On the Post-Variscan Global Tectonic Stages

After the Variscan Cycle, the global tectonic framework underwent three major adjustments. The first occurred in the Late Triassic-initial Jurassic, the second in the Late Jurassic-early Early Cretaceous and the third in the Late Cretaceous-Eogene. On that basis, the post-Variscan tectonic history is divided into three tectonic cycles——the Indosinian, Yanshanian and Himalayan Cycles. The post-Neocom(k_1~1) andpre-Aptian(k_1~2) tectonic movement marks the end of the Yanshanian orogeny in eastern China and the initiation of the subduction of the Tethyan ocean in western China and represents the boundary between the Yanshanian and Himalayan Tectonic Cycles.

On the Post-Variscan Global Tectonic Stages

Abstract After the Variscan Cycle, the global tectonic framework underwent three major adjustments. The first occurred in the Late Triassic-initial Jurassic, the second in the Late Jurassic-early Early Cretaceous and the third in the Late Cretaceous-Eogene. On that basis, the post-Variscan tectonic history is divided into three tectonic cycles—the Indosinian, Yanshanian and Himalayan Cycles. The post-Neocom ( k¹₁ ) and pre-Aptian ( k²₁) tectonic movement marks the end of the Yanshanian orogeny in eastern China and the initiation of the subduction of the Tethyan ocean in western China and represents the boundary between the Yanshanian and Himalayan Tectonic Cycles.