Thrust duplexing and transpression in the Yanshan Mountains: Implications for early Mesozoic orogenesis and decratonization of the North China Craton

Abstract

The configuration and kinematics of fold-thrust belts are essential for clarifying the plate boundary conditions through which ancient orogenic belts evolved. Temporal and spatial variations in extension versus contraction within convergent plate margins are related to changes in plate kinematics and subduction geometry. The Yanshan Highlights• Triassic duplex with frontal depression and Jurassic thrust and flexure systems were recognized.• Triassic basin was 'beheaded' by out-of-sequence thrusting.• The compressional deformations were driven by convergent orogenesis.• The results support a model of early decratonization involving thrusting in North China Craton.

Cretaceous–Cenozoic regional stress field evolution from borehole imaging in the southern Jinzhou area, western Liaoning, North China Craton

“…The study region, located in the eastern part of the Yanshanian orogenic belt in the NCC, has undergone two stages of major tectonic events. First it experienced compression during the Early-Middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, related to closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean and subduction of the Pacific Plate, and later experienced extension following the Early Cretaceous related to subduction of the Pacific Plate with a peak at ~ 125 Ma (Zhao Y, 1990;Zhao Y et al, 1994Zhao Y et al, , 2002Wang Y, 1996;Shao J et al, 2000Shao J et al, , 2006Zheng Y et al, 2000;Zhai M and Fan Q, 2002;Zhai M et al, 2004;Li Z et al, 2007;Yang W, 2007;Zheng T et al, 2007;Liu J et al, 2008;Tang Q and Chen L, 2008;Xu Y et al, 2009;Zhang Z et al, 2011;Zhu R et al, 2011Zhu R et al, , 2012Zhu R et al, , 2015Faure et al, 2012;Hou Q et al, 2012;Liu S et al, 2013Liu S et al, , 2021Yang Z et al, 2017;Zhai M, 2019). Precisely, the tectonic analysis and "deep-time" (Liu S et al, 2017).…”

“…Previous studies on the tectonics, magmatic activity, and sedimentary records show that the western Liaoning Province was mainly in the extension and extensionstrike-slip settings during the Cretaceous and Cenozoic with a short-term compression (Zhao Y, 1990;Zhao Y et al, 1994Zhao Y et al, , 2002Wang Y, 1996;Shao J et al, 2000Shao J et al, , 2006Zheng Y et al, 2000;Zhai M and Fan Q, 2002;Zhai M et al, 2004;Li Z et al, 2007;Yang W, 2007;Zheng T et al, 2007;Liu J et al, 2008;Tang Q and Chen L, 2008;Xu Y et al, 2009;Zhang Z et al, 2011;Zhu R et al, 2011Zhu R et al, , 2012Zhu R et al, , 2015Faure et al, 2012;Hou Q et al, 2012;Liu S et al, 2013Liu S et al, , 2017Liu S et al, , 2021Yang Z et al, 2017;Zhai M, 2019).…”