After decades of efforts, Chinese scholars have acquired a large number of important scientific data and understanding of electrical structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, covering a total length of profiles more than 20000 km, which laid a foundation for study of the tectonic framework, electrical structure of crust and upper mantle, seismic mechanism and dynamics. This paper focuses on the three tectonic zones of Longmenshan, Sichuan-Yunnan and Sanjiang based on the main structures and fault distribution characteristics. We make a systematic review and analysis of the electrical structure of the crust and upper mantle in the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau, its contact relationship with the western Yangtze block, electrical backgrounds of the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes and weak material flow channels, which are based on the results of MT surveys and characteristics of electrical structure of crust and mantle. Firstly, the surface rock and material of the eastern Tibetan plateau are overthrust along the high-conductivity layer in the crust toward the Longmenshan orogenic belt, showing thrust-nappe characteristics of thin-skin structure in the shallow crust. Secondly, the lower crust and upper mantle of the eastern Tibetan plateau are subducted to the Longmenshan orogenic belt and Yangtze block lithosphere, while the rigid western Yangtze block is inserted into the weak Tibetan plateau at depth. Thirdly, it can be found that the sources of the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes are located at the side of high resistivity from MT data. The Longmenshan tectonic zone lithosphere shows a "three high" characteristic of high resistance, high density and high velocity, where the non-uniform collocation of this kind of the electric medium is favorable to generation of earthquakes. Fourthly, the results of MT profiles in the Sichuan-Yunnan and Sanjiang regions also show lower crustal flow and local channel flow of middle and lower crust material developed in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, of which the spatial distribution, location and size are well depicted by MT data. Six kinds of electrical structure models of crust and mantle in the eastern margin of the Tibetan plateau are established based on the structural analysis and comprehensive study of the electrical structure, and the next key research fields and objectives are suggested. In short, the study provides an important basis for revealing the lithospheric structure and tectonic framework in the study area. It can also provide background of the evaluation of solid minerals, oil and gas resources, and has important guiding significance to the study of the tectonic relationship and mechanism of the "Y" type seismically active area.
