Gypsolyte-salt layers of the Middle-Lower Cambrian are widely developed in the southern and eastern Sichuan Basin

resulting in a variety of salt-related structures.Analyses of outcrop

drilling and seismic data reveal that the gypsolyte-salt layers of the Cambrian in Sichuan Basin formed on restricted intra-craton platform and has the characteristics of old age

deep burial depth

uneven thickness

more gypsolyte and less salt

and various associated rock types.The gypsolyte-salt related structures show obvious layering due to the differential gypsolyte and salt mobility

tectonic compression

basement faults

and detachment

.The post-salt structures are mainly anticlines

thrust nappes and faulted-anticlines.The structures within the salt layers are mainly salt pillows

tail structures and plastic flow structures.The presalt structures mainly include imbricate thrusts and pop-up structures controlled by the complex basement faults.The gypsolyte-salt layers of the Cambrian provide good sealing conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation in the Lower Sinian-Lo-wer Cambrian.Meanwhile

they also can improve reservoir quality through TSR and supergene dissolution that they are involved.Even more important

as a region detachment layer

the gypsolyte-salt rock plays an important role in the structural deformation of the post-salt and pre-salt Sinian-Lower Paleozoic

resulting in a series of hydrocarbon traps.According to the characteristics of gypsolyte-salt related structures

the pre-salt faulted anticlines in western Hubei-eastern Chongqing and post-salt faulted anticlines in southeast Sichuan are the favorable exploration targets.