Abstract:
It has been debated that if there is a plateau in east China in Mesozoic. In this study we defined an East China plateau according to temporal and spatial distribution of adakite and Himalayan-type granites. The plateau was likely formed between 165 to 125 Ma and may have lasted from 175 to 113 Ma. The plateau may have extended from north to south and may have evolved in seven stages according to relevant records in this region. The boundary of the plateau may be changing in different stages. Several relevant issues to the formation of the East China Plateau such as the lower crustal delamination, nature of the Yanshanism, transition of Mesozoic tectonic regime, and subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate, are also discussed. Current problems and debated issues and future work for further evidence for the east China Plateau are also mentioned. It is therefore suggested here that a comprehensive research should be carried out with the combination of paleogeography、paleo-environmentalology、palaeoecology、palarontology and for the plateau. A connection of Mesozoic East China Plateau and Cenozoic Tibetan Plateau should be established to complete the theory of continental tectonic regime.