Structural map of Eastern Eurasia-PDF

Structural map of Eastern Eurasia-PDF

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Evolution of crustal blocks and orogenic belts through time

The Structural Map of Eastern Eurasia-PDF differs from geological, tectonic and terrane maps, and emphasises the correlation of the great Eurasian belts. The units represented are therefore not tectono-stratigraphic terranes, but an individualisation of stable blocks and sedimentary and orogenic prisms. The map is designed to give an overall view of the tectonic belts that contributed to the continental growth of eastern Eurasia.

Stable blocks and zones represent units of continental crust that have behaved as rigid entities during major orogens and constitute the autochthonous of sedimentary or orogenic prisms. These units are separated by orogenic belts on the map, but do not represent a specific age. Thus, the cores of the main cratons formed during the Precambrian are represented, but also crustal blocks or oceanic plateaus individualised more recently, and responsible for the shortening of the prisms.

Structural map of Eastern Eurasia-PDF

Prisms and orogens include accretionary prisms developed at sea in subduction zones and on land in orogenic belts. They represent the products of subduction, regardless of the nature - oceanic or continental - of the crusts involved. In most cases, they represent deformed belts of sediments, metamorphosed or not, currently overlapping continental crusts.

Orogenic prisms can also involve crustal strips of continental crust. In complex areas, especially in the early Phanerozoic, orogenic belts are strongly metamorphosed and can be considered as "cratonised".

Structural map of Eastern Eurasia-PDF
The Rifts have been compiled, generalised and classified by age where possible. Choices had to be made when information was missing, unclear, or contradictory. Many faults have also been reactivated; the colour indicates the age of the dominant event.

The sutures have also been classified chronologically, but the age may vary significantly along them as a result of migration of the docking. In ancient belts, by erosion, they represent the boundary of juxtaposed or overlapped crusts. Their course is approximate and may pass through several alignments of ophiolithic massifs, highlighting either their allochthonous position or the existence of arc/back-arc system closures.

The metamorphic facies are indicated by coloured dots - indicating the dominant facies - so as not to load and obscure the structural information.

Structural map of Eastern Eurasia-PDF