Restoration of Cambrian Paleogeomorphology and Its Geological Significance in the Tabei Area, Tarim Basin

The Cambrian System in the Tabei area underwent multiple phases of tectonic movement. The paleostructures have been significantly reconstructed, which makes geomorphological restoration very difficult. Previous studies in this area have mostly focused on traditional, single technical methods, resulting in limitations in the characterization of complex paleogeomorphology. For this reason, this paper proposes a new paleogeomorphology restoration method based on combining the shoreline trajectory method with the stratigraphic thickness method. First, the denudation volume at the end of the Late Cambrian sedimentation is calculated using the layer flattening method and the impression method, constrained by the double-sided restoration method. Then, on this basis, the tectonic uplift of the Xiaoerbulake sedimentary period is restored using the stratum thickness method. Finally, the relationship between accommodation space and sediment supply rate is used to derive the law of shoreline migration. Shoreline migration indicates the direction of tectonic movement and identifies the period of tectonic uplift during the Xiaoerbulake sedimentary period. The results indicate that the Xiaoerbulake Formation's sedimentary period in the early Cambrian was the main uplift period. The amount of tectonic uplift increased in a northeasterly direction, with the maximum located in the northern part of the Yuqi-6 Well. This controls the direction in which the Xiaoerbulake sediments prograde and the formation of the platform-margin. The Xiaoerbulake sedimentary period experienced two phases of uplift and three sedimentary stages, causing the northern sedimentary line to move eastward.