The Lithosphere Structure and its Implication for Different Metallogenic Belts beneath the Eastern South China Block

The South China Block(SCB)was formed through the Neoproterozoic amalgamation of the Yangtze Block(YB),the Cathaysia Block(CB),and the accreted components of the Jiangnan orogenic belt(JNO),it is bounded by the Jiangshan–Shaoxing–Pingxiang fault(JSPF)and the Jiujiang–Shitai–Jishou fault(JSJF)(Yao et al.,2019).The SCB has undergone a series of complex geological events,including Paleozoic orogeny,Mesozoic collisions with the North China Craton(NCC)and the Indochina Block,as well as the intracontinental orogeny,leading to extensive lithospheric modifications and magmatic activities(Zhang H J et al.,2023;Fig.1).

Thermal State and Strength of the Lithosphere Beneath the Chinese Mainland

The temperature distributions of the lithosphere underneath the mainland of China were estimated by applying local isostatic equilibrium-constrained geothermal calculations. Maps of the lateral temperature variation at depths of 40, 70, and 100 km are presented for the whole Chinese continent, with the thermal thickness of the lithosphere is calculated. Lithospheric roots of 160-200 km thickness underlie Tarim and the Upper Yangtze Korean platform. In general, the Tibetan plateau lithospheres, whereas thinner thermal lithospheres platform, but are absent beneath the entire Sino- and fold belts to the north have warm but thick have been identified in northern Tibet and central Tian Shan around Issyk-Kul Lake. The warm and soft lithosphere in the Tibetan plateau and Tian Shan are caused by uniform north-south shortening, which may represent a snapshot of the early stage of convective thinning of the convergent lithosphere. However, the lithospheric thinning beneath northeastern China might be related to volatile infiltration by dehydration of the deeply subducting Pacific slab during the Cenozoic. Dry and wet upper mantle rheology display ＂jelly sandwich＂ and ＂cr^me brfil^e＂ pictures, respectively, demonstrating the mechanical behaviour of the Chinese lithosphere outside the Tibetan plateau. Considering a more geologically evident wet-mantle rheology, the ＂creme brulee＂ model can approximate the lithospheric rheology for the most earthquake-prone regions on the Chinese mainland.

Azimuthal anisotropy in lithosphere on the Chinese mainland from observations of SKS at CDSN

The shear wave splitting in SKS are investigated from all available teleseismic data recorded at the broad band stations of China Digital Seismograph Network. The polarization direction of fast S wave of anisotropy and the time delay of slow S wave are determined. Detectable shear wave splitting was found at eight analysed stations of CDSN. Time delay ranges from 0. 7 s to 1. 7 s. The previous work show that the shear wave splitting of SKS which propagate through the mantle is due to the anisotropy in upper mantle. The anisotropy in upper mantle can be interpreted by the strain-induced lattice dominant orientation of mantle minerals. The thickness of the anisotropic layer responsible for SKS wave splitting, which is estimated from time delay, corresponds generally to the thickness of lithosphere beneath Chinese mainland, which is estimated from depth of the high conductivity layer and the low velocity layer in the upper mantle. In most stations, the polarization direction of fast S wave obtained in this study are generally close to these predicted by the deformation of intraplate blocks as a whole. However, there is obvious difference between the two directions at some stations. This suggests that the causes of this well observed phenomenon are clearly complex. In order to interpret the shear wave splitting of mantle shear wave, more high-quality observation and more additional information about the strain in the mantle will be needed.

The principal characteristics of the lithosphere of China

The lithospheric structure of China and its adjacent area is very complex and is marked by several prominent characteristics. Firstly, China＇s continental crust is thick in the west but thins to the east, and thick in the south but thins to the north. Secondly, the continental crust of the Qinghai--Tibet Plateau has an average thickness of 60-65 km with a maximum thickness of 80 km, whereas in eastern China the average thickness is 30-35 km, with a minimum thickness of only 5 km in the center of the South China Sea. The average thickness of continental crust in China is 47.6 km, which greatly exceeds the global average thickness of 39.2 km. Thirdly, as with the crust, the lithosphere of China and its adja- cent areas shows a general pattern of thicker in the west and south, and thinner in the east and north. The lithosphere of the Qinghai--Tibet Plateau and northwestern China has an average thickness of 165 kin, with a maximum thickness of 180--200 km in the central and eastern parts of the Tarim Basin, Pamir, and Changdu areas. In contrast, the vast areas to the east of the Da Hinggan Ling-Taihang-Wuling Mountains, including the marginal seas, are characterized by lithospheric thicknesses of only 50-85 kin. Fourthly, in western China the lithosphere and asthenosphere behave as a ＂layered structure＂, reflecting their dynamic background of plate collision and convergence. The lithosphere and asthenosphere in eastern China display a ＂block mosaic structure＂, where the lithosphere is thin and the asthenosphere is very thick, a pattern reflecting the consequences of crustal extension and an upsurge of asthenospheric materials. The latter is responsible for a huge low velocity anomaly at a depth of 85--250 km beneath East Asia and the western Pacific Ocean. Finally, in China there is an age structure of ＂older in the upper layers and younger in the lower layers＂ between both the upper and lower crusts and between the crust and the lithospheric mantle.

Multi-layer Tectonic Model for Intraplate Deformation and Plastic-Flow Network in the Asian Continental Lithosphere

In a large area of the east—central Asian continent there is a unified seismic network system composed of two families of large—seismic belts that intersect conjugately. Such a seismic network in the middle—upper crust is actually a response to the plastic flow network in the lower lithosphere including the lower crust and lithospheric mantle. The existence of the unified plastic flow system confirms that the driving force for intraplate tectonic deformation results mainly from the compression of the India plate, while the long-range transmission of the force is carried out chiefly by means of plastic flow. The plastic flow network has a control over the intraplate tectonic deformation.

HETEROGENEITY OF THE LITHOSPHERE IN TIBETAN PLATEAU ON THE CONSTRAINTS OF MAGMATISM

Many evidences including those from magmatism and igneous rocks strongly support the heterogeneity of lithosphere in Tibetan plateau.By estimation, volcanic and plutonic rocks occupy an area of 300000km\+2, equaling to 10% of total area of the Tibetan Plateau. Temporal and spatial distribution of igneous rocks in the Tibetan Plateau is very inhomogeneous (Mo et al., 1998). Temporarily, most of plutonic and volcanic rocks, which occurred in 60% of total area of igneous rocks in the plateau, formed in the period of 65～45Ma. Spatially, 80% of igneous rocks in the plateau concentrated in the Gangdise—Nyainqentanglha region formed a huge complex granite\|volcanic belt. Petrotectonic assemblage and type of igneous rocks also vary from district to district. While Himalayas (especially High\|Himalayan region) were characterized by well development of muscovite\|bearing granites with no high\|potassium volcanic rocks and other volcanic contemporaries, North Tibet (Qiangtang region) by highly potassic volcanic rock series without muscovite\|bearing granites. Besides wide\|spreading calc\|alkaline igneous rocks, however, both highly potassic volcanic rocks and muscovite\|bearing granites developed in the central portion of Gangdise\|Nyainqentanglha region. It was lack of igneous activities in the Pamirs. Mantle\|derived nodules and their hosted rocks have been found only on northern and eastern margins of the plateau so far. All mentioned above, combined with other evidences from geophysics, geochemistry and structural geology, give us a hint to understand the heterogeneity of the lithosphere in its structure, thermal state and evolution processes underneath Tibetan plateau.

Comparison of mantle lithosphere beneath early Triassic kimberlite fields in Siberian craton reconstructed from deep-seated xenocrysts

Mantle xenocrysts from early Triassic kimberlite pipes from Kharamai, Ary-Mastakh and Kuranakh fields in the Anabar shield of Siberia revealing similar compositional trends were studied to estimate the superplume influence on the subcratonic lithosphere mantle （SCLM）. Pressure-temperature （PT） reconstructions using monomineral thermobarometry for 5 phases show division of the SCLM beneath the Kharamai field into 6 units： pyroxenitic Fe-rich （1-2 GPa） and Mg-rich （2-3 GPa） layers; middle with two levels of Gar-Sp pyroxenites at - 3 and 4-5 GPa; Gar-dunite-harzburgites - 4.5-6.5 GPa subjected to llm-Px vein metasomatism; and a Mg-rich dunite lower part. In the Anabar shield （Ary-Mastakh, Dyuken and Kuranakh fields） mantle lithosphere is composed of three large units divided into two parts： upper part with amphiboles and phlogopite; two levels of pyroxenites and eclogites at 3 and 4 GPa, and a lower part composed of refertilized dunites. Diagrams showing P-Fe#Gar clusters for garnets and omphacites illustrate the differences between SCLM of these localities. Differences of Triassic SCLM from Devonian SCLM are in simple layering; abundance of Na-Cr-amphiboles and metasomatism in the upper SCLM part, thick pyroxenite-eclogite layer and lower part depletion, heated from SCLM base to 5.0 GPa. Kharamai mantle clinopyroxenes represent three geochemical types： （1） harzburgitic with inclined linear REE, HFSE troughs and elevated Th, U; （2） lherzolitic or pyroxenitic with round TRE patterns and decreasing incompatible elements; （3） eclogitic with Eu troughs, Pb peak and high LILE content. Calculated parental melts for garnets with humped REE patterns suggest dissolution of former Cpx and depression means Cpx and garnets extraction. Clinopyroxenes from Ary-Mastakh fields show less in- dined REE patterns with HMREE troughs and an increase of incompatible elements. Clinopyroxenes from Kuranakh field show flatter spoon-like REE patterns and peaks in Ba, U, Pb and St, similar to those in ophiolitic harzburgites. The PT diagrams for the mantle sections show high temperature gradients in the uppermost SCLM accompanied by an increase of P-Fe#OI upward and slightly reduced thickness of the mantle keel of the Siberian craton, resulting from the influence of the Permian-Triassic superplume, but with no signs of delamination.

The westward drift of the lithosphere:A tidal ratchet?

Is the westerly rotation of the lithosphere an ephemeral accidental recent phenomenon or is it a stable process of Earth's geodynamics? The reason why the tidal drag has been questioned as the mechanism determining the lithospheric shift relative to the underlying mantle is the apparent too high viscosity of the asthenosphere. However, plate boundaries asymmetries are a robust indication of the 'westerly'decoupling of the entire Earth's outer lithospheric shell and new studies support lower viscosities in the low-velocity layer(LVZ) atop the asthenosphere. Since the solid Earth tide oscillation is longer in one side relative to the other due to the contemporaneous Moon's revolution, we demonstrate that a non-linear rheological behavior is expected in the lithosphere mantle interplay. This may provide a sort of ratchet favoring lowering of the LVZ viscosity under shear, allowing decoupling in the LVZ and triggering the westerly motion of the lithosphere relative to the mantle.

Deep scientific drilling results from Koyna and Killari earthquake regions reveal why Indian shield lithosphere is unusual, thin and warm

The nature of crustal and lithospheric mantle evolution of the Archean shields as well as their subsequent deformation due to recent plate motions and sustained intraplate geodynamic activity, has been a subject of considerable interest. In view of this, about three decades ago, a new idea was put forward suggesting that out of all shield terrains, the Indian shield has an extremely thin lithosphere（w100 km,compared to 250e350 km, elsewhere）, apart from being warm, non-rigid, sheared and deformed. As expected, it met with scepticism by heat flow and the emerging seismic tomographic study groups, who on the contrary suggested that the Indian shield has a cool crust, besides a coherent and thick lithosphere（as much as 300e400 km） like any other shield. However, recently obtained integrated geological and geophysical findings from deep scientific drillings in 1993 Killari（M w： 6.3） and 1967 Koyna（M w： 6.3）earthquake zones, as well as newly acquired geophysical data over other parts of Indian shield terrain,have provided a totally new insight to this debate. Beneath Killari, the basement was found consisting of high density, high velocity mid crustal amphibolite to granulite facies rocks due to exhumation of the deeper crustal layers and sustained granitic upper crustal erosion. Similar type of basement appears to be present in Koyna region too, which is characterized by considerably high upper crustal temperatures.Since, such type of crust is depleted in radiogenic elements, it resulted into lowering of heat flow at the surface, increase in heat flow contribution from the mantle, and upwarping of the lithosphereasthenosphere boundary. Consequently, the Indian shield lithosphere has become unusually thin and warm. This study highlights the need of an integrated geological, geochemical and geophysical approach in order to accurately determine deep crust-mantle thermal regime in continental areas.

A comparative study of seismic tomography models of the Chinese continental lithosphere

The Chinese mainland is subject to complicated plate interactions that give rise to its complex structure and tectonics. While several seismic velocity models have been developed for the Chinese mainland, apparent discrepancies exist and, so far, little effort has been made to evaluate their reliability and consistency. Such evaluations are important not only for the application and interpretation of model results but also for future model improvement. To address this problem, here we compare five published shear-wave velocity models with a focus on model consistency. The five models were derived from different datasets and methods (i.e., body waves, surface waves from earthquakes, surface waves from noise interferometry, and full waves) and interpolated into uniform horizontal grids (0.5° × 0.5°) with vertical sampling points at 5 km, 10 km, and then 20 km intervals to a depth of 160 km below the surface, from which we constructed an averaged model (AM) as a common reference for comparative study. We compare both the absolute velocity values and perturbation patterns of these models. Our comparisons show that the models have large (> 4%) differences in absolute values, and these differences are independent of data coverage and model resolution. The perturbation patterns of the models also show large differences, although some of the models show a high degree of consistency within certain depth ranges. The observed inconsistencies may reflect limited model resolution but, more importantly, systematic differences in the datasets and methods employed. Thus, despite several seismic models being published for this region, there is significant room for improvement. In particular, the inconsistencies in both data and methodologies need to be resolved in future research. Finally, we constructed a merged model (ChinaM-S1.0) that incorporates the more robust features of the five published models. As the existing models are constrained by different datasets and methods, the merged model serves as a new type of reference model that incorporates the common features from the joint datasets and methods for the shear-wave velocity structure of the Chinese mainland lithosphere.

A Thickness Gauge for the Lithosphere Based on Ce/Yb and Sm/Yb of Mantle–Derived Magmatic Rocks

A new method for determining the partial melting depth of mantle-derived magma and lithospheric thickness in continental regions is derived from REE geochemistry. This effective technique uses variations in the Ce/Yb and Sm/Yb ratios found in mainly volcanic rocks in continental China. The ratios change with the depth of origin consistent with the correlation between lithospheric thickness and the Ce/Yb and Sm/Yb ratios found in oceanic basalt. These ratios increase exponentially with the depth of origin, the lithospheric thickness, of a wide variety of Cenozoic volcanic basalt and Paleozoic kimberlite in the North China Craton, northeastern China continent and vicinity. This functional relationship with depth is shown in a plot of the ratios that forms a concordia curve, which is closely expressed by formulas using 8–degree polynomials. These provide a more accurate gage in measuring the lithospheric thickness than the traditional geophysical methods. When applied to volcanic rock of different ages it also reveals how the thickness has changed over time and thus, greatly aids the understanding of the tectonic history. Relations between the COcontent, mineral reactions and pressure in the upper asthenosphere beneath the base of the lithosphere appears to affect the proportions of REE in partial melts and brings about a close correlation between lithospheric thickness and the Ce/Yb and Sm/Yb ratios in mantle–derived magmatic rock. This thickness gauge, for both continental and oceanic lithosphere, provides a new approach in analyzing the lithospheric thickness in different tectonic settings and geologic times.

Piecemeal Delamination of Thickened Lithosphere Triggered Pulsed Magmatism and Mineralization during Late Mesozoic Intracontinental Orogeny in East Asia

The East Asia continent is characterized by a mosaic architecture with various composing blocks,such as the North and South China blocks,which had been collaged in Late Permian to Triassic in response to the break-up of Pangea.In the Late Mesozoic.

Effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere from joint inversion in western China and its implications

The western China lies in the convergence zone between Eurasian and Indian plates.It is an ideal place to study the lithosphere dynamics and tectonic evolutions on the continental Earth.The lithospheric strength is a key factor in controlling the lithosphere dynamics and deformations.The effective elastic thickness(T_(e))of the lithosphere can be used to address the lithospheric strength.Previous researchers only used one of the admittance or coherence methods to investigate the T_(e) in the western China.Moreover,most of them ignored the internal loads of the lithosphere during the T_(e) calculation,which can produce large biases in the T_(e) estimations.To provide more reliable T_(e) estimations,we used a new joint inversion method that integrated both admittance and coherence techniques to compute the T_(e) in this study,with the WGM2012 gravity data,the ETOPO1 topographic data,and the Moho depths from the CRUST1.0 model.The internal loads are considered and investigated using the load ratio(F).Our results show that the joint inversion method can yield reliable T_(e) and F values.Based on the analysis of T_(e) and F distributions,we suggest(1)the northern Tibetan Plateau could be the front edge of the plate collision of Eurasian and Indian plates;(2)the southern and part of central Tibetan Plateau have a strong lithospheric mantle related to the rigid underthrusting Indian plate;(3)the southeastern Tibetan Plateau may be experiencing the delamination of lithosphere and upwelling of asthenosphere.

The effect of altimetry data in estimating the elastic thickness of the lithosphere in the western Pacific Ocean

The elastic thickness of the lithosphere(Te)is a key parameter used to describe the strength of the lithosphere.It is usually estimated by a spectral analysis between gravity and topography.In previous research on the estimation of Te,altimetry data were used on both the gravity data and topography data,which could lead to deviations.The study described in this paper analyzed the effects of using gravity anomalies derived from different data sources on the estimation of Te,Taking the western Pacific region as an example,this study analyzed the impact of the repeated presence of altimetry satellite data on the calculation of the effective elastic thickness and found that if gravity anomalies and topography model both contain altimetry satellite data,they systematically overestimate effective elasticity.For a uniform area,the difference in Te can reach up to 30%.For a Te distribution,the difference can reach up to about16%.After eliminating this effect,the effective elastic thickness of the western Pacific region was found to be 10 km,and the statistical results of the effective elastic thickness distribution showed that the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere in most areas of the western Pacific is about 12 km.The paper shows the importance of choosing the appropriate gravity model in evaluating the elastic thickness of lithosphere in the oceans.A figure of Te at seamounts with loading ages demonstrates that Te in the western Pacific is generally distributed within the 100-300℃isotherm depth and does not increase with loading age.

Mantle heterogeneity,plume-lithosphere interaction at rift controlled ocean-continent transition zone:Evidence from trace-PGE geochemistry of Vempalle flows,Cuddapah Basin,India

This study reports major, trace, rare earth and platinum group element compositions of lava flows from the Vempalle Formation of Cuddapah Basin through an integrated petrological and geochemical approach to address mantle conditions, magma generation processes and tectonic regimes involved in their formation. Six flows have been identified on the basis of morphological features and systematic three-tier arrangement of vesicular-entablature-colonnade zones. Petrographically, the studied flows are porphyritic basalts with plagioclase and clinopyroxene representing dominant phenocrystal phases.Major and trace element characteristics reflect moderate magmatic differentiation and fractional crystallization of tholeiitic magmas. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns corroborate pronounced LREE/HREE fractionation with LREE enrichment over MREE and HREE. Primitive mantle normalized trace element abundances are marked by LILE-LREE enrichment with relative HFSE depletion collectively conforming to intraplate magmatism with contributions from sub-continental lithospheric mantle(SCLM) and extensive melt-crust interaction. PGE compositions of Vempalle lavas attest to early sulphur-saturated nature of magmas with pronounced sulphide fractionation, while PPGE enrichment over IPGE and higher Pd/Ir ratios accord to the role of a metasomatized lithospheric mantle in the genesis of the lava flows. HFSEREE-PGE systematics invoke heterogeneous mantle sources comprising depleted asthenospheric MORB type components combined with plume type melts. HFSE-REE variations account for polybaric melting at variable depths ranging from garnet to spinel lherzolite compositional domains of mantle. Intraplate tectonic setting for the Vempalle flows with P-MORB affinity is further substantiated by(i) their origin from a rising mantle plume trapping depleted asthenospheric MORB mantle during ascent,(ii) interaction between plume-derived melts and SCLM,(iii) their rift-controlled intrabasinal emplacement through Archeane Proterozoic cratonic blocks in a subduction-unrelated ocean-continent transition zone(OCTZ). The present study is significant in light of the evolution of Cuddapah basin in the global tectonic framework in terms of its association with Antarctica, plume incubation, lithospheric melting and thinning, asthenospheric infiltration collectively affecting the rifted margin of eastern Dharwar Craton and serving as precursors to supercontinent disintegration.

STRUCTURE OF THE TIBETAN LITHOSPHERE FROM GEOPHYSICAL EVIDENCE

The Tibetan lithosphere plays an important role in global geodynamics, Geophysical evidence from gravity, geoidal, seismic, geothermal, and magnetotelluric (MT) observations provides important insights on the structure of the lithosphere, with implications for rheology and tectonics.The largest amplitudes of 1°× 1° negative Bouguer anomdlies in Tibet appear to renect a relatively soft, multilayered, low density lithosphere beneath the plateau. A density-contrast interface (possible base of the lithosphere), obtained by gravity inversion, shows a maximum depth of about l35 km near the ITS (Yaluzangbu suture), decreasing toward both southern and northern borders, with steeper slope in southern Tibet than in north central Tibet. The Himalayan collision zone corresponds to a north-dipping slope of Indian lithosphere plunging below the Higher Himalayas at the maximum dip angle of 36° Lateral variations between southern and north central Tibet are evidenced from both geoidal, using spherical harmonic differences of degrees 18O and 20,and seismic analyses using attenuation, anisotropy, and velocities including the Vnp distribution.The wave-like pzttern of positive and negative lateral changes of crustal density suggests a convergent (compressive) zone in the Himalayas and southern Tibet and a divergent (extensional)zone in north central Tibet, respectively. The lowest Pn velocity of 7.78~7. 83 km s-1 and low S wave velocities in the upper mantle are observed in north central Tibet, whereas high P-and. Swave velocities in the upper mantle, including high Vpn, are found in southern Tibet. Geothermal modeling reveals an heterogeneous thermal structure: southern Tibet has a relatively cold mantle,while northern Tibet has a relatively hbt mantle. The differences between southern and northern Tibet with respect to many geophysical observations should be taken into account for updating and improving thermorheological models of the lithosphere. The strctural features of the Tibetan lithosphere suggest a possible geedynamical model involving the northward penetration of the In dian plate.

CENOZOIC VOLCANISM AND LITHOSPHERETECTONIC EVOLUTION IN NORTH TIBET

Volcanism is the direct indication of the upper mantle thermodynamic activities, and it is an efficient path to study the lithosphere tectonic evolution. Cenozoic volcanism in North Tibet is of obviously time circles. In the space, from south to north, the chemical composition of volcanics changed from Na\|rich alkalic basaltic series formed 44Ma. ago into high\|K calcalkali series formed in about 40～31Ma.in Qiangtang area, into minor amount of leucite basalt and phonolite series of 26Ma., further into shoshonite series aged at 19～7Ma. in Cocoxili basin, until Quaternary shoshonite series in Karakunlun and Qilian Mt.\|Yumen region(Xiaoguo Chi etc.1999).Isotopes of Sr,Nd,Pb and trace elements in volcanic rocks provide wide range of information for the evolution of lithosphere in North Tibet after 45Ma. Present research shows that Na\|rich alkalic basalt series formed 44Ma. ago has the features of a primitive mantle in Sr,Nd,Pb isotopes. Along with the evolutionary tendency to high\|K calcalkali series and phonolite series, isotopes of Sr,Nd,Pb evolve towards EM2\|rich mantle end. The North Tibet is a compound continental mass combined from several terrains of different geological periods and the lithosphere mantle sees a complicated evolutionary history. Hence, the mixing of different rocks in ancient subduction zones and long history of metasomatism in the upper mantle offered excellent and favorable conditions for the formation of EM2 mantle end and for potassic enrichment. Isotopic evolutionary features indicate that the early magma came from the asthenosphere while later magmas were derived from partial remelting of lithosphere mantle.

THINNING OF THE THICKENED LITHOSPHERE AND ITS GEODYNAMIC CONSEQUENCE: APPLICATION FOR TIBETAN PLATEAU

As one of the most distinct tectonic blocks on the Earth’s surface, Tibetan Plateau draw great attention of the geoscientists from the world. Many authors have proposed various kinds of the mechanism to try to clarify the evolution of the plateau. While many studies are often restricted to crustal units, the important role of the mantle part of the lithosphere (mantle lithosphere) during and after the collision process has not been appreciated widely. The purpose of the paper is to investigate the dynamic process of the thinning (delamination and convective removal) of the thickened lithosphere and its influence upon the uplift of the plateau.1\ Thickened lithosphere root\;Parsons and McKenzie (1978) proposed that the continental lithosphere could be thought of as consisting of two distinct parts: the mechanical and thermal boundary layers. The lower, and hotter, part is the thermal boundary layer. Its viscosity is sufficiently low that the force of gravity acting on density contrasts between the thermal boundary layer and the underlying mantle lead to the episodic sinking of the thermal boundary layer and its replacement by hot asthenosphere. When continental crust shortens and thickens, the mantle directly beneath it must also be displaced downward. In other words, mountain building process shortens horizontally and thickens vertically the mechanical boundary layer, and presumably the thermal boundary layer. And the process stretches the isotherms vertically, thus reducing the geothermal gradient. Houseman’s numerical experiments (1981) show that thickening of the thermal boundary layer enhances the density contrasts between it and the underlying asthenosphere, and so leads to its removal and replacement with hot asthenosphere. This phenomenon is called the instability of the thickened lithosphere.

Yanshanian Magma-Tectonic-Metallogenic Belt in East China of Circum-Pacific Domain(Ⅱ): Lithosphere-Asthenosphere System and Metallogenic Environment

This paper shows that the catastrophe of lithosphere asthenosphere system (LAS) is developed for the Yanshanian metallogenic belt in the East China. Two types of Yanshanian disturbed LAS and metallogenesis in the East China are recognized: great lithosphere thinning and thickening in the compressional orogenic environment, and the related Andes type and Hercyn type metallogenesis, respectively. Great amount of the juvenile and hot mantle materials and the reactivated hot lower crustal materials replaced, heated and injected into the cold lithosphere and crust are believed to be a fundamental source and a basic deep environment for the Yanshanian metallogenic explosion. Reactivated and active discontinuities on the lithosphere scale are considered to be the main ore storing space of the metallogenic zone. Large magma tectonic metallogenic system is necessary for the formation of large cluster area of ore deposit. The eastern China is believed to have large potential for prospecting of ore deposits in terms of the metallogenic environment.

CENOZOIC COLLISIONAL DEFORMATION AND LITHOSPHERE TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE EASTERN HIMALAYAN SYNTAXIS

The Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis (EHS) is one of the strongest deformation area along the Himalayan belt resulted from the collision between Indian plate and the Eurasian plate since 50～60Ma, and has sensitivity tracked and preserved the whole collisional processes. It should depend on the detail geological investigations to establish the deformational accommodate mode, and the uplift history, to elucidate the deep structure and the crust\|mantle interaction of the EHS. The Namjabarwa metamorphic complex indented into the Gangdise arc along the sinistral Pai shear fault and the dextral Aniqiao shear fault on the both sides of the Great Canyon of Yalung Zangbo river since the collision of the NE corner of the Indian plate and the Eurasian Plate at 60～70Ma [1] . The distance between Yarlung Zangbo suture and Bangong—Nujiang suture is shortened more 120km in the EHS area than that of the Lhasa block.