Coal-controlled structural styles and looking for coal resources in Muli coalfield, northeastern Qinghai, China.

Based on the analysis of structural framework and coal-control structural features of Muli coalfield, Qinghai Province, the coal-controlled structural styles were classified into 3 groups including compression group, shear group and gliding group, and 8 types. The relation between coal distribution and coal-controlled structural styles were discussed, the structures control coal in Muli coalfield are mainly compressional structure styles which developed widely, complemented by shear style and interlayer gliding style in some mine areas. Coal measures distribution is controlled by structural framework characterized by zonation from the north to south and subsection from east to west. Structure deformation is strong and complex in the marginal coalfielol, and the structural styles include thrust front pattern, thrust horse pattern, thrust-fold pattern and opposite thrust pattern, incompletely sawed synclines containing coal seams. Structures in middle zonation are simple and coal-controlled structural style is characterized by fold-thrust pattern, coal measures distributed stable in favor of exploration and development.