During the Neoproterozoic to the Early Paleozoic, the South China was a marginal basin captured by the Yangtze active continental margin, filled with very thick flysch, sandstone, and shale sediments.

Detailed analyses of satellite images and field investigation have revealed that the active Kaidu River fault zone on the southern margin of the basin is a strike-slip fault zone.

A SN-trending left-slip thrusting active fault has been found at the western Yinwashan margin in north of Jiuxi basin, western segment of Hexi corridor.