Petrological structure, types and inhomogeneity of the lithosphere beneath continental China

Abstract: On the basis of the geological and geophysical characteristics of continental China, different lithospheric types in various regions are distinguished. In light of the petrological method, model of Earth's evolution and relationships between the seismic velocity and rock composition, eighteen petrological structure prisms corresponding with different lithospheric types have been set up. According to the dynamic properties, five types of lithosphere, i.e. cratonic, orogenic belt, rift, marginal oceanic crust and island―arc, are recognized in continental China. A petrological structure model of lithosphere beneath continental China is constructed and the inhomogeneous characteristics of the lithosphere beneath continental China are displayed for the first time.