Characteristics and evolution of strike-slip tectonics of the Liaohe Western Sag,Bohai Bay Basin

Because of its rich oil and gas resources and the special tectonic location of the Liaohe Western Sag （the Tanlu Fault traverses the sag）, Bohai Bay Basin, a detailed study of its strike-slip tectonics is significant in revealing the sag＇s tectonic evolution, its control on hydrocarbon accumulation, and the activity history of the northern section of the Tanlu Fault in the Cenozoic. Through systematic structure analysis of 3D seismic data of the Liaohe Western Sag, combined with balanced section analysis, a variety of structural features in relation to right-lateral strike-slip faults, such as echelon normal faults, ＂comb＂ structure, ＂flower＂ structure,＂interpretable＂ and ＂buried＂ strike-slip faults have been revealed exist in the Liaohe Western Sag. According to the research in this paper, the complex structural phenomena in the Liaohe Western Sag could be reasonably interpreted as right-lateral strike-slip activity and the strike-slip activities of the Liaohe Western Sag began in the early Oligocene. The activity was weak at the beginning （E3s1-2）, then strengthened gradually and reached its strongest level in the late Oligocene （E3d1）. In the Miocene, the strike-slip activity was low and then strengthened significantly once again from the Pliocene to the present. It is speculated that the entire northern section of the Tanlu Fault has had a similar evolution history since the Oligocene.

Multistage tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Canavese Intracontinental Suture Zone:New constraints on the tectonics of the Inner Western Alps

The Canavese Intracontinental Suture Zone(CISZ) within the Inner Western Alps represents the remnant of a long-lived minor subduction zone involving a narrow, thinned continental crust/oceanic lithosphere seaway between two continental domains of the Adria microplate(i.e., the Sesia Zone and the IvreaVerbano Zone). As opposed to many suture zones, the CISZ mostly escaped pervasive tectonic deformation and metamorphism, thus preserving the original stratigraphy and allowing the relationships between tectonics and sedimentation to be defined. Through detailed geological mapping(1:5000 scale),structural analysis, stratigraphic and petrographic observations, we document evidences for the late Paleozoic to late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the CISZ, showing that it played a significant role in the context of the tectonic evolution of the Inner Western Alps region from the early to late Permian Pangea segmentation, to the Jurassic Tethyan rifting, and up to the subduction and collisional stages,forming the Western Alps. The site of localization/formation of the CISZ was not accidental but associated with the re-use of structures inherited from regional-scale wrench tectonics related to the segmentation of Pangea, and from the subsequent extensional tectonics related to the Mesozoic rifting, as documented by crosscutting relationships between stratigraphic unconformities and tectonic features. Our findings document that evidences derived from stratigraphy, facies indicators, and relationships between tectonics and sedimentation in the shallow crustal portions of suture zones, such in the CISZ, are important to better constrain the tectonic history of those metamorphic orogenic belts around the world in which evolutionary details are commonly complicated by high-strain deformation and metamorphic transformations.

Phanerozoic Tectonic Evolution,Metallogenesis and Formation of Mineral Systems in China

The continental Asia is mainly composed of three major tectonic regimes,the Tethys,Paleo Asian Ocean,and West Pacific.It underwent multi-stage plate convergences,ocean-continent transformations,and subductions,collisions and/or collages,and post collisional(orogenic)extensions in Phanerozoic.Tectonic evolution of the Asia brings up a unique fault system and tectonic geomorphological features in the China's Mainland.Also,it provides a geodynamic background for the formation and evolution of metallogeneses and mineral systems,resulting in nonuniform distribution of tectono-metallogenic systems and metallogenic belts.The spatiotemporal distribution of mineral deposits in China and adjacent areas exhibits periodic variation under controlling of the full life Wilson cycle and tectonic evolution,forming the plate convergence-related mineral system in East Asia.Porphyry Cu deposits are mainly related to compressional systems in Paleozoic and early Mesozoic,and more closely related to post-collision extensional settings in late Mesozoic and Cenozoic.Orogenic Au deposits mainly formed in post-orogeny extensional setting.Alkaline rock related rare earth element deposits formed mainly at margins of the North China and Yangtze cratons.Granite-pegmatite Li and other rare metal deposits formed mainly in early Mesozoic,related to Indosinian post-orogeny extension.Tectono-metallogenic systems provide important basis for the prospecting of mineral resources.

Tectono-sedimentary evolution and oil-gas geological significance of first to third member of Ordovician Majiagou Formation in Ordos Basin,NW China

Based on logging,core,thin section and geochemical analysis,the tectonic-lithofacies paleogeographic pattern of first member to third member of Ordovician Majiagou Formation(O_(1)m_(1)–O_(1)m_(3)for short)in Ordos Basin is reconstructed,and the tectono-sedimentary evolution characteristics and oil-gas geological significance are discussed.The results are obtained in four aspects.First,a set of marginal argillaceous dolomites with high gamma ray value developed steadily and diachronously at the bottom of Majiagou Formation,which distributed over the Huaiyuan Movement unconformity,with δ^(13)C values positive drift characteristics comparable to global transgression of the Early Ordovician Floplian.Second,the global sea level rose and the ancient land was submerged into the underwater uplift in O_(1)m_(1)to O_(1)m_(2),and the central uplift was deposited for the first time in the Ordovician,forming a tectonic pattern of“one uplift and two depressions”.Subsequently,the subduction and extrusion outside the basin and the differentiation of uplift and depression in the basin of O_(1)m_(3)resulted in the activation of the Wushenqi–Jingbian bulge.Third,the evolution of the tectonic pattern had a significant impact on the sedimentary paleoenvironment.The O_(1)m_(1)overlaps westward,and saline lagoon is formed in eastern depression and influenced by the transgression.The transgression continued in O_(1)m_(2)and resulted in communication with the wide sea,and the large-scale grain shoal developed around eastern depression,and the late dry shrinkage formed a small scale evaporite lagoon in upper part.Under the influence of highland sealing in O_(1)m_(3),the water body gradually differentiated into dolomitic gypsum and saline lagoons to the east,and the grain shoal spread along the highs around sag.Fourth,the source rocks developed diachronously at the bottom of Majiagou Formation form a favorable source-reservoir assemblage with the shoal facies reservoir distributed around the slope of O_(1)m_(2)–O_(1)m_(3),and they have certain exploration potential for natural gas.

Tectonic evolution and source rocks development of the super oil-rich Bohai Bay Basin,East China

The Bohai Bay Basin,as a super oil-rich basin in the world,is characterized by cyclic evolution and complex regional tectonic stress field,and its lifecycle tectonic evolution controls the formation of regional source rocks.The main pre-Cenozoic stratigraphic system and lithological distribution are determined through geological mapping,and the dynamics of the pre-Cenozoic geotectonic evolution of the Bohai Bay Basin are investigated systematically using the newly acquired high-quality seismic data and the latest exploration results in the study area.The North China Craton where the Bohai Bay Basin is located in rests at the intersection of three tectonic domains:the Paleo-Asian Ocean,the Tethys Ocean,and the Pacific Ocean.It has experienced the alternation and superposition of tectonic cycles of different periods,directions and natures,and experienced five stages of the tectonic evolution and sedimentary building,i.e.Middle–Late Proterozoic continental rift trough,Early Paleozoic marginal-craton depression carbonate building,Late Paleozoic marine–continental transitional intracraton depression,Mesozoic intracontinental strike-slip–extensional tectonics,and Cenozoic intracontinental rifting.The cyclic evolution of the basin,especially the multi-stage compression,strike-slip and extensional tectonics processes in the Hercynian,Indosinian,Yanshan and Himalayan since the Late Paleozoic,controlled the development,reconstruction and preservation of several sets of high-quality source rocks,represented by the Late Paleozoic Carboniferous–Permian coal-measure source rocks and the Paleogene world-class extra-high-quality lacustrine source rocks,which provided an important guarantee for the hydrocarbon accumulation in the super oil-rich basin.

Tectonic Evolution and Lithospheric Structure of the Beishan Orogen:Insights from Magnetotelluric Studies

The Beishan orogen,located in the central segment of the Tianshan–Solonker suture within the southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB),is crucial for understanding the accretionary processes and continental growth in Central Asia.This orogen developed through the episodic amalgamation and accretion of continental margin arcs,island arcs,ophiolites,and accretionary wedges,undergoing a complex process of accretion and evolution.Since the Phanerozoic,the Beishan orogen has experienced multiple phases of magmatic and collision events.The intricate distribution of magmatic arc rocks has obscured the complete basement traces,and the spatial superposition of multiple magmatic arc phases has complicated the study of its evolutionary history.

Petrologic perspectives on tectonic evolution of a nascent basin(Okinawa Trough) behind Ryukyu Arc: A review

Okinawa Trough is a back-arc, initial marginal sea basin, located behind the Ryukyu Arc-Trench System. The formation and evolution of the Okinawa Trough is intimately related to the subduction process of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate since the late Miocene. The tectonic evolution of the trough is similar to other active back-arcs, such as the Mariana Trough and southern Lau Basin, all of which are experiencing the initial rifting and subsequent spreading process. This study reviews all petrologic and geochemical data of mafic volcanic lavas from the Okinawa Trough, Ryukyu Arc, and Philippine Sea Plate, combined with geophysical data to indicate the relationship between the subduction sources （input） and arc or back-arc magmas （output） in the Philippine Sea Plate-Ryukyu Arc-Okinawa Trough system （PROS）. The results obtained showed that several components were variably involved in the petrogenesis of the Oki-nawa Trough lavas：sub-continental lithospheric mantle underlying the Eurasian Plate, Indian mid-oceanic ridge basalt （MORB）-type mantle, and Pacific MORB-type mantle. The addition of shallow aqueous fluids and deep hydrous melts from subducted components with the characteristics of Indian MORB-type mantle into the mantle source of lavas variably modifies the primitive mantle wedge beneath the Ryukyu and sub-continental lithospheric mantle （SCLM） beneath the Okinawa Trough. In the northeastern end of the trough and arc, instead of Indian MORB-type mantle, Pacific MORB-type mantle dominates the magma source. Along the strike of the Ryukyu Arc and Okinawa Trough, the systematic variations in trace element ratios and isotopic compositions reflect the first-order effect of variable subduction input on the magma source. In general, petrologic data, combined with geophysical data, imply that the Okinawa Trough is experiencing the＂seafloor spreading＂process in the southwest segment,＂rift propagation＂process in the middle seg-ment, and＂crustal extension＂process in the northeast segment, and a nascent ocean basin occurs in the southwest segment.

Tectonic Evolution of the Palaeo——Tethys in Changning——Menglian Belt and Adjacent Regions,Western Yunnan

The Changning - Menglian belt , located between the Baoshan - Gengma massif and the Simao - Lincang massif in Western Yunnan , preserves the complete record of a suture zone and the most continuous record of deep water sedimentation , representing the main branch of the Palaeo - Tethys polyisland ocean in the Hercynian - Indo-sinian stage .This belt could be further subdivided into three tectono - lithofacies zones . In the east zone , terrigenous elastics , argillaceous ,marl-argillaceous and silicate sedi-ments lie on the metamorphosed Early Palaeozoic base ment in concealed unconformity , representing deep water sediments on a passive continental margin . The central zone , although the basement rocks are absent from outcropping here , includes a contemporary complex of various sedimentary types , among them one type is of deep ocean sediments represented by radiolarian bedded chert , appearing from at least early Early Devonian to the Middle Triassic . Another type includes pure carbonates of the Early Carboniferous to the Late Permian , a type of shallow water carbonate platform on seamount or oceanic plateau within an ocean basin . In the west zone , the Permo - Carboniferous terrigenous elastics , argillaceous and silicate sediments appear again -representing the passive continental slope sedimentation in the east of the Baoshan - Gengma massif .As the Permo-Carboniferous rock types,sedimentary environments and palaeontological characters of the east and west zones are quite similar , we hold that these two zones were originally formed all on the eastern continental slope of the Baoshan - Gengma massif , and were separated due to eastward thrust later in the Indosinian orogeny . Intense thrust compacting also resulted in tectonic melange in the central zone , which is displayed by shallow water carbonates overlapping on or embedded in deep water volcanics . In the Lancangjiang belt , the Permo - Carboniferous are very complicated in sedimentary types which include island arc volcanics , deep water turbidites, silicolites and shallow water carbonates , representing the active continental margin in the west of the Simao massif. Whether there existed by Early Permi an, a Lincang magma tic arc still awaits further evidence . From the Late Permian,both the Changning-Meng-lian belt and the Lancangjiang belt experienced important sedimentary and volanic events which took place contemporaneously or penecontemporaneously but with different characters . Evidence for the Lincang magmatic arc began to be apparent , and the turbidite deep water basin in the Lancangjiang belt closed . Nevertheless , the Palaeo - Tethys oceanic basin , represented by the Changning - Menglian suture zone , existed until the Mid-dle Triassic . In the Late Triassic . massifs of Baoshan -Gengma ,Simao - Lincang ,collided and aggregated ,resulting in the disappearance of the Palaeo - Tethys ocean .

Sensitive High Resolution Ion Micro-Probe U-Pb Zircon Geochronology and Geochemistry of Mafic Rocks from the Pulan-Xiangquanhe Ophiolite,Tibet:Constraints on the Evolution of the Neo-tethys

The Pulan-Xiangquanhe ophiolite in the western Yarlung Tsangpo suture zone of Tibet is investigated for its geochemistry,geochronology,and tectonic implications in detail.Sensitive high resolution ion micro-probe zircon U-Pb dating reveals that diabases in the ophiolite from the three locations of Xugugab,Mapam Yum Co and La＇nga Co are dated at 122.3±2.5 Ma,118.8±1.8 Ma and 120.5±1.9 Ma,respectively.These early Cretaceous mafic rocks have Na_2O＋K_2O,rare earth element patterns,trace elemental spider diagram and other geochemical fingerprints of typical mature back-arc basin affinity.Therefore,the Pulan-Xiangquanhe ophiolite formed under a mature back-arc basin environment,which was a product of this intra-oceanic subduction system.A suprasubduction system could have existed in the southern margin of Eurasia,which involved both intra-oceanic and continent-ward subductions.Extension dominated the southern margin of the Eurasian continent during the early Cretaceous.

Tectonic Evolution and Geological Characteristics of Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in Marine Mesozoic-Paleozoic Strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin

The South Yellow Sea Basin is the main body of the lower Yangtze area in which marine Mesozoic–Paleozoic strata are widely distributed.The latest geophysical data were used to overcome the limitation of previous poor-quality deep data.Meanwhile,the geological characteristics of hydrocarbon reservoirs in the marine Mesozoic–Paleozoic strata in the South Yellow Sea Basin were analyzed by comparing the source rocks and the reservoir and utilizing drilling and outcrop data.It is believed that the South Yellow Sea Basin roughly underwent six evolutionary stages:plate spreading,plate convergence,stable platform development,foreland basin development,faulted basin development,and depression basin development.The South Yellow Sea Basin has characteristics of a composite platform-fault depression geological structure,with a half-graben geological structure and with a ‘sandwich structure' in the vertical direction.Four sets of hydrocarbon source rocks developed – the upper Permian Longtan–Dalong formation,the lower Permian Qixia formation,the lower Silurian Gaojiabian formation,and the lower Cambrian Hetang formation/Mufushan formation,giving the South Yellow Sea Basin relatively good hydrocarbon potential.The carbonate is the main reservoir rock type in the South Yellow Sea area,and there are four carbonate reservoir types:porous dolomitic,reef-bank,weathered crust,and fractured.There are reservoir-forming horizons similar to the typical hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Yangtze land area developed in the South Yellow Sea,and there are three sets of complete source-reservoir-cap rock assemblages developed in the marine strata,with very good hydrocarbon potential.

Tectonic Evolution of the Tianhuan Depression and the Western Margin of the Late Triassic Ordos

The Ordos Basin is one of the most important oil and gas basins in China. Based on surface outcrop, key exploratory wells and seismic reflection data and by using the technology of ＂prototype basin recovery＂, seismic profile ＂layer flattening＂ and ＂restoration of balanced section＂, and other methods, the sedimentary boundary, structure and the evolution history of the Tianhuan depression on the western margin of the Ordos Basin are reestablished. The following results have been obtained. （1） The west boundary of the Late Triassic Ordos Basin was far beyond the scope of the current basin. The basin is connected with the Late Triassic Hexi Corridor Basin, and its western margin did not have tectonic characteristics of a foreland basin. （2） The Tianhuan depression was first formed in the Late Jurassic. At the late stage it was impacted by the late Yanshanian and Himalayan tectonic movement and the depression axis gradually moved eastwards to the present location with a cumulative migration distance of -30 km. （3） Eastward migration of the depression axis caused adjustment and even destruction of the originally formed oil and gas reservoirs, so that oil and gas remigrated and aggregated, resulting in secondary structural reservoirs formed at high positions on the western flank of the depression.

Earthquake-related Tectonic Deformation of Soft-sediments and Its Constraints on Basin Tectonic Evolution

The authors introduced two kinds of newly found soft-sediment deformation-synsedimentary extension structure and syn-sedimentary compression structure, and discuss their origins and constraints on basin tectonic evolution. One representative of the syn-sedimentary extension structure is syn-sedimentary boudinage structure, while the typical example of the syn-sedimentary compression structure is compression sand pillows or compression wrinkles. The former shows NW-SE-trendlng contemporaneous extension events related to earthquakes in the rift basin near a famous Fe-Nb-REE deposit in northern China during the Early Paleozoic （or Mesoproterozoic as proposed by some researches）, while the latter indicates NE-SW-trending contemporaneous compression activities related to earthquakes in the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang remnant basin covering south Guizhou, northwestern Guangxi and eastern Yunnan in southwestern China. The syn-sedimentary boudinage structure was found in an earthquake slump block in the lower part of the Early Paleozoic Sailinhudong Group, 20 km to the southeast of Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, north of China. The slump block is composed of two kinds of very thin layers-pale-gray micrite （microcrystalline limestone） of 1-2 cm thick interbedded with gray muddy micrite layers with the similar thickness. Almost every thin muddy micrite layer was cut into imbricate blocks or boudins by abundant tiny contemporaneous faults, while the interbedded micrite remain in continuity. Boudins form as a response to layer-parallel extension （and/or layer-perpendicular flattening） of stiff layers enveloped top and bottom by mechanically soft layers. In this case, the imbricate blocks cut by the tiny contemporaneous faults are the result of abrupt horizontal extension of the crust in the SE-NW direction accompanied with earthquakes. Thus, the rock block is, in fact, a kind of seismites. The syn-sedimentary boudins indicate that there was at least a strong earthquake belt on the southeast side of the basin during the early stage of the Sailinhudong Group. This may be a good constraint on the tectonic evolution of the Bayan Obo area during the Early Paleozoic time. The syn-sedimentary compression structure was found in the Middle Triassic flysch in the Nanpanjiang Basin. The typical structures are compression sand pillows and compression wrinkles. Both of them were found on the bottoms of sand units and the top surface of the underlying mud units. In other words, the structures were found only in the interfaces between the graded sand layer and the underlying mud layer of the flysch. A deformation experiment with dough was conducted, showing that the tectonic deformation must have been instantaneous one accompanied by earthquakes. The compression sand pillows or wrinkles showed uniform directions along the bottoms of the sand layer in the flysch, revealing contemporaneous horizontal compression during the time between deposition and diagenesis of the related beds. The Nanpanjiang Basin was affected, in general, with SSW-NNE compression during the Middle Triassic, according to the syn-sedimentary compression structure. The two kinds of syn-sedimentary tectonic deformation also indicate that the related basins belong to a rift basin and a remnant basin, respectively, in the model of Wilson Cycle.

Sequence Thickness and its Response to Episodic Tectonic Evolution in Paleogene Qikou Sag, Bohaiwan Basin

The sequence stratigraphy framework of Paleogene of Qikou Sag has been built in this paper. The evolution law of episodic subsidence in Qikou Sag has been expounded, with the analysis of the characteristic of sequence thickness, as well as the study of consedimental tectonic activity, subsidence history, paleogeomorphology and the coupling relationship among them. The faults controlling action was the dominant mechanism during rifting stage I , as the depression was the dominant mechanism during rifting stage III, which embodies a process from intense disparity fault depression to integral subsidence. Meanwhile, under the control of regional faulting and later stage depression, subsidence rate centers and paleogeomorphic concave centers are always corresponding to the sequence thickness centers, and the changes of subsidence centers and paleogeomorphology concave centers are consistent with the migration of thickness centers, which presents the restriction, coupling and response among them and clarifies the law that tectonic activity controls the basin fill by means of controlling the subsidence rate and paleogeomorphology from contributing factor angle. On this basis, the dynamic evolution of the composite pattern of structure-subsidence-deposition in the fault controlling actic region during the three rifting stages and their petroleum geological significance has been discussed.

Granulite Genesis and Tectonic Evolution in Tongbai Area:Single Zircon Evaporation Ages and Nd Isotopic Geochemistry

According to the age measurements of single zircon evaporation method, combined with the study of Nd isotopic geochemistry in Tongbai area, the protolith age of basic granulites is about 1 010 Ma; the protolith age of intermediate acid granulites is probably more than 904 Ma, which is close to the age of the basic granulites. The basic granulites would be the nature occurrence of basic magma underplating beneath the base of lower crust in the North Qinling crustal vertical growth event at about 1 000 Ma. However, the intermediate acid granulites were the result of the mixing fusion between the lower crust material and the underplating basic magma, which shows a strong crust mantle interaction. The 470-480 Ma are the peak metamorphic ages of the basic and intermediate acid granulites, which related to the crust bi direction shortening and crust thickening due to the Erlangping back arc basin southward subduction and the paleo Qinling oceanic plate northward subduction.

Basin assemblages and tectonic evolution in the Bohai Gulfand its neighbors

According to multi- disciplinary research advances in recent years, three blocks which named Jiaoliao - Bohai block, central North China block and Ordos block are divided. The differences of the tectonic association, types, styles and features in the space, and evolution from Archaean to Cenozoic in the time, between the former two blocks are discussed. Tectonic features and evolution in the four tectonic stages of Precambrian, Indo- China, Yanshanian and Cenozoic are emphasized especially here. All of them described above have inherit and neogenic property. The temporal-spatial change and interaction among basin assemblages in the above four stages are analyzed. Escape tectonic model is employed to interpret coeval compressive and extensional basins in the study area.

Triassic Collisional Structures and Post-CollisionalDeformation of Bixiling UHP Rock Stack: Insightsfor Tectonic Evolution of UHP MetamorphicBelt in Dabie Massif, Central China

Detailed three-dimensional structural studies indicate that the Bixiling area, Dabie massif, central China shows the deepest exposed levels of the orogenic wedge formed during the Triassic Yangtze -Sino-Korean continental collision. New 1 : 10 000 scale structural mapping, combined with detailed petrological analysis in this area, has enabled us to accurately distinguish structures related to the Triassic continental collision from those related to post-collisional deformation in the ultrahigh pressure (UHP) metamorphic unit. The collisional or compressional structures include the massive eclogite with a weak foliation, foliated eclogite or UHP ductile shear zones, as well as upper amphibolite facies shear zones, whereas the post-collisional deformation is characterized by a regionally, flat-lying foliation containing stretching lineations and common reclined folds. The former is present exclusively in the eclogite lenses and their margins, representing orogenic thickening or syn-collisional events, while the latter was best occurred on variable scales under amphibolite facies conditions, showing sub-vertical, extreme shortening and ductile thinning of the metamorphic rock stack. The eclogite facies tectonites that have a marked fabric discordance to the penetrative amphibolite facies extension flow fabric are common. It is emphasized that an extensional tectonic setting following the collision-orogenic thickening stage was, at least partly, responsible for exhumation of the UHP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie massif. A new tectonic evolution model is proposed for the UHP metamorphic belt on the scale of the Dabie massif. The Bixiling area thus provides a window, from which the dynamic processes concerning the formation and exhumation of the UHP rocks can be observed. Regional studies in the Dabie Mountains have confirmed this interpretation.

Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt in NE China

The eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt(CAOB)in NE China is a key area for investigating continental growth.However,the complexity of its Paleozoic geological history has meant that the tectonic development of this belt is not fully understood.NE China is composed of the Erguna and Jiamusi blocks in the northern and eastern parts and the Xing’an and Songliao-Xilinhot accretionary terranes in the central and southern parts.The Erguna and Jiamusi blocks have Precambrian basements with Siberia and Gondwana affinities,respectively.In contrast,the Xing’an and Songliao-Xilinhot accretionary terranes were formed via subduction and collision processes.These blocks and terranes were separated by the Xinlin-Xiguitu,Heilongjiang,Nenjiang,and Solonker oceans from north to south,and these oceans closed during the Cambrian(ca.500 Ma),Late Silurian(ca.420 Ma),early Late Carboniferous(ca.320 Ma),and Late Permian to Middle Triassic(260-240 Ma),respectively,forming the Xinlin-Xiguitu,Mudanjiang-Yilan,Hegenshan-Heihe,Solonker-Linxi,and Changchun-Yanji suture zones.Two oceanic tectonic cycles took place in the eastern Paleo-Asian Ocean(PAO),namely,the Early Paleozoic cycle involving the Xinlin-Xiguitu and Heilongjiang oceans and the late Paleozoic cycle involving the Nenjiang-Solonker oceans.The Paleozoic tectonic pattern of the eastern CAOB generally shows structural features that trend east-west.The timing of accretion and collision events of the eastern CAOB during the Paleozoic youngs progressively from north to south.The branch ocean basins of the eastern PAO closed from west to east in a scissor-like manner.A bi-directional subduction regime dominated during the narrowing and closure process of the eastern PAO,which led to“soft collision”of tectonic units on each side,forming huge accretionary orogenic belts in central Asia.

Geology Along the Line from Yecheng to Shiquanhe and Tectonic Evolution of the Region Involved

The geotraverse from Yecheng to Shiquanhe, on the western Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, totalling 1056 km in length, passes the western Kunlun Mountains and the eastern end of the Karakorum Mountains. The Chinese and French scientists made a joint investigation along the line from July to August, 1989. Based on the outcropped ophiolites, palaeontology, sedimentary facies, magmatism, tectonic deformation and metamorphism, the region involved may be divided from north to south into five terranes and four ophiolitic suture zones. The ages of these terranes have a tendency to become increasingly younger from north to south.

Tectonic Evolution and Key Geological Issues of the ProtoSouth China Sea

There are numerous controversies surrounding the tectonic properties and evolution of the Proto-South China Sea(PSCS).By combining data from previously published works with our geological and paleontological observations of the South China Sea(SCS),we propose that the PSCS should be analyzed within two separate contexts:its paleogeographic location and the history of its oceanic crust.With respect to its paleogeographic location,the tectonic properties of the PSCS vary widely from the Triassic to the mid-Late Cretaceous.In the Triassic,the Paleo-Tethys and the Paleo-Pacific Oceans were the major causes of tectonic changes in the SCS,while the PCSC may have been a remnant sea residing upon Tethys or Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust.In the Jurassic,the Meso-Tethys and the Paleo-Pacific oceans joined,creating a PSCS back-arc basin consisting of Meso-Tethys and/or Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust.From the Early Cretaceous to the midLate Cretaceous,the Paleo-Pacific Ocean was the main tectonic body affecting the SCS;the PSCS may have been a marginal sea or a back-arc basin with Paleo-Pacific oceanic crust.With respect to its oceanic crust,due to the subduction and retreat of the Paleo-Pacific plate in Southeast Asia at the end of the Late Cretaceous,the SCS probably produced new oceanic crust,which allowed the PSCS to formally emerge.At this time,the PSCS was most likely a combination of a new marginal sea and a remnant sea;its oceanic crust,which eventually subducted and became extinct,consisted of both new oceanic crust and remnant oceanic crust from the Paleo-Pacific Ocean.In the present day,the remnant PSCS oceanic crust is located in the southwestern Nansha Trough.

Tectonic Evolution of the Wanan Basin,Southwestern South China Sea

Quantitative studies on the extension and subsidence of the Wanan Basin were carried out based on available seismic and borehole data together with regional geological data. Using balanced cross-section and backstripping techniques, we reconstructed the stratigraphic deposition and tectonic evolution histories of the basin. The basin formed from the Eocene and was generally in an extensional/transtensional state except for the Late Miocene local compressoin. The major basin extension ocurred in the Oligocene and Early Miocene （before -16.3 Ma） and thereafter uniform stretch in a smaller rate. The northern and middle basin extended intensely earlier during 38.6-23.3 Ma, while the southern basin was mainly stretched during 23.3-16.3 Ma. The basin formation and development are related to alternating sinistral to dextral strike-slip motions along the Wanan Fault Zone. The dominant dynamics may be caused by the seafloor spreading of the South China Sea and the its peripheral plate interaction. The basin tectonic evolution is divided into five phases： initial rifting, main rifting, rift-drift transition, structural inversion, and thermal subsidence.