Eastern China continental lithosphere thinning is a consequence of paleo-Pacific plate subduction: A review and new perspectives

Understanding the processes that lead to lithosphere thinning is a key aspect of continental geology research. In this paper, we present essential observations and summarize our understandings on accompanying magmatism in eastern China since Mesozoic as straightforward consequence plate tectonics. We show resulted from basal hydration weakening with water coming dehydration paleo-Pacific mantle transition zone. The effect convert into asthenosphere by reducing its viscosity, having thus thinned while triggering melting crustal marked widespread basalts granitoids space time. These logical reasoning require existence subducted zone, whose active subduction ended at ~ 90 Ma suture located off arc-shaped southeast coastline. As result, began 40-Myr period (i.e., 50 Ma) accretion manifested compositional systematics erupted period. initiation present-day western Pacific eastward retreat caused drift China, leaving older portions slab stagnant zone resumed supply form hydrous melt maintain lithosphere, which same creating maintaining oceanic-type seismic low velocity (LVZ) beneath responsible for Cenozoic alkali basalt volcanism region. That is, lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) petrological boundary, either an amphibole solidus or water-saturated solidus. predicted, demonstrate thickness LAB depth) controls compositions melts, i.e., lid effect. latter further confirms solidus, below decompression happens, above solidifies ascends rapidly surface. Our studies us unavoidable conclusion Mesozoic, LAB, LVZ Mesozoic-Cenozoic are all consequences tectonics response subduction, global significance understanding intra-continental Earth’s histories.