RECENT PROGRESS OF THE STUDY ON REGIONAL CRUSTAL STABILITY IN CHINA

The study of regional crustal stability is considered as a branch between engineering geology and the closely allied geomechanics as well as structural geology. Since the last decade,great progress has been achieved with the rapid development of urban construction and large engineering works,resulting in the initiation of engineering geology relating to regional crustal stability. In this paper,a brief introduction of the advancement of this new specific branch of geology mainly from two broad aspects is made.
(1) Establishment and improvement of the basic theories involved, with the emphasis placed on analysis of crustal stability,estimation of major geological hazards risk and assessment of crustal stability.
(2) Continuous modification and improvement of the train of thought and methodologies concerning the study on crustal stability. This involves 3 different approaches to the subject:(a) a systematic multi-channel approach in different scale of areal extents to the problem under study; (b) an evolutionary treatment of the state the part of the crust interested has been in; (c) application of various methods available in the study that can complement and verify the results each obtained.