Continental tectonics is characterized by a mosaic of relatively young mobile belts surrounding ancient cratonic cores. The formation and evolution of such mobile belts have remained a hotspot and frontier in the study of continental geology since the establishment of plate tectonics theory in the late 1960s. While the traditional theory of plate tectonics confines the orogenic processes to subduction and collision at plate margins, numerous orogenies also occur in continental interiors far from active plate boundaries.
This integrated study is jointly presented by Prof. Yu Wang at China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Prof. Yong-Fei Zheng at University of Science and Technology of China. It presents a systematic analysis of geological records from globally representative intracontinental orogens and integrates multidimensional evidence chains from deformation, metamorphism and magmatism, aiming to establish the causative mechanisms and product characteristics of intracontinental orogeny. The results reveal two key aspects of intracontinental orogeny: (1) independence and universality as a distinct tectonic type independent of active plate boundaries; (2) the control of continental lithospheric heterogeneity, where continental weak zones—possessing greater reactivation potential than rigid cratonic cores—are prerequisites for intracontinental orogenesis.
Available observations from continental geology indicate that all intracontinental orogens were produced by reactivation of tectonic weak zones (fossil suture zones and rift zones). In general, their tectonogenesis involves dual dynamic mechanisms. One is induced by far-field stresses from remote plate margins to result in fold-thrust deformation and crustal uplift, giving rise to intracontinental compression orogens (Fig. 1). The other is caused by near-field stresses from local underplating of asthenospheric upwelling consequential to lithospheric foundering, resulting in regional metamorphism at high geothermal gradients and felsic magmatism as well as detachment faulting and the extrusion of metamorphic core complexes to form intracontinental rift orogens (Fig. 2). Based on global comparative studies, this article attempts to integrate regional models of intracontinental orogens into the theoretical framework of dual dynamic mechanisms and reconstruct their three-stage development from continental margin orogens through intracontinental weak zones to intracontinental orogens.
Studies of typical cases indicate that the majority of intracontinental orogens would have evolved from subduction/collision orogens at plate margins to compression/rift orogens in continental interiors. This article dismantles the traditional paradigm of "mountain building = plate margin processes", demonstrating that the development of intracontinental orogens from past continental margins is a common phase in continental tectonics and thus can be generalized as a tectonic model for intracontinental reworking of plate margins. The intracontinental orogeny is one of key steps in continental assembly-breakup cycles; continental rifting is a necessary process between continental collision and seafloor spreading in initiating new Wilson cycles, serving as a prelude to supercontinent breakup. Recognition of the dual dynamic mechanisms for intracontinental orogeny provides new insights into the occurrence of mineral resources, fossil energy and earthquake hazards in continental interiors, as well as the stability of cratonic lithospheres. Therefore, this study represents a critical step toward advancing the paradigm shift from the plate tectonics theory to the continental dynamics.
See the article:
Wang Y., Zheng Y.-F. 2025. Origin and genesis of intracontinental orogens. Science China Earth Sciences, 68(12): 4005-4032; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-025-1733-x
