Structural Map of Eastern Eurasia

The map differs from, geologic, tectonic, and terranes maps, by emphasising on the correlation of the large belts of Eurasia. The units represented are not tectono-stratigraphic terranes but stable block v.s. deformed belts and accretionary wedge. The map is oriented toward a global legibility of the tectonic belts that contributed the continental growth of Eastern Eurasia.

Blocks and stable units represent continental crustal units which behaved as rigid units during major orogens and may constitute basement for sedimentary wedges. These units are separated by orogenic belts on the map, but do not represent a specific age. Hence, the cores of the main cratonic units formed during Precambrian times are represented, but also young crustal blocks or oceanic plateaus which caused shortening in orogenic wedges.

Wedges and orogens include modern and old accretionary wedges developped offshore in subduction zones and also onshore in fold-and-thrust belts. They represent products of subduction independantly of the oceanic or continental nature of the crusts involved. They mostly represent deformed belts of sediments, metamorphosed or not, nowadays overthrusted on continental crust. Orogenic wedges may also involve basement slivers of continental crust. In complex zones mostly in the Early Phanerozoic, orogenic belts have been much metamorphosed and may be considered “cratonized”.

Faults were compiled and generalized and sorted by ages when documented. Options had to be chosen when information was not found, unclear, or contradictory. Many faults also have suffered reactivation and the colour asigned is that of the dominant event.

Sutures have also been temptatively sorted by age, but indeed may vary significantly along strike due to migration of docking. In ancient belts, due to erosion, they represent the crustal boundary of juxtaposed or overthrusted crust. Their location is approximative and may cross several alignment of ophiolitic bodies, implying that some are allochton, or result from the closure of complex arc/back-arc systems.
Metamorphic facies is only indicated by small coloured circles - indicating the dominant facies – in order not to obscure structural information.