Applications of the identification techniques of base levels to palaeogeographic research:an example from the Mesozoic strata in the Qaidam Basin,Qinghai

The identification techniques of sequence stratigraphic base levels proposed by T. A. Cross give us a new clue to the sequence stratigraphic division of continental basins. These methods have been applied in the present paper to the research on the Mesozoic strata in the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai. Four long-term base-level cycles are recognized in the basin: LSC1, LSC2, LSC3 and LSC4 (the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th long-term base-level cycle, respectively), which were once employed as mapping units in the palaeogeographic research of the basin. It appears that these methods are well grounded, and may gave a new impetus to the palaeogeographic research in the study area.