Ten Questions of East Asian Tectonics

Abstract

East Asian continental tectonics challenges the plate tectonics paradigm with its diffuse intraplate deformation, magmatism, and earthquakes. Despite extensive studies, fundamental questions persist. This review examines ten critical questions of East Asian tectonics, including the thickness of the continental lithosphere, the origin of the North–South Gravity Lineament, and the northern extent of the Indian plate beneath the Tibetan Plateau. Additional questions address the Tibetan Plateau's lateral growth, the Tianshan mountain building, the mantle flow in response to the Indo-Asian collision, and the formation of the Shanxi Rift. The review also explores the subduction along the eastern margins of the East Asian Continent and the origins of the Changbaishan volcanic field, the destruction of the North China Craton, and the development of the Mesozoic Large Granitic Province in South China. Originally presented at the DEEP2024 workshop to stimulate discussion of how SinoProbe-II research initiatives could advance our understanding of Asian tectonics, this review provides context for each question, summarizes current knowledge, and identifies promising research directions.