Mesozoic reactivated transpressional structures and multi-stage tectonic deformation along the Hong-Che fault zone in the northwestern Junggar Basin, NW China

Abstract

The recognition of paleo-strike-slip faulting is often difficult, particularly when the associated structures are presently inactive and covered by thick sediments. Fortunately, high-resolution 3D seismic reflection data can provide a powerful tool to solve this problem. In this study, we focus on the structural features and tectonic evolution of Hong-Che fault system, a paleo-strike-slip fault zone recognized in the NW margin of Junggar Basin by using the 2D and 3D seismic data. The results of our analysis demonstrate that: 1) The Middle Triassic to Jurassic dextral transpressional structures were developed along Hong-Che fault zone, which are characterized by the restraining bend on the southern segment, the highly localized shearing deformation on the central segment, and the horsetail splay faulting of a fault tip zone on the northern segment; 2) The Hong-Che fault zone had also experienced the Early Permian rifting and the Late Permian-Early Triassic tectonic inversion, which probably played important roles in controlling the subsequent tectonic deformation; and 3) The demonstrated dextral strike-slip faulting is consistent with the Middle Triassic-Jurassic deformation in the Ke-Bai, Wu-Xia, and Irtysh fault zones, and therefore supports the counterclockwise rotation of Junggar Basin, which might be the far-field effect of the collision between Qiangtang block and Songpan–Ganzi terrane in the Triassic. The results of this study also prove that high-resolution seismic reflection data can serve as a useful tool for investigating the buried paleo-structures.