地处青藏高原腹地的羌塘盆地构造以EW向褶皱和逆(冲)断层及NW向、NE向平移断层为主,偶见NW向、NE向褶皱和近SN向正断层。盆地自印支期以来长期处于SN向强烈挤压,其岩石应变特征显示SN向缩短,EW向伸展,并具继承性、递进性应变,及由盆地周边造山带向盆地腹部岩石应变强度递减的趋势。盆地自印支运动以来SN向地壳缩短具递减性,地壳缩短率分别为上三叠统为38%、侏罗系为24%-26.3%,第三系为17.47%-19.2%。
The tectonics of Qiangtang basin lying in central Qinghai-Tibetan plateau is main of east-west folds, overthrust faults and nouth-west,northe-east transcurrent faults, and occasionally nouth-west, north-east folds and near south-north normal faults can be found. For the basin has been great compressed by southnorth stress since Indosinian movement, the feature of its rock's strain displays south-north compression and east-west extension, including inheriting and increasing strain, moreover, the strain of rock trends to decrease by degrees from orogen around the basin to central basin. The south-north crust in Qiangtang basin has been shortening successively since Indosinian movement, and respectively its shortening ratios are 38% at Trias, 24%-26.3% at Jurassic,17.47%-19.20/40 at Tertiary.