Stage of the Absolute Transform Plate Sliding at the East Asia Margin

The Mesozoic–Cenozoic evolution of the East Asia margin was defined by the WNW-ward motion of the paleo-oceanic plate and magmatism of a certain geochemical composition in the Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene. At the same time, the intermediate stage, or to be precise, the timing of subduction being replaced by lateral displacements is yet to be determined mostly due to the absence of direct geological evidence and geochemical diversity of igneous rocks. The structural conditions of localization of igneous bodies in the Sikhote–Alin dated at ∼67–64 Ma indicate that they formed under the NNE-oriented stress, which corresponds to the “absolute” transform motion of blocks at the East Asia margin. The diversity of rocks exhibiting both bimodal and mixed (adakite-like and А-FG types) geochemical characteristics is explained by activation of strike-slip faults that penetrated the deep levels of subcrustal and intracrustal magma chambers and, as a consequence, by the influence of mantle-derived components on the heterogeneous substrate of the continental lithosphere.