Abstract:The Altun strike-slip fault is the largest strike-slip fault in Aisa and defines the northern boundary of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The Altun terrane, bounded by the north Altun thrust fault and the Altun strike-slip fault on the south, consists of the Dunhuang massif, northern Altun Caledonian subduction complex, central Altun massif and southern Alun subduction-collision complex from north to south. Our studies indicate that these tectonic units correspond to the AIxa block, northern Qilian subduction complex, central Qilian block and northern Qaidam subduction-collision zone respectively on the two sides of the