Abstract: Faulting is one kind of tectonic events in the Southwest depression in Tarim basin. The major faulting within the depression began during the late Hercynian or Himalayan periods. The faults with different natures can occur in the same stress field, resulting in the difference in the structural deformation features of different structural units. The structural features of fault along the fault trend vary. The evolution of major fault zones is analysed with the forward modelling method. It is suggested that the fault is an important control on hydrocarbon accumulation, which varies with the nature of the fault.

Key words: Tarim basin, Fault, Feature, Evolution, Trap