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Significane The analysis of source-to-sink system is a comprehensive study of tectonic geology, sedimentology, and sequence stratigraphy. Because of its integral, dynamic, and semiquantitative-quantitative characteristics, it has attracted widespread attention. Progress This review first introduces the key issues of the deep-time source-to-sink systems (pre-Quaternary systems), which include the quantitative characterization of sediment mass balance and the control of the transport process on the sediment. Due to the lack of stratigraphic records and the difficulty in obtaining parameters, the research is still challenging.Second, it reviews the quantitation methods of deep-time source-to-sink systems that can be classified into three categories, namely, geochronology, uniformitarianism, and sedimentology. By obtaining information such as geomorphological parameters, hydraulic parameters, erosion rates, and sediment flux, various methods establish the quantitative relationships between "sources" and "sinks" and then rebuild the sedimentary basin infilling history. This article introduces the principles and related parameters of different methods and then compares the advantages and limitations to provide a reference for future research. It is believed that geochronology is widely used, and the core lies in provenance analysis. The key to uniformitarianism is the analogy of geological background and the selection of geological parameters. The sedimentology is controlled by multiple variables, and the tectonic-climate background and research scale need to be considered comprehensively. Conclusions and Prospects Finally, this review states the development of quantitative analysis of deep-time source-to-sink systems. Under the guidance of the important idea of "the present is the key to the past", the research needs to focus on the provenance systems, sediment routing systems, sediment dispersal, and redistributive process, and coupling relationship between various parameters. Research also needs to pay attention to quantitative analysis at multiple timescales and multidisciplinary dynamic analysis. Compared with continental margin source-to-sink systems, continental lacustrine source-to-sink system patterns and prediction models need to be further improved.

Through core observation, thin section identification, and logging and testing data analysis, the types and characteristics of event deposits in the ninth member of Yanchang Formation of Triassic (Chang 9 Member) in southwestern Ordos Basin, China, are examined. There are 4 types and 9 subtypes of event deposits, i.e. earthquake, gravity flow, volcanic and anoxic deposits, in the Chang 9 Member in the study area. Based on the analysis of the characteristics and distribution of such events deposits, it is proposed that the event deposits are generally symbiotic or associated, with intrinsic genetic relations and distribution laws. Five kinds of sedimentary microfacies with relatively developed event deposits are identified, and the genetic model of event deposits is discussed. Seismites are mainly developed in the lake transgression stage when the basin expands episodically, and commonly affected by liquefaction flow, gravity action and brittle shear deformation. Gravity flow, mainly distributed in the high water level period, sandwiched in the fine-grained sediments of prodelta or semi-deep lake, or creates banded or lobate slump turbidite fan. It is relatively developed above the seismites strata. The volcanic event deposits are only seen in the lower part of the Chang 9 Member, showing abrupt contact at the top and bottom, which reflects the volcanic activity at the same time. Anoxic deposits are mostly formed in the late stage of lake transgression to the highstand stage. Very thick organic-rich shales are developed in the highstand stage of Chang 9 Member, and the event deposits in the depositional period of these shales are conducive to potential reservoirs.

More and more attention has been paid to the sedimentary forward modeling (SFM) since the study on the sedimentology is targeted toward quantification, process orientation and systematization. This review first stated the main input and output data of the current sedimentary forward modeling and sorted out the determination methods of the input parameters. Then it reviewed the classification methods of the sedimentary forward modeling, and the classification principles included principle of simulation, number of simulation processes, types of simulation results, simulation dimension, simulation scale, data fidelity and source region covering source-sink system. Subsequently, it introduced the sedimentary forward modeling methods for the different sedimentary systems of clastic series, including hillside landform, river and deep-draft waterway, delta, lobe and landslide. It also described some classic simulation programs for the individual series, indicated the sedimentary characteristics of this series to be essentially simulated and their corresponding principles of simulation and covered multiple simulation methods as much as possible to expand the understanding of the sedimentary forward modeling. Finally, it looked into the development of the sedimentary forward modeling believed it would be targeted toward the three-dimension visualization, multi-process integration and multi-discipline integration, proposed to strengthen the training of compound talents in computer, mathematics, mechanics and geosciences; strengthened the experimental study on the sedimentary forward modeling hypothesis to study the sedimentation theory; tried multiple simulation methods and shifted the application foremost to the research and development foremost.

Based on the data of outcrops, seismic sections, thin sections, heavy mineral assemblages and detrital zircon U-Pb dating, the sedimentary characteristics, lake level fluctuation and provenance characteristics of the Middle Jurassic Lianggaoshan Formation (J2l) in eastern Sichuan Basin, SW China, were investigated to reveal the control of tectonic movements of the surrounding orogenic belts on the sedimentary systems. The J2l mainly developed a delta—lake sedimentary system, which contained a complete third-order sequence that was subdivided into four lake level up-down cycles (fourth-order sequence). The lake basins of cycles I and II were mainly distributed in eastern Sichuan Basin, while the lake basins of cycles III and IV migrated to central Sichuan Basin, resulting in the significant difference in sedimentary characteristics between the north and the south of eastern Sichuan Basin. The provenance analysis shows that there were three types of provenances for J2l. Specifically, the parent rocks of Type I were mainly acidic igneous rocks and from the proximal northern margin of the Yangtze Plate; the parent rocks of Type II were intermediate-acid igneous rocks and metamorphic rocks and from the central parts of the southern and northern Qinling orogenic belts; the parent rocks of Type III were mainly metamorphic rocks followed by intermediate—acid igneous rocks, and from the North Daba Mountain area. It is recognized from the changes of sedimentary system and provenance characteristics that the sedimentary evolution of J2l in eastern Sichuan Basin was controlled by the tectonic compression of the Qinling orogenic belt. In the early stage, the lake basin was restricted to the east of the study area, and Type I provenance was dominant. With the intensifying north-south compression of the Qinling orogenic belt, the lake basin expanded rapidly and migrated northward, and the supply of Type II provenance increased. In the middle and late stages, the uplift of the North Daba Mountain led to the lake basin migration and the gradual increase in the supply of Type III provenance.