Abstract: 　　While the characteristics and average compositions of continental crust are well understood by the geological community, the underlying mechanisms governing the formation of mature continental crust remains obscure. It is generally accepted that arc magmatism in active margins plays a crucial role in the formation of maturation continental crust. Meanwhile, active margins are characterized by giant accretionary complexes formed by scraping off oceanic sediments from the subducting plate. Whether or not those compositionally complicated accretionary complexes would be ultimately transformed into mature continent crust during the intense crust-mantle interactions in association with arc magmatism remains an unsolved question that calls for further investigation.
　　The Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB) is the largest Phanerozoic accretionary orogenic belt on Earth, and widely distributed accretionary complexes as well as extensively developed granites are the most conspicuous geological features of it. The accretionary complexes were also experienced subsequent multiphase deformation and metamorphic evolution, implying significant crustal reworking. The Chinese Altai, located in the hinterland of the CAOB, has experienced multiple phases of deformation, metamorphism, anatexis, and granite intrusion during the Paleozoic times, forming typical crustal structure of a mature continent. This makes it a key area for studying maturation of the continental crust in accretionary orogenic belts.
　　This paper summarizes recent research progresses in the Chinese Altai Orogenic Belt, focusing on the metamorphic and deformation evolution in association with anatexis of accretionary complexes and transformation of crustal architectures. In particular, flow and emplacement of anatectic crust and associated partial melts, and their implications for crustal maturation during the main orogenic period (Silurian-Devonian) are investigated. Major findings are briefly summarized as following aspects.
　　1. Multiple-stage deformation-metamorphism records are well preserved in the Ordovician accretionary complexes, which was firstly affected by a burial phase of deformation in the Late Silurian, followed by a significant extensional phase of deformation associated with amphibolite to granulite facies metamorphism and extensive anataxis in the Middle Devonian, and back to subhorizontal shortening again in the Late Devonian.
　　2. The Ordovician accretionary complexes and most Silurian-Devonian granites in the region exhibited significant similarities in their geochemical characteristics. More importantly, the chemical compositions of Silurian-Devonian granites resemble those of the modelled partial melts of the accretionary complex under regional anatexis P-T conditions.
　　3.The Middle Devonian extensional deformation facilitated the extraction of anatectic melts, forming large-scale subhorizontal melt bands on a regional scale. During the subsequent compressional shortening episode, the partial melts converged in the high-grade cores of regional antiforms, leading to large-scale vertical upward flow. This process resulted in the emplacement of substantial amounts of felsic melts in the middle-upper crust to form granites, and the accumulation of high-density mafic granulite facies residues in the lower crust, which in turn facilitated the formation of a vertically stratified crustal structure of the region.
　　Together with regional available data, this contribution proposes that the intense crustal reworking during the Silurian-Devonian of the Chinese Altai Orogenic Belt was related to changes in the dynamics of the related supra-subduction system. The cyclic switching between subduction advance and retreat in accretionary orogenic belts could lead to changes of regional stress field and provide anomalous heat source for crustal anatexis, thus controlling the processes of crustal anatexis and mass redistribution. In these regards, anatexis of accretionary complexes, plays a pivotal role on transformation of active continental margin sediments into compositionally differentiated mature continental crust. This may be a key mechanism contributing to the peripheral continental growth in accretionary orogenic belts in general.