SignificaneThe analysis of source-to-sink system is a comprehensive study of tectonic geology, sedimentology, and sequence stratigraphy. Because of its integral, dynamic, and semiquantitative-quantitative characteristics, it has attracted widespread attention.ProgressThis review first introduces the key issues of the deep-time source-to-sink systems (pre-Quaternary systems), which include the quantitative characterization of sediment mass balance and the control of the transport process on the sediment. Due to the lack of stratigraphic records and the difficulty in obtaining parameters, the research is still challenging.Second, it reviews the quantitation methods of deep-time source-to-sink systems that can be classified into three categories, namely, geochronology, uniformitarianism, and sedimentology. By obtaining information such as geomorphological parameters, hydraulic parameters, erosion rates, and sediment flux, various methods establish the quantitative relationships between "sources" and "sinks" and then rebuild the sedimentary basin infilling history. This article introduces the principles and related parameters of different methods and then compares the advantages and limitations to provide a reference for future research. It is believed that geochronology is widely used, and the core lies in provenance analysis. The key to uniformitarianism is the analogy of geological background and the selection of geological parameters. The sedimentology is controlled by multiple variables, and the tectonic-climate background and research scale need to be considered comprehensively.Conclusions and ProspectsFinally, this review states the development of quantitative analysis of deep-time source-to-sink systems. Under the guidance of the important idea of "the present is the key to the past", the research needs to focus on the provenance systems, sediment routing systems, sediment dispersal, and redistributive process, and coupling relationship between various parameters. Research also needs to pay attention to quantitative analysis at multiple timescales and multidisciplinary dynamic analysis. Compared with continental margin source-to-sink systems, continental lacustrine source-to-sink system patterns and prediction models need to be further improved.

AbstractDuring late Carboniferous time, the residual ocean basin gradually closed in West Junggar and only a small amount of seawater remained in the Hala’alat Mountain area, where discussions of provenance and tectonics are limited. In this study, LA-ICP-MS U–Pb dating and heavy mineral identification are conducted on the upper Carboniferous tuffaceous sandstones from the Hala’alat and Aladeyikesai formations in the Hala’alat Mountain area. The results reveal the low maturity of the clastic sediments, indicating proximal deposition. The Hala’alat Formation detrital zircons present a single peak (c. 330 Ma). Speculatively, the primary provenance is the Boshchekul–Chingiz Arc, and the secondary sources are the Darbut Tectono-Magmatic Belt and island arcs in the basin. The main peak and provenance of the Aladeyikesai Formation are similar to those of the Hala’alat Formation. Moreover, several age groups, namely, 370–344 Ma, 427–404 Ma and 478–476 Ma, potentially correspond to provenances of the Darbut Tectono-Magmatic Belt, the Boshchekul–Chingiz Arc and the Kujibai–Hongguleleng Ophiolitic Mélange Belt. In addition, the maximum depositional ages of the Hala’alat and Aladeyikesai formations calculated are 314.6 ± 1.54 Ma and 330.8 ± 0.61 Ma, respectively. Comprehensive analysis shows a relatively singular provenance of the Hala’alat Formation. While the provenance of the Aladeyikesai Formation shows inheritance, the provenance area extends northwards to the Kujibai–Hongguleleng Ophiolitic Mélange Belt. Furthermore, the closure of the Junggar Ocean during Carboniferous time caused the potential source region of the Hala’alat Mountain area to migrate northeastwards from Barleik Mountain to Xiemisitai Mountain. This study provides a basis for the analysis of regional geological evolution.

The Middle Permian Lucaogou Formation is the source rock and the main oil shale pro-ducing formation in the southeastern Junggar Basin. This study focused on the Lucaogou Formation exposed in two outcrop sections on the northern flank of the Bogda Mountain, namely the Jingjingzi-gou and Dalongkou sections. Here, we present integrated analysis of the sedimentology, major and trace elements, mineral components and total organic carbon contents. The paleo-environment was re-constructed including provenance, redox conditions, paleo-salinity, chemical weathering intensity and primary organic matter productivity. The results showed that the upper and lower units were deposited in distinct depositional environments with different organic matter accumulation mechanisms. The low- er unit was characterized by low lake level, dry climate, fresh-brackish and well-oxygenated water. While during the deposition of the upper unit the lake level rose, climate turned wetter and the bottom water became less oxidized and much saltier. The mechanism of the organic matter accumulation is dif- ferent for these two units. The preserved organic matters were mainly controlled by the primary pro- ductivity in the lower unit and by the redox conditions in the upper unit.

The basin type of the Junggar Basin changed during the Permian, but the time constraint of the tectonic evolution remains unclear. Besides, the fan deltas developed in the Permian in the Mahu Sag in the northwestern of the oil-rich basin. However, the provenances of the sedimentary systems remain unclear. Based on petrology and detrital zircon U-Pb ages, this study investigates the source-to-sink systems evolution and tectonics implications. Abundant lithic clasts in sandstones with low compositional and textural maturity imply proximal sources. The dating results showed a dominant peak (310–330 Ma) and a secondary peak (400–440 Ma) in the northern Mahu Sag, only one peak at 295–325 Ma in the central Mahu Sag, several peaks at 270–350 Ma in the southern Mahu Sag, and multiple peaks at 370–450 Ma in the Zhongguai Uplift. Thus, the north-western Junggar Basin was divided into four major source-to-sink systems, with adjacent central West Junggar as the main provenance and northern and southern West Junggar as the secondary provenance. The proportion of sediment supply from the southern and northern West Junggar is higher during the Middle-Late Permian. It suggests that the source-to-sink systems show inheritance and evolve from a single provenance into a complex provenance, indicating the uplift of West Junggar. The tectonic inversion may occur early in the Middle Permian and the response to tectonic activity is stronger in the southern West Junggar than in the northern West Junggar.

It has important theoretical and practical significance to clarify the causes and distribution of oil and gas. This paper focused on the key scientific issues in the current petroleum genesis research, guided by the general principles of global tectonics and petroleum geology. Various petroleum genesis hypotheses have been sorted out, merged, integrated and innovated, thus a hypothesis framework of organic-inorganic coupling causes for petroleum was introduced. The main factors are that oil (including natural gas) is a renewable resource with multiple origins and has huge reserves. The formation and distribution of petroleum is the result of the coupling of four pairs of hydrocarbon-forming factors, including basin and mantle uplift, deep and shallow fluids, organic and inorganic hydrocarbon generation mechanisms, deep faults and sealing conditions. The higher degree of organic-inorganic cause coupling indicates the richer the oil and gas. The basin and the area below its basement are the locations with the best degree of coupling, followed by the deep and large fault development areas with good sealing conditions in the surrounding areas of the basin. The matching of deep and large faults with sealing conditions is an important factor constraining hydrocarbon accumulation. Large-scale traps with good sealing conditions in long-term, multi-period or recent active deep and large fault development areas are the most favorable targets for major exploration successes.

A laboratory experiment on sedimentation is an experiment conducted under highly controlled conditions to simulate the sedimentary processes in a wide variety of sedimentary environments. It is a useful method which has been widely used in many scientific disciplines and sub-disciplines including hydraulics engineering， environmental science， environmental engineering， oceanography， sedimentology， as well as petroleum geology. The recent drastic increase in unconventional oil and gas production requires new insights into fine-grained sediment， such as processes of organic-sediment accumulation. Many equations or theories have been proposed for uncohesive sediments including physical properties of sand/clay particle， sedimentary bedforms， sedimentary landscapes， sediment gravity flows. However， because of their small grain size， and their cohesive properties， cohesive sediments present more of a challenge in the experiment and have been relatively understudied. A review is given of laboratory experiments on sedimentation of fine-grained cohesive sediments， with emphasis on the aspect of physical properties of particles， processes of erosion and deposition， sedimentary bedforms， transport mechanics and facies models， as well as organic matter accumulation and preservation. This article also discusses the organic matter transportation and accumulation in recent Qinghai Lake and proposes a hypothesis of accumulation of organic-rich fine-grained sediments. Laboratory experiments on sedimentation of fine-grained sediment are useful for both paleoenvironment reconstruction and lithofacies prediction， which can be applied to genetic analyses and prediction of sweet spots/areas in unconventional shale plays. A successful research of fine-grained sediment requires the application of methodologies and results of a broad range of scientific disciplines， a combination of physical and computational simulations， and some large-scale and long-term flume experiments.

准噶尔盆地西北缘中三叠统克拉玛依组发育有煤系(主要为炭质泥岩和煤)和湖相泥岩两种不同类型的烃源岩.通过TOC,热解,生物标志物和有机岩石学分析后认为克拉玛依组湖相泥岩是一套弱氧化—弱还原条件下的微咸水沉积,而煤系烃源岩则主要是一套弱氧化 弱还原环境下的淡水沉积.研究结果表明:两类烃源岩有机质以陆源高等植物输入为主,同时还有一定比例的藻类和微生物.烃源岩的氢指数平均216 mg/g,H/C原子比平均0.79,有机质类型均为Ⅱ2 — Ⅲ型,除生气外,还具有一定的生油能力.克拉玛依组湖相泥岩总体属于中等—好的生油岩,部分达到极好生油岩,丰度高于白碱滩组湖相泥岩;而克拉玛依组煤系烃源岩总体属于中等生油岩.烃源岩镜质体反射率和Tmax均较低(0.41％～0.85％和419～449℃),抽提物甾烷异构体未达到平衡值(C29甾烷20S/(20S+ 20R)=0.08～0.42;C29甾烷ββ/(ββ+αα)=0.13～0.48),说明总体处于未成熟—低成熟阶段.盆地模拟表明西北缘克拉玛依组成熟有效源灶仅在玛湖凹陷中心部位局限分布,是研究区一套次要的烃源岩.从全盆地来看,克拉玛依组成熟有效源灶的分布范围仍十分可观,有望今后成为准噶尔盆地一个重要的勘探接替领域.

The Lower Permian Fengcheng Formation,as favourable source rock in the Junggar Basin,has been the target for petroleum exploration.Due to its deep burial depth,complicated lithology and few global analogs,the evaluation of the petroleum potential of Fengcheng Formation is still at its rudimentary stage.This study discusses the characteristics of alkaline minerals,geological background,origin of alkaline lakes and its forming processes through methods including core description,thin section observa-tion,SEM,X-ray diffraction analysis,TOC content measurements,inclusion temperature test,geochemical analysis,etc.the results suggest:(1) the Fengcheng Formation can be categorized into five rock types,among which,alkaline rock is the most distinguished lithofacies type of alkaline lakes and reedmergnerite is generally related to volcanic eruption or hydrothermal activities;(2) five rock associations are recognized in the Fengcheng Formation.From near-source to lake center,they are type Ⅴ of alluvial-fluvial facies,type Ⅲ and Ⅳ of shallow shoreface to lacustrine facies,respectively;type Ⅰ and Ⅱ of deep-semideep lacustrine facies,respectively.Type Ⅰ and Ⅲ are typical alkaline rock associations with favourable source rock potential;(3) the formation of alkaline lake is primarily controlled by volcanic activities and climate,where the former supply the Na-rich fluids,and the latter salinized the freshwater lake and facilitate the final formation of alkaline lake.