Late Mesozoic back thrusts in Houxia basin within Tianshan orogeny and its geological implications

Tianshan has been produced by Paleozoic crustal accretion in combination with continental-continental collision during Late Paleozoic, in addition, it has widely recognized that Tianshan has been reworked by Cenozoic intracontinental deformation, however, tectonic deformation characteristics of Tianshan orogeny has been poorly understood. A series of north-dipping thrust faults identified have been recognized to be backthrust faults which took place in Late Mesozoic according to regional geology. Apatite fission track dating results suggest Tianshan orogeny went through a significant tectonic uplifting event in Late Mesozoic which has been expressed by backthrust faults in Houxia basin, this tectonic event plays significant role in further understanding the Mesozoic tectonic evolution of Tianshan orogeny, as well as far-field effects resulting from Indo-Eurasian collision.