Understanding of secular evolution of the Earth system is based largely on the rock and
mineral archive preserved in the continental lithosphere. Based on the frequency and range …

Abstract The Altun–Qilian–Kunlun orogenic system in the northern Tibetan Plateau is
considered as the northernmost orogenic collage of the proto-Tethyan domain. Early …

The zirconium-in-rutile thermometer enjoys widespread use, but confidence in its accuracy
is limited because experiments were conducted at higher temperatures than many rutile …

Continental orogens on Earth can be classified into accretionary orogen and collisional
orogen. Magmatism in orogens occurs in every periods of an orogenic cycle, from oceanic …

Numerous granitic intrusions crop out in the eastern segment of the North Qaidam block
(NQ), NW China. To evaluate their ages, petrogenesis and genetic relationships to other …

In the plate tectonics theory, continental subduction is pulled by subduction of dense
oceanic crust. In practice, however, it is not easy to demonstrate that preceding oceanic crust …

Compared to the extensively documented ultrahigh-pressure metamorphism at North
Qaidam, the pre-metamorphic history for both continental crust and oceanic crust is poorly …

Continental subduction and collision are recorded by ultrahigh‐pressure (UHP) terranes;
UHP terranes that form at early stages of an orogeny tend to be small and experience short …

Eclogites in the high-pressure (HP) and ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) belts record subduction-
zone processes; exhumed eclogites of seafloor protoliths record low-temperature (mostly< …

Abstract The North Qaidam orogenic belt (NQOB) is generally considered to be an early
Paleozoic ultrahigh pressure metamorphic belt, but increasing reports of the Neoproterozoic …