to tectonic stress propagation derived from the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic continued compression from Qinling Orogenic Collage and the Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous intracontinental orogeny of Qinling Orogenic Collage, respectively. By contrast, the Late Cretaceous overall exhumation event was related to the collision of an exotic terrain with the eastern margin of continental China at ~100 Ma.     

Late Mesozoic magmatism in the Jiaodong Peninsula,East China:Implications for crust-mantle interactions and lithospheric thinning of the eastern North China Craton

A section from the Linglong gold deposit on the northwestern Jiaodong Peninsula,East China,containing Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks from mafic and intermediate dikes and felsic intrusions,was chosen to investigate the lithospheric evolution of the eastern North China Craton(NCC).Zircon U-Pb data showed that low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions were emplaced during the Late Jurassic(～145 Ma) and late Early Cretaceous(112-107 Ma),respectively;high-Mg adakitic diorite and mafic dikes were also emplaced during the Early Cretaceous at～139 Ma and ～118 Ma,and 125-145 Ma and 115-120 Ma,respectively.The geochemical data,including whole-rock major and trace element compositions and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopes,imply that the mafic dikes originated from the partial melting of a lithospheric mantle metasomatised through hydrous fluids from a subducted oceanic slab.Low-Mg adakitic monzogranites and granodiorite intrusions originated from the partial melting of the thickened lower crust of the NCC,while high-Mg adakitic diorite dikes originated from the mixing of mafic and felsic melts.Late Mesozoic magmatism showed that lithosphere-derived melts showed a similar source depth and that crust-derived felsic melts originated from the continuously thickened lower crust of the Jiaodong Peninsula from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous.We infer that the lower crust of the eastern NCC was thickened through compression and subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate beneath the NCC during the Middle Jurassic.Slab rollback of the plate from ～160 Ma resulted in lithospheric thinning and accompanied Late Mesozoic magmatism.     

PALAEOZOIC TECTONIC PALAEOGEOGRAPHY OF THE CATHAYSIA IN EASTERN ZHEJIANG AND NORTHERN FUJIAN, CHINA

Based on the data about sedimentary facies and palaeogeography, this paper proves the existence of the Cathaysia (the part in eastern Zhejiang and northern Fujian, the same hereinafter) and makes a survey about its palaeogeography since Sinian Period. It also discusses the evolution of the tectonic environment of this region during Phanerozoic Eon, according to the features such as the composition of sandstones derived from the old land and alkalinity of volcanic rocks and so on. Continuous uplifting was maintained in Cathaysia during Sinian Period and Paleozoic Era, typically with no significant tectono-magmatic activity being observed. Its northwestern margin belongs to the type of passive continental margin during the middle and late phase of Caledonian Cycle. It showed the characteristics of a steady continent in late Paleozoic era, but was turned quickly into an active continental margin after the middle Jurassic period.     

Formation of the Moping Dome in the Xuefengshan Orocline, Central China and its Tectonic Significance

Many equiaxial dome-like structures developed in the north segment of the Xuefengshan orocline, Central China are obviously inconcordant with the NE-trending linear structures in this area, which contain important records for understanding the structural framework and evolution of this belt. In this paper, taking one of the typical dome-like structures in the Xuefengshan orcline (e.g. Moping dome-like structure) as an example, based on its structural framework interpratatoin, superposed deformation analysis and paleo-stress fields reconstruction, we propose the Moping dome-like structure is composed of two populations of different-striking thrust-fold structures, ～E-trending and NE-striking structures, indicative of two-stages shortening, ～N- and NW-striking, respectively. Together with the geochronological analysis, we suggest the first stage of shortening occurred in Late Triassic to Early Jurassic, due to the Indosinian intercollisional orogeny of the Yangtze Block and the North China Block. The second occurred during Late Jurassic Early Cretaceous owing to Yanshanian intracontinental orogeny, leading to the intensive superposition of the NE-trending structures onto the ～E-trending structures, and the final ocurrence of the Moping dome. Thus, our study indicates the Xuefengshan arc-shape belt also experienced two-phase deformation, and resulted from the superposition of NE SW structures onto ～E-W structures in Late Jurassic Early Cretaceous, which could provide new structural evidence for probing the Mesozoic tectonic framework and evolution of the Xuefengshan orocline.     

Tectonic and Environmental Evolutions of the Northern Tibetan Plateau Prior to the Collision of India with Asia

Tectonic and environmental patterns and evolution of the present North Tibetan Plateau(NTP) prior to the India collision with Asia is significant to understand the formation of the Tibetan Plateau and its influence on the environment. In this study, we integrated and analyzed the tectonostratigraphy and the special sedimentary layers whose climatic implications are clear in the NTP. Additionally, we stressed the tectonic and environmental events and their evolutions from the Mesozoic to the Early Cenozoic. Our results show that four tectonic phases, which sequentially took place during the Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene, played an important role on the formation of the North Tibet. The climate was basically dry and hot from the Triassic to the Eocene and became dry and cool since the Oligocene in this region. The climatic evolution was characterized by a transition from a wet and hot phase during the Triassic- Middle Jurassic, to a dry and hot phase during the Late Jurassic- Eocene. Both phases encompassed 5 wet and hot periods followed by 5 dry and hot climate events, respectively. In addition, we found that the tectonic deformation and the climatic conditions were spatially and temporally different. In detail, in the regions north of the PaleoTian Shan and Paleo-Qilian Mts. the tectonic deformation and climatic condition were stronger and wetter than in regions south of the Paleo-Tian Shan and Paleo-Qilian Mts. during the Late Triassic – Jurassic. Whereas in the Cretaceous, the tectonic movement was intensive in the west but steady in the east, and climate was dry in the south but wet in the north of NTP. The formation of the tectonic and climatic patterns in NTP were the consequence of either global climate change or regional tectonics, including the Paleo-Asian Ocean closure and the Qiangtang block, Lhasa block and India plate collision subsequently to Asia. Furthermore, the regional tectonic events occurred before any global climate change and drove the climatic change in the NTP.     

Mesozoic-Cenozoic Basin Features and Evolution of Southeast China

The Late Triassic to Paleogene(T_3-E) basin occupies an area of 143100 km~2,being the sixth area of the whole of SE China;the total area of synchronous granitoid is about 127300 km~2;it provides a key for understanding the tectonic evolution of South China.From a new 1:1500000 geological map of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins of SE China,combined with analysis of geometrical and petrological features,some new insights of basin tectonics are obtained.Advances include petrotectonic assemblages, basin classification of geodynamics,geometric features,relations of basin and range.According to basin-forming geodynamicai mechanisms,the Mesozoic-Cenozoic basin of SE China can be divided into three types,namely:1) para-foreland basin formed from Late Triassic to Early Jurassic(T_3-J_1) under compressional conditions;2) rift basins formed during the Middle Jurassic(J_2) under a strongly extensional setting;and 3) a faulted depression formed during Early Cretaceous to Paleogene (K_1-E) under back-arc extension action.From the rock assemblages of the basin,the faulted depression can be subdivided into a volcanic-sedimentary type formed mainly during the Early Cretaceous(K_1) and a red -bed type formed from Late Cretaceous to Paleogene(K_2-E).Statistical data suggest that the area of all para-foreland basins(T_3-J_1) is 15120 km~2,one of rift basins(J_2) occupies 4640 km~2,and all faulted depressions equal to 124330 km~2 including the K_2-E red-bed basins of 37850 km~2.The Early Mesozoic (T_3-J_1) basin and granite were mostly co-generated under a post-collision compression background, while the basins from Middle Jurassic to Paleogene(J_2-E) were mainly constrained by regional extensional tectonics.Three geological and geographical zones were surveyed,namely:1)the Wuyishan separating zone of paleogeography and climate from Middle Jurassic to Tertiary;2)the Middle Jurassic rift zone;and 3)the Ganjiang separating zone of Late Mesozoic volcanism.Three types of basin-granite relationships have been identified,including compressional(a few),strike-slip(a few), and extensional(common).A three-stage geodynamical evolution of the SE-China basin is mooted:an Early Mesozoic basin-granite framework;a transitional Middle Jurassic tectonic regime; intracontinental extension and red-bed faulted depressions since the Late Cretaceous.     

Cambrian- Ordovician Deep - Water Deposits in Southwest Jiangxi, China

The Cambrian-Ordovician rocks in southwestern Jiangxi are mainly composed of deep-water deposits, in which 5 facies have been recognized: sandstone facies, sandstone-mudstone facies, siltstone-mudstone facies, mudstone (slate)facies, and chert facies. They are of turbidity current origin and are related to pelagic and hemipelagic deposits. In the light of facies distribution, the Cambrian-Ordovician deposits can be classified into 3 facies associations formed in middle fan, outer fan and deep-sea plain environments respectively. The 3 different orders of vertical cycles in the stratigraphic sequence are considered to be controlled by factors such as sea-level fluctuation, basin subsidence and submarine fan progradation. The tectonic setting of the sedimentary basin is interpreted as passive continental margin based on the chemical composition analysis of the sandstone.     

Hydrocarbon Generation Evolution of Permo-Carboniferous Rocks of the Bohai Bay Basin in China

<正>The Bohai Bay Basin is a Mesozoic subsidence and Cenozoic rift basin in the North China Craton.Since the deposition of the Permo-Carboniferous hydrocarbon source rock,the basin has undergone many tectonic events.The source rocks have undergone non-uniform uplift,twisting,deep burying,and magmatism and that led to an interrupted or stepwise during the evolution of hydrocarbon source rocks.We have investigated the Permo-Carboniferous hydrocarbon source rocks history of burying,heating,and hydrocarbon generation,not only on the basis of tectonic disturbance and deeply buried but also with new studies on apatite fission track analysis,fluid inclusion measurements,and the application of the numerical simulation of EASY%R_o.The heating temperature of the source rocks continued to rise from the Indosinian to Himalayan stage and reached a maximum at the Late Himalayan.This led to the stepwise increases during organic maturation and multiple stages of hydrocarbon generation.The study delineated the tectonic stages, the intensity of hydrocarbon generation and spatial and temporal distribution of hydrocarbon generations.The hydrocarbon generation occurred during the Indosinian,Yanshanian,and particularly Late Himalayan.The hydrocarbon generation during the late Himalayan stage is the most important one for the Permo-Carboniferous source rocks of the Bohai Bay Basin in China.     

Initiation and Development of the Late Cenozoic Uplift of Daluo Mountains, Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Daluo Mountains lie at front of the arcuate tectonic belt at the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, and are the landform boundary zone between the active Tibetan Plateau and the stable North China Craton. Studying of the late Cenozoic uplift evolution of Daluo Mountains is important for understanding the expansion mechanism of the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and its influence on the western North China Craton. In this study, the late Cenozoic uplift of Daluo Mountains is constructed from the development of the late Cenozoic alluvial fan around Daluo Mountains. The entire sedimentary sequence and framework of the fan was revealed by the newly obtained drilling core data. The cosmogenic nuclide, optically stimulated luminescence, and detrital zircon U-Pb dating results provide new evidences for discussion about the initial timing of the late Cenozoic uplift of Daluo Mountains and the key stages of uplift during the Pleistocene. The late Cenozoic alluvial fan at front of Daluo Mountains overlies a set of fluvial-facies strata; therefore, development of the alluvial-fan marks the start of late Cenozoic uplift of Daluo Mountains. The timing of this event can be constrained to ~4.64 Ma. Two extensive gravel layers (dated to ca. 0.76–0.6 Ma and ~0.05 Ma) developed during the Pleistocene, indicating two episodes of considerable uplift. This study provides a new time scale for the uplift and expansion of the arcuate tectonic belt at the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.     

Lower Jurassic Sequence Stratigraphy and Sedimentary Facies on the North Slope of Mount Qomolangma

The Lower Jurassic is subdivided in ascending order into the Wulong, Kangdui and Yongjia Formations on the north slope of Mount Qomolangma, with a total thickness of 1362 m. They are thought to have been deposited respectively in the environments of the carbonate ramp fault-bounded basins and carbonate platform, with six sedimentary facies and six sub-facies. During the Early Jurassic, the Qomolangma area experienced strong faulting and subsidence, and was of a matured rift basin. The Lower Jurassic consists of eleven 3rd-order sequences, which can be grouped into three 2nd-order sequences and form a large transgressive-regressive cycle. The 3rd-order sequences and the corresponding sea-level changes recognized in the area can be correlated quite well with those set up in the western Tethys, and may have been caused by the eustatic fluctuations, while the 2nd-order sequences seem to be more closely related to the basement subsidence and the variation in sedimentary influx, indicating the evolution of th