A Rifting Story of South China, With Particular Reference to Rodinia Breakup

An integrated sedimentological, sequence stratigraphic, tectonic|stratigraphic, isotope chronostratigraphic and isotope (element) geochemical analysis indicates that the Neoproterozoic basins in South China are characteristic of rift basins, and their formation and evolution are closely related to the breakup of the supercontinent Rodinia. (1) Neoproterozoic basins in South China can be divided into three major provinces: the southeastern Yangtze province, the Kangdian province along the western margin of the Yangtze block, and the Cathaysia province. They can be further subdivided into five subprovinces and eleven microprovinces on the basis of tectonic settings, sedimentary facies and palaeogeography,and outcrop sequence stratigraphy.(2) Four genetic facies associations and two environmental facies associations can be recognized in the Neoproterozoic basins. The former include① continental volcanic eruptive genetic facies association; ② submarine volcanic eruptive genetic facies association; ③ tillite genetic facies association; and ④ eustatic event deposits genetic facies association. The latter comprise: ① continental environmental facies association, and ② marine environmental facies association.