Tectonic-Paleogeographic Restoration and Basin-Range Coupling Reappraisal of the Paleogene in Southwestern Tarim Basin

doi:10.7657/XJPG20260201

Abstract

Abstract:

The Paleogene strata in the southwestern Tarim Basin record the transgression-regression process of the Tarim Basin and the early Cenozoic orogenesis of the Pamir-West Kunlun orogenic belt. Thus, restoring the tectonic-paleogeographic framework of the Paleogene in the southwestern Tarim Basin is significant for understanding the paleogeographical and paleoenvironmental changes in central Asia. Based on the geological survey on the Qimugan section of the Paleogene in the southwestern Tarim Basin, together with available drilling and outcrop data, the stratigraphic framework and sedimentary sequence of the Paleogene were investigated, the tectonic-lithofacies paleogeography of the Paleogene was mapped, and the basin-range coupling process of the Paleogene was analyzed. The results show that the southwestern Tarim Basin had a higher topography in the east than in the west in the Paleogene. During the Paleocene-Late Eocene, the southwestern Tarim Basin was dominated by marine sediments in the western part, marine-continental transitional sediments in the central part, and delta sediments in the eastern part. During the Late Eocene-Oligocene, the southwestern Tarim Basin witnessed a further uplift in the southern part, together with expanded delta sediments, and a dominance of shallow lake and near-shore submarine fan sediments in the western part and of lakeside sediments in the eastern part. As a whole, the southwestern Tarim Basin fully transformed into a lacustrine depositional environment. Generally, the southwestern Tarim Basin experienced two cycles of transgression-regression during the Paleogene. After the second regression, the sea water completely retreated from the southwestern Tarim Basin. The spatio-temporal coincidence of the regression with the crustal thickening and shortening of Pamir and the global sea level drop suggests that the final regression of the Tarim Basin is probably a result of the combined effect of tectonic and climatic changes.

Key words: Tarim Basin, southwestern Tarim Basin, Paleogene, paleogeography, basin-range coupling, Pamir-West Kunlun orogenic belt, transgression-regression

CLC Number:

P536

GENG Feng, CAO Zicheng, WANG Arui, CAO Kai, YAO Junzhe, XU Yadong, WANG Guocan. Tectonic-Paleogeographic Restoration and Basin-Range Coupling Reappraisal of the Paleogene in Southwestern Tarim Basin[J]. Xinjiang Petroleum Geology, 2026, 47(2): 127-136.

Figures/Tables 5

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