Abstract:During Yanshann movement period, the contractive structure deformation of the thrust fault and buckling folds formed as the basic structural elements is shown in Shanxi uplift area. Strata of different ages in this area have unique rock assemblage and physical properties, which may preserve and record deformation styles and characteristics at different levels of Yanshan structure. Through the study of surface geology, physiognomy and structure characteristics, we primarily concluded the “delaminate contractive deformation, and vertical stacking and thickening” structure mode. The balanced section method was applied to quantitatively estimate the horizontal shortening and vertical thickening effect, which were caused by nearly E-W shrinkage deformation. The section restoration showed that, before and after deformation, the horizontal shortening of the uplift area was about 32.8% in total. Cambrian bottom unconformity interface in the uplift area is about 5 km higher than that in Ordos Basin, due to vertical thickening. The intensive collision uplift and folding deformation resulted in the lateral shortening and vertical thickening in the upper part of the crust. Geological bodies are orderly vertically stacked and different levels of tectonic trace have shown great changes in spatial positions. Current spatial distribution of surface geological bodies, differences between northern and southern fold combination style and the along-the-trend segmentation of fracture all demonstrate the vertical stratification of tectonic deformation, due to late uplift and the difference of denudation degree on the surface.