Evolution of mesozoic sedimentary basins in the lower Yangtze

The Lower Yangtze continent formed during Mesozoic is divided into 5 types of sedimentary basin with different time frames, namely, epeiric sea (T1-2), peripheral foreland basin (T3-J1), pressurized basin (T3-J2), fault-depression basin (J3-K), and pull apart basin (J3-K) in this paper based on the study of lithostratigraphy, sedimentary formation, biostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic correlation, prototype basin, basin filling sequences, and comprehensive lithofacies paleogeographic analysis of the study area in addition. The space distribution framework of Mesozoic Lower Yangtze continental sedimentary basin is established, and the tectonic environment evolution is discussed. It is found that the Triassic-Early Jurassic tectonic phase is related to the evolution of Tethys Sea, which can be divided into two sub-phases of Early-Middle Triassic epeiric sea and Late Triassic foreland basin. The Jurassic-Cretaceous phase transformed to Peri-Pacific tectonic domain can be divided into two sub-phases. Early-Middle Jurassic dominated by compressive tectonic background mainly developed the uplift and erosion areas, whereas Late Jurassic-Cretaceous characterized by an extensional tectonic environment developed a series of NE volcanic-sedimentary fault-depression basin and pull apart basin, which in turn formed basin-range tectonic framework.