Junction and evolution of the Qinling, Qilian and Kunlun orogenic belts

As the main part of the "central mountain system" in the continent of China , the Qinling, Qilian and Kunlun orogenic belts have been comprehensively a nd deeply studied since the 1970s and rich fruits have been reaped. However , these achievements were mostly confined to an individual orogenic belt an d the study of the mutual relationship among the three orogenic belts was o bliged to depend on comparative studies. Different views were produced ther efrom. The material composition and structural features of the junction reg ion show that there are several epicontinental and intracontinental transfo rm faults developed in different periods. Restricted by these transform fau lts, the large-scale lateral movements and, as a consequence, complicated m agmatism and tectonic deformation took place in the orogenic bolts. Accordi ng to these features, the authors put forward a three-stage junction and ev olution model and point out that there is not a single junction zone traver sing from west to east but that the three orogenic belts have been enjoined progressively by the epicontinental and intracontinental transform faults.