Structural features and evolution of the Southern Junggar Basin: Insights from discrete numerical simulations

Abstract

The geotectonic movement mechanism and trend prediction are important components of energy exploration and geological structure analysis. Based on the survey results of the Mesozoic-Cenozoic intracontinental extrusion movement in the southern Junggar Basin in China, this study used the particle flow numerical simulation method to study the influence of strata extrusion, denudation, and sedimentation on the formation of topography. The results show that the topography and geomorphology obtained were in line with the survey results when the particle flow method was used to simulate the large-scale geological tectonic movement and the soft bond model and linear contact model were used for the competent and the detachment layers, respectively. The surface topography generated by discrete element method simulations of the deposition and erosion of the surface can be used to identify the average terrain line. The upper and lower parts of the average terrain were set as the erosion and deposition areas, respectively. The denudation-deposition and horizontal extrusion rates were linked to control the reduction and increase of particles, and the extrusion results of the numerical model for the southern Junggar Basin showed that multi-slip delamination extrusion and differential subsidence of the basement were the main reasons for the formation of the geology. When the geological plate was relatively large, anticlines and folds were more difficult to develop during the tectonic process. The direction and rate of extrusion significantly influence the structural morphology. These research results can provide a reference for the mechanistic analysis of tectonic movement.