A large-scale pop-up structure occurs at the front of the northern Dabashan thrust belt (NDTB),bound by the NNE-dipping Chengkou fault to the south,and the SSW-dipping Gaoqiao fault to the north.The pop-up structure shows different features along its strike as a direct reflection of the intensity of tectonic activity.To the northwest,the structure is characterized by a two-directional thrust system forming a positive flower-like structure.In contrast,the southeastern part is composed of the vertical Chengkou fault and a series of N-directed backthrusts,showing a semi-flower-like structure.We present results from Ar-Ar dating of syntectonic microthermal metamorphic sericite which show that the Chengkou fault experienced intense deformation during the mid-Mesozoic Yanshanian epoch (about 143.3 Ma),causing rapid uplift and thrusting of the northern Dabashan thrust belt.During the propagation of this thrust,a series of backthrusts formed because of the obstruction from the frontier of Dabashan thrust belt,leading to the development of the pop-up structure.