Silurian to Devonian foreland basin in the south edge of Tarim Basin

Based on the theory of plate tectonics, combin-ing with the isotopic dating of ophiolite, igneous and volcan-ics, geochemical test, rare earth element analyze and seismicinterpretation, this paper studies the pre-Carboniferous tec-tonics and sedimentary formation of the south edge of theTarim Basin and proves that there exists the Kunlun Oceanunder tensional tectonics during the Sinian and Cambrian inthe south edge of the Tarim Plate. After that, due to the colli-sion orogenesis, there formed the peripheral foreland basinin the south edge of Tarim. The Upper Silurian and Devo-nian molasses sedimentary system superposed on the Sinianand Middle Silurian passive margin flysch sedimentary sys-tem and formed the bivariate structure of the foreland basin.And at the same time, based on the field geology and seismicinterpretation, we have identified that the formation of theSilurian and Devonian have the character of half depositwhich shows thick in the south area and thin in the north,and the pre-Carboniferous thrust compression tectonics re-mained in the foreland thrust belt, which further demon-strates that there existed the Silurian and Devonian periph-eral foreland basin on the south edge of the Tarim Basin.