Abstract: The extensional structures like normal fault since late Mesozoic in Luxi (west Shandong) are mostly formed by negative reverses from the Mesozoic thrust faults. They have both inherited early structural features and appear new active characteristics under new tectonic stress field. Therefore, they are normally characterized by multi-phase and multi-direction and complex styles in structural activity. This paper presents the physical modeling of the complex extensional structures and their evolution histories since late Mesozoic in Luxi uplift using analogy theory. The quantitative and semi-quantitative experiments show that the structural patterns since late Mesozoic in Luxi uplift appear the steep-flat alternative tilted blocks, and undergo three extensional periods of late Cretaceous, Paleocene and Eocene. Also, the flat faults occur somewhat later than the steep faults. Mechanically, the extensional structures are controlled by NESW extension and vertical magma upwelling.

Key words: Luxi (west Shandong) uplift, late Mesozoic, extensional structure, physical modeling