Preface to special issue on relationship between continental tectonics and the seismic activities of China, research techniques and methods

As an essential element in studying Earth Sciences,plate tectonics provides the scientific basis for understanding movement and tectonic interactions among different plates and related tectonic consequences,i.e.,natural hazards.The theory of plate tectonics was introduced to China in the early 1970s,about 10 years after this,scientific theory was firstly developed in the western world.

Continental velocity through Precambrian times:The link to magmatism,crustal accretion and episodes of global cooling

Quasi-integrity of continental crust between Mid-Archaean and Ediacaran times is demonstrated by conformity of palaeomagnetic poles to near-static positions between -2.7-2.2 Ga, -1.5-1.2 Ga and -0.75-0.6 Ga. Intervening data accord to coherent APW loops turning at ＂hairpins＂ focused near a continental-centric location. Although peripheral adjustments occurred during Early Proterozoic （-2.2 Ga） and Grenville （- 1.1 Ga） times, the crust retained a low order symmetrical crescent-shaped form constrained to a single global hemisphere until break-up in Ediacaran times. Conformity of palaeomagnetic data to specific Eulerian parameters enables definition of a master Precambrian APW path used to estimate the root mean square velocity （VRMS） of continental crust between 2.8 and 0.6 Ga. A long interval of little polar movement between -2.7 and 2.2 Ga correlates with global magmatic shutdown between -2.45 and 2.2 Ga, whilst this interval and later slowdown at -0.75-0.6 Ga to velocities of 〈2 cm/year correlate with episodes of widespread glaciation implying that these prolonged climatic anomalies had an internal origin; the reduced input of volcanically-derived atmospheric greenhouse gases is inferred to have permitted freeze-over conditions with active ice sheets extending into equatorial latitudes as established by low magnetic inclinations in glaciogenic deposits. VRMS vari- ations through Precambrian times correspond to the distribution of U-Pb ages in orogenic granitoids and detrital zircons and demonstrate that mobility of continental crust has been closely related to crustal tectonism and incrementation. Both periods of near-stillstand were followed by rapid VRMS recording massive heat release from beneath the continental lid at -2.2 and 0.6 Ga. The first coincided with the Lomagundi-Jatuli isotopic event and led to prolonged orogenesis accompanied by continental flooding and reconfiguration of the crust on the Earth＇s surface; the second led to continental break-up and instigated the comprehensive Plate Tectonics that has characterised Phanerozoic times. The Meso- proterozoic interval characterised by anorogenic magmatism correlates with low VRMS between - 1.5 and 1.1 Ga. Insulation of the sub-continental mantle evidently permitted high temperature melting and weakening of the crustal lid to enable buoyant emplacement of large plutons at high crustal levels during this magmatic event unique to Mesoproterozoic and early Neoproterozoic times.

Tectonic Related Lithium Deposits Another Major Region Found North East Tanzania—A New Area with Close Association to the Dominant Areas: The Fourth of Four

The current “mega” interest in Lithium resources was spurred by the development of Lithium-Ion batteries to aid in restructuring the world’s reliance on carbon spewing power petroleum reserves. Current resources of lithium recovery have fallen into two main categories—Pegmatite, found worldwide associated with felsic intrusions and Brine Related, and now with development in the Southwest United States of America (SWUS), a third category— Tertiary Volcanic clays, are specifically associated with Tertiary volcanics and major Tectonic Plate interactions. “Active” Plate tectonics is important as both the SWUS, the Lithium Triangle of South America (LTSA) and the Tibetan Plateau of China (TPC) producing tertiary (Miocene) volcanism that is important to the development of Lithium resources. The Tanzanian part of the East Africa Rift System (EARS) has features of both the SWUS, tertiary volcanic related “playas” and Continental rifting, the LTSA, tertiary volcanic related “Brines” and a major Tectonic plate event (subduction of an Oceanic Plate beneath the Continental South American Plate) and the TPC, tertiary volcanics (?) and major tectonic plate event (subduction of the Indian Continental Plate under the Eurasian Continental Plate). As well as the association of peralkaline and metaluminous felsic volcanics with Lithium playas of the SWUS and the EARS (Tanzania) “playas”. These similarities led to an analysis of a volcanic rock in Northeast Tanzania. When it returned 1.76% Lithium, a one-kilometer spaced soil sampling program returned, in consecutive samples over 0.20% Lithium (several samples over 1.0% lithium and a high of 2.24% lithium). It is proposed that these four regions with very similar past and present geologic characteristics, occur nowhere else in the world. That three of them have produced Lithium operations and two of them have identified resources of Lithium clay and “highly” anomalous Lithium clays should be regarded as more than “coincidental”.

Gravity variation in the Tibet area before the Nepal Ms8.1 earthquake

This research utilized two periods of gravity monitoring results from 2010 to 2013 from the Continental Tectonics Environmental Monitoring Network of China, analyzed the corre- lation between gravity variation in the Tibet area and the Nepal Ms8.1 earthquake, and investigated the gravity variation mechanism in combination with the crust vertical movement and horizontal strain field observed by Global Positioning System （GPS）. The research results indicated that （1） the gravity variation exhibited apparent characteristics of a positive anomaly and high gradient zone in the Himalayan frontier. This observation is consistent with the existing recognition of the gravity anomaly and occurrence regularity of a strong earthquake; （2） the gravity variation exhibited apparent consistence with the spacious distribution of the vertical movement and the horizontal deformation field in that area. The crustal vertical movement was not the direct cause leading to the gravity vari- ation. It is assumed that the crust stress-strain accumulation in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and its adjacent areas is the important factor that resulted in the variation of gravity.

Gravity variation before the Akto Ms6.7 earthquake, Xinjiang

The relationship between gravity variation and the Akto Ms6.7 earthquake on November 11, 2016, was studied by use of mobile gravity observation data from the China continental structural environmental monitoring network. The result revealed that before the Akto earthquake, a high positive gravity variation was observed in the Pamir tectonic knots region （within a maximum magnitude of approximately ＋80 microgal）, which was consistent with the existing knowledge of gravity abnormality and the locations of strong earthquakes. In view of the recent strong seismic activities in the Pamir tectonic knots region, as well as the strong upward crust movement and compressive strain, it is believed that gravity change in the Pamir tectonic knots region reflects the recent strong seismic activities and crust movement.