Characteristics of the Maoping sedimentary assemblage in the East Qinling, Central China and its tectonic implication

Sedimentary setting of the metamorphic Maoping sedimentary assemblage is determined as Paleozoic Qinling island arc based on analysis of provenance, composition of detrital rocks and regional geology. The sedimentary assemblage is located in mid-east of the Shangdan zone where initial local contact or collision between the South and North Qinling happened. The process of the integration between the South and North Qinling initiated at the beginning of Carboniferous and ended by the end of Middle Triassic. A long-term margional tectonic evolution occurred in the duration. This unique tectonic evolution of Qinling is suggested by the deformational succession and tectonic evolution developed in Maoping area.