A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN METAMORPHIC CORE COMPLEXES AND LITHOSPHERIC THINNING OVER THE MESOZOIC IN SOUTH CHINA

The metamorphic core complex is a typical pattern of lithospheric extending and thinning.It is also a window through which we may reveal the thinning mechanism of a lithosphere.This paper will review the geochronology and mechanism of lithospheric thinning and the metamorphic core complexes,an important product of lithospheric processes(extending and thinning)during the Mesozoic in South China.The statistics of isotope geochronology of the metamorphic core complexes in South China indicates that the peak time of its formation and erosion is at 140-120Ma.This is well consistent with the time of lithospheric thinning,magma activity and mineralization.Some advanced studies on the topic suggest that it is of important significance to study the history,mechanism and kinematics of the lithospheric evolution for better understanding metamorphic core complexes.