Three stages of mesozoic bimodal igneous rocks and their tectonic implications on the continental margin of southeastern China

There are large-scale Mesozoic bimodal igneous rock associations on the continental margin of southeastern China. They aroused extensive attention in the 1980s because of their specific tectonic implications, and have been found frequently during recent geological surveys. This paper reviews the studies of regional Mesozoic bimodal rocks, and concludes that they can be subdivided into three stages, i.e., the Early Jurassic (209-170 Ma, the first (I) stage), the Late Jurassic-early Early Cretaceous (154-121 Ma, the second (II) stage), and the late Early Cretaceous-Late Cretaceous (115-85 Ma, the third (III) stage). These three stages of bimodal rocks were formed in different tectonic settings, and are important indicators for regional Mesozoic tectonic evolution.