大陆造山带碰撞-俯冲-折返-垮塌过程的岩浆作用及大陆地壳净生长

地球上的造山带可以划分为增生型造山带和碰撞型造山带,造山带岩浆作用发生在从大洋俯冲、大陆碰撞到造山带垮塌的每一个阶段.陆-陆碰撞的必要条件是大陆俯冲带的存在.一般假设,大陆岩石圈深俯冲的前提是大洋岩石圈俯冲及其在陆-陆碰撞时对紧随被动大陆边缘岩石圈的重力拖曳.大陆俯冲和碰撞的结果是地壳加厚和隆升,但是所产生的造山带岩浆作用发生在什么时间则取决于岩石圈加热机制.增生型造山带没有发生大陆之间强烈碰撞和深俯冲,一般缺少大规模的地壳叠置加厚和隆升,缺少与大陆深俯冲有关的超高压榴辉岩相变质岩,虽然大洋俯冲阶段可以形成巨厚的陆弧地壳,但同碰撞和碰撞后岩浆作用是否存在值得怀疑.碰撞型造山带由于大陆深俯冲和地壳强烈加厚,超高压变质的洋壳和大陆地壳在折返过程中减压熔融,形成同碰撞岩浆作用,在造山旋回晚期去根和垮塌过程中,由于岩石圈伸展和软流圈地幔上涌,形成碰撞后岩浆作用,并标志造山旋回的结束.因此,碰撞造山带的岩浆作用可以发生在大陆深俯冲的同时、俯冲洋壳与陆壳断离后的折返和隆升、造山带的去根和垮塌过程,从大陆碰撞到造山带垮塌和剥蚀(造山旋回结束)的时间跨度为50~90百万年.大陆碰撞造山带是深入了解大陆深俯冲、折返隆升及其造山带垮塌过程的重要场所,而碰撞造山过程中的岩浆作用对大陆地壳生长和再造有重要意义.     

蒙古地区壳幔结构研究

<正>中亚造山带是全球显生宙陆壳增生与改造最显著的大陆造山带,受中、新生代构造活动的影响,该区经历了强烈的挤压隆升造山、拉张凹陷成盆及拉张造成的岩浆-火山改造。蒙古位于中亚造山带核心地区,是研究大陆动力学的理想实验室之一。在该区开展深部结构研究,将有助于了解岩浆底侵、地幔热物质上涌、或地幔柱活动等在该区复杂构造演化过程中的作用。本文基于在蒙古中南部地区布设地震台阵所获得的波形数据,通过接收函数、地震     

太行山早前寒武纪杂岩的同位素年代学和地质事件

通过对太行山前寒武纪杂岩地质学和同位素地质年代学研究 ,确定了太行山的地质事件主要有 5期 .新太古代早期玄武质岩浆喷发和石英闪长质 英云闪长质岩浆侵位 ,形成阜平片麻岩的角闪斜长片麻岩和TTG片麻杂岩中变质基性岩包体 .新太古代晚期麻粒岩相变质和黑云斜长片麻岩侵位 .新太古代末期至古元古代早期伸展隆升 ,形成城南庄大型变形带 ,沿着伸展变形带变质基性岩脉侵位 .古元古代晚期 (吕梁期 )太行山前寒武纪杂岩重新活化 ,构造隆升 ,南营片麻岩侵位 ,之后形成龙泉关韧性剪切带 .古元古代末期形成区域性花岗质伟晶岩 ,代表吕梁运动结束     

大陆碰撞带成矿作用:年轻碰撞造山带对比研究

新特提斯俯冲带之上的年轻碰撞造山带是进行大陆碰撞成矿研究的天然实验室和理想对象.本文以比利牛斯、阿尔卑斯、扎格罗斯、喜马拉雅四个地球上最年轻的大陆碰撞造山带为例,通过对这些造山带结构组成、演化过程和成矿系统等方面的概述,划分碰撞造山带类型,探讨不同类型碰撞带成矿同异性及缘由.对比研究表明,四个碰撞造山带可划分成简单碰撞和复合碰撞两种类型.前者以比利牛斯和阿尔卑斯为代表,表现为狭窄线状造山带和对称式造山带结构,缺乏弧岩浆活动,发育以中上地壳物质活动为主的成矿系统(密西西比河谷型铅锌矿床和造山型金矿床).后者以扎格罗斯-伊朗高原和喜马拉雅-青藏高原为代表,在欧亚大陆南缘表现为宽阔的造山高原和不对称式造山带结构,大陆边缘弧岩浆活动显著,产有大规模成矿系统(岩浆碳酸岩型稀土矿床、碰撞型斑岩铜矿床、造山型金矿床、密西西比河谷型铅锌矿床和伸展构造有关的锑金多金属矿床).尽管在简单碰撞带形成之前也有新特提斯洋壳的俯冲,但是没有形成大陆弧.而复合碰撞带在大陆俯冲之前有大陆边缘弧的形成,大陆碰撞引起增生造山带再活化,其中新特提斯洋壳俯冲作用为随后大陆碰撞带成矿提供了金属预富集.     

克拉通化与华北陆块的形成

克拉通化是稳定的大陆形成的重要事件,在地球演化历史上未见重复.华北克拉通的形成经历了两期克拉通化事件,为理解早期陆壳的形成与演化提供了难得的实例.第一期克拉通化发生在新太古代末期,很可能是在2.53~2.60Ga的微陆块拼合之后很短的时间内,以陆壳岩石和初生地壳岩石（基性岩浆岩）的部分熔融形成广泛分布的花岗质岩石的侵入、岩墙群和裂谷型火山-沉积盖层为标志.古元古代华北克拉通出现了裂谷-俯冲-增生-碰撞的陆内造山事件,以三条古元古代的活动带为代表.第二期克拉通化即克拉通再造发生在古元古代末的陆内造山之后约1.95~1.82Ga期间,出现麻粒岩相-高级角闪岩相的克拉通基底岩石的整体抬升,伴随壳熔花岗岩形成和强烈的混合岩化,而后有镁铁质岩墙群侵入、裂陷槽和裂谷形成,以及奥长环斑花岗岩-斜长岩-碱性花岗岩-碱性火山岩的非造山岩浆活动（在18~16.5亿年）.中元古代后华北进入地台演化阶段.     

大兴安岭中南段中生代的构造热演化

通过对大兴安岭中南段中生代火山 深成岩同位素年龄的测定 ,对不同阶段岩浆活动的构造背景进行分析 ,从而确立了该区构造岩浆演化的序列 :晚三叠世以含幔源包体的基性 超基性岩侵位为标志的初始幔隆 ,早 中侏罗世以辉绿岩岩墙群侵入为标志的中、上部地壳伸展 ,晚侏罗世强烈的粗面质火山岩喷发 ,早白垩世板内非造山性质的碱性 亚碱性花岗岩侵位 ,同时还形成了基性岩墙和玄武岩 .据此 ,可以认为中生代大兴安岭的隆升与幔隆背景下深部岩浆上涌密切相关 .这一研究为进一步探讨大兴安岭造山模式奠定了基础 .     

中国（东亚）大陆构造与动力学——科学与技术前沿论坛“中国（东亚）大陆构造与动力学”专题进展

集结“中国（东亚）大陆构造与动力学”为主题的科学与技术前沿论坛的11个论题,梳理了中国（东亚）大陆构造与动力学领域的四大关键问题：（1）古大陆、古环境、古构造及中国（东亚）古大陆的形成;（2）中国大陆增生与碰撞造山系的造山过程;（3）中国大陆的盆．山体系及近海新生代盆地的形成演化;（4）中国大陆的现代地壳活动及深部结构．综述了中国（东亚）大陆在长期地质历史中的聚合、裂解、碰撞和造山的过程,突显中国大陆构造体制的长期性、复杂性、叠置性、再造性和与洋．陆转换的成因联系．中国（东亚）三大构造域的关系、地体边界的超高压变质带和深地幔作用、印度／亚洲碰撞和青藏高原的隆升、近海新生代盆地的形成,大型断裂与地震、华南大地构造等问题已成为当前中国大陆构造及动力学领域关注的热点．     

发展板块构造理论:从洋壳俯冲带到碰撞造山带

地壳俯冲和大陆碰撞是板块构造理论的核心,而认识大陆碰撞造山带的形成和演化,是发展板块构造理论的关键.根据俯冲地壳的性质,业已认识到不同类型的板块俯冲带.根据碰撞块体的性质及其衍生岩石的成分,已经认识到大陆碰撞形成了两种类型的造山带.弧陆碰撞造山带既含有古老地壳物质,也含有新生地壳物质,它们在碰撞后阶段的再造就能够产生不同地球化学成分的岩浆岩.而对于两个相对古老大陆之间的碰撞所形成的造山带来说,碰撞后岩浆作用只是俯冲带古老地壳的再造.碰撞造山带在岩石圈拉张作用下发生活化再造,不仅再造作用在构造体制上具有继承性,而且再造产物岩浆岩在地球化学成分上也具有继承性.因此,研究碰撞后体制下的造山带再造,认识大陆碰撞造山带深部物理化学差异、俯冲地壳性质与碰撞后岩浆岩之间的成因联系,建立碰撞后阶段大陆构造演化的基本规律,是构建大陆动力学体系、发展板块构造理论的关键.     

“燕山运动”与东亚大陆晚中生代多板块汇聚构造——纪念“燕山运动”90周年

翁文灏先生提出"燕山运动"已经整整90周年,燕山运动对中国大地构造历史研究具有特殊的意义.文章回顾了"燕山运动"提出、发展和构造幕划分沿革历史,介绍与燕山运动相关的构造事件研究的最新成果和进展,重点阐述了中国大陆不同地区对燕山运动的沉积、变形和岩浆响应,进一步梳理了燕山运动幕式演化历史及其动力作用性质,探讨了燕山运动发生的板块动力学背景及其全球构造意义.研究认为,燕山运动是三叠纪东亚大陆雏形形成后的一次重大地质构造事件,起始于中侏罗世(170±5)Ma,先后经历175～136Ma主变形期、135～90Ma主伸展期和89～80Ma的弱挤压变形期等3个主构造运动时期.主变形期包含了北京西山和燕山地区发育的2个地层不整合事件:髫髻山底部不整合和张家口底部不整合,对应于翁文灏先生1928年定义的A幕和B幕.从区域上看,晚中生代燕山运动的启动和发展与古太平洋、新特提斯和蒙古-鄂霍茨克三大构造域洋壳俯冲消减历史和板块汇聚碰撞过程密切相关.晚侏罗世,东亚周邻多板块汇聚形成了3个巨型陆缘汇聚造山系统(北部蒙古-鄂霍茨克碰撞造山带、东部陆缘Cordillera型俯冲增生造山系统、西部班公湖-怒江俯冲碰撞造山系统)以及向陆内变形扩展系统,包括多方向的陆内造山带、鄂尔多斯和四川盆地的环形褶皱山系.陆内变形表现为远离汇聚板块边缘的大规模逆冲-褶皱构造、古老造山带的复活和广泛的岩浆成矿作用.结合古大陆分离-聚合过程的周期演变规律,本文提出晚中生代东亚多板块汇聚可能是未来亚美超大陆的起始点,燕山运动应是亚美超大陆诞生的"第一声啼鸣".     

大别地块超高压变质期后伸展变形及超高压变质岩石折返过程

详细构造分析证明 ,现今观察到的大别地块内部超高压变质地体的区域构造样式 ,主要是在印支期 ( 2 40～ 2 1 0Ma)扬子与中 朝克拉通陆 陆碰撞及超高压变质作用期后形成的 ,具有变质核杂岩和多层伸展拆离带的组合格局 .通过鉴别挤压和伸展组构可知 ,超高压变质岩石由地幔深处折返和剥露于地表 ,至少经历过 3个不同的减压退变及构造变形阶段 ,其中 ,角闪岩相条件下的中下地壳近水平的伸展流动是一个重要的折返动力学过程 ,而且可能受到增厚的岩石圈地幔的拆沉及岩浆底侵作用的驱动 .     

Isotopic chronology and geological events of Precambrian complex in Taihangshan region

There are five major geological events in Precambrian complex, Taihangshan region determined by researching into geology and isotopic chronology of the complex. Basaltic magma erupted and quartz-dioritic to tonalitic magma intruded in earlier neo-Archaean, which formed hornblende-plagiogneiss of Fuping gneiss complex and metamorphic mafic rock enclaves in TTG gneiss complex. Granulite facies metamorphism and emplacement of biotite-plagiogneiss occurred in late neo-Archaean. Extension and uplifting from the end of neo-Archaean to Paleoproterozoic era formed Chengnanzhuang large extensional deformation zones and metamorphic mafic veins emplaced into the deformation zones. Remobilization of Precambrian complex and tectonic uplifting in late Paleoproterozoic era formed Longquanguan ductile shear zone and emplacement of Nanying gneiss. Occurrence of regional granite pegmatite at the end of Paleoproterozoic era means the end of the Lliang movement.     

Tectono-magmatic evolution of the 1.9-Ga great bear magmatic zone, Wopmay orogen, northwestern Canada

The 1875-1840-Ma Great Bear magmatic zone is a 100-km wide by at least 900-km-long belt of predominantly subgreenschist facies volcanic and plutonic rocks that unconformably overlie and intrude an older sialic basement complex. The basement complex comprises older arc and back-arc rocks metamorphosed and deformed during the Calderian orogeny, 5–15 Ma before the onset of Great Bear magmatism. The Great Bear magmatic zone contains the products of two magmatic episodes, separated temporally by an oblique folding event caused by dextral transpression of the zone: (1) a 1875-1860-Ma pre-folding suite of mainly calc-alkaline rocks ranging continuously in composition from basalt to rhyolite, cut by allied biotite-hornblende-bearing epizonal plutons; and (2) a 1.85-1.84-Ga post-folding suite of discordant, epizonal, biotite syenogranitic plutons, associated dikes, and hornblende-diorites, quartz diorites, and monzodiorites. The pre-folding suite of volcanic and plutonic rocks is interpreted as a continental magmatic arc generated by eastward subduction of oceanic lithosphere. Cessation of arc magmatism and subsequent dextral transpression may have resulted from ridge subduction and resultant change in relative plate motion. Increased heat flux due to ridge subduction coupled with crustal thickening during transpression may have caused crustal melting as evidenced by the late syenogranite suite. Final closure of the western ocean by collision with a substantial continental fragment, now forming the neoautochthonous basement of the northern Canadian Cordillera, is manifested by a major swarm of transcurrent faults found throughout the Great Bear zone and the Wopmay orogen.Although there is probably no single evolutionary template for magmatism at convergent plate margins, the main Andean phase of magmatism, exemplified by the pre-folding Great Bear magmatic suite, evolves as larger quantities of subduction-related mafic magma rise into and heat the crust. This results in magmas that are more homogeneous, siliceous, and explosive with time, ultimately leading to overturn and fractionation of the continental crust.     

Thermal anomalies and magmatism due to lithospheric doubling and shifting

We present some thermal and magmatic consequences of the processes of lithospheric doubling and lithospheric shifting.Lithospheric doubling concerns the obduction of a cold continental or old oceanic lithospheric plate over a young and hot oceanic lithosphere/upper mantle system, including an oceanic ridge.Lithospheric shifting concerns the translation and rotation of a lithospheric plate relative to the upper mantle.In both cases the resulting thermal state of the upper mantle below the obducting or shifting lithosphere may be perturbed relative to a “normal” continental or oceanic geothermal situation.The perturbed geothermal state gives rise to a density inversion at depth and thus induces a vertical gravitational instability which favours magmatism.We speculate about the magmatic consequences of this situation and infer that in the case of lithospheric doubling our model may account for the petrology and geochemistry of the resulting magma.The original layering and composition of the overridden young oceanic lithosphere may strongly influence magmatic processes.We dwell shortly on the genesis of kimberlites within the framework of our lithospheric doubling model and on magmatism in general. Lithospheric recycling is inherent to the mechanism of lithospheric doubling.     

南海西南海盆构造演化的热模拟研究

南海西南海盆的张裂和海底扩张是白垩纪末至中始新世南海形成过程中最重要的构造事件.本文采用三维有限单元法对该区的热演化过程进行了模拟计算.通过对变形、温度结构的计算,研究了西南海盆张裂变形、海底扩张持续时间、地幔物质上升、地壳岩墙沿扩张中心的挤入扩张活力、岩浆活动等.计算结果表明：由于其深部动力学条件不足,海盆一次扩张持续时间在10～15Ma之间,其后地幔物质的上升活动逐渐停止,地壳失去扩张动力,使得扩张中心成为残留扩张中心的死亡裂谷,而未构成中脊或中隆带.虽然该处地幔物质上升的潜力不足,但伴随局部的断裂,尤其是盆、缘边界的拆离拉张,仍能产生相当强烈的岩浆喷溢活动,导致此区海盆成型之后的海山崛起.     

Subduction and terrane collision stabilize the western Kaapvaal craton tectosphere 2.9 billion years ago

Integrative models of crust and mantle structure, age, and growth of the oldest continental nuclei—the Archean cratons—are critical to understanding the processes that stabilize continental lithosphere. For the Kaapvaal craton of southern Africa, conflicting ages of stabilization have been derived from studies of its crust and underlying mantle. New U-Pb zircon geochronological data from the western Kaapvaal craton reveal that two older (3.7 to 3.1 billion year old) continental masses, the Kimberley and Witwatersrand blocks, were juxtaposed by a significantly younger, previously unresolved episode of subduction and terrane collision between 2.93 and 2.88 billion years ago. Geological evidence indicates that convergence was accommodated by subduction beneath the Kimberley block, culminating in collisional suturing in the vicinity of the present-day Colesberg magnetic lineament. The timing of these convergent margin processes is further shown to correlate with the strong peak in Re-Os age distributions of Kimberley block mantle peridotites, eclogites, and eclogite-hosted diamonds. These data thus support the petrogenetic coupling of continental crust and lithospheric mantle through a model of continental arc magmatism, subduction zone mantle wedge processing and terminal collisional advective thickening to form Archean continental tectosphere.     

Petrogenetic model of the Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province

Over the last two decades great strides have been made in characterizing the spatial distribution, time sequence,geochemical characteristics, mantle sources, and magma evolution processes for various igneous rocks in the Early Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province(TLIP). This work has laid a solid foundation for revealing the evolutionary processes and genetic models of large igneous provinces(LIPs). This study systematically demonstrates the two-stage melting model for the TLIP based on our previous research work and predecessor achievements, and highlights the two types of magmatic rocks within the TLIP.The two-stage melting model suggests that the formation of the TLIP is mantle plume related. The early hot mantle plume caused the low-degree partial melting of the lithosphere mantle, while in the later stage, the plume partially melted due to adiabatic uplift and decompression. Therefore, this model carries signatures of both the "Parana" and "Deccan" models in terms of mantle plume activity. During the early stage, the mantle plume provided the heat required for partial melting of sub-continental lithosphere mantle(SCLM), similar to the "Parana Model", while later the plume acted as the main avenue for melting, as in the "Deccan Model". Basalts that erupted in the first stage have higher 87Sr/86 Sr, lower 143Nd/144 Nd ratios, and are enriched in large ion lithophile elements and high field strength elements, indicating a possible origin from the enriched continental lithosphere mantle,similar to the Parana type geochemical features. The basic-ultrabasic intrusive rocks in the second stage exhibit lower 87Sr/86 Sr,higher 143Nd/144 Nd ratios relative to the basalts, consistent with the involvement of a more depleted asthenospheric material,such as a mantle plume, similar to the Deccan type geochemical features. The first stage basalts can be further subdivided into two categories, i.e., Group 1 and Group 2 basalts. Group 2 basalts have lower 87Sr/86 Sr and higher 143Nd/144 Nd ratios than Group 1 basalts, and lie between compositions of the Group 1 basalts and second stage magmatism. Group 2 basalts may be the intermediate component of the TLIP, and the whole TLIP is the result of plume and lithosphere interaction. Developing this petrogenetic model for the TLIP aids in comprehensively understanding its magmatism and deep geological and geodynamic processes. Furthermore, this work enriches the theories describing the origin of large igneous province and mantle plume activity.     

Petrology of the Hegenshan ophiolite and its implication for the tectonic evolution of northern China

Petrographic observations, and mineralogical and geochemical analyses, have revealed that the Hegenshan ophiolite is of mid-ocean ridge origin and has been subjected to dynamothermal metamorphism at medium P/T conditions. The metamorphism is characterized by a prograde change in paragenesis from the greenschist to epidote-amphibolite facies, with peak temperature conditions of 570-640°C at pressures of 4-10 kbar. The amphiboles formed by this metamorphism show K-Ar ages of 110-130 Ma. The metamorphic conditions and K-Ar ages suggest that the Hegenshan ophiolite is located at the suture between the Siberian and North China continental blocks, where the continental collision in this area took place in middle Mesozoic time. Given the temporal and spatial distribution of the igneous activity around the Da Hinggan Ling Mountains, it is suggested that the extensive Yanshanian magmatism in this region resulted predominantly from a southward subduction of an oceanic plate prior to collision. Alternatively, it may possibly have resulted from the collision itself, at the final stage.     

Volcano-stratigraphy and geochemistry of collision-related volcanism on the Erzurum–Kars Plateau, northeastern Turkey

The Eastern Anatolia Region exhibits one of the world's best exposed and most complete transects across a volcanic province related to a continental collision zone. Within this region, the Erzurum–Kars Plateau is of special importance since it contains the full record of collision-related volcanism from Middle Miocene to Pliocene. This paper presents a detailed study of the volcanic stratigraphy of the plateau, together with new K–Ar ages and several hundred new major- and trace-element analyses in order to evaluate the magmatic evolution of the plateau and its links to collision-related tectonic processes. The data show that the volcanic units of the Erzurum–Kars Plateau cover a broad compositional range from basalts to rhyolites. Correlations between six logged, volcano-stratigraphic sections suggest that the volcanic activity may be divided into three consecutive Stages, and that activity begins slightly earlier in the west of the plateau than in the east. The Early Stage (mostly from 11 to 6 Ma) is characterised by bimodal volcanism, made up of mafic-intermediate lavas and acid pyroclastic rocks. Their petrography and high-Y fractionation trend suggest that they result from crystallization of anhydrous assemblages at relatively shallow crustal levels. Their stratigraphy and geochemistry suggest that the basic rocks erupted from small transient chambers while the acid rocks erupted from large, zoned magma chambers. The Middle Stage (mostly from 6–5 Ma) is characterised by unimodal volcanism made up predominantly of andesitic–dacitic lavas. Their petrography and low-Y fractionation trend indicate that they resulted from crystallization of hydrous (amphibole-bearing) assemblages in deeper magma chambers. The Late Stage (mostly 5–2.7 Ma) is again characterised by bimodal volcanism, made up mainly of plateau basalts and basaltic andesite lavas and felsic domes. Their petrography and high-Y fractionation trend indicate that they resulted from crystallization of anhydrous assemblages at relatively shallow crustal levels. AFC modelling shows that crustal assimilation was most important in the deeper magma chambers of the Middle Stage. The geochemical data indicate that the parental magma changed little throughout the evolution of the plateau. This parental magma exhibits a distinctive subduction signature represented by selective enrichment in LILE and LREE thought to have been inherited from a lithosphere modified by pre-collision subduction events. The relationships between magmatism and tectonics support models in which delamination of thickened subcontinental lithosphere cause uplift accompanied by melting of this enriched lithosphere. Magma ascent, and possibly magma generation, is then strongly controlled by strike-slip faulting and associated pull-apart extensional tectonics.     

Late Carboniferous – Middle Permian arc/forearc‐related basin in Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Insights from the petrology and geochemistry of the Shuangjing Schist in Inner Mongolia,China

The Solonker Suture Zone is thought to record the terminal evolution of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) in Inner Mongolia. However, two contrasting interpretations of the timing of suturing of the Solonker Suture Zone exist: (i) Permian to Early Triassic; and (ii) Middle Devonian or Late Devonian to Carboniferous. The Shuangjing Schist is exposed in the Linxi area along the Xar Moron Fault Zone, which marks the southern boundary of the Solonker Suture Zone in the eastern section of the CAOB, and thus provides insight into the timing of suturing of the Solonker Suture Zone. Detailed and systematic analysis of the petrology and geochemistry of the Shuangjing Schist shows that the Shuangjing Schist developed by greenschist facies prograde metamorphism of a volcanisedimentary rock series protolith. The volcanic parts of the Shuangjing Schist are a calc‐alkaline series with large volumes of intermediate members and subordinate acidic members. Volcanism occurred in a magmatic arc on the continental margin and was induced by subduction‐related magmatism resulting from mantle metasomatism. The sedimentary parts of the Shuangjing Schist reflect a transition from continental shelf to abyssal plain sedimentation. The formation of the Shuangjing Schist is suggested to be related to closure of an arc/forearc‐related ocean basin. The timing is constrained by a laser ablation inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP–MS) U–Pb magmatic zircon age of 298 ± 2 Ma from a carbonaceous biotite–plagioclase schist that was intruded by granite at 272 ± 2 Ma. In the Linxi area, southward subduction of the arc/forearc basin led to uplift, thickening, collapse, and erosion of the overriding continental crust. Collapse induced extension and widespread magmatism along the volcanic arc at the northern margin of the North China Craton. The closure of the arc/forearc‐related oceanic basin led to the formation of Late Permian to Middle Triassic collisional granites and the subsequent end of the collision of the Solonker Suture Zone.     

Developing plate tectonics theory from oceanic subduction zones to collisional orogens

Crustal subduction and continental collision is the core of plate tectonics theory. Understanding the formation and evolution of continental collision orogens is a key to develop the theory of plate tectonics. Different types of subduction zones have been categorized based on the nature of subducted crust. Two types of collisional orogens, i.e. arc-continent and continent-continent collisional orogens, have been recognized based on the nature of collisional blocks and the composition of derivative rocks. Arc-continent collisional orogens contain both ancient and juvenile crustal rocks, and reworking of those rocks at the post-collisional stage generates magmatic rocks with different geochemical compositions. If an orogen is built by collision between two relatively old continental blocks, post-collisional magmatic rocks are only derived from reworking of the old crustal rocks. Collisional orogens undergo reactivation and reworking at action of lithosphere extension, with inheritance not only in the tectonic regime but also in the geochemical compositions of reworked products(i.e., magmatic rocks). In order to unravel basic principles for the evolution of continental tectonics at the post-collisional stages, it is necessary to investigate the reworking of orogenic belts in the post-collisional regime, to recognize physicochemical differences in deep continental collision zones, and to understand petrogenetic links between the nature of subducted crust and post-collisional magmatic rocks. Afterwards we are in a position to build the systematics of continental tectonics and thus to develop the plate tectonics theory.