Introduction to the special issue 'Subduction and Exhumation History Recorded in HP-UHP Metamorphic Rocks'

摘要

More than 20 belts of ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks have been recognized in the world since coesite and micro-diamonds were discovered about 25 years ago. These belts provide solid evidence for deep subduction and exhumation of continental and oceanic crust during collision of tectonic plates. Detailed studies of the petrology, mineralogy, geochemistry, geochronology, and microscale rheology of these belts have revealed the basic characteristics of HP-UHP metamorphic rocks, the kinetic processes involved in their formation, and the physical and chemical behavior of lithospheric slabs during deep subduction and exhumation. Although these newly discovered belts have been investigated intensely, much still remains to be learned.