1 Introduction 1
1.1 Tectonic Events 3
1.2 Universal Tectonic Events? 4
1.3 Determination of Tectonic Events in the Chinese Continent 7
1.4 Research Principles and Methods for Interpreting Tectonic Events 9
1.4.1 The Rock Record 9
1.4.2 The Geometry of Rock Deformation 10
1.4.3 The Kinematics of Blocks 12
1.4.4 The Dynamics of Block Deformation 18
1.4.5 The Chronology of Deformation 21
References 21
2 Tectonics of Archean and Paleoproterozoic(Before 1.8Ga) 27
2.1 The Eoarchean(EA,4.6-3.6Ga) 27
2.2 Tectonics from Paleoarchean to Neoarchean(PA-NA,3.6-2.5Ga) 30
2.3 Tectonics of the Paleoproterozoic(PP,2.5-1.8Ga,Lüliang Period) 38
2.4 Discussion of the Thickness of Continental Crust in the Archean and Paleoproterozoic 44
References 45
3 Tectonics of the Mesoproterozoic,Neoproterozoic and Early Cambrian （1.8Ga-513Ma) 51
3.1 Tectonics of the Mesoproterozoic(1,800-1,000 Ma,Changcheng Period-Jixianian Period) 52
3.2 Tectonics of the Qingbaikou Period(1,000-800Ma) 61
3.3 Tectonics of the Nanhua Period(800-680Ma) 67
3.4 Tectonics of the Sinian Period-Early Cambrian Epoch(680-513Ma) 70
3.5 Chinese Continental Blocks in Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic Global Evolution 75
References 82
4 Tectonics of Middle Cambrian-Early Devonian(The Qilian Tectonic Period,513-397Ma) 87
4.1 Sedimentation,Paleogeography and Paleontology 88
4.2 Palaeomagnetism and Palaeotectonic Reconstruction 95
4.3 Rock Deformation,Metamorphism and Stress Field 100
4.4 Magmatism and Rates of Plate Movement 108
4.5 Division of Tectonic Units in Early Paleozoic 112
References 115
5 Tectonics of Middle Devonian-Middle Permian(The Tianshan Tectonic Period,397-260Ma) 121
5.1 Sedimentation,Paleogeography and Paleontology 121
5.2 Paleomagnetism and Paleotectonic Reconstruction 127
5.3 Rock Deformation,Metamorphism and Stress Field 132
5.4 Magmatism and Rates of Plate Movement 136
5.5 Tectonics and Plate Movement from the Mesoproterozoic to the Paleozoic 140
References 143
6 Tectonics of Late Permian-Triassic(The Indosinian Tectonic Period,260-200Ma) 149
6.1 Sedimentary Paleogeography 150
6.2 Collision Tectonics 152
6.3 Intraplate Deformation 158
References 167
7 Tectonics of Jurassic-Early Epoch of Early Cretaceous(The Yanshanian Tectonic Period,200-135Ma) 173
7.1 Movement and Rotation of Chinese Continent 175
7.2 Intraplate Deformation and the Stress Field 177
7.3 Tectono-magmatism in Crust 185
References 194
8 Tectonics of Middle Epoch of Early Cretaceous-Paleocene(The Sichuanian Tectonic Period,135-56Ma) 197
8.1 Intraplate Deformation and the Stress Field 198
8.2 Tectono-magmatism 205
8.3 Formation of the Bangongco-Nujiang Collision Zone and Northward Movement of the Plates 210
References 214
9 Tectonics of Eocene-Oligocene(The North Sinian Tectonic Period,56-23Ma) 217
9.1 Intraplate Deformation,Stress Field and Magmatism 218
9.2 Development of the Eastern Basins and Accumulations of Oil and Gas 227
9.3 Formation of the Western Pacific Subduction Zone and Yarlung Zangbo Collision Zone 230
References 234
10 Tectonics of Miocene-Early Pleistocene(The Himalayan Tectonic Period,23-0.78Ma) 239
10.1 Thin-skinned Tectonics,the Formation of the Himalayan Thrust Zone and the Uplift of the Qinghai-Xizang(Tibet)Plateau 239
10.2 Intraplate Deformation,Extension and Dispersion in Eastern China 247
10.3 Formation of Giant Step in Landscape and Extension Basins in Continental Margin 254
References 260
11 Tectonics of Middle Pleistocene-Holocene(The Neotectonic Period,since 0.78Ma) 265
11.1 Intraplate Deformation and Recent Tectonic Stress Field 265
11.2 The Influence of Recent Tectonic Stress Field on the Earthquakes,Resources and Environment 273
11.3 Dynamic Mechanism of the Recent Tectonic Stress Field 283
References 284
12 Characteristics and Mechanisms of Chinese Continental Tectonics 291
12.1 Characteristics,Influence Factor and Mechanism of Intraplate Deformation 291
12.2 Extension Tectonics and Mechanism of Basin Forming 297
12.3 Characteristics of Collision Tectonics 300
12.4 Characteristics and Problems of Strike-slip Tectonics 304
12.5 On the Types of Continental Crust 307
References 308
13 Tectonics and the Thermal Regime in the Chinese Continental Lithosphere 315
13.1 Characteristics of the Crust of the Chinese Continent and Its Adjacent Area 315
13.2 Lithosphere Characteristics of the Chinese Continent and Its Adjacent Area 318
13.3 Lithosphere Transformation(Thickness Thinning)of East China—Hypothesis of Rotation and Detachment of the Upper Crust 324
13.4 The Thermal Regime in the Crust and Discussion on the Mantle Plumes 328
References 334
14 Mineralization and Tectonics in China 339
14.1 Main Epochs and Belts of Mineralization 340
14.2 Rock Deformation Influencing Mineralization 348
14.3 Intraplate Extension Mineralization 352
14.4 On the Tectonics and Prospect of Mineral Resources 354
References 361
15 Discussion on the Dynamic Mechanism of Global Tectonics 363
15.1 Review of Hypotheses about Global Tectonic Dynamics 363
15.2 Progress of Plate Tectonics 366
15.3 On the Hypothesis of Mantle Plume 371
15.4 On the Hypothesis of Meteorite Impact 375
References 380
Appendices 385
Appendix 1 Tectonic Data about Archean and Paleoproterozoic 385
Appendix 1.1 Rock formation time,temperature,pressure,depth and geothermal gradient in Archean 385
Appendix 1.2 Block motion velocity in the Chinese continent of Archean(32-25Ga) 388
Appendix 1.3 Rock formation age,temperature,pressure,depth and geothermal gradient in Paleoproterozoic 388
Appendix 1.4 Deformation velocity in continental plate During Lüliang period(2.5-1.8Ga),Paleoproterozoic 390
Appendix 1.5 Estimated thickness for Archean-Paleoproterozoic continental crust in Chinese plate 391
References for Appendix 1 392
Appendix 2 Thickness and Forming Velocity of Sedimentary Strata of Chinese Continent 394
References for Appendix 2 395
Appendix 3 Data of Folding and Principal Stress Axes of Chinese Continental Tectonic Events 396
Appendix 3.1 Data of folding and principal stress axes of Qingbaikou Period(1,000-800Ma) 396
Appendix 3.2 Data of folding and principal stress axis of Qilianian Period(513-397Ma) 397
Appendix 3.3 Data of folding and principal stress axis of Tianshanian Period(397-260Ma) 399
Appendix 3.4 Data of folding and principal stress axis of Indosinian Period(260-200Ma) 399
Appendix 3.5 Data of folding and principal stress axis of Yanshanian Period(200-135Ma) 401
Appendix 3.6 Data of folding and principal stress axis of Sichuanian Period(135-56Ma) 402
Appendix 3.7 Data of folding and principal stress axis of North Sinian Period(56-23Ma) 403
Appendix 3.8 Data of folding and principal stress axis of Himalayan Period(23-0.78Ma) 403
References for Appendix 3 404
Appendix 4 Differential Stress Magnitude of Chinese Continent in Mesozoic-Cenozoic 405
Appendix 4.1 Indosinian Tectonic Period 405
Appendix 4.2 Yanshanian Tectonic Period 405
Appendix 4.3 Sichuanian Tectonic Period 405
Appendix 4.4 North Sinian Tectonic Period 406
Appendix 4.5 Himalayan Tectonic Period 406
Appendix 4.6 Following data are the differential stresses determined from the inclusion of mantle in Himalayan Period 407
Appendix 4.7 Following data are the recent differential stresses determined by hydrofracturing test 407
References for Appendix 4 407
Appendix 5 Intraplate Deformation Velocity of Tectonic Periods in Chinese Continent Since Mesoproterozoic 409
Appendix 5.1 Intraplate deformation velocity of Mesoproterozoic(1.8-1.0Ga) 409
Appendix 5.2 Intraplate deformation velocity of Neoproterozoic-Early Cambrian(1.0Ga-513Ma) 410
Appendix 5.3 Intraplate deformation velocity of Qilianian Period(513-397Ma) 411
Appendix 5.4 Intraplate deformation velocity of Tianshanian Period(397-260Ma) 413
Appendix 5.5 Intraplate deformation velocity of Indosinian Period(260-200Ma) 416
Appendix 5.6 Intraplate deformation velocity of Yanshanian Period(200-135Ma) 417
Appendix 5.7 Intraplate deformation velocity of Sichuanian Period(135-56Ma) 419
Appendix 5.8 Intraplate deformation velocity of North Sinian Period(56-23Ma) 420
Appendix 5.9 Intraplate deformation velocity of Himalayan Period(23-0.78Ma) 421
Appendix 5.10 Intraplate deformation velocity of Neotectonic Period(since 0.78Ma) 422
Appendix 5.11 Plate deformation velocity(crn/yr)in recent,according to the data of GPS(362 stations) and earthquake moment(after Zhang PZ et al.,2002) 423
References for Appendix 5 423
Appendix 6 Paleomagnetic Data of Chinese Continent and Its Adjacent Area 424
References for Appendix 6 430
Appendix 7 Temperature,Pressure,Depth and Thermal Gradient in Rock Forming Stages of China Continent 434
References for Appendix 7 474
Index 493