Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280

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Full Length Article

Sedimentary and evolutionary characteristics of Sinian in the Tarim

Basin
Kaibo Shi a, b, *, Bo Liu b, Weimin Jiang a, b, Xiaoqiao Gao c, Shiqi Liu a, b, Yingchu Shen a, b
a
School of Earth and Space Science, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
b
Institute of Oil and Gas, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
c
School of Earth Sciences and Resources, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Analysis of Sinian outcrops in the peripheral regions of the Tarim Basin, drilling and seismic data within
Received 27 October 2016 the Tarim Basin, and combined with previous studies, distribution of Sinian strata, tectonic setting,
Received in revised form sedimentary system and lithofacies palaeogeography were well discussed. Results showed that three
23 March 2017
sedimentary systems were developed in the Sinian System of the Tarim Basin, i.e. the clastic sedimentary
Accepted 3 April 2017
system, the clastic-carbonate mixed sedimentary system, and the carbonate sedimentary system, vertical
sedimentary characteristics evolved from the clastic sedimentary system to the carbonate sedimentary
system. These three sedimentary systems were corresponded to three transgression-regression cycles in
Keywords:
Sinian
the Sinian. The marine transgression during the initial period of the Early Sinian (ZSQI) resulted in
Sequence development of the clastic sedimentary system in the lower part of the Lower Sinian; the transgression
Clastic sedimentary system during the late period of the Early Sinian (ZSQII) led to formation of the clastic-carbonate mixed sedi-
Clastic-carbonate mixed sedimentary mentary system in the upper part of the Lower Sinian; the transgression during the initial period of the
system Late Sinian (ZSQIII) resulted in development of carbonate sedimentary system in the Upper Sinian. Three
Carbonate sedimentary system regressions resulted in formation of three unconformities, which were on the middle part of the Lower
Lithofacies palaeogeography Sinian, the top of the Lower Sinian and the top of the Upper Sinian respectively. Due to breakup of
Tarim Basin
Rodinia supercontinent in the Neoproterozoic, the Tarim Basin was in the continental rifting evolutionary
process. In the Sinian, the basin experienced evolutionary processes of intra-cratonic depression and
passive continental margin, thus characteristic of the lithofacies palaeogeography was characterized by
uplifts in the south and depressions in the north. In the Early Sinian, the Tarim Basin developed the
Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift and the Tabei residual ancient land, and the shore-shelf sedimentary
environment in the north as well as the shore-shelf-bathyal sedimentary environment in the southwest.
In the Late Sinian, the Tabei residual ancient land disappeared; the basin developed the tidal flat sedi-
mentary environment in the north and the neritic sedimentary environment of the passive continental
margin in the southwest.
© 2017 Chinese Petroleum Society. Publishing Services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi. This is an open
access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

1. Introduction unconformably coverd on the metamorphosed basement. Early

The Tarim Basin, the largest petroliferous basin with area of
0.560  106 km2 in West China, was a large multi-cycles super-
posed basin (Jia, 1999), and had abundant oil and gas resource. The
Tarim movement at the end of the Qingbaikou Period led to for-
mation of the metamorphosed basement of the Tarim Basin (Jia,
1997). The first set of deposits formed in the Neoproterozoic
* Corresponding author. School of Earth and Space Science, Peking University,
Beijing 100871, China.
E-mail address: shikaibo@pku.edu.cn (K. Shi).
Paleozoic deposition was controlled by the basin formation
mechanism, basin type and lithofacies palaeogeography of the
Sinian (Li et al., 2015). Specifically due to discovery of primary
hydrocarbon reservoirs in Cambrian subsalt dolomite in Well ZS1 in
2013 (Wang et al., 2014), study of Sinian lithofacies palae-
ogeography could guide search of Cambrian source rocks, and it
would be of great significance to hydrocarbon exploration in the
basin. According to outcrops and early seismic data, the Sinian
tectonic setting, basin type and sedimentation characteristics in the
Tarim Basin had been well investigated (Gao et al., 1982, 1985; Song
and Liu, 1990; Li and Dong, 1991; Tang, 1994; Jia, 1997, 1999; He

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ptlrs.2017.04.004
2096-2495/© 2017 Chinese Petroleum Society. Publishing Services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280 265

Fig. 1. Tectonic characteristic of the Tarim Basin and its peripheral areas showing that currently the Kuruktag uplift belt in the northeast, the Kalpin uplift belt in the northwest, the
Tiekelike uplift belt in the southwest, and the Altun uplift belt in the southeast, are distributed in the margin of the Tarim Basin. “I” represented Kuruktag uplift belt; “II” represented
Kalpin uplift belt; “III” represented Tiekelike uplift belt; “IV” represented Altun uplift belt. “1” represented Altun strike-slip fault; “2” represented Xingxingxia strike-slip fault; “3”
represented North Tarim fault; “4” represented South marginal fault of the central Tianshan; “5” represented Nikolaev-Nalat fault belt; “6” represented Talass-Fergana strike-slip
fault; “7” represented North Tianshan suture belt; “8” represented Kangxiwar fault belt.

Fig. 2. Tectonic division of the Tarim Basin showing that the Tarim Basin could be divided into Kuqa depression, Tabei uplift, North depression, Central uplift, Southwest depression,
Tanan uplift and Southeast depression. “1” represented Shiairike section; “2” represented Kulexi section; “3” represented Sugetbulak section; “4” represented Wushi section; “5”
represented Xinjiang-Tibet Highway section; “6” represented Xishankou section; “7” represented Qiakemaketieshi section; “8” represented Xingeertage section; “9” represented
Zhaobishan section; “10” represented Yardangshan section; “11” represented Saimashan section; “12” represented Yangxia coal mine section.

et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2007c; Wu, 2010; Wang et al., 2010b; Qian Zhou et al., 2015). In the Sinian, the basin was pulled apart, and
et al., 2011; Qian et al., 2014; Yang et al., 2014; Feng et al., 2015; rifts were developed around the basin (Tang, 1994; Jia, 1997; Zhou
266 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280

et al., 2015). But understandings of sedimentary system and

Nnahuan Teruiaiken Nnahuan Teruiaiken Nnahuan Teruiaiken Pre-Sinian basement Nanhuan Yutang Fm. Nanhuan Yutang Fm.
palaeogeographic characteristics of the basin were different, and

Member

Member
Cambrian Yurtusi
Southwest Tarim

Kezisuhumu Fm.
degree of related researches was weak, that was because that

Lower
Kurkak Upper
most of data were from outcrops and early seismic data, and the
data quality was limited. In recent years, more and more drilling
data were available, and the seismic data quality was improved,

Basin

Fm.

Fm.
therefore, it was possible carry out further studies for Sinian
sedimentary system and lithofacies palaeogeography. Thus, based

Member

Member
Devonian Qizilafu
on outcrops, drilling data and 2D-3D seismic data, the Sinian

Kezisuhumu Fm.

Lower
Upper
strata distribution, sedimentary system and lithofacies palae-
ogeography were well investigated.

Tiekelike

Kurkak
2. Geological setting

Fm.

Fm.
The Tarim Basin occurred among Tianshan, West Kunlunshan

Xishanbulake Fm.
Tadongnan uplift
and Altun folded orogenic belts, and was located between the

Shuiquan FM.
Central Asian Paleozoic orogenic belt and the Tethyan orogenic

Cambrian
belt (Fig. 1). As one of three major continental blocks in China, the
Tarim Basin had the complete Precambrian basement and well-
developed Neoproterozoic sedimentary cover (Gao and Cheng,
1984; Gao et al., 1985; Ma et al., 1991). The basin experienced

Xishanbulake Fm.
the initial continental crust evolution of TTG (trondhjemite,

East Tarim Basin

Zhamoketi Fm.
Yukengou Fm.
tonalite and granodiorite) which was ended at the end of the

Shuiquan FM.
Manjar sag
Neoarchean (Lu, 1992; Lu et al., 2008; Long et al., 2010; Zhang

Cambrian
et al., 2012), and two orogenic events at the end of the Paleo-

Fm.
proterozoic and the late Mesoproterozoic-early Neoproterozoic
respectively, thus the Precambrian basement of the basin was

Hangeerqiaoke Fm.
formed finally. During the early period of the Neoproterozoic

Xishanbulake Fm.
North Kuruktag
(about 900 Ma), the basin that was a part of the Rodinia super-

Zhamoketi Fm.
Yukengou Fm.
Shuiquan Fm.
continent collided with the Australian Plate (Chen et al., 2004;

Cambrian
Zhang et al., 2007a). Since 750 Ma, the basin was separated
from the Australian Plate and then developed Neoproterozoic

Fm.
cover deposits (Xu et al., 2005, 2009). Under the extensional
tectonic setting, three rifts (i.e. Manjar, Maigaiti and Taxinan) were
Hangeerqiaoke Fm.
Xishanbulake Fm.
developed in the Tarim Basin in the Nanhuan Period (Feng et al.,
South Kuruktag

Zhamoketi Fm.
Yukengou Fm.
2015; Cui et al., 2016; Li et al., 2016), and uplifts were developed Shuiquan Fm.
in both sides of the rifts. The basin in the Sinian inherited the
Cambrian
Kuruktag

tectono-paleogeographic framework of the Nanhuan Period, but

Fm.
the extension was gradually weakened, a set of clastic-carbonate
rocks were deposited.
Cambrian Yurtusi Fm.

Currently, four uplift belts, i.e. Kuruktag in the northeast, Kal-

Member

Member
Lower
Sugetbulak Upper
North Tarim Basin

pin in the northwest, Tiekelike in the southwest, and Altun in the

Qigebulake Fm.

southeast, are distributed in the margin of the Tarim Basin, and

Akesu Group

hinterland of the basin is covered by desert (Fig. 1). According to

basement property and development characteristic of large-scale
faults, the Tarim Basin was divided into seven first-order tectonic
Fm.
Sinian stratigraphic subdivision and correlation in the Tarim Basin.

units (Jia, 1997; Zheng et al., 2014), i.e. Kuqa depression, Tabei
uplift, North depression, Central uplift, Southwest depression,
Cambrian Yurtusi Fm.

Member

Member
Lower
Sugetbulak Upper

Tanan uplift and Southeast depression (Fig. 2).

Yourmeinak Fm.
Qigebulake Fm.

Akesu Group/
Aksu-Kalpin

3. Sinian strata and sequence division

The hinterland of the Tarim Basin was covered by desert. The

Fm.

Sinian outcrops were distributed along the basin margin, mainly

in the Aksu-Kalpin area in the northwest margin, the Kuruktag
Second-order

area in the northeast margin and the Tiekelike area in the

southwest margin of the basin, and it was absent in the Altun area
sequence

in the southeast margin of the basin. Within the basin, only a few
ZSQIII

ZSQII

ZSQI

of wells (including Well XH1, Well T1, Well YL1, Well TD1, Well
TD2 and Well DT1) drilled into the Sinian strata (Fig. 2), some
Overlying strata

wells without Sinian strata (including Well F1, Well H4, Well ZS1,
Lower
Sinian Upper
Sinian

Sinian

Underlying

Well TC1, Well MC1, Well MC2 and Well YD2) were drilled in the
strata

basement or volcanic rocks (Fig. 2). The Sinian stratigraphic sub-

Strata
Table 1

division varied with regions, according to previous studies (Gao

et al., 1982, 1985; Gao and Cheng, 1984), combined with
 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280
outcrops and drilling data, the Sinian stratigraphic subdivision and
correlation in the Tarim Basin was established (Table 1).
Through analysis of Sinian outcrop sequences in the Aksu-
Kalpin area, the Tiekelike area, and south and north Kuruktag
area in the Tarim Basin (Fig. 3), and in combination with drilling
sequence division in different sedimentary-tectonic units and 2D
seismic sequence interpretation, the Sinian sequence stratigraphic
framework in the Tarim Basin was established, it could be divided
into 3 second-order sequences, among which 2 second-order se-
quences (ZSQI and ZSQII) were developed in the Lower Sinian and
1 second-order sequences (ZSQIII) was developed in the Upper
Sinian (Table 1 and Fig. 3). This sequence division provided a base
for studies of Sinian sedimentary system and lithofacies palae-
ogeography of the basin.
Sequence ZSQI was corresponded to Lower Mermber of Lower
Sinian Sugetbulak Formation in northern Tarim and Aksu-Kalpin
area, or Lower Member of Lower Sinian Kurkak Formation in
southwestern Tarim, or Lower Sinian Zhamoketi Formation in
eastern Tarim. A set of clastic sedimentary system was developed in
the sequence, bottom of sequence ZSQI was in angular/parallel
unconformity pattern to contact with pre-Sinian strata (Figs. 4a and
b).
Sequence ZSQII was corresponded to Upper Member of Lower
Sinian Sugetbulak Formation in northern Tarim and Aksu-Kalpin
area, or Upper Member of Lower Sinian Kurkak Formation in
Fig. 3. Sinian outcrop sequence stratigraphic correlation in periphery of Tarim Basin showing that 2 second-order sequences (ZSQI and ZSQII) were developed in the Lower Sinian
and 1 second-order sequences (ZSQIII) was developed in the Upper Sinian.
267
southwestern Tarim, or Lower Sinian Yukengou Formation in
eastern Tarim. The clastic-carbonate mixed sedimentary system
was developed in the sequence, bottom of sequence ZSQII was in
the parallel unconformity pattern to contact with top of sequence
ZSQI (Figs. 4a, c and d).
Sequence ZSQIII was corresponded to Upper Sinian Qigebulake
Formation in northern Tarim and Aksu-Kalpin area, or Upper Sinian
Kezisuhumu Formation in southwestern Tarim, or Upper Sinian
Shuiquan and Hangeerqiaoke Formations in eastern Tarim. The
carbonate sedimentary system was developed in the sequence,
bottom of sequence ZSQIII was in the parallel unconformity pattern
contact with top of sequence ZSQII in northern and southwestern
Tarim (Figs. 4a and e), and in the conformity pattern contact with
top of sequence ZSQII in the Kuruktag area (Fig. 4f); top of ZSQIII
was in the angular unconformity contact with Paleozoic strata.
4. Distribution characteristics of Sinian strata
4.1. Periphery of the basin
4.1.1. The northwest margin
The Sinian strata in the northwest margin of the basin was
mainly distributed in the Aksu-Wushi area in the north of Kalpin
(Fig. 5a). The Sinian strata were in the angular unconformity con-
tact with the underlying Aksu Group/Nanhuan Youermeinake
268 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280

Formation (Fig. 5b) and in the unconformity pattern contact with
the overlying Cambrian Yurtusi Formation. The Sinian System was
subdivided into the Lower Sinian Sugetbulak Formation and the
Upper Sinian Qigebulake Formation (Table 1). The Sugetbulak For-
mation consisted of two lithologic members. The Lower Member of
Sugetbulak Formation was composed of clastic rocks which were
deposited in the oxidizing environment, and were intruded by
basalt with age of 615 Ma along beds (Xu et al., 2013a). The lower
part of the Lower Member of Sugetbulak Formation consisted of
shore purple pebbly sandstone and coarse sandstoneefine sand-
stone with cross beddings (Fig. 5c); the upper part of the Lower
Member of Sugetbulak Formation consisted of tidal-flat purple and
grey-green mudstone intercalated with thin-bedded sandstones
(Fig. 5d). Basal conglomerate with thickness of 1e2 m occurred
between the Lower Member and the Upper Member of Sugetbulak
Formation (Fig. 5e), indicating the long-time depositional break.
The Upper Member of Sugetbulak Formation was composed of
mixed deposits of fine-grain clastic and carbonate rocks; the lower
part of the Upper Member of Sugetbulak Formation consisted of
multiple rhythmic cycles which was composed of medium-thick
bedded calcareous sandstone and calcareous mudstone (Fig. 5f);
the middle part of the Upper Member of Sugetbulak Formation
consisted of micrite, wormkalk, grain limestone and limestone with
terrigenous clasts (Fig. 5g); the upper part of the Upper Member of
Sugetbulak Formation consisted of calcareous fine sandstone and
siltstone; dark grey and grey green mudstone were developed on
the top of the Upper Member of Sugetbulak Formation. The Qige-
bulake Formation in parallel unconformity pattern contact with the
Sugetbulak Formation was composed of carbonate rocks. The
dolomicrite interbeded with grey-green/yellow-green siltstone and
mudstone was developed at the bottom of the Qigebulake Forma-
tion (Fig. 5h); the Qigebulake Formation was mainly composed of
grain dolomite and algal dolomite (Fig. 5i) with development of
columnar stromatolites, indicating that the sedimentary environ-
ment was shallow shoal of the middle ramp to tidal flat of the inner
ramp.
4.1.2. The northeast margin
The Sinian strata in the northeast margin of the basin mainly
was distributed in the Kuruktag area (Fig. 6a), which was separated

Fig. 4. Characteristics of Sinian outcrop sequence boundaries in periphery of Tarim Basin. (a) Characteristics of Sinian ZSQI, ZSQII and ZSQIII sequences in northwestern Tarim,
Wushi section; (b) the parallel unconformity between sequence ZSQI and underlying Nanhuan strata in northeastern Tarim, Yardangshan section; (c) the parallel unconformity
between sequence ZSQI and sequence ZSQII in northwestern Tarim, Shenairike section; (d) the parallel unconformity between sequence ZSQI and sequence ZSQII in northeastern
Tarim, Xingeertage section; (e) the parallel unconformity between sequence ZSQII and sequence ZSQIII in northwestern Tarim, Xigou section in Xiaoerbulake; (f) the conformity
between sequence ZSQII and sequence ZSQIII in northeastern Tarim, Yardangshan section; (g) the weathered crust on the top of sequence ZSQIII in northwestern Tarim, Xigou
section in Xiaoerbulake.
 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280 269

into the south Kuruktag area and the north Kuruktag area by the
Xingdi fault. The Sinian strata was in the parallel unconformity
pattern contact with underlying Nanhuan strata (Fig. 6b) and was
in the unconformity pattern contact with overlying Cambrian
Xishanbulake Formation. The Sinian System was subdivided into
the Zhamoketi, Yukengou, Shuiquan, and Hangeerqiaoke Forma-
tions from the bottom to the top (Table 1). The Lower Sinian was
composed of clastic rocks; lithology of the Lower Sinian in the north
Kuruktag area consisted grey to greyish green siltstone and silty
mudstone (Fig. 6c) which was locally intercalated with micrite, the
sedimentary environment was shelf, the grey-green basalt/diabase
(Fig. 6d) with age of 615 Ma (Xu et al., 2009; He et al., 2014) was
developed on the top of the Lower Sinian; lithology of Lower Sinian
in the south Kuruktag area consisted of grey-green to dark-grey
feldspar sandstone and lithic sandstone which was locally inter-
calated with silty mudstone, indicating the sedimentary environ-
ment was shore (Fig. 6e).
The Upper Sinian Shuiquan Formation was composed of fine-
grain clastic-carbonate rocks; lithology of the lower part of the
Shuiquan Formation in the north Kuruktag area consisted of micrite
and argillaceous limestone intercalated with dark grey siltstone
and mudstone (Figs. 6f and g), lithology of the upper part of the
Shuiquan Formation was black mudstone intercalated with micrite,
indicating the sedimentary environment was the mixed shelf; li-
thology of the Shuiquan Formation in the south Kuruktag area was
composed of muddy to micritic dolomite and dolorudite (Fig. 6h),
indicating the sedimentary environment was the tidal flat. The
Hangeerqiaoke Formation was in the unconformity pattern contact
with underlying Shuiquan Formation; lithology of the south and
north Kuruktag areas was similar, and was characterized by grey
and grey-green massive tillite with laminated mudstone formed by
formed by the glacier; the cap dolomite was developed on the top
of the Hangeerqiaoke Formation (Fig. 6i).
4.1.3. The southwest margin
The Sinian strata in the southwest margin of the basin mainly
were distributed in the Tiekelike area, and the outcrops along the
Xinjiang-Tibet Highway were complete (Fig. 7a). The Sinian strata
were in the parallel unconformity pattern contact with underlying
Nanhuan Qiakemakelike Formation and in the unconformity con-
tact with overlying Devonian/Carboniferous strata. The Sinian
System was subdivided into Lower Sinian Kurkak Formation and
Upper Sinian Kezisuhumu Formation (Table 1). A rosy dolomite
layer was developed at the bottom of the Kurkak Formation
(Fig. 7b); the lower part of Kurkak Formation was composed of
black and dark-grey mudstone intercalated with siltstone (Fig. 7c);
the middle part of Kurkak Formation consisted of yellow-grey
sandstone and siltstone interbedded with dark-grey mudstone,
and consisted of grey glauconitic sandstone upwards (Fig. 7d);
micritic dolomite intercalated with oolitic dolomite and dolorudite
were developed on the top of Kurkak Formation. The depositional
environment of Kurkak Formation was shore-shelf as a whole. The
Kezisuhumu Formation was in the parallel unconformity contact
with the Kurkak Formation. The lower part of Kezisuhumu For-
mation was composed of pelitic siltstone interbedded with dolo-
mite (Fig. 7e); the upper part of Kezisuhumu Formation consisted of
grey and rosy lamellar dolomite (Figs. 7f and g). The depositional
environment of Kezisuhumu Formation was tidal flat.

Fig. 5. Typical characteristics of the Sinian strata in the northwest margin of the Tarim Basin. (a) Regional distribution characteristics of the Sinian strata in the northwest margin of
the Tarim Basin; (b) the unconformity between the Sugetbulak Formation and the underlying Aksu Group; (c) the purple pebbly sandstone and coarse sandstoneefine sandstone
with cross beddings in the lower part of the Lower Member of Sugetbulak Formation; (d) the purple mudstone intercalated with thin-bedded sandstones in the upper part of the
Lower Member of Sugetbulak Formation; (e) the basal conglomerate; (f) the calcareous sandstone interbedded with calcareous mudstone in the lower part of the Upper Member of
Sugetbulak Formation; (g) the wormkalk in the middle part of the Upper Member of Sugetbulak Formation; (h) the dolomite interbedded with mudstone/siltstone at the bottom of
the Qigebulake Formation; (i) the dolomite with algal lamellar in the Qigebulake Formation.
270 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280

4.2. The areas within the basin
4.2.1. The north Tarim Basin (The Tabei area)
Only wells including Well XH1 and Well QG1 were drilled in the
Sinian strata in northern Tarim. The Well XH1 was drilled in the
purple mudstone of Sugetbulak with thickness of 15 m, and the
underlying strata were phyllite and granite gneiss with age of 832
Ma (Xu et al., 2013b). The Qigebulake Formation with thickness of
241 m, was composed of argillaceous limestone and micrite in the
lower part of Qigebulake Formation and argillaceous dolomite and
dolomicrite in the upper part of Qigebulake Formation (Fig. 8)
which was overlain by black mudstone of Cambrian Yurtusi For-
mation. The Well QG1 was drilled in the Qigebulake dolomite with
thickness of 74 m, which was underlain by granite basement. As
shown on seismic sections, the Sinian strata were distributed stably
in the south area in the Tabei area, and thickness of the Sinian strata
had no obvious variations (Figs. 9a and b); towards the north, the
Sinian strata were absent due to late uplifting and denudation, and
hence the pre-Sinian metamorphosed basement was directly
covered by Mesozoic strata (Fig. 8). The Well WC1 was directly
drilled in chlorite schist and quartz schist if the basement with
clastic zircon age of 800 Ma and 1.8e1.9 Ga respectively (Zhou,
2015; Zhou et al., 2015); the clastic zircon age of the sericite
quartz schist in the Yangxia coal mines in eastern Kuqa depression
was 800 Ma (Ma et al., 2011); this basement was also drilled in Well
YH2, Well LT2 and Well MN1 (Fig. 8), and it might be correlated
with the Aksu Group in the Aksu area according to the clastic zircon
age and degree of metamorphism. In addition, the basement
granite in Well QM1 had the age of 1851 ± 9 Ma (Zhou, 2015), the
basement granite in Well S53 had the ages of 1848 ± 7 Ma and
1791 ± 1 Ma (Xu et al., 2013b; Han et al., 2016), the basement
granites in Well QG2 and Well QG3 were 1846 ± 1 Ma and
1824±2Ma respectively (Han et al., 2016). That indicated that the
Tabei area had the metamorphosed basement and Paleoproterozoic
crystalline basement which might be corresponded to the Aksu
Group.
4.2.2. The Bachui-Tazhong area
In the Bachu uplift in the western Tarim Basin, only Well T1 was
drilled in the Sinian strata with thickness of 63 m, the lithology was
composed of sandstone and mudstone intercalated with volcanic
rocks, and the underlying rock was andesite with age of 755 ± 3 Ma

Fig. 6. Typical characteristics of the Sinian strata in the northeast margin of the Tarim Basin. (a) Regional distribution characteristics of the Sinian strata in the northeast margin of
the Tarim Basin; (b) the parallel unconformity between the Zhamoketi Formation and the underlying Nanhuan strata; (c) the sandstone was interbedded with siltstone in the
Zhamokti Formation the of Lower Sinian in the north Kuruktag area; (d) the unconformity between micrite of the Yukengou Formation and volcanic breccia of the Zhamoketi
Formation in the north Kuruktag area; (e) the lithic quartz sandstone with parallel bedding in the Yukengou Formation in the south Kuruktag area; (f) the black mudstone in the
Shuiquan Formation in the north Kuruktag area; (g) the yellow-grey dolomite with wedge-shaped bedding in the Shuiquan Formation in the north Kuruktag area; (h) the dolomite
in the Shuiquan Formation and mudstone in the Yukengou Formation in the south Kuruktag area; (i) the cap dolomite on the top of the Hangeerqiaoke Formation.
 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280 271

(Xu et al., 2013b) intercalated with mudstone (Fig. 10). The Well ST1
was drilled in gabbro with thickness of 26 m below the Cambrian
strata (Fig. 10). The Well F1 was drilled in vesiculate amygdaloidal
basalt with age of 708.7 ± 16 Ma below the Cambrian strata, and the
thickness was 244 m (Fig. 10). The Well H4 was drilled in basalt
with thickness of 70 m below the Cambrian strata (Fig. 10). This set
of volcanic rocks was similar to the basalt with age of 759 ± 7 Ma
(Zhang et al., 2009) below the Sinian in the Sugetbulak area,
geochemical characteristic indicated that this set of volcanic rocks
was formed in the intra-plate rift environment (Wang et al., 2010a;
Kang, 2011). The Awat sag in the northern Bachu uplift and the
Maigaiti slope in the southern Bachu uplift, there was no well
drilled in the Sinian strata, and the Sinian seismic reflection char-
acteristics were obvious (Figs. 9c and e), indicating the Bachu area

Fig. 7. Typical characteristics of the Sinian strata in the southeast margin of the Tarim Basin. (a) Regional distribution characteristics of the Sinian strata in the southeast margin of
the Tarim Basin; (b) the rosy dolomite at the bottom of the Kurkak Formation; (c) the dark-grey mudstone in the lower part of Kurkak Formation; (d) the yellow-grey sandstone and
siltstone interbedded with dark-grey mudstone, and grey glauconitic sandstone in the middle and upper part of Kurkak Formation; (e) the grey dolomite intercalated with
mudstone in the Kezisuhumu Formation; (f) the lamellar dolomite in the Kezisuhumu Formation; (g) the purple dolomite on the top of the Kezisuhumu Formation.

Fig. 8. Precambrian stratigraphic correlation in the Tabei area (well locations shown in Fig. 2) showing that the Qigebulake Formation was overlain by black mudstone of Cambrian
Yurtusi Formation in the south area of the Tabei area, and the pre-Sinian metamorphosed basement was directly covered by Mesozoic strata towards the north area of the Tabei
area.
272 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280
was the volcanic eruption center in the Nanhuan Period and the
lava plateau was formed, the Awat sag in the northern Bachu uplift
and the Maigaiti slope in the southern Bachu uplift were the sub-
sidence center of the rift, and were filled by the Nanhuan-Sinian
deposits (Feng et al., 2015; Cui et al., 2016; Li et al., 2016). The
Well BT5 was drilled in a set of breccia below the Cambrian strata,
the breccia chiefly consisted of basalt/diabase (Fig. 10), indicating
the deposits were near the source. The Well MB1 drilled in the
granite gneiss basement with age of 1.8e1.9 Ga below the Cambrian
strata (Fig. 10) suggested that the Paleoproterozoic crystalline
basement occurred in the Maigaiti area.
In the Tazhong uplift, there was no well drilled in the Sinian
strata. The Well TC1 was drilled in diorite and granodiorite below
the Cambrian strata (Fig. 10), and age of the granodiorite was
757 ± 6 Ma (Wu et al., 2012). The Well ZS1 was drilled in the
olivine-bearing granite below the Cambrian strata (Fig. 10), age of
the granite was 1895 ± 1 Ma (Xu et al., 2013b) or 1915 ± 5 Ma (Zhou,
Fig. 9. Seismic reflection characteristic of Sinian in the western Tarim Basin (profile locations were shown in Fig. 2) showing that there was obvious seismic reflection characteristic
of Sinian.
2015), and this rocks was the Paleoproterozoic crystalline base-
ment. In the area on the north of Well TC1 and Well ZS1, there was
obvious seismic reflection characteristic of Sinian, and in the area
on the south of Well TC1 and Well ZS1, the pre-Sinian basement
occurred below the Cambrian strata, suggesting Paleoproterozoic
crystalline basement existed in the Tazhong area (Fig. 9d). Due to
intra-plate extension in the Nanhuan Period, the area on the north
of Well TC1 and Well ZS1 was the deposition area; and the area on
the south of Well TC1 and Well ZS1 was the structural high, and
there was no Sinian deposits, indicating that footwall of the fault
depression experienced uplifting and denudation.
4.2.3. The east Tarim Basin (The Tadong area)
In the Tadong area, wells including Well TD2, Well TD1, Well
DT1 and Well YL1 were drilled in Sinian strata. The Well TD2 was
drilled in the Shuiquan dolomite with thickness of 28 m, which was
underlain by Paleoproterozoic granite crystalline basement
 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280 273

Fig. 10. Precambrian stratigraphic correlation in the Bachu-Tazhong area (well locations were shown in Fig. 2) showing that only Well T1 was drilled in the Sinian strata, and other
wells were drilled in the volcanic rocks below the Cambrian strata.

Fig. 11. Precambrian stratigraphic correlation in the Tadong area (well locations were shown in Fig. 2) showing that the Shuiquan dolomite in some wells was underlain by volcanic
rocks.

(Fig. 11), ages of the granite were 1908 ± 9 Ma (Wu et al., 2012), drilled in partial Shuiquan dolomite with thickness of 100 m
1916 ± 11 Ma and 1927 ± 7 Ma (Zhou, 2015). The Well TD1 was (Fig. 11). The Well DT1 was drilled in the Shuiquan dolomite and
274 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280
Fig. 12. The Sinian seismic reflection characteristics in the Tadong area (profile locations were shown in Fig. 2) showing that the Sinian strata gradually pinched out towards the
south.
argillaceous dolomite with thickness of 800 m, and the underlying
strata was diabase (Fig. 11). Seismic profiles through Well ML1 and
Well LX1 blocks showed the distinct Sinian reflection characteris-
tics (Fig. 12). The Well YD2 was drilled in granite with age of 750 ± 7
Ma (Zhou, 2015) overlaid by the Cambrian strata. The bimodal
volcanic rocks with age of 725e740 Ma in the Yardangshan area (Xu
et al., 2005, 2009) indicated the early rifting process occurred in the
Nanhuan Period. The Sinian strata with thickness of 344 m drilled
in Well YL1 in the Manjar sag consisted of mudstone and siltstone
in the lower part as well as micrite and argillaceous limestone
intercalated with mudstone in the upper part. Seismic profiles
showed that the Sinian was stably distributed in the Manjar sag.
Thus, it was concluded that a continental marginal rift was devel-
oped in the eastern Tarim Basin during the Nanhuan Period; the
Manjar sag in the northern Tarim Basin was the center of the rift
valley and was filled by the Nanhuan-Sinian deposits. The Tadong
low high probably was the volcanic eruption center or the rift flank
and was the structural high, hence it directly deposited the Shui-
quan dolomite instead of Nanhuan-Early Sinian deposits, thus the
Sinian strata gradually pinched out towards the south (Fig. 12). No
dolomite of Shuiquan Formation was drilled in Well YD2, this might
be attributed to denudation due to uplifting at the end of the Sinian,
that could also be used to explain difference in thickness of dolo-
mite in Shuiquan Formation among Well TD2 and Well TD1, Well
DT1.
4.2.4. The southwest to southeast Tarim Basin (The Taxinan-
Tadongnan area)
No Sinian strata had been drilled in the southeast Tarim uplift
(Tadongnan uplift) yet. Well MC1 and Well MC2 were drilled in the
metamorphic rocks of greenschist facies (Fig. 13) with clastic zircon
ages of 750e850 Ma and 1.8e1.9 Ga (Xu et al., 2013b; Zhou, 2015).
The metamorphic age of two phyllite and schist samples from Well
MC1 was 425 Ma through the K-Ar dating method (Wu et al., 2012).
The Well RC2 was drilled in the amphibolite directly below Jurassic
strata (Fig. 13), the zircon age was 445.7 ± 5.2 Ma (Zhou, 2015). The
Well LB1 was drilled in the marble below Paleogene strata (Fig. 13).
No Sinian sedimentary formations were observed in the Altun
outcrops; the Cambrian/Ordovician strata were in the unconfor-
mity pattern contact with the underlying Qingbaikouan strata, and
is the Early Paleozoic volcanic rocks were developed in this area (Qi
et al., 2005; Wu et al., 2005; Xiu et al., 2007; Zhang et al., 2007b;
Yang et al., 2008; Liu, 2011). Thus it was concluded that the
southeast Tarim Basin was the uplift area during the Sinian Period,
and no Sinian sediments were deposited; original rocks of the
metamorphic rocks of greenschist facies at the downhole of Well
MC1 and Well MC2 as well as marble at the downhole of Well LB1
might be the Early Paleozoic deposits; extensive tectonic-thermal
events in the Late Ordovician-Early Silurian resulted in the com-
mon metamorphism in this area (Wu et al., 2012).
No Sinian strata had been drilled in the southwest Tarim Basin
due to large buried depth, but distinct Sinian seismic reflection
signatures could be identified on the seismic section (Fig. 9e). A
series of belts with high and low magnetic anomalies in the
northeast direction occurred in the Tarim Basin. The 3D resistivity
inversion results showed that depth range of 6e15 km in the
southwest Tarim basin exhibited low resistivity as a whole (Yang
et al., 2015). Thus it was inferred that the Sinian sedimentary
 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280
strata might were developed in the southwest Tarim Basin; the
aeromagnetic anomalies belts might indicate the basement differ-
ence, and was not the identification mark of Sinian deposits. Due to
no well drilled through the Sinian strata, studies on Sinian sedi-
mentary characteristics in the southwest Tarim Basin mainly
referred characteristics of outcrops in the southwest Tarim Basin.
5. The Sinian sedimentary system
Through analysis of Sinian sedimentary facies within and
around the Tarim Basin, there were three types of Sinian sedi-
mentary system, i.e. the clastic sedimentary system, the clastic-
carbonate mixed sedimentary system, and the carbonate sedi-
mentary system (Table 2).
The clastic sedimentary system mainly was developed in the
Lower Sinian, and the sedimentary environment was the clastic
shore-clastic shelf facies. Horizontally, the shore sediments were
mainly developed in the northwest Tarim Basin and the Aksu-
Kalpin area; the shelf sediments were mainly developed in the
southwest Tarim Basin, the Manjar sag and the north Kuruktag
area; the bathyal turbidite sediments occurred in the Tiekelike area.
The carbonate-clastic mixed sedimentary system mainly was
developed in the upper part of the Lower Sinian and at the bottom
of the Upper Sinian. Horizontally, the mixed tidal-flat deposits
occurred in the upper Sugetbulak Formation and the lower Qig-
bulake Formation in the northwest Tarim Basin as well as the upper
Fig. 13. Precambrian stratigraphic correlation in the Taxinan-Tadongnan area (well location were shown in Fig. 2) showing that the Well RC2 was drilled in the amphibolite directly
below Jurassic strata, and the Well LB1 was drilled in the marble below Paleogene strata.
275
Kurkak Formation and the lower Kezisuhumu Formation in the
Maigaiti slope; the mixed shelf deposits mainly were developed in
the Yukengou and Shuiquan Formations in the Kuruktag area. The
carbonate sedimentary system were developed in the Upper Sinian,
and the sedimentary model was the carbonate ramp; horizontally,
tidal flat and lagoon deposits of the inner ramp occurred in the
Kalpin-Bachu area, low highs in the east Tarim Basin, and the
Maigaiti slope area; shoal and inter-shoal deposits in the middle
ramp were developed in the central-north Tarim Basin; deposits of
the outer ramp occurred in the Manjar sag and the southwest Tarim
Basin. Vertically, the Sinian sedimentary sequence changed from
the clastic sedimentary system, the carbonate-clastic mixed sedi-
mentary system and the carbonate sedimentary system (Table 2).
6. The Sinian lithofacies palaeogeography
In the Mesoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic, the Tarim block was
located at the northwest margin of the Australian Plate in the
Rodinia supercontinent (Zhang et al., 2012, 2013; Wang et al.,
2015b). Due to breakup of Rodinia supercontinent in the Neo-
proterozoic, the Tarim block was separated from the northwest
margin of the Australian Plate (Zhou et al., 2012, 2015), and evolved
into the continental rifting process (Li and Zhang, 2001). A large
amount of Neoproterozoic bimodal volcanic rocks were developed
in northeastern, northwestern and southwestern Tarim Basin (Li
et al., 1999; Song et al., 2003; Xu et al., 2005, 2009; Zhang et al.,
276 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280

Table 2
Sinian sedimentary facies and its characteristics in the Tarim Basin.

Sedimentary system Facies Subfacies Microfacies Characteristics Distribution area Formation

Carbonate Sedimentary Inner ramp Lagoon Dolomitic lagoon Argillaceous dolomite Aksu-Kalpin Qigbulak Fm.
system interbedded with
dolomicrite, horizontal
bedding and laminated
structure
Tidal flat Dolomitic flat, muddy Muddy to micritic Aksu-Kalpin, Tadong Qigebulake Fm.,
dolomitic flat, inter- dolomite, argillaceous uplift, and Maigaiti Shuiquan Fm. and
tidal algal mat dolomite and algal slope Kezisuhumu Fm.
dolomite, laminated
and stromatolith
structures
Middle ramp Shoal Oolitic shoal, psammitic Oolitic dolomite, Aksu-Kalpin, northern Qigebulake Fm. and
shoal, pelletoid shoal pelletoid dolomite and Tarim, and Maigaiti Kezisuhumu Fm.
dolarenite, parallel slope
bedding
Inter shoal Muddy to micritic Aksu-Kalpin, northern Qigebulake Fm. and
dolomite and Tarim, and Maigaiti Kezisuhumu Fm.
argillaceous dolomite, slope
horizontal bedding
Outer ramp Mudstone interbedded Northern Tarim, Manjar Qigebulake Fm.,
with marlstone, Sag, and southwestern Shuiquan Fm. and
horizontal bedding Tarim Kezisuhumu Fm.
Mixed Sedimentary Mixed shore Mixed tidal flat Tidal flat, tidal channel Sandy dolomite with Northern Tarim, Upper Member of
system terrigenous clasts, southwestern Tarim, Sugetbulak Fm., lower
dolomite interbeded and Magaiti slope part of Qigebulake Fm.,
with sandstone and Upper Member of
siltstone, wormkalk Kurkak Fm. and lower
interbedded with part of Kezisuhumu Fm.
mudstone
Mixed shelf Shallow-water shelf Micrite and argillaceous Maigaiti slope, Aksu- Upper Member of
limestone interbedded Kalpin, and eastern Kurkak Fm., Upper
with mudstone, Manjar Sag Mmeber of Sugetbulak
siltstone and silty Fm. and Yukengou Fm.
mudstone, locally
wormkalk, horizontal
bedding
Deep-water shelf Mudstone and silty North Kuruktag Yukengou Fm.
mudstone intercalated
with argillaceous
limestone and micrite,
horizontal bedding
Clastic Sedimentary Shore Foreshore, shoreface Granule, coarse Northern Tarim, Sugetbulak Fm., Kurkak
system sandstone, finestone Maigaiti slope and Fm., Zhamoketi Fm. and
and siltstone with cross south Kuruktag Yukengou Fm.
bedding, parallel
bedding and ripple
marks
Tidal flat, tidal channel Coarse sandstone, Aksu-Kalpin and south Sugetbulak Fm.,
pebbly sandstone, Kuruktag Zhamoketi Fm. and
mudstone and siltstone Yukengou Fm.
alternatively with
swash cross bedding
and mud cracks
Shelf Shallow-water shelf Siltstone intercalated Southwestern Tarim Upper Member of
with mudstone and and Manjar Sag Kurkak Fm., Zhamoketi
silty mudstone, Fm. and Yukengou Fm.
horizontal bedding
Deep-water shelf Mudstone and shale Maigaiti slope, Lower Member of
intercalated with pelitic southwestern Tarim Kurkak Fm. and
siltstone, horizontal and Manjar Sag Yukengou Fm.
bedding
Bathyal sea Turbidite Finestone, siltstone and Tiekelike Lower Member of
mudstone with parallel, Kurkak. Fm.
horizontal and ripple
bedding as wellas
Bouma sequence

2007a, 2009, 2014; Wang et al., 2015a). Within the basin, Well T1,
Well F1, Well H4 and Well TC1 were drilled in the Neoproterozoic
volcanic rocks, indicating the Tarim block was in the pull-apart
geological setting as a whole at that time. Under this pull-apart
environment, three rifts (i.e., the Manjar rift, the Maigaiti rift and
the Taxinan rift) in the Tarim block during the Nanhuan Period
(Feng et al., 2015; Cui et al., 2016; Li et al., 2016) and most of areas in
flanks of rifts was the uplift areas. The Sinian basically inherited the
Nanhuan tectono-paleogeographic framework, but due to weak-
ening of the extensional intensity, a set of clastic-carbonate rocks
 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280 277

Fig. 14. Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Tarim Basin in the depositional period of sequence ZSQI showing that most part of the Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan area was the uplift
area, the residual ancient land was distributed in the north Tarim Basin (i.e., Tabei area); the shore facies was developed in the Tabei area, the shelf facies and shore facies were
distributed in the east Tarim Basin (i.e., Tadong area); the shore-shelf facies were developed in the Maigaititi area, and towards the southwest, the bathyal facies were developed. “1”
represented Shiairike section; “2” represented Kulexi section; “3” represented Sugetbulak section; “4” represented Wushi section; “5” represented Xinjiang-Tibet Highway section;
“6” represented Xishankou section; “7” represented Qiakemaketieshi section; “8” represented Xingeertage section; “9” represented Zhaobishan section; “10” represented Yard-
angshan section; “11” represented Saimashan section; “12” represented Yangxia coal mine section.

were developed.
6.1. The depositional period of ZSQI
In the Early Sinian, with weakening of the extension, the Tarim
Basin evolved from the rift in the Nanhuan into the intracraton
depression and passive continental margin in the Sinian, and the
lithofacies palaeogeographic features also changed. In the Early
Sinian, the sequence ZSQI was developed, the uplift area occurred
in most part of the Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan area, and the re-
sidual ancient land was distributed in the north Tarim Basin (i.e.,
Tabei area). To the north of Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan area, the
ocean water was from the ancient South Tianshan Ocean with NE
and NW direction of marine transgression, and the shore sedi-
mentary environment was developed in the Tabei area. The lower
part of sequence ZSQI was characterized purple pebbled sandstone
and coarse-fine sandstone (Fig. 4a) with the cross bedding (Fig. 5c);
the upper part of sequence ZSQI was characterized by purple
mudstone intercalated with thinebedded sandstone (Fig. 5d). In
the east Tarim Basin (i.e., Tadong area), greyish green mudstone
intercalated with sandstone and siltstone was deposited in the
shelf environment in the Manjar sag (Fig. 11), while clastic rocks of
shore facies were deposited in other areas. In the southwest part of
the Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift zone, sedimentation of the
passive continental marginal occurred in the Sinian; influenced by
the ancient Kunlun Ocean, the marine transgression occurred from
the southwest, sediments of the shore-shelf facies were deposited
in the Maigaititi area; towards the southwest, turbidite of the
bathyal environment were deposited (Fig. 14). In the late deposi-
tional period of sequence ZSQI, a large regression process occurred
in the Tarim Basin, and led to formation of the parallel unconfor-
mity in the internal Lower Sinian (Fig. 3), and the basal conglom-
erate with thickness of 1e2 m was deposited in the middle part of
the Sugetbulak Formation in the northwest Tarim Basin (Figs. 4c
and 5e).
6.2. The depositional period of squence ZSQII
The sequence ZSQII was developed in the Early Sinian, and the
palaeogeographic framework was basically similar to sequence
ZSQII (Fig. 15). The uplift area still occurred in most part of the
Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan area, but area of the residual ancient
land in the north Tarim Basin (i.e., Tabei area) was reduced, and
duet to decrease in supply of terrigenous material, the clastic-
carbonate mixed sedimentary system occurred in the basin, a
mixed tidal-flat environment was developed in the north Tarim
Basin. In the Aksu area, the lower part of sequence ZSQII was
characterized by multi-cycles medium-thick bedded calcareous
sandstone and calcareous mudstone (Fig. 5f), the middle part of
sequence ZSQII was characterized by micrite, wormkalk, grainstone
and limestone with terrigenous clasts (Fig. 5g), and the upper part
of sequence ZSQII was characterized by calcareous finestone, silt-
stone and limestone with terrigenous clasts, the top of sequence
ZSQII was characterized by dark-grey and grey-green mudstone
(Fig. 4c). In the Awat area, influenced by tectonic activities and
marine transgression, the sedimentary water was deeper, the
mixed shelf was developed. The deep-water clastic shelf was
distributed in the Manjar sag, which was characterized by
mudstone intercalated with siltstone in Well YL1 (Fig. 11).
Towards the east of Manjar sag, the mixed shelf environment
278 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280

was developed, and was characterized by rhythmic carbonate rocks
interbedded with mudstone and siltstone with horizontal bed-
dings. Due to clasts from the southeast Tarim uplift, the clastic
shore sediments were deposited towards the west of Manjar sag
which inherited depositional characteristic of sequence ZSQI. In the
southwest Tarim Basin, the sedimentary environment inherited the
early palaeogeography, was still the passive continental margin
environment; from the Maigaiti area toward the southwest, the
mixed tidal flat, the mixed shelf and the clastic shelf facies were
gradually developed. In the late depositional period of sequence
ZSQII, another marine regression process occurred in the Tarim
Basin, and resulted in formation of parallel unconformity between
the Upper Sinian and Lower Sinian. These two regression processes
occurred in late depositional periods of sequence ZSQI and
sequence ZSQII caused absence of Lower Sinian in the east Tarim
uplift, and pre-Sinian basement/volcanic rocks were directly over-
lain by Late Sinian carbonate rocks (Fig. 11).
6.3. The depositional period of squence ZSQIII
The sequence ZSQIII was developed in the Late Sinian in the
Tarim Basin. During this period, the lithofacies palaeogeography
basically inherited characteristic of the Early Sinian (Fig. 16). The
Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift still existed, but the residual
ancient land in the north Tarim disappeared. Due to decrease of
terrigenous clastic supply and seawater evaporation and concen-
tration, carbonate content increased. Towards the north of the
Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift, two deep-water sedimentary
environments were developed in the Manjar sag and the northwest
part of the Aksu-Kuqa area, where carbonate rocks and dark
mudstone of the outer ramp were deposited (Figs. 6g and 11); the
sedimentary environment was shallow water between the Manjar
sag and the Aksu-Kuqa area, deposited grain dolomite and algal
dolomite of the middle ramp (Fig. 5i). A tidal-flat environment was
developed in the southeast part of the Manjar Sag, and deposited
dolomicrite and algal dolomite of the inner ramp (Fig. 6h); due to
water restriction, the lagoon and tidal-flat environment was
developed in the Kalpin-Awat area; at the end period of the Sinian,
the north area of the basin experienced a long-term weathering
and denudation due to a regional regression process, hence a thick
weathered crust was formed at the top of the Sinian (Fig. 4d) and
meanwhile Late Sinian formations were absent or partially absent
in Well F1 and Well H4 blocks as well as the east Tarim low high
(i.g., Tadong low high) (Figs. 7f and g). In the southwest part of the
Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift area, the sedimentary environ-
ment was still the passive continental margin environment, and
carbonate rocks of ramp facies were deposited. At the end period of
the Sinian, a large regression process also occurred in the south-
west Tarim Basin, therefore, the Sinian strata in the Maigaiti area
and the southwest Tarim Basin experienced weathering and
denudation, most of the Sinian strata were absent.
7. Conclusions
(1) Three types of Sinian sedimentary system, i.e. the clastic
sedimentary system, the clastic-carbonate mixed

Fig. 15. Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Tarim Basin in the depositional period of sequence ZSQII showing that most part of the Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan area was still the
uplift area, the residual ancient land was distributed in the north Tarim Basin (i.e., Tabei area), but area of the residual ancient land in the Tabei area was reduced; a mixed tidal-flat
environment was developed in the Tabei area, and the mixed shelf was developed in the Awat area; the deep-water clastic shelf was distributed in the Manjar sag; towards the east
of Manjar sag, the mixed shelf environment was developed, and towards the west of Manjar sag, the castic shore environment was developed; in the southwest Tarim Basin, the
sedimentary environment was still the passive continental margin environment, and from the Maigaiti area toward the southwest, the mixed tidal flat, the mixed shelf and the
clastic shelf facies were gradually developed. “1” represented Shiairike section; “2” represented Kulexi section; “3” represented Sugetbulak section; “4” represented Wushi section;
“5” represented Xinjiang-Tibet Highway section; “6” represented Xishankou section; “7” represented Qiakemaketieshi section; “8” represented Xingeertage section; “9” represented
Zhaobishan section; “10” represented Yardangshan section; “11” represented Saimashan section; “12” represented Yangxia coal mine section.
 K. Shi et al. / Petroleum Research 2 (2017) 264e280 279

Fig. 16. Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Tarim Basin in the depositional period of sequence ZSQIII showing that he Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift still existed, but the residual
ancient land in the north Tarim disappeared; towards the north of the Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift, two deep-water sedimentary environments were developed in the Manjar
sag and the northwest part of the Aksu-Kuqa area; the middle ramp was distributed between the Manjar sag and the Aksu-Kuqa area, and a tidal-flat environment was developed in
the southeast part of the Manjar Sag, the lagoon and tidal-flat environment was distributed in the Kalpin-Awat area; the ramp were developed in the southwest part of the Bachu-
Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift area. “1” represented Shiairike section; “2” represented Kulexi section; “3” represented Sugetbulak section; “4” represented Wushi section; “5” rep-
resented Xinjiang-Tibet Highway section; “6” represented Xishankou section; “7” represented Qiakemaketieshi section; “8” represented Xingeertage section; “9” represented
Zhaobishan section; “10” represented Yardangshan section; “11” represented Saimashan section; “12” represented Yangxia coal mine section.

sedimentary system, and the carbonate sedimentary system Acknowledgement

were developed in the Tarim Basin; vertically, the sedimen-
tary system evolved from the clastic sedimentary system to
the carbonate sedimentary system.
(2) In the Sinian, the Tarim Basin experienced evolution stage of
intracraton depression and passive continental margin, thus
it was characterized by uplift in the south and subsidence in
the north. In the Early Sinian, the Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan
uplift and the Tabei ancient residual land were developed in
the basin, the sedimentary environments were the shore to
shelf in the north basin, and the shore-shelf-bathyal sea in
the southwest basin. In the Late Sinian, the Tabei residual
ancient land disappeared, the sedimentary environment was
the tidal flat in the north basin; two deep-water environ-
ments were distributed in the Manjar sag and the Aksu-Kuqa
area; the sedimentary environment was the shallow water of
the passive continental margin in the southwest basin.
(3) The Tarim Basin experienced three transgression-regression
cycles in the Sinian. The transgression process in the initial
period of the Early Sinian (sequence ZSQI) resulted in for-
mation of the clastic sedimentary system in the lower part of
the Lower Sinian; the transgression in the late period of the
Early Sinian (sequence ZSQII) led to formation the clastic-
carbonate mixed sedimentary system in the upper part of
the Lower Sinian; the transgression in the Late Sinian
(sequence ZSQIII) caused formation of the carbonate sedi-
mentary system in the Upper Sinian. Three unconformities
respectively in the middle of the Lower Sinian, at the top of
the Lower Sinian and at the top of the Upper Sinian, were
formed due to three regression processes.
The work was supported by China Geological Survey Project (No.
DD20160175-1-1) and the National Natural Science Foundation of
China (No. 41272137, No. 41572117).
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