CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EVOLUTION OF REGIONAL TECTONICS OF CHINA

The evolution of regional tectonics is actually transformation of oceanic （?）rust and continental crust. The fundamental characteristics of the evolution are regular combination of convergence and divergence and tectonic stages resulting from the combination. Eight tectonic stages may be distinguished for China’s regional tectonics; they are the Fuping, Luliang, Jinning, Caledo- nian, Hercynian, Indosinian, Yanshanian and Himalayan stages. These stages have not only general characteristics but also particular characteristics. This indicates that the development of regional tectonics is irreversible and shows the following regular chages with the passage of geologic time. 1. The style of tectonic deformation changed from ductile to brittle de- formation. 2. The manner of tectonic movement transformed from mainly conerv- gence to mainly divergence. 3. The system of tectonic evolution developed from the geosyncline- platform system to the plate system.