Relationship Between Conglomeratic Characteristics and Tectonic Evolution of Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous in Kuqa Foreland Basin

Key words: 
• Kuqa foreland basin /
• Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous /
• conglomerate characteristics /
• tectonic evolution /

Abstract: Kuqa foreland basin is filled with three sets of conglomerate, which are Kalazha conglomerate at the top of Upper Jurassic, Yageliemu conglomerate at the bottom of Lower Cretaceous and Bashijiqike Formation at the top of Lower Cretaceous. Through the detailed description of regional distribution, petrological features, sephitic features, variation in thickness and comparison difference in depositional paleoenvironment between the three sets of conglomerate, conclude that these conglomerates have complex composition, low-compositional maturity and low-textual maturity. The characteristics of climate evolution which these conglomerates represent from early to late are arid, semi-arid →warm, moist→arid, hot. It reflects that these conglomerates are composed of three main sedimentary facies: alluvial fan, turbidite fan and seasonal braided river deposit. The relationship between conglomerate and tectonic activity indicates that the Kalazha conglomerate is the sign of tectonic activity during Late Jurassic. Yageliemu conglomerate is the result of over thrusting activities during the beginning of Early Cretaceous. And the conglomerate in Bashijiqike Formation is a sedimentary response to structural stillstand during the end of Early Cretaceous.