Abstract:

Since late Proterozoic to Middle Triasic,China's sedimentological strata are predominently marine sediments.After that,large part of ancient China Sea reversed into continent,thus initiating a new history of development of continental basins.The important features of China's continental basins are their development by stages which are clearly under control of regionally comparable episodes.The episodes occurred since Meso-Cenozoic time are,the pre-Late Jurassic,pre-Middle Cretaceous,pre-Eocene and pre-Oligocene,etc.They are not only the prevailing factors for division of development stages of continental basins,but also main geological account for stratigraphical division and correlation.On the basis of temporal and spacial relationship of both formation and evolution of continental basins,they can roughly be classified into following major types,such as trough-basin,widened-basins and platform-basin.Each of these types has its own specific shape,configuration,lithofacies and mineral resources.Their formation and distribution depend on the way of the geological stress behaves and the difference in boundary conditions.It is due to superimposition in space and time that produces a unified basin of present shape,but essentially comprising various types of basins.On the contrary,there are some basins which seem to be discrete at present,but originally they might be unified ones.These cases are not only common,but also have their influence on the formation,accurriulation and redistribution of oil and gas,even other minerals.So,this study is of practical significance for oil and gas prospecting and exploration.