Main advances and achievements in the special-subject study of the 3D lithospheric structure of China

Abstract: Many new findings and achievements have been obtained in the special-subject study of the "3D lithospheric structure of China". They are as follows: China's first "3D lithospheric structure database" has been established; China's lithospheric structure model has been constructed; the knowledge of the behaviors and structures of the lithosphere and asthenosphere below eastern China have been deepened, it has been proved that there exists a transition zone with the "layer and block" structure between the lithosphere and asthenosphere, and a giant low-velocity anomaly belt has been found at 70～250 km depth from East Asia to the western Pacific region; an apparent age structure of being "older in the upper part and younger in the lower part" has been revealed in the lithosphere below eastern China; a petrological structure model of the lithosphere of continental China has been constructed, in which five types of lithosphere below continental China and its adjacent sea areas are distinguished; a classification scheme of lithospheric tectonic units of China is proposed, in which continental China and its adjacent areas are divided into two lithospheric domains and six lithospheric blocks; the existence of a gigantic latitudinal structure on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been verified; and some new findings and knowledge have been obtained in the geological context.