Abstract: Hoxtolgay basin is a Mesozoic Cenozoic intermontane fault-depression basin undergoing multiple tectonic events after Hercynian orogeny. It can be divided into four structural units: Baiyanghe depression, Fengtai uplift, Kangteneng depression and north fault-fold zone. The multi cycle strata above the Upper Triassic are deposited, with the thickness of up to 5 000 m. Mid-I ower Jurassic coal-seam as major source rock began to generate a large amount of hydrocarbon at the end of the Cretaceous at the depth of 2 100 m, and accumulated within the sequence. Therefore the traps formed in the mid-later period of Yanshan orogeny are expected to best facilitate hydrocarbon accumulation. Baiyanghe depression should be considered as the most attractive objective of exploration in Hoxtolgay basin because of its better hydrocarbon generation potential.

Key words: Xinjiang, Hoxtolgay, basin, Geologic, structure, Source, -reservoir, cap, assemblage, Oil, and, gas, exploration