Shear structural paragenesis and its role in continental rifting of the East Asian margin

Research reveals that the East Asian global shear zone (EAGSZ) exhibits structural characteristics identical to known natural and experimental shear zones, confirming its development as an integrated system. The study identifies two distinct stages of structural paragenesis: a Jurassic-Early Cretaceous shear-thrust stage marked by NNW-oriented compression, forming left-lateral strike-slip faults like the Tan-Lu-Sikhote-Alin (TS) system and updip-thrusts such as the Bohai-Amur (BA) system; and a Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic strike-slip-pull apart stage characterized by SE-directed tangential compression, transitioning the BA system's kinematics to left-lateral strike-slip faults. This transtension regime facilitated pull-apart structures, with left-lateral shear extension playing a decisive role in rift valley and sedimentary basin development along the Tan-Lu fault. The study combines spatial-genetic relationships analysis with structural-kinematic modeling to elucidate these dynamic processes.

Utkin, V. P. (2013). Shear structural paragenesis and its role in continental rifting of the East Asian margin. Russian Journal of Pacific Geology, 7(3), 167–188. https://doi.org/10.1134/s181971401303007x