Abstract:

According to the thinking of Mr. Wang Hongzhen on the tectonic evolution stage and the active global tectonic theories, following the principles of comparative structural geology, i.e. the present is the key to the past, and taking spatial and temporal texture analysis of tectonic faices and environment as the main approach in which the suture zone, orogenic system and continental block are treated as three first rank tectonic units, and from the point of view of irreversible evolution of supercontinent convergence and rifting and oceancontinent transformation theory to recognize and understand the constituent characteristics of Chinese tectonic spatial and temporal texture, we propose that the tectonic evolution of China can be divided into three stages. The ArcheanPreNanhuaian (>1800820 Ma): continental nucleus formed from the Archean (>2800 Ma); protoplate tectonics started, ocean and continent differentiated, paleoarc basin system developed in Neoachrean (28002500 Ma), and in North China blocks, TTG gneiss distributes widely: Jining, South LiaoheJingshan arc basin system and Songshan and Hutuo rift developed during the Paleoproterozoic (25001800 Ma), and basement of the North China platform formed ~1800 Ma: Yanliao, XiongerXiyanghe and ZhartaiBayan Obo epicontinental rift developed in the Mesoproterozoicearly Neoproterozoic (820 Ma ago) after cratonization of the North China platform; Mesoproterozoic epicontiental rift developed in Yangtze and Tarim blocks, a series of arc basin systems formed in the early Neoproterozoic, and moreover, Yangtze and Tarim platform basement formed, which amalgamated with Rodinia. The NanhuaianMiddle Triassic (820227 Ma): (1) The NanhuaianSinian: Rodinia broke up and developed volcanosedimentary rocks and tillites related to rifting event in the Nanhuaian, PaleoAsian, ProtoTethys and Sinian Ocean spread, epicontinental rift and rifted basin developed in Yangtze and Tarim plateform, and Huanan Ocean shrank to relict oceanic basin. (2) The CambrianEarly Ordovician: PaleoAsian and ProtoTethys Ocean expanded continually, a group of massifs splitted from Yangtze and Tarim platform, and passive continental margins and polyisland arc basin systems formed in extensional environment. Rifted basin developed in the north Indian craton during the Cambrian, covered by Ordovician carbonate platform (O12). (3) The Late OrdovicianSilurian: PaleoAsian Ocean subducted bidirectionally, AlatiXingmeng polyisland arc basin systems related with northward subduction, southward subduction controlled TianshanJunggarBeishan polyisland arc basin sytems and Odor Sum accretionary arc basin system. Northward subduction of South Tianshan Ocean resulted in Central Tianshan island. Passive continental margins developed in north of Yangtze, Tarim and Indian platform. Sinian and Huanan Ocean extincted in Silurian. United PanCathaysia formed including Yangtze, Tarim and North China, QinQiKun orogenic system and Cathaysia orogenic system located in its southwest and southeast margin, respectively. (4) The DevonianMiddle Permian: PaleoAsian and South Tianshan Ocean shrank and disappeared, TianshanJunggarBeishan and AltaiXingmeng orogenic systems (C2P2) formed. Epicontinental sea basin developed in North China Platform after overall uplift (O3C1). Epicontinental rifted basin developed in Yangtze platform. Northward and southward subduction of PaleoTethys Ocean controlled North QiangtangSanjiang polyisland arc basin systems and Gangdese epicontinental arc (CP), respectively. (5) Late PermainMiddle Triassic: Basinmountain tectonic framwork formed in northwest China, Hegang epicontinental arc was controlled by northward subduction of Nadanhada Ocean. Epicontinental arc in both sides of QamdoSimao massif developed owing to eastward and westward subduction of Lancanjiang and JinshajiangAilaoshan backarc oceanic basin, respectively. Gangdese arc basin system was controlled by the southward subduction of PaleoTethys Ocean. Panxi rift as a result of the activity of Emeishan large igneous province developed in west Yangtze platform. The Late TriassicNeogene (2272.6 Ma): East China epicontinental arc formed in the late Mesozoic, basinmountains developed in northwest China and HimalayaGangdese polyisland arc basin systems formed in southwest China. Backarc rifted and faulted basin formed in eastern coastal of China in the Cenozoic, and HimalayaGangdese orogenic systems formed as a result of IndiaAsia collision, simultaneously. Tibetan plateau intensively uplift since the Miocene.

Key words: tectonic stage, continental block domain, orogenic system, supercontinent, Tethys, PaleoAsia ocean