Nature of the Eastern Boundary of the Mesozoic Ordos Basin and the Formation of the Lüliangshan Anticline

AbstractThe Mesozoic to Cenozoic intraplate deformation of the North China Craton (NCC) is an intriguing phenomenon that led to different evolutions of the Ordos Basin and the eastern part of the NCC. Located in the central part of the NCC, the Luliangshan is regarded as a boundary between the Ordos Basin and the eastern NCC, but the exact location of this boundary is still debated. Our field investigations suggest that the Luliangshan anticline is a classical Mesozoic basement-involved anticline. The Lishi fault on the west of the southern part of the Luliangshan anticline is argued to be a large fault and the east boundary of the Ordos Basin. However, our investigations show that it is not a continuous single fault but a deformation zone composed of several segments without connection along the strike. In front of the western Luliangshan, this tectonic zone is a top-to-the-west breakthrough thrust placing the western Luliangshan basement-involved anticline in the hanging wall with limited displacement. ...