Based on identification markers of sedimentary basins such as tectonic settings and geometry of the basins, sedimentary structures,  paleogeotemperature and volcanic rocks, it is concluded that Jiuquan Basin is a Mesozoic and Cenozoic fault superposition basin, which was an extensional fault basin during Early Cretaceous and an intracontinental compressional fault basin and intercontinental foreland basin during Cenozoic. The basin of this kind is characterized by orthogonal superposition of between intracontinental fault basin or foreland basin and fault basin. Superposition modes of intracontinental fault superposition basins can be classified into drape, local and non-superposed.