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A Review on Precambrian Tectonic Evolution of Continental Crust

QIAN Xiang-lin, LI Jiang-hai, CHENG Su-hua   

  1. School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
  • Received:2005-06-20 Revised:2005-06-20 Online:2005-06-20 Published:2005-06-20

Abstract: Precambrian tectonics represents one of the key research topics in the science of earth system.The preserved oldest continental crust is composed of felsic rocks with ages older than 3.8 Ga.As indicated by analysis of tectonothermal events,the continental blocks 3.0 Ga have been recognized,and Neoarchean cratonization is very common all over the world.It is suggested that the early geothermal gradient is comparable to that of present day by PT calculation on the basis of high-grade metamorphic rocks.Thus,the Archean continent crustal blocks were rigid enough to show kinematics,as described by present plate tectonics.Since the Mesoproterozoic(1.80 Ga),many cratons began to develop sedimentary covers synchronously,which are almost unmetamorphosed.So,it is suggested here that Precambrian geological evolution can be divided into two stages,the early stage and the late stage. The early crustal evolution of North China craton can be well correlated with other continents,and its tectonic position within the Precambrian Supercontinet should be reconstructed.Based on the curent accumulation of research, several basic projects are proposed to focus on the frontier areas of Precambrian geology.