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.