STRUCTURE OF ASIA. 89 



PERMO-MESOZOIC DIASTROPHISM. 



The diastrophic movements which occurred in all continents during 

 the closing epochs of the Paleozoic and the initial epochs of the Mesozoic 

 were pronounced and prolonged throughout Asia. They ultimately changed 

 that face of the globe, as Suess has pointed out,* welding together the sepa- 

 rate elements of the Asiatic continent, except that the Angara and Gond- 

 wana lands remained separated by the Himalayan strait. In contrast to 

 the gradual changes of level which had characterized the Paleozoic, these 

 disturbances were of decidedly orogenic character. They gave rise to 

 mountain systems, which are structurally still the controlling features of 

 Asia. The foundations of the ranges are now raised to the summits of 

 the Tien-shan, Kuen-lung, and Ts'in-ling-shan, and the substance of their 

 masses constitutes the Triassic and Jurassic sediment of Asia. By Cre- 

 taceous time the continent was again low. 



The continental structure of Asia has been so elaborately described 

 by Suess.f the master of the subject, that extended discussion is superfluous 

 unless based on new data; and in general such data are not yet available. 

 Furthermore, what later information we have confirmed his deductions, as 

 regards the trends of mountain axes. We may, however, point out that 

 the Sinian is more generally folded in North China than von Richthofen, 

 and consequently Suess, supposed. And our observations give additional 

 data on the structure of the Wu-t'ai-shan, the Ts'in-ling-shan, the Han 

 district, and the middle Yang-tzi' region. 



On the map, plate 8, are shown the structural lines given by Suess,J 

 supplemented by those traced by Futterer south of latitude 36. 



Referring to these authors for their presentation, I proceed to discuss 

 some of the newer significant facts. 



Through his reconnaissance observations in Shan-tung von Richthofen 

 gained the impression that Sinian strata had not been folded, and in pass- 

 ing through the Wu-t'ai district he was so circumstanced that he did not 

 observe the actual facts of structure. Our observations in the Ch'ang-hia 

 district of western Shan-tung showed that the Sinian is folded and even 

 overthrust, the axial trends being dominantly northeast-southwest and 

 subordinately north west-southeast. || And in the Wu-t'ai district the 

 Sinian and Carboniferous exhibit overfolds and overthrusts of a decided 



* La Face de la Terre, vol. in, p. 24. 

 t Ibid., vol. in. 



I Ibid., vol. in, pi. in. 

 Petermanns Mitt. Erg., Heft 119. 



II Vol. i, chapter in, and plates xin and xv. 



