Abstract:

Frequent tectonic activities occurred in the Carboniferous. Between the stable tectonic units, such as the North China Craton, the Yangtze Craton and the Tarim Craton, there are numerous orogenic belts. Particularly in the fossil oceanic basins, various ocean plate strata are widely distributed, which include the North Tianshan Ocean, the South Tianshan Ocean, the Buqingshan-Mianlue Ocean, the Jinshajiang Ocean and the Ganzi-Litang Ocean. Thus the tectonic subdivision of China is extremely complex. The traditional stratigraphic regionalization mainly refers to the distribution of stable blocks, and the stratigraphic regions are divided according to the recent geographic framework. In this contribution, we reestablished the Carboniferous tectonostratigraphic framework of China. According to tectonic units and evolution stages, and in reference to the Chinese classical tectonic subdivision and by authors’ own definition, there are 11 tectonostratigraphic super regions: Altai-Xing’an-Mongolia, North Junggar-Xar Moron, Tianshan-Beishan, Tarim-Alxa, North China, Qinling-Qilian-Kunlun, Yangtze, Cathaysia, North Qiangtang-Sanjiang, Bangonghu-Nujiang and India. Among the tectonostratigraphic super regions, Altai-Xing’an-Mongolia approximately overlaps with the Altai-Xing’an-Mongolia arc-basin system. It contains numerous ocean plate strata and arc-related magmatism and could be divided into the Altai and Xing’an stratigraphic regions. The location of North Junggar-Xar Moron is similar to the Erqis-Xar Moron paleo-oceanic basin. This super region comprises abundant arc-related strata and ocean plate strata, and it could be divided into the North Junggar and Xar Moron stratigraphic regions. Tianshan-Beishan occupies the same territory as the Tianshan-Beishan orogenic system. It possesses several stratigraphic regions, including South Junggar, North Tianshan, South Tianshan, Yili and Ejin-Beishan, and is characterized by considerable volcanic rocks. The location of Tarim-Alxa is equivalent to the Tarim Block, the southeastern Tarim-Dunhuang Uplift and the Alxa Block. This super region contains widespread stable coastal to neritic deposits and locally distributed paralic sediments. It could be divided into the Tarim and Alxa stratigraphic regions. North China overlaps with the North China Craton and Helanshan continental margin rift. It comprises the Helanshan, North China and north-marginal North China stratigraphic regions and is mainly occupied by the paralic strata. Moreover, Mississippian strata are absent in the North China stratigraphic region. The Qinling-Qilian-Kunlun super region occupies a similar territory as the Qinling-Qilian-Kunlun orogenic belt. It possesses several stratigraphic regions, involving Qilian, Eastern Kunlun-Qaidam, Western Kunlun, Qinling and Southern Qinling-Sulu. The Yangtze super region overlaps with the Yangtze Craton. It is divided into several units, including Yanyuan-Lijiang, middle to upper Yangtze, lower Yangtze, Xiang-Zhe-Gan and Dian-Qian-Gui stratigraphic regions. Stable carbonate sediments occupy most of the Carboniferous outcrops, and the paralic strata are only preserved in the Xiang-Zhe-Gan stratigraphic region. Cathaysia takes a large territory of the Wuyi-Yunkai orogenic system. Some stratigraphic regions including Yue-Min, southern Yue, Qinfang, Northern Qiong, Middle-Southern Qiong and Cathaysia are identified in this super region. Except for Qinfang, which contains shemipelagic to pelagic, siliceous and argillaceous sediments, other stratigraphic regions are dominated by coastal-neritic sediments and rare paralic deposits. North Qiangtang-Sanjiang overlaps with the North Qiangtang-Sanjiang archipelagic arc-basin system. It comprises multiple micro-blocks, with ophiolitic mélange distributed between the blocks. This super region is characterized by the widespread ocean plate strata and divided into several stratigraphic regions, including Hoh Xil-Bayan Har-Mianlue, Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan, Zhongdian-Changdu-Simao, Xianshuihe-Ganzi-Litang, Northern Qiangtang and Tianshuihai. The territory of Bangonghu-Nujiang could be regarded as the Bangong Lake-Shuanghu-Nujiang-Menglian oceanic basin. The Carboniferous sediments in this super region are dominated by ocean plate strata. The India super region coincides with the passive margin distributed along the northern margin of the Indian Craton. It is characterized by the preservation of particular paleontological assemblages and glacial sediments located in the Gondwana, and could be divided into the Gangdise, Northern Himalaya and Baoshan stratigraphic regions. Various lithostratigraphic, paleontologic assemblages and stratigraphic successions in each stratigraphic super region, region or subregion are briefly introduced. The standards for the establishment of the Carboniferous stratigraphic framework in China are proposed, and correlation of strata is suggested based on the systematic stratigraphic correlation of Carboniferous in each region.

Key words: Carboniferous, tectonostratigraphic regionalization, stratigraphic framework