Discovery of Xuanhan-Kaijiang Paleouplift and its significance in the Sichuan Basin, SW China

Abstract

A large inherited paleouplift from Pre-Sinian to Early Cambrian, named Xuanhan-Kaijiang paleouplift, has been discovered based on multiple geological information in the eastern Sichuan Basin: firstly, onlap deposition of Upper Sinian Dengying Formation and Lower Cambrian is observed from peripheral zone to central Xuanhan-Kaijiang area from the seismic profile; secondly, Dengying Formation thickness distribution map shows that this formation is thinnest in Xuanhan-Kaijiang area, and thickens towards the surrounding areas; thirdly, terrigenous clastic rock is observed in Upper Sinian Dengying Formation on outcrops in Chengkou County and Wuxi County etc., indicating the development of a paleouplift. The analysis of the characteristics, formation and evolution of the paleouplift reveals that the plane distribution of the paleouplift shows an arched structure, stretching in a north-south trend. The area of the paleouplift is around 16 000 km2. Vertically, the paleouplift can be divided into three parts: platform in the middle, steep slope in the west and ramp in the east. Originally, the paleouplift was an erosion-type uplift above the water level during the early stage of the Late Sinian; and gradually transformed into deposition-type uplift under water level during the late stage of the Late Sinian to the Early Cambrian. The formation of the paleouplift was controlled by several factors, including basement uplift, intracratonic rift, basement faults and regional uplifting. The paleouplift and its slope areas, favorable for the development of high energy facies and karst weathering reservoirs, are important exploration target areas in the eastern Sichuan Basin in the near future.