Original paper
Geological understanding of plate tectonics: Basic concepts, illustrations, examples and new perspectives
Niu, Yaoling
Global Tectonics and Metallogeny Volume 10 Number 1 (2018), p. 23 - 46
127 references
published: May 1, 2018
published online: Oct 1, 2014
manuscript accepted: Jun 30, 2014
manuscript received: Jun 15, 2014
Open Access (paper may be downloaded free of charge)
Abstract
With 16 figures Abstract: In this paper, I have reviewed some basic concepts of the plate tectonics theory in a plain geological language with the aim of encouraging geologists to correctly understand this theory in its applications to geological problems. I emphasized the decisive role of subduction as the ultimate (dominant) driving force of all the plate tectonics phenomena. Hence, my discussion has focused on major issues such as the origin of subduction zones, slab rollback, trench retreat, trench suction and driving mechanism of plate motion (both oceanic and continental) by means of illustration with hypothetical and real examples. As much of the discussion is heavily based on my personal (original) perspectives, some of the concepts, interpretations and hypotheses may not be familiar to many and may not be readily found in the existing literature. Mantle plume hypothesis is not the focus of this paper and is thus only mentioned in passing. “All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.” Galileo Galilei (1564–1642)
Keywords
plate tectonics • driving mechanisms • subduction initiation • trench retreat • trench suction • back-arc basins • continental drift • western Pacific • eastern China • India-Asia convergence