Abstract:

Continental lithosphere is significantly different from oceanic lithosphere in the aspect of composition, thickness and mechanical strength. Therefore, plate tectonics is not entirely applied to continental tectonics as well. Comprehensive study for rheology of continental crust and the upper mantle is the best approach to understand continental structure and beyond plate tectonics. Rheology is the liaison between geometry and kinematics as well as dynamics of continental orogen. Response of continental lithosphere to structure, gravitation instability and thermodynamics largely depends on its rheological strength. Eclogite plays an important role in mantle convection and dynamics in subduction zone. Information on eclogite rheology is of great implication for understanding of collision belts and the deeper levels of subducted zone. The objectives of the present paper are: (1)to elucidate the place and the significance of rock rheological study in geodynamics; (2)to recall Professor Chi Jishang's contributions to experiment on rock rheology and petrofabric study; (3)to present new results on rheological properties of eclogite; (4)to propose suggestions enhancing rheological experiment of rock at high temperature and high pressure.

Key words: rock rheology, experiment at high temperature and high pressure, UHP-eclogite, deformation mechanism, Chi Jishang