Elements anomalies, such as Ag, As, Au, Ba, Bi, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, Sb, Ti, W, Zn, from 1:50 000 stream sediment survey, North Qilian tectonic belt, vary with the tectonic evolution in different geological epochs, the elements themselves are endowed with dual properties of time and tectonic setting. According to the contrast value method, element content data of 49 303 samples from different strata were processed in combination with stratigraphic geochemical R cluster grouping. The results show that Co, Cr, Ni anomalies are in response to Paleoproterozoic post-orogenic cracking, Au, Bi and part of Cu anomalies are in response to Ordovician oceanic subduction-closing stages, Pb, Zn anomalies probably corresponded to local volcanic activity in the ocean floor in Ordovician-Silurian period. Devonian Hg, Sb anomalies have no reasonable regional tectonic interpretation, and the phenomenon of Mo element content in the Carboniferous peak indicates strong uplift and erosion on the periphery of North Qilian orogenic belt. W, Sn element anomalies reflect subduction and collision setting in Ordovician and Silurian. The regularity of the stream sediment anomalies' response to tectonic evolution suggests that the compatible ( incompatible ) features of mantle-derived elements from stream sediment survey can better distinguish tectonic environments, and the combinational geochemical approach from a large data sample and tectonic study is feasible.