Gravity characteristics and preliminary division of tectonic units in China and adjacent areas

Abstract：Based on an analysis of gravity data and regional geological structure in combination with the achievements made by previous researchers, the authors summarized the 3D lithospheric tectonic macroscopic characteristics of China’s land and seas detected by the geological-geophysical map compilation group and other researchers, and applied the Block Tectonics Theory to interpret the tectonic macroscopic framework of China’s land and seas. On such a basis, the authors divided the study regions into three tectonic domains or more than 20 blocks, analyzed the characteristics of the three tectonic domains and block units, and indicated that Indosinian movement resulted in the fundamental change of the lithospheric stress field and created the conditions for the formation of present tectonic macroscopic framework.