Selected References

1. Carroll, A.R., and Bohacs, K.M., 1999, Stratigraphic classification of ancient lakes—balancing tectonic and climatic controls: Geology, v. 27, p. 99-102.

Climatic and tectonic controlling processes affect the depositional facies and sequences of lake deposits, resulting in either under-, balance-, or over-filled lake basins. Each type of lake exhibits a distinct suite of lithofacies, stacking patterns, and depositional systems. The lake type is a result of the balance between relative climatic humidity, measured in net precipitation (or P/E), and the amount of basin subsidence. This may be useful in interpreting the climatic and tectonic processes controlling cycle/sequence development based on sedimentary evidence. Such interpretations will enable a more accurate process-response time-stratigraphic correlation.

2. Withjack, Martha O., and Schlische, Roy W., and Olsen, Paul E., 2002, Rift-basin Structure and its Influence on Sedimentary Systems, SEPM Special Publication No. 73, Sedimentation in Continental Rifts, p. 57-81.

Rift-related structural features impact basin topography throughout various stages of continental rift development, and sedimentary depositional systems are created in response. Thus, the tectonic history of a rift basin may be reconstructed based on sedimentary evidence. This may be useful in reconstructing tectonic history of a basin where rift-related structural features are either absent, unidentified, or overprinted—all of which apply to the study area I am working on. Lucaogou (LCG) and Hongyanchi (HYC) Fms. represent the dominantly-lacustrine deposits of the Permo-Triassic strata in the study area, indicating deposition during late rifting phase. Perhaps the enigmatic boundary between LCG and HYC represents a major episode or pulse of basin tectonism.

3. Allen, M B; Sengor, A M C; Natal'in, B A, 1995, Junggar, Turfan and Alakol basins as Late Permian to ?Early Triassic extensional structures in a sinistral shear zone in the Altaid orogenic collage, Central Asia: Journal of the Geological Society of London, vol.152, Part 2, pp.327-338.

The Turpan-Hami Basin was formed in a structurally complex area. During early Permian time, large, parallel, E-W trending strike-slip faults developed along older Altaid suture zone structures. This initiated the development of a broad (>1000 km) sinistral shear zone between two large cratons, within which NW-SE extension produced a series of half-grabens. The reason I list this reference is the following: does anyone know of a modern or ancient analog for this tectonic setting?

4. Talbot, M.R., and Allen, P.A., 1996, Lakes, in Reading, H.G., ed., Sedimentary environments: processes, facies and stratigraphy: Blackwell Science, London, p. 83-124.

Ancient lake deposits are as complex as their modern equivalents. A brief summary is presented of modern lacustrine depositional environments—useful for interpreting ancient lake deposits and their controlling climatic and tectonic processes. However, caution must be exercised when interpreting controlling processes due to the complexities of modern lakes. For example, the case of a rift valley in Utah where two lakes occur in the same climate zone but only one of those lakes is hypersaline.

5. Yang, W., Liu, Y.Q., Feng, Q., Lin, J.Y., Zhou, D.W., and Wang, D., 2007, Sedimentary evidence on Early to Late Permian mid-high latitude continental climate variability, southern Bogda Mountains, NW China: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 252, p. 239-258.

Preliminary results indicate LCG and HYC were deposited during a time of extreme climatic variability. This highlights the importance of differentiating between interpreted climatic and tectonic processes controlling the development of depositional systems and their stacking, and in differentiating those allogenic processes with autogenic sedimentary processes. This is critical for a more accurate process-response time-stratigraphic correlation, and in understanding whether the boundary separating LCG and HYC is dominantly a climatic cause, dominantly tectonic, or a combination of both.