Where was South China located in the reconstruction of Rodinia

There are numerous metamorphic complexes along the western margin of the Yangtze Block. Their structural styles and geochronology are the key to understanding the tectonics of South China Blocks (the Yangtze Block in northwest and the Cathaysian Block in southeast).Our recent studies indicate that the complexes were uplifted at about 177 Ma.Some of the gneissic complexes were metamorphic products of Neoproterozoic arc\| and subduction\|related igneous rocks with ages ranging from 726Ma to 864Ma.The Jinning granites with identical ages are also typical of arc\|related intrusions.Thus, our study does not support a previous model involving a mantle plume to form the Jinning granites around the Yangtze Block.This suggests that the western margin of the Yangtze Block was an active margin in the Rodinian reconstruction.Recent geochemical and geochronological studies of Tucker et al. also demonstrate that the metamorphic\|magmatic complexes in northeastern Madagascar, Seychelles island and Malani in India formed in a similar tectonic setting and represent an active Andean\|type margin on the edge of Rodinia.We therefore correlate the western margin of the Yangtze Block with the northeastern margin of the India Plate, both being an active arc above an eastward subduction zone.This new configuration of South China in Rodinia is significantly different from the previously suggested one that South China was placed in an intracratonic setting between eastern Australia and western Laurantia.