Sedimentary record and climatic implications of recurrent deformation in the Tian Shan: evidence from Mesozoic strata of the north Tarim, south Junggar, and Turpan basins, northwest China

Upper Triassic strata of each basin consist of alluvial conglomerate and associated braided-fluvial sandstone and siltstone which fine upward into Lower through Middle Jurassic locally organic-rich, meandering-fluvial, and lacustrine strata. Upper Jurassic braided-fluvial red beds in each basin are overlain by a distinct pulse of uppermost Jurassic alluvial conglomerate. Lower Cretaceous exposures consist of fine-grained red beds in north Tarim and Turpan and interbedded red and gray shale with local silty carbonates in south Junggar. Upper Cretaceous strata of the north Tarim and south Junggar basins are composed of alluvial conglomerate with associated braided-fluvial sandstone and siltstone. Subsidence curves constructed for all three basins are remarkably consistent. -from Authors