There are different tectonic character of Jiuquan Basin in Cenozoic and Mesozoic: it was a foreland basin in Cenozoic and was a downfaulted basin in Mesozoic. So it is a superimposed basin and there are two tectonic units from Mesozoic to Cenozoic.

• 酒泉盆地的新生代与中生代有明显不同的构造特征，酒泉盆地的新生代以前陆盆地为主，而中生代为断陷盆地，中新生界在空间上构成了上下两个构造层，属于叠合盆地。