Abstract: Metamorphic rock records the Earth evolutionary history since the generation of its continental crust. Metamorphism stores information of the tectonic evolution and other geological processes from the solid rocks formed. Metamorphic rock is the focal point for the tectonic evolution study, especially when it comes to the scope of continental tectonics and tectonic regime change through time. With the development of metamorphic phase equilibrium research and the accumulation of relevant data, how to improve the knowledge system of metamorphic petrology, integrate the scattered data, form a new comprehensive data platform, and employ the big data to solve the frontier scientific questions have attained plenty of interests in metamorphic petrology. This paper summarized the databases related to metamorphic rocks, such as MetPetDB, PetDB, etc., as well as the research hotspots in recent years. As a result, big data-driven research subjects in this field were proposed as:(1) the generation, growth and stabilization of the early continental crust; (2) the process of cratonization, orogenesis, and ocean-continental interaction; (3) crust-mantle interaction and the structure, energy, phase transition and material exchange within the contact belt; (4) evolution of the Earth thermal regime and its temporal and spatial connection with the continental structure and composition change.

Key words: metamorphic petrology, metamorphic geology, database, big data, scientific frontier