Abstract:The paleogeographical location of the Tarim Block has long been a controversial issue. This paper conducted a systematical paleomagnetic study on 286 samples from the AK and AZ sections of the Upper Sugetbrak Formation in Aksu, Xinjiang. Three remanence components were separated from the 151 specimens available. The intermediate temperature component shows a negative fold test result, and then is interpreted as a remagnetization component during the Cenozoic time. The two high temperature characteristic remanence components HTC1 and HTC2 have positive fold test results, and the HTC1 component passed the reversal test at 95% confidence level. However, the corresponding paleomagnetic pole of the HTC2 locates between the Late Devonian and Middle Carboniferous paleomagnetic poles of the Tarim Block, whilst the corresponding paleopole of the HTC1, at λp/φp=4.5°S/93.0°E (dp/dm=7.6°/9. 9°), is significantly different from plaeomagnetic pole of the Tarim since Phanerozoic. Thus, we interpret the HTC1 component as a primary remanent magnetization acquired during the formation of the Upper Sugetbrak Formation. The detrital zircon geochronological dating yielded an age of ~588 Ma for the sampled sandstones. Combined with geological, geochemical and paleomagnetic data from Tarim and its surroundings, it can be concluded that the Tarim Block was very likely to locate in the periphery of the Rodinia supercontinent during the Neoproterozoic, the NW margin of AustraliaEast Antarctic plates. During the breakup of Rodinia supracontinent, the Tarim Block might keep drifting towards NW with the expansion of the ProtoTethyan ocean until it completely separated from the Australia plate in ~580 Ma.