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The South China block (SCB), located in the convergence zones of the western Pacific subduction tectonic domain and Tethyan tectonic domain, has experienced complex tectonic processes, including the continent–continent collision caused by the closure of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean, and the subduction of the Palaeo-Pacific plate. However, due to complex intracontinental deformation and abundant magmatism, there are serious divergences in the corresponding records of the tectonic transformation from Palaeo-Tethys to Palaeo-Pacific. We have analysed the map-scale superimposed fold system developed in central SCB and also inverted the palaeo-stress field based on the fault–slip vectors. On this basis, the deformation styles and superposition mechanism of two-stage folds were recovered to establish the tectonic stress field in early Mesozoic and tectono-magmatic events by combining the chronology of the accompanying syntectonic magma. The early E–W/WNW-trending folds and Triassic magmatic system were identified; these were controlled by the NE–SW-trending compressive stress field, to coordinate with the collisions between the SCB and the Indochina block in the southwest, and the North China block in the north. The late NE/NNE-trending folds superimposed on the early folds in an orthogonal way to form a large-scale dome-basin superimposed fold system, which were controlled by the WNW–ESE-trending compressive stress field. According to the strata relations involved in deformation and the chronology data of magmatic rocks, it could be determined that NE/ENE-trending folds would be formed during the Mid- to Late Jurassic, corresponding to the westward subduction events of the Palaeo-Pacific plate. The establishment of the large-scale superimposed fold styles and the identification of fold deformation in the Triassic and Jurassic are important for understanding the early Mesozoic tectonics of South China, and even for all East Asia continent. In particular, it can provide important temporal and spatial constraints to explain the complex deformation process and geodynamic settings of South China in the early Mesozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread Cretaceous volcanic basins are common in eastern South China and are crucial to understanding how the Circum-Pacific and Tethyan plate boundaries evolved and interacted with one another in controlling the tectonic evolution of South China. Lithostratigraphic units in these basins are grouped, in ascending order, into the Early Cretaceous volcanic suite (K1V), the Yongkang Group (K1-2), and the Jinqu Group (K2). SHRIMP U-Pb zircon geochronological results indicate that (1) the Early Cretaceous volcanic suite (K1V) erupted at 136–129 Ma, (2) the Yongkang Group (K1-2) was deposited from 129 Ma to 91 Ma, and (3) the deposition of the Jinqu Group (K2) post-dated 91 Ma. Structural analyses of fault-slip data from these rock units delineate a four-stage tectonic evolution of the basins during Cretaceous to Palaeogene time. The first stage (Early to middle Cretaceous time, 136–91 Ma) was dominated by NW–SE extension, as manifested by voluminous volcanism, initial opening of NE-trending basins, and deposition of the Yongkang Group. This extension was followed during Late Cretaceous time by NW–SE compression that inverted previous rift basins. During the third stage in Late Cretaceous time, possibly since 78.5 Ma, the tectonic stress changed to N–S extension, which led to basin opening and deposition of the Jinqu Group along E-trending faults. This extension probably lasted until early Palaeogene time and was terminated by the latest NE–SW compressional deformation that caused basin inversion again. Geodynamically, the NW–SE-oriented stress fields were associated with plate kinematics along the Circum-Pacific plate boundary, and the extension–compression alternation is interpreted as resulting from variations of the subducted slab dynamics. A drastic change in the tectonic stress field from NW–SE to N–S implies that the Pacific subduction-dominated back-arc extension and shortening were completed in the Late Cretaceous, and simultaneously, that Neo-Tethyan subduction became dominant and exerted a new force on South China. The ongoing Neo-Tethyan subduction might provide plausible geodynamic interpretations for the Late Cretaceous N–S extension-dominated basin rifting, and the subsequent Cenozoic India–Asia collision might explain the early Palaeogene NE–SW compression-dominated basin inversion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]