Divisions and their basic characteristics of tectonic units in Sichuan Province

Researches on tectonic evolution about Sichuan Province have had a history more than 100 years. Different divisions of geotectonic units have been put forward by different schools in different periods at different scales. This study is combined with the survey of ophiolite and oceanic plate stratigraphy in the orogenic belt area of Sichuan Province in the past 30 years. The concept of oceanic plate geology proposed by academician Li Tingdong is taken as the guiding ideology, and the basic principle is the space-time structure composition and existence state of dominant geotectonic facies formed by major tectonic events in specific regions.It is suggested that Sichuan Province should be divided into 4 first-order tectonic units i.e. the Qin-Qi-Kun orogenic system, Mianxian -Lueyang abutting subduction zone Sanjiang orogenic system and Yangtze craton, including 11 second-order tectonic units and 24 third-order tectonic units.