Analysis of Sinian outcrops in the peripheral regions of the Tarim Basin,drilling and seismic data within the Tarim Basin,and combined with previous studies,distribution of Sinian strata,tectonic setting,sedimentary system and lithofacies palaeogeography were well discussed.Results showed that three sedimentary systems were developed in the Sinian System of the Tarim Basin,i.e.the clastic sedimentary system,the clastic-carbonate mixed sedimentary system,and the carbonate sedimentary system,vertical sedimentary characteristics evolved from the clastic sedimentary system to the carbonate sedimentary system.These three sedimentary systems were corresponded to three transgression-regression cycles in the Sinian.The marine transgression during the initial period of the Early Sinian(ZSQI)resulted in development of the clastic sedimentary system in the lower part of the Lower Sinian;the transgression during the late period of the Early Sinian(ZSQII)led to formation of the clastic-carbonate mixed sedimentary system in the upper part of the Lower Sinian;the transgression during the initial period of the Late Sinian(ZSQIII)resulted in development of carbonate sedimentary system in the Upper Sinian.Three regressions resulted in formation of three unconformities,which were on the middle part of the Lower Sinian,the top of the Lower Sinian and the top of the Upper Sinian respectively.Due to breakup of Rodinia supercontinent in the Neoproterozoic,the Tarim Basin was in the continental rifting evolutionary process.In the Sinian,the basin experienced evolutionary processes of intra-cratonic depression and passive continental margin,thus characteristic of the lithofacies palaeogeography was characterized by uplifts in the south and depressions in the north.In the Early Sinian,the Tarim Basin developed the Bachu-Tazhong-Tadongnan uplift and the Tabei residual ancient land,and the shore-shelf sedimentary environment in the north as well as the shore-shelf-bathyal sedimentary environment in the southwest.In the Late Sinian,the Tabei
Dolomites of the Maokou Formation in the central Sichuan were mainly developed in the middle-upper part of Member 2 and the lower part of Member 3 of Maokou Formation,it could be divided into fine-to medium-grained calcareous dolomite,fine-to medium-grained dolomite and breccia dolomite according to petrology characteristic,and the latter two were dominant.Through contrast of geochemical characteristic between micritic limestone and different types of dolomite,the dolomite was characterized by low Fe content,high Mn content and low Sr content relative to the micritc limestone.The micritic limestone and different types of dolomite had similar rare earth element(REE)distribution patterns which were characterized by depletion of light REE,weak positive anomaly of La and negative anomaly of Ce,and the dolomite also had weak positive anomaly of Eu.Compared with the micritic limestone,the fine-to medium-grained dolomite and breccia dolomite had low values of δ^(18)O and obvious high ratios of^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr.REE distribution patterns of different types of dolomite indicated that some geochemical characteristics of primitive limestone were preserved during the dolomitization process in the Maokou Formation,while weak Eu positive anomaly of dolomite and isotopic difference in dolomite and limestone might be caused by high-temperature thermal fluids during the dolomitization process.The dolomitization of the Maokou Formation was controlled by some factors:(1)strata residual seawater and hydrothermal fluids derived from magmatism were major sources of Mg during the dolomitization process;(2)heating effect of Emeishan large igneous province provided abnormal high paleogeotemperature for dolomitization;(3)fault systems offered rapid migration channels for abnormal geothermal convection and dolomitization fluid;(4)limestone of grain-shoal facies with good porosity and permeability was more prone to dolomitization than micritic limestone.Abnormal geotemperature and abundant Mg supply derived from Emeishan Large Igneous Provinc
