| Abstract: | Abstract A series of thermal-structural-gneiss domes (briefly TSG domes) are developed in the Chinese Altaides. Sericite-chlorite zone, biotite zone, garnet zone, staurolite zone, kyanite (andalusite) zone, sillimanite - cordierite (sillimanite - garnet) zone, migmatite zone and migmatic granite - gneiss field are developed from the low-grade metamorphic area to the centre of the TSG domes. The succession of the formation and evolution of the progressive metamorphic zone, migmatite zone and migmatic granite-gneiss corresponds to the spatial sequence from the outer part to the centre of the TSG domes. The peak temperature of the metamorphism and granitization increases progressively from 400 °C to 800 °C while the pressure decreases progressively from 1.05 GPa to 0.10 GPa from the biotite zone to the migmatic granite-gneiss field. The metamorphism of the orogenic belt may be described by the pressure-temperature-space-time model (PTst). In the main episode of orogeny, the deep heat flow and structural flow upsurged along a series of the centres of the regional thermodynamic anomalies, giving rise to the progressive metamorphism, granitization, and the differential uplift and the formation of TSG domes. |
