Sediments　from　land　are　primarily　transported　into　basins　through　hyperpycnal　flow,　which　plays　a　significant　role　in　the　process　of　basin　filling.　Various　models　of　hyperpycnites　have　been　proposed.　This　study　examines　a　Silurian–Devonian　basin-fill　sequence　in　NW　China　to　validate　existing　models　and　presents　a　visually　compelling　case　demonstrating　the　process　of　basin　filling　through　flood-dominated　river　discharge.　The　Utubulak　Member　of　the　Kekexiongkuduke　Formation　can　be　subdivided　into　three　parts,　representing　basin　floor,　slope　and　shelf　environments,　collectively　representing　a　regressive　basin　fill　sequence.　The　lower　part　consists　of　flood-related　turbidites　contain　or　encompass　material　of　terrestrial　and　marine　origin,　their　sustained　and　pulsed　velocity　structures　are　similar　to　river　discharge.　These　turbidites　may　result　from　basinal　hyperpycnal　flow　or　retrogressive　failures　of　the　shelf-edge　(hyperpycnal)　delta.　The　middle　(slope　deposits)　contains　bi-graded　hyperpycnite　bed　interpreted　commonly　attributed　to　deposition　by　river　floods　exhibiting　the　classical　waxing-waning　configuration.　Additionally,　fine-grained　deposits　resulting　from　river-generated,　dilute　hyperpycnal　or　hypopycnal　plumes　are　observed　interbedded　with　the　basin　turbidites　or　slope　background　deposits.　In　the　upper　part,　the　presence　of　thick-bedded　sandstones　indicates　that　sustained　hyperpycnal　flow　can　transport　sands　to　the　shelf-edge/shelf,　facilitating　deep-water　sand　delivery.　The　vertical　distribution　of　the　various　flood-related　facies　in　basin　floor,　slope　and　shelf　strata　emphasize　the　complexity　of　hyperpycnites　in　different　settings,　and　particularly　highlighting　challenges　associated　with　their　recognition　in　basin　deposits.　The　investigated　succession　accumulated　in　an　island-arc　setting　which　provided　a　favorable　condition　for　a　river-fed　turbidite　system　to　develop.　The　narrow　shelf　facilitated　transport　of　sediments　by　hyperpycnal　flows　directly　into　the　basin,　while　erosion　of　high　mountains　promoted　a　high　sediment　supply　for　hyperpycnal　flow.　And　a　river-fed　turbidite　system　commonly　developed　during　the　late　stages　of　basin　filling.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd