Figure 1

Schematic diagram of structures within the study area overlaid on an aerial photograph. I₁ represents the Alxa landmass; I₂ represents the Northern Qilian neo-Proterozoic to early Paleozoic suture zone. I_2-1 represents the Qilian-Menyuan magmatic arc zone, middle and late early Paleozoic (O-S). I₃ represents the Qilian block in the center. I₄ represents the Suture zone between Shule Nanshan and Laguiyama in the Early Paleozoic. I₅ represents the Southern Qilian's landmass. I₆ represents the Late Paleozoic-Early Mesozoic Fracture Trough (D-T2) at ZongwuLongshan-Qinghai Nanshan. I_6-1 represents the Zongwu Longshan-Xinghai Aola Trough (D-P). I_6-2 represents the Post-Foreland Basin of the Zeku Arc (T_1-2). I₇ represents the Oulongbrook Land Block. I_7-1 represents the Orbo Mountain, Craton Edge Basin. I_7-2: T-shaped VI-Amunik Mountain-Depleted Late Neoproterozoic Niushan Magma Arc Belt (Pt₃-S). I₈ represents the ChaiBei Rim's Suture Zone. I₉ represents the Qaidam's Plot. I₁₀ represents the Qimantag-Dulan Suture Zone. I₁₁ represents the Dongkun Middle Land Block. I_11-1 represents the Dongkun Middle Magma Arc Zone (Pt₃-J). The blue dots in the box on the right represent the drilling wells within the survey area