Sequence stratigraphic division of the Sinian -Middle Triassic marine strata in the Lower Yangtze area of the Jiangsu-Anhui zone

Influenced by the Pacific plate tectonic movement during the Mesozoic, the Lower Yangtze area of the Jiangsu-Anhui zone is conspicuous by post-collisional compression, NNE-trending faulting and magmatism. These structural processes have controlled the formation of sedimentary basins and second-order sequence boundaries, and resulted in heavily destruction of the original prolific sedimentary basins. The generalized sequence stratigraphic framework has been constructed for the study area with the aid of the theories and methods of plate tectonics and sequence stratigraphy. The Sinian-Middle Triassic strata in the Lower Yangtze area of the Jiangsu-Anhui zone have been divided, on the basis of sequence stratigraphic markers and sedimentary facies indicators in integration with regional tectonic settings and sedimentary background, into 11 second-order sequences and 64 third-order sequences.