Geotectonic Evolution of China

Anyone studying the geology and tectonics of China and who is not able to read Chinese will need to have a copy of this book: Ceotectonic Evolution of China and a companion copy of the Tectonic Map of China, scale 1:4000,000. Professor Huang Jiqing and his collaborators from the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences have provided the English-speaking earth scientists with an extremely valuable tool that can be used towards understanding the geo­ b;;y of China. The introductory chapter is necessary to read prior to effective use of the material discussed in other chapters as it clearly presents the philosophy of this school of tectonics. The collaborators of the book acknowledge the important changes have been brough about by the plate tectonics theory but do not fully incorporate these ideas into their discussion. The book and map are testimony to the tremendous amount of geologic work accomplished by Chinese geologists in the past fourty years. As our Chinese collea­ gues begin to publish more English summaries such as this, it will become apparent to the rest of the world the vast amount of geologic mapping along with supportive stratigraphy and geophysics that has already been accomplished. Nearly all major non­ Chinese tracts on tectonic synthesis of the world treat China in only a cursory fashio)1 because so little is known of the area. With this text and map, future world tectonic synthesis can no longer afford to leave China out of the picture.

Table of Contents:
I. On the Problem of Methods and Theories.- I.1 On the Method of Historical Analysis.- I.2 On Some Theoretical Problems of Geotectonics.- II. Subdivision of the Tectonic Cycles of China.- II.1 The Fuping Cycle.- II.2 The Wutai Cycle.- II.3 The Zhongtiao Cycle.- II.4 The Wuling Cycle.- II. 5 The Yangtze Cycle.- II. 6 The Xingkai Cycle.- II.7 The Caledonian Cycle.- II. 8 The Variscan Cycle.- II. 9 The Alpine Cycle.- III. Brief Description of the Main Tectonic Units of China.- III.1 System of Nomenclature for Tectonic Units.- III.2 The Sino-Korean Para platform.- III.3 The Yangtze Paraplatform.- III.4 The Tarim Platform.- III.5 The South China Sea Platform.- III.6 The Sayan-Ergun Géosynclinal Fold Region.- III.7 The Tianshan-Hinggan Géosynclinal Fold Region.- III.8 The Kunlun-Qinling Géosynclinal Fold Region.- III.9 The Yunnan-Tibet Géosynclinal Fold Region.- III.10 The Himalayan Géosynclinal Fold Region.- III.11 The Marginal-Pacific Géosynclinal Fold Region.- III.12 The Géosynclinal Fold Region of the Western Pacific Island Arcs.- III.13 The Epicontinental Basins and Marginal Sea Basins in Eastern China.- IV. The Geosynclines of China and Their Main Characteristics.- IV.1 The Subdivision of the Geosynclines of China and Their Development.- IV.2 The Classification of the Geosynclines of China and the Sequence of Their Sedimentary Formations.- IV. 3 The Formation and Transformation of the Geosynclines of China.- IV.4 The Contact Relationship Between the Geosynclines and Platforms of China.- IV.5 The Poly cyclic Development of the Geosynclines of China.- V. Deep Fractures and Deep-Seated Structures in China.- V.1 The Tectonic Framework Shown by Deep Fractures in China.- V.2 Brief Descriptions of the Main Deep Fractures in China.- V.3 The Relationship Between TectonicFramework of the Fractures and Deep-Seated Structures of China.- VI. The Geotectonic Evolution of China.- VI.1 The Archean and Eo-Algonkian Megacycle (Archean-Early Proterozoic) Gradual Formation of the Sino-Korean Para platform.- VI.2 The Neo-Algonkian Megacycle (Late Proterozoic) the Formation of the Chinese Protoplatform.- VI. 3 The Establishment of the Xingkai Cycle and the Disintegration of the Chinese Protoplatform.- VI.4 The Early Neogaic Megacycle (Paleozoic) — the Formation of Pal-Asia.- VI.5 The Late Neogaic Megacycle (Mesozoic-Cenozoic) — the Formation and Development of the Marginal-Pacific Tectonic Domain and the Tethys-Himalayan Tectonic Domain.- VI.6 The Himalayan Movement and Its Significance in the Tectonic Development of China.- References.- Explanations of Plates.