Abstract: Baliying fault serves as the boundary between the Caohu Sag and the Korla nose-shaped salient in the eastern Tabei uplift.The analysis of the fault geometry and kinematics plays a significant role in the study of the geological structure and tectonic evolution of the eastern Tabei paleo-uplift,Tarim Basin.Based on plenty of seismic reflection profiles crossing the Baliying fault,we used Petrel software to finely depict its geometry and realized 3-D visualization of the fault.In addition,the NS-trending geological structure profile crossing the study area was restored by means of balanced cross-section reconstruction.The results show that:(1) Baliying fault is in the shape of an arc horizontally and dips north-east.It is characteristic of the listric thrust fault with a high dip angle on top,which can reach 70°,but a gentler one at bottom;(2) Baliying fault can be divided into three segments.Two fault segments formed separately in the eastern and western parts in the early period,and then they got linked by a middle fault segment and developed into one fault.The fault experienced two major tectonic events during the Late Paleozoic(Late Caledonian-Hercynian) and Mesozoic(Indosinian-Yanshanian),and the intensity of the former is stronger than that of the latter;(3) Baliying fault formed and evolved rapidly with large fault slip during the Carboniferous-Permian.It finalized gradually during the Mesozoic,but minor movement continued throughout the Triassic and Early Cretaceous,influencing the Mesozoic sedimentation.Then the movement stopped in the Cenozoic.Bali-ying fault plays a significant role in controlling the Paleozoic and Mesozoic structure of its hanging wall;therefore,it is one of the main reasons causing the stratigraphic structural differences between Caohu Sag and Korla nose-shaped salient.

Key words: geometry, kinematics, Baliying fault, Caohu Sag, Korla nose-shaped salient, Tarim Basing