Abstract This paper is a continuation from Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Cambrian in Tarim area. The Tarim area in this paper refers to the present Tarim Basin and its surrounding mountainous areas, bounded on the north by the Middle Tianshan Mountains, on the south by the Kunlun Mountains, on the west by the boundary line of our country, and on the east by the Altun Mountains. It covers an area of more than 1 000 000 km2 .Based on the qualitative and quantitative data from the study of stratigraphy and petrology of totally 98 outcrops and well sections, according to the single factor analysis and multifactor comprehensive mapping method, the single factor maps of the Lianghekou Stage and Honghuayuan Stage of Lower Ordovician, the Dawan Stage and Guniutan Stage of Middle Ordovician, the Miapo Stage, Baota Stage, Linxiang Stage and Wufeng Stage of Upper Ordovician are compiled. Correspondingly, the lithofacies palaeogeography maps of the 5 geologic periods of Tarim area are compiled. The most important character of these palaeogeography maps is quantification. Quantification means that the determination of each palaeogeography unit is based on the accurate quantitative data and the quantitative single factor maps. These quantitative lithofacies palaeogeography maps are the original quantitative data in Tarim area. In the Lianghekou Age and Honghuayuan Age of Early Ordovician, the Tarim area was mainly a carbonate platform, in which various banks were distributed. Its northern and eastern parts were the South Tianshan Basin and the East Tarim Basin . Its southern part was the West Kunlun Platform. To the east, the East Kunlun Platform and the Qaidam Platform were developed. There were no lands and flats, but the basin area was larger .The lithofacies palaeogeographic characteristics were quite different from the Cambrian . It means that the transgression in the Early Ordovician was more extensive than that in the Cambrian. The lithofacies palaeogeograhy of the Dawan Age and Guniutan Age of Middle Ordovician was similar to that of the Liangheou Age and Honghuayuan Age, but the area of the western South Tianshan Basin became larger and the Keping Basin was formed. This is an important change. The lithofacies palaeogeography of the Miapo Age was similar to that of the Dawan Age and Guniutan Age, but the banks became less. It means that the transgression was more developed and might reach the peak. In the Baota Age, the clastic rocks were developed in southeastern Tarim Platform. It means that the Tarim Platform was beginning to change from the carbonate platform to the clastic platform,and it was the marker of regression. In the Linxiang Age and Wufeng Age of Late Ordovician, the Tarim Platform became a clastic platform. It was an important evolution. It means that the cycle of transgression and regression of the Cambrian and Ordovician in Tarim area was ended.
About author: Feng Zengzhao, born in 1926 , graduated from Tsinghua University in 1952 . Now he is a professor at China University of Petroleum (Beijing), and is engaged in sedimentology and palaeogeography.
Cite this article:
. Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Ordovician in Tarim area[J]. JOURNAL OF PALAEOGEOGRAPHY, 2007, 9(5): 447-460.
. Lithofacies palaeogeography of the Ordovician in Tarim area[J]. JOPC, 2007, 9(5): 447-460.