Division of Tectonic Units and Their Evolutions within Xinjiang, China to Central Asia

The region of Xinjiang (China) to central Asia, located at the intersection of Tethys and ancient Asia tectonic domains, spans two of the three most important tectonic (metallogenic) domains in the world. Therefore, it is of great significance to understand the global tectonic evolution and the effects of resources–environment. Previous researchers have carried out a lot of researches on this region, and proposed different geotectonic units and metallogenic regions (belts) division schemes. However, there are many disputes between different research teams. Based on the structural theory of "multi–island–arc–basin–terrain (MABT)" system by our research team, following the research principle of comparative structural geology, i.e., the present is the key to reveal the past, and taking spatial and temporal structure analysis of tectonic faces and environment as the main approach in which the suture zone, orogenic system and continental block are treated as three first–rank tectonic units. Accordingly, 12 first–rank tectonic units, 32 second–rank tectonic units and 74 third–rank tectonic units are divided following the dominant tectonic faces in the research region of this paper. Moreover, tectonic environment and rock formation combination of the second–rank tectonic units are focused on to establish the overall tectonic framework and evolution history of this region. Based on these, according to their temporal–spatial evolution characteristics, the tectonic evolution histories are reconstructed for Ancient Asian Ocean and Tethys Ocean, respectively. Through the division of tectonic units and the redefinition of tectonic framework, it is expected to provide scientific basis for regional basic geological research and resource–energy exploration practice in this domain.