Tectonics of the North Qilian orogen, NW China

► Early Paleozoic oceanic suture zone. ► Qilian ocean generated by break-up of the Rodinia supercontinent. ► Initiation of the subduction in the Qilian Ocean at ~ 520 Ma. ► Ophiolites, arc magmatism and high-pressure metamorphism. ► Ocean subduction and continental collision.