Chinese Journal of Polar Research ›› 2024, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (4): 505-517.DOI: 10.13679/j.jdyj.20240067

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The contributions of China to understanding the metamorphic rock series in the Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

CUI Yingchun1, CHEN Shaocong1, ZHANG Hao1, ZONG Shi1, WANG Xuejiao1, PAN Ronghao1, WANG Weixuan1, MA Lijie2, LI Shenggui1, ZHANG Xiaobo1, HUANG Julan1, CHEN Hongyu   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of Polar Science, Ministry of Nature Resources, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, 200136, China;
    2Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology of Chinese Academy of Science, 
    Qingdao 266071, China
  • Received:2024-07-16 Revised:2024-10-12 Online:2024-12-31 Published:2025-01-15

Abstract: The Larsemann Hills are located on the Ingrid Christensen Coast of Princess Elizabeth Land, East Antarctica, have the topographer with the high in the south and low in the north. Influenced by various internal and external geological forces, including geological structure, glaciers, temperature, and polar winds, the region shows a diverse array of landforms. The predominant rock type is metamorphic rocks that have experienced the complex deformation and metamorphism from the amphibolite to granulite facies. In 1989, China constructed the year-round Antarctic research station, the Zhongshan Station, on the Mirror Peninsula, Larsemann Hills. The station then became the home for Chinese scientists undertaking earth science research in East Antarctica. The research of Chinese scientists on the metamorphic sequence, metamorphic age, protolith composition, metamorphic conditions and tectonic environment in this region over the past 35 years is summarized. The findings of Chinese scientists have greatly promoted the cognition of the evolution of the Pan-African orogenic belt. In the future, the priority should be paid more attention on the nature of regional multi-stage metamorphic events, the characteristics of mafic-ultramafic granulites, and the attributes of orogenic belts.

Key words: East Antarctic, Larsemann Hills, Zhongshan Station, Metamorphic rock, metamorphism