Abstract: Qiulitage structural belt is located on the central part of Kuqa depression. Influenced by the orogenesis of the southern Tianshan Mountain, a series of thrust structures are developed in Qiulitage structural belt which has significant layered deformation characteristics. Based on the data of field survey and seismic interpretation, and taking the Paleogene Kumugeliemu group and the Neogene Jidike formation in Qiulitage structural belt as the main objectives, the Qiulitage structural belt is classified into above-salt layer, salt layer and subsalt layer. Due to the compression, the differential flow deformation of the gypsum-salt rock resulted in the forming of rows of linear folded belts on the surface, thrust nappe structures and recoil structures are developed in the above-salt layers, and the deformation of subsalt layer is mainly controlled by compressional stress and Paleozoic paleo-uplift, showing an obvious segmentation feature. In the central and eastern parts of Qiulitage structural belt which are located on the northern slope of Xinhe-Yaha paleo-uplift, the thrust structures similar to Keshen structural belt are developed in the subsalt layers where large-scale high-amplitude faulted anticline traps formed with great petroleum exploration potential. In the Jiamu-Western Qiulitage segment which is located on the Wensu-Western Qiulitage Paleozoic paleo-uplift, thrust structures cannot be found in the subsalt layer, and the subsalt traps are dominated by low-amplitude faulted anticline and fault block, showing relatively small exploration potential.

Key words: Tarim basin, Kuqa depression, Qiulitage structural belt, thrust structure, gypsum-salt rock, structural zonation, subsalt layer, petroleum exploration potential