Abstract

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Title:: New Research Interests and Concept of Material Evolution for Continental Dynamics

Author(s):: ZHAI Ming-guo; 1. Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China; 2. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Northwest University, Xi’an 710065, Shaanxi, China

Keywords:: continental dynamics; slab structure; petrology; evolution; crust; granite; geothermal gradient; ocean-continental transition zone

Abstract:: Continental dynamics is presented and defined on basis of research advances of modern plate tectonics. It emphasizes that continent is going in an independent dynamic system. Continental dynamics focuses on fundamental issues of continental formation and evolution and its dynamic mechanism in continent scale, and further clarifies relation between continent and whole earth’s system. Here we insist a research field of vision that continent is evolving. Continental rocks record materials on the earth from earliest up to now, and hereafter tectonic imprints on them. Therefore, the study on continental material evolution is a key to understand continental dynamics. This paper is a part of results of “slab structure and continental dynamics strategic research” project supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China and Academic Division of Chinese Academy of Sciences.