Preliminary Discussion on Sedimentary Tectonics of the Clustered Continents of South China

Key words: 
• clustered continents of South China

Abstract: The clustered continents of South China (CCSC) is a group of Early Paleozoic continental blocks including the Yangtze block, the Wuyi block, and the Yunkai block. The CCSC and its surrounding sea compose an archipelago. The CCSC was located in northern margin of Gondwana during the Early Paleozoic and collaged to Eurasia during the Late Paleozoic and the Early Mesozoic. The tectonics of the CCSC is characterized by small size, later collage, weak extension, and strong compression, while the innercontinental deformation of the CCSC is characterized by multiple engine and wide range. Some important unanswered questions include: (1) has ever been an oceanic basin between the Yangtze and the Cathaysia blocks? What is the nature of sedimentation of the CCSC? (2) What is the impact of the Late Paleozoic extension on changes of paleoenvironment and paleogeography of the CCSC? (3) What is the sedimentary response to the innercontinental deformation of the CCSC? Approaching to these questions will help understanding geodynamics of the South China and accumulating knowledge of continental dynamics.