南马里亚纳海槽岩石学特征

南马里亚纳海槽岩性比较复杂：有玄武岩，根据标准矿物组合，进一步划分为碱性玄武岩，橄揽拉斑玄武岩和石英拉斑玄武岩；火山碎屑岩，包括凝灰岩和角砾凝灰岩；以及方辉橄榄岩．大部分玄武岩样品是距今五百万年以后形成的，个别岩石样品的形成年龄为八百万年左右．不同类型的玄武岩是含Ｈ２Ｏ的地幔岩块在底辟上升过程中，局部熔融、分离的产物；火山碎屑岩是火山喷发的火山灰、火山砾被水化学分解的物质胶结而成；方辉橄榄岩是地幔岩浆底辟上升直接侵入结晶的产物．     

南海及其周缘中新生代火山活动时空特征与南海的形成模式

根据南海海区、华南和中南半岛的地面露头、钻井、拖网及地球物理资料,分析了南海地区火山活动的时空分布特点。在南海陆缘和周边陆区中生代末期花岗岩分布非常广泛。新生代火山岩活动规模较小,主要是海底扩张之后在洋盆扩张脊、北部陆缘的陆洋边界附近、雷琼地区和中南半岛南部的玄武岩。在南海北部陆缘的深部地震调查中发现,在地壳下部存在小规模的高速异常体,结合浅部的晚第三纪一第四纪火山活动,认为该高速体形成于南海扩张之后。这些特征表明,在南海的拉张过程中岩浆供应不丰富,在陆缘未形成大规模的侵入和喷出岩。南海陆缘属于岩浆匮乏型被动大陆边缘。南海海区残留多个刚性断裂陆块,反映了裂谷拉张过程中脆性破裂。根据这些特征,南海形成难以用印藏碰撞引起的软流圈物质上涌导致岩石圈破裂这样的模式来解释。     

晚中新世南海珍贝-黄岩海山岩浆活动及其演化:岩石地球化学和年代学证据

南海海盆15°N附近呈东西向展布的珍贝-黄岩海山被认为是32~17Ma前南海海盆的残留扩张中心.对采自黄岩海山的两个火山岩样品(9DG,9DG-2)进行了岩石学、地球化学和年代学研究.两个样品的SiO₂含量分别为60.3%和63.6%,Al₂O₃含量分别为17.56%和17.55%,TiO₂含量分别为0.48%和0.31%,碱度率分别为3.88和3.62.根据岩石学和岩石化学分类,样品属碱性系列的粗面岩.对稀土元素和微量元素分析表明岩石具有洋岛玄武岩(OIB)型配分型式,轻重稀土总量比(∑c(LREE)/∑c(HREE))和球粒陨石标准化镧镱比((La/Yb)N)分别高达17.22和27.23,并具有铕负异常和锶、磷、钛亏损的特点.样品9DG的锶-钕-铅同位素分析结果为锶-87的含量与锶-86的含量之比值为0.704183,钕-143的含量与钕-144的含量之比值为0.512827,铅-206的含量与铅-207的含量之比值为18.68668,铅-207的含量与铅-204的含量之值为15.67962,铅-208的含量与铅-204的含量之比值为39.00261,表明初始岩浆来自软流圈地幔,具有与珍贝海山玄武岩相似的同位素组成.经钾-氩法测年,粗面岩的年龄为(7.77±0.49)Ma,略晚于珍贝海山玄武岩的年龄[(9.1±1.29)~10.0±1.80Ma],属于南海扩张期后晚中新世火山活动的产物.对比珍贝海山玄武岩的地球化学和同位素特征,认为两者有相同的岩浆源区,但是它们经历了不同程度的结晶分异过程,在晚中新世期间珍贝-黄岩海山可能有地幔柱活动.     

Geochemistry and petrogenesis of Quaternary volcanism from the islets in the eastern Beibu Gulf: evidence for Hainan plum

Some of the islets in the eastern Beibu Gulf are covered by Quaternary volcano strata. The rock samples from these islets mainly consist of quartz tholeiites （at Shenjiandao）, olivine tholeiites （at Linshidao and Xieyang- dao） and alkali basalts （at Yangpubi and Jianshidao）, and basically represent four periods of the Quaternary volcanism of Hainan Island and its adjacent regions. Except for the samples from Shenjiandao, most of the Quaternary volcanics of these islets belong to alkali magma series. The trace element characteristics of all of these samples show they are OIB （oceanic island basalt） -like, which implies that their deep geodynamic setting may be related to a mantle plume. The Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic compositions show that the mantle source beneath the Quaternary strata can be regarded as a result of binary mixing between a depleted, DMM （de- pleted MORB mantle）-like source and an enriched mantle type 2 （EM2）. The EM2 may be originated from the Hainan mantle plume, and has been metasomatized by carbonaceous fluids released from ancient re- cycled oceanic crust at an asthenospheric mantle level. These features, together with typical trace element ratios, reflect that the parent magma was not subjected to crustal contamination during its ascent to the surface. This study provides further petrological and geochemical evidence for the existence of the Hainan mantle plume.     

南海北部深水区渐新-中新世沉积地球化学特征及物源演变

Geochemical and detrital zircon U-Pb dating data for drilled sediments from the Baiyun deepwater area of the northern South China Sea demonstrate a change of sedimentary sources from the Oligocene to the Miocene.Zircon ages of the pre-rift Eocene sequences are dominated by Yanshanian ages with various peak values(110–115 Ma for U1435 and L21; 150 Ma for H1), indicating local sediment supply from the pre-existing Mesozoic magmatic belt. For the Oligocene sediments in the northern part of the basin, the rare earth elements show different distribution characteristics, indicating sediment supply from the paleo-Zhujiang River(Pearl River), as also confirmed by the multimodal zircon age spectra of the Lower Oligocene strata in Well X28. By contrast, a positive Eu anomaly characterizes sediments from the western and southern parts of the basin, indicating potential provenances from intermediate to basic volcanic rock materials. The Baiyun Movement at the end of the Oligocene contributed to a large-scale subsidence in the deepwater area and also a northward retreat of continental shelf break, leading to deepening depositional environment in the basin. As a result, all the detrital zircon ages of the Upper Oligocene strata from Wells X28, L13, and L21 share a similar distribution, implying the possible control of a common source like the Zhujiang River. During the Miocene, whereas sediments in the northern area were mainly sourced from the Zhujiang River Delta, and those in the southern deepwater area continued to be affected by basic volcanic activities, the Dongsha Uplift could have contributed as the main source to the eastern area.     

Basalts from the Solomon and Bismarck Seas

Volcanic rocks collected from the Solomon Sea Basin are mostly ferrobasalt lavas similar to evolved MORB; an exception is a single sample of basaltic crystal tuff invaded by later basalt. The rocks contain labradorite, aluminous diopsidic augite, and titanomagnetite, with olivine and pigconite in the more vitrophyric samples, and segregation vesicles in some. Cobbles dredged from Gudaraba Canyon, south of the Solomon Sea Basin, include both MORB-like glassy lava and K-metasomatised basalt and andesite(?). Two small pieces of volcanic glass from the southern Bismarck Sea are more primitive MOR-type basalts.     

南海大洋钻探及海洋地质与地球物理前沿研究新突破

南海是西太平洋地区规模最大且具有代表性的边缘海盆地之一。经过近几十年的研究积累，尤其是通过实施5个国际大洋钻探航次(1999–2018年)与国家自然科学基金委“南海深海过程演变”重大研究计划(2011–2019年)，我国科学家获得了大量宝贵的第一手资料，取得了一系列创新进展与重大突破，标志着南海海洋地质与地球物理研究正走向国际前沿。重要研究成果包括:(1)新提出南海是“板缘张裂”盆地，与经典的大西洋型陆缘模式不同；(2)大洋钻探首次获取了基底玄武岩样品，结合中国在南海首次深拖地磁测量实验，精确测定了南海海盆玄武岩年龄，揭示南海海盆从东向西分段扩张；(3)大洋钻探结果发现南海陆缘岩石圈减薄之初岩浆迅速出现，未发现缓慢破裂造成的蛇纹岩出露；(4)发现南海扩张结束后仍存在大量岩浆活动，可能受控于多种构造与地幔因素；(5)地球化学证据与地球动力学模拟都显示南海岩浆的形成受到周边俯冲带的影响。目前我国的海洋地球科学正在进入崭新的发展阶段，有望以南海为基点，开始拓展到周边大洋，通过主导大型研究计划以及建设我国大洋钻探平台，以提升我国在南海、西太平洋与印度洋海洋地质科学研究的实质性影响力与引领地位。     

Petrology, Geochemistry and Nd-Sr-Pb Isotopic Properties of Volcanic Rocks in Daheishan Island, Penglai, Shandong Province

The major elements, trace elements, K-Ar age and Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic systems of the Cenozoic volcanic rocks in Daheishan Island and Cishan, Penglai, Shandong Province are measured. The volcanic rocks ( olivine-nephelinite and nepheline-basanite ) in DaheishanIsland erupted periodically in an interval of 0.32 Ma, from 8.72 Mm 8.39 Ma, 8.08 Ma to 7.73Ma. The volcanic rocks are all rich in light REEs. They are similar to the OIB-type alkali basalt in the trace elements normalized model by primordial mantle: rich in high field elements such as Nb and Ta, and imcompatible elements such as Cs, Rb, Ba, Th, U. The volcanic rocks show a depletion of K and Rb elements. It is suggested by the trace elements that the olivine-nephelinite in Daheishan Island is originated fi‘om deep resources under the continental mantle, ε Nd (0) values of the volcanic rocks in Daheishan Island and Cishan are 5.31 - 8.51 and 7.33 respectively, suggesting that the volcanic rocks are from the depleted mantle resources, which have higher Sm/Nd ratios than the CHUR. ^143Nd /^144Nd ratios of Daheishan Island olivine-nephelinite and Cishan alkali basalts are 0.512 910 - 0.513 074 and 0.513 014 resoeetivelv. The ^87Sr /^86Sr of Daheishan lsland volcanic rocks are lower than that of Cishan, 0.703 427 - 0.703 482 and 0.703 895 respectively. The Daheishan Island olivinenephelinite has the Pb isotopic values as follows: ^206Pb /^204pb= 18.028 9 ～17.972 8,^207Pb /^204Pb= 15,435 8 - 15.402 2 and ^208Pb /^204Pb=38.087 6 - 37.997 5, lower than those of Cishan basanite. The Cishan basanite has ^206Pb / ^204Pb = 18.240 1, ^208Pb /^204Pb = 15.564 5 and ^208Pb /^204Pb=38.535. The authors suggest that the olivine-nephelinite in Daheishan Island is similar to the E-type MORB or Hawaii OIB, and the alkali basalts in Cishan similar to the Kerguelen OIB. The dominant mantle components of DM PREMA and perhaps DM( Dupal type ) are the dominant mantle components for volcanic rocks in Daheishan Island and Cishan. The PREMA component plays an important role.     

A 33 Ma lithostratigraphic record of tectonic and paleoceanographic evolution of the South China Sea

The 853 m thick sediment sequence recovered at ODP Site 1148 provides an unprecedented record of tectonic and paleoceanographic evolution in the South China Sea over the past 33 Ma. Litho-, bio-, and chemo-stratigraphic studies helped identify six periods of changes marking the major steps of the South China Sea geohistory. Rapid deposition with sedimentation rates of 60 m/Ma or more characterized the early Oligocene rifting. Several unconformities from the slumped unit between 457 and 495 mcd together erased about 3 Ma late Oligocene record, providing solid evidence of tectonic transition from rifting/slow spreading to rapid spreading in the South China Sea. Slow sedimentation of 20–30 m/Ma signifies stable seafloor spreading in the early Miocene. Dissolution may have affected the completeness of Miocene–Pleistocene succession with short-term hiatuses beyond current biostratigraphical resolution. Five major dissolution events, D-1 to D-5, characterize the stepwise development of deep water masses in close association to post-Oligocene South China Sea basin transformation. The concurrence of local and global dissolution events in the Miocene and Pliocene suggests climatic forcing as the main mechanism causing deep water circulation changes concomitantly in world oceans and in marginal seas. A return of high sedimentation rate of 60 m/Ma to the late Pliocene and Pleistocene South China Sea was caused by intensified down-slope transport due to frequent sea level fluctuations and exposure of a large shelf area during sea level low-stands. The six paleoceanographic stages, respectively corresponding to rifting (33–28.5 Ma), changing spreading southward (28.5–23 Ma), stable spreading to end of spreading (23–15 Ma), post-spreading balance (15–9 Ma), further modification and monsoon influence (9–5 Ma), and glacial prevalence (5–0 Ma), had transformed the South China Sea from a series of deep grabens to a rapidly expanding open gulf and finally to a semi-enclosed marginal sea in the past 33 Ma.     

海南岛鹿回头珊瑚礁与全新世高海平面

通过实地考察和资料分析,海南岛南部全新世以来以沉降活动为主要特征,鹿回头珊瑚礁能够反映全新世以来的海平面变化,鹿回头岸礁礁坪面上的原生珊瑚礁是全新世高海平面时期的产物。全新世以来南海北部至少存在过 4 期相对高海平面阶段:7300~6000、4800~4700、4300~4200和3100~2900cal.aBP。其中 7300~6000aBP 是整个全新世最高海平面时期,也是鹿回头珊瑚礁发育的繁盛期,基本形成了现代珊瑚礁的地貌格局,后来不同时期发育的珊瑚礁是在此时期形成的礁塘或礁坑等低洼地中形成,并在鹿回头半岛两侧向外发展,现代珊瑚礁则发育于全新世珊瑚礁的外礁坪和礁前斜坡带。另外,鹿回头珊瑚礁反映的南海北部全新世高海平面时间与南海其他地区高海平面时间可以衔接或对应,说明南海地区全新世高海平面具有全球背景,至少在南海是一致的,且与气候变暖紧密相联。     

Preliminary K-Ar geochronology of lavas from southern Lau Basin

In this short note, we report the ages of five lava samples from a segment of the Eastern Lau Spreading Center (ELSC) and three samples from the Valu Fa Ridge (VFR) in the southern Lau Basin. These samples were collected in situ from the axes and flanks of the spreading centers in the basin. These ages provide a key to better understanding the spreading mode, crustal formation and overall tectonic evolution of the basin. Except for two basaltic andesites and one andesite, the lavas analyzed are basalts. The ages of the lavas from ELSC range from (1.45 ± 0.15) Ma to (0.74 ± 0.04) Ma whereas those from VFR range from (0.50 ± 0.06) Ma to (0.32 ± 0.27) Ma, and the basalts give the oldest ages. The relatively younger ages of the VFR lavas are consistent with proposed tectonic evolution of the southern Lau Basin, i.e., VFR is a propagating extension of ELSC. The occurence of older lavas close to or on spreading axes in the southern Lau Basin implies the complex tectonic evolution of the basin. These results underscore a need for further detailed geophysical and geological studies in the southern Lau Basin, in order to better clarify the crustal accretion tectonic evolution in this area.     

白垩纪以来太平洋上地幔组成和温度变化

The geological evolution of the Earth during the mid-Cretaceous were shown to be anomalous, e.g., the pause of the geomagnetic field, the global sea level rise, and increased intra-plate volcanic activities, which could be attributed to deep mantle processes. As the anomalous volcanic activities occurred mainly in the Cretaceous Pacific, here we use basalt chemical compositions from the oceanic drilling(DSDP/ODP/IODP) sites to investigate their mantle sources and melting conditions. Based on locations relative to the Pacific plateaus, we classified these sites as oceanic plateau basalts, normal mid-ocean ridge basalts, and near-plateau seafloor basalts. This study shows that those normal mid-ocean ridge basalts formed during mid-Cretaceous are broadly similar in average Na8, La/Sm and Sm/Yb ratios and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions to modern Pacific spreading ridge(the East Pacific Rise). The Ontong Java plateau(125–90 Ma) basalts have distinctly lower Na8 and143Nd/144 Nd, and higher La/Sm and 87Sr/86 Sr than normal seafloor basalts, whereas those for the near-plateau seafloor basalts are similar to the plateau basalts, indicating influences from the Ontong Java mantle source. The super mantle plume activity that might have formed the Ontong Java plateau influenced the mantle source of the simultaneously formed large areas of seafloor basalts. Based on the chemical data from normal seafloor basalts, I propose that the mantle compositions and melting conditions of the normal mid-ocean ridges during the Cretaceous are similar to the fast spreading East Pacific Rise. Slight variations of mid-Cretaceous normal seafloor basalts in melting conditions could be related to the local mantle source and spreading rate.     

南海海盆扩张成因质疑

从板块构造学、地球物理学和地球动力学等角度,结合南海中央海盆及其周边的地质、地球物理资料进行综合分析论证,对南海“扩张成因”模式提出质疑.认为南海“扩张成因说”不能成立,其中的几个核心问题是:(1)数学理论模型的边界参数选取存在多解性,其结果与地质地球物理资料不符或相去甚远;(2)无法解释海盆区地球物理探测和研究所表明的地壳结构及岩性特征,也无法解释海盆区的断裂分布和岩浆活动特征;(3)地球动力学诸方面难以支持南海“扩张成因说”成立;(4)南海海盆周边不存在与南海“扩张成因”相关的相互强烈作用的地球物理和地质构造特征;(5)南海海盆不具备大规模扩张的空间.南海“扩张成因说”已严重阻碍对南海和周边的地质与地球物理研究工作的深入和发展,应该放弃.     

琼东南盆地陵南低凸起深水钻井岩心的稀土元素地球化学特征及其意义

A geochemical analysis of rare-earth elements(REEs) in 97 samples collected from the core of deep-water Well LS-A located at the Lingnan Low Uplift Area of the Qiongdongnan Basin is conducted, with the purpose of revealing the changes of sedimentary source and environment in the study region since Oligocene and evaluating the response of geochemical characteristics of REEs to the tectonic evolution. In the core samples, both ∑REE and ∑LREE(LREE is short for light-group REEs) fluctuate in a relatively wide range, while ∑HREE(HREE is short for heavy-group REEs) maintains a relatively stable level. With the stratigraphic chronology becoming newer, both ∑REE and ∑LREE show a gradually rising trend overall. The ∑REE of the core is relatively high from the bottom of Yacheng Formation(at a well depth of 4 207 m) to the top of Ledong Formation, and the REEs show partitioning characteristics of the enrichment of LREE, the stable content of HREE, and the negative anomaly of Eu to varying degrees. Overall the geochemical characteristics of REEs are relatively approximate to those of China's neritic sediments and loess, with significant "continental orientation". The ∑REE of the core is relatively low in the lower part of Yacheng Formation(at a well depth of 4 207–4 330 m), as shown by the REEs partitioning characteristics of the depletion of LREE, the relative enrichment of HREE, and the positive anomaly of Eu; the geochemical characteristics of REEs are approximate to those of oceanic crust and basalt overall, indicating that the provenance is primarily composed of volcanic eruption matters. As shown by the analyses based on sequence stratigraphy and mineralogy, the provenance in study region in the early Oligocene mainly resulted from the volcanic materials of the peripheral uplift areas; the continental margin materials from the north contributed only insignificantly; the provenance developed to a certain extent in the late Oligocene. Since the Miocene, the provenance has ceaselessly expanded from proximal to distal realm, embodying a characteristic of multi-source sedimentation. In the core strata with 31.5, 28.4, 25.5, 23, and 16 Ma from today, the geochemical parameters of REEs and Th/Sc ratio have significant saltation, embodying the tectonic movement events in the evolution of the Qiongdongnan Basin. In the tectonic evolution history of the South China Sea, the South China Sea Movement(34–25 Ma BP, early expansion of the South China Sea), Baiyun Movement(23 Ma BP), late expansion movement(23.5–16.5 Ma BP), expansion-settlement transition, and other important events are all clearly recorded by the geochemical characteristics of REEs in the core.     

Geochemical and isotopic characteristics of volcanic rocks from the northern East China Sea shelf margin and the Okinawa Trough

Volcanic rocks both from the northern East China Sea (NECS) shelf margin and the northern Okinawa Trough are subalkaline less aluminous,and lower in High Field Strength Elements (HFSE).These rocks are higher in Large Ion Lithophile Elements (LILE),thorium and uranium contents,positive lead anomalies,negative Nb-Ta anomalies,and enrichment in Light Rare Earth Elements (LREE).Basalts from the NECS shelf margin are akin to Indian Ocean Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB),and rhyolites from the northern Okinawa Trough have the highest 207 Pb/ 204 Pb and 208 Pb/ 204 Pb ratios.The NECS shelf margin basalts have lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios,ε N d and σ 18 O than the northern Okinawa Trough silicic rocks.According to 40 K– 40 Ar isotopic ages of basalts from the NECS shelf margin,rifting of the Okinawa Trough may have been active since at least 3.65–3.86 Ma.The origin of the NECS shelf margin basalt can be explained by the interaction of melt derived from Indian Ocean MORB-like mantle with enriched subcontinental lithosphere.The basalts from both sides of the Okinawa Trough may have a similar origin during the initial rifting of the Okinawa Trough,and the formation of basaltic magmas closely relates to the thinning of continental crust.The source of the formation of the northern Okinawa Trough silicic rocks was different from that of the middle Okinawa Trough,which could have been generated by the interaction of basaltic melt with an enriched crustal component.From the Ryukyu island arc to East China,the Cenozoic basalts have apparently increasing trends of MgO contents and ratios of LREE to Heavy Rare Earth Elements (HREE),suggesting that the trace element variabilities of basalts may have been influenced by the subduction of the Philippine Sea plate,and that the effects of subduction of the Philippine Sea plate on the chemical composition of basaltic melts have had a decreasing effect from the Ryukyu island arc to East China.     

南海形成演化探究

通过分析前人对南海的研究,对南海扩张期次、扩张脊结构、动力来源等几个关键研究问题进行探讨。认为应将南海放入到欧亚板块、印度一澳大利亚板块和太平洋板块三大板块相互作用的统一构造应力场中进行研究。利用FLAC软件,首次对南海及邻区进行数值模拟分析,并进一步探讨了南海的形成演化机制,认为南海的打开和扩张是印度板块与欧亚板块的碰撞、地幔柱上涌以及太平洋板块向欧亚板块的俯冲共同作用的结果。     

南海尖峰海山多金属结壳地球化学

南海尖峰海山多金属结壳富含30多种元素,其锰铁矿物主要由钡镁锰矿,δ-MnO_2和FeOOH·xH_2O组成。与其它海区的结壳相比,尖峰海山结壳富含Cu、Ni、Ba、Zn、Pb等元素,而Co、Ti、稀土元素(REE)、Sr等元素相对较贫。研究表明,HREE亏损,具明显的Ce正异常,较明显的Tb正异常和Yb负异常。这是氧化弱碱性海洋环境所致。结壳是水成作用的产物,它的形成受南海独特的古海洋环境所控制,海底火山热液作用,可能也是影响因素之一。     

南海北部陆缘构造属性研究进展

南海北部陆缘位于特提斯与古太平洋两大构造域的叠合部位,构造特征十分复杂,其构造属性一直是国内外学者争论的焦点,从主动陆缘到被动陆缘,火山型被动陆缘到非火山型被动陆缘等均有表述。南海复杂的形成机制以及东、西部构造差异性所引起的地球物理、岩浆活动等认识的异同,是造成南海北部陆缘构造属性认识差异的主要原因。通过与全球典型地区的比较研究,进一步加强对南海形成演化过程分析,开展大洋钻探与多学科综合分析,揭示南海海盆的多期扩张与多盆张裂特征,是认识南海北部陆缘构造属性的关键。探讨了南海三叉裂谷张裂模式,初步认为南海第1次扩张具有非火山型被动陆缘性质,第2次扩张具有火山型陆缘性质。     

Tectonic control of the oil-rich large igneous-carbonate-salt province of the South Atlantic rift

The Early Cretaceous South Atlantic Magmatic Province (SAMP), which includes the Paraná-Etendeka LIP, produced about 8 million km³ of tholeiitic basalt and diabase over an area of 4 million km². Huge pre-salt oil reserves, discovered in 2007 by Petrobras in non-marine carbonates, are estimated at more than 45 billion barrels. Here we show the close causal relationship of the southward increasing width of the wedge-shaped South Atlantic rift with the similarly southward increase in igneous activity, in the thicknesses of non-marine carbonate and salt, and in the size of oil reserves, all controlled mainly by South America’s early clockwise rotation away from Africa about a pole in its northeast. Large diabase dike swarms transversal to the rift witness to South America’s rotation that opened in its wake the southward widening South Atlantic rift. Westward increasing pressure on the Equatorial margin by South America’s clockwise rotation forced open the Benue trough and created pre-late-Aptian folds in the Demerara Plateau and in Brazil’s Solimões (Upper Amazonas) basin. Prerift and synrift volcanic activity increases southward, culminating in the Parana-Etendeka LIP and in the offshore volcanic SDRSs that continue southward to the Cape Basin. Berriasian-Valanginian rift sediments deposited from about 145 Ma, 10 Ma before the flood basalts of the Parana-Etendeka LIP. The largest transversal dike swarm continued in the proto-Walvis Ridge that separated the central South Atlantic endorheic rift basin from the sea in the south; erosion and leaching of basalts supplied Ca, Mg, and SiO₂ to the endorheic basin for the deposition of non-marine carbonates and authigenic clays. Basalt flows intercalated with carbonates nearly until salt deposition about 113 Ma. Hypogenic leaching of carbonates by mantle-derived CO₂ created optimal reservoirs. Supergiant oil deposits occur where the widest endorheic basin and the volcanic province overlap.     

中沙群岛近海表层沉积物中的火山灰及其对构造环境的响应

南海中沙近海表层沉积物的轻组分(粒径为63~125μm)中主要包括有褐色火山玻璃、无色火山玻璃以及火山渣等3种火山灰类型。在硅碱图(TAS)及Al2O3、FeO*、MgO、CaO、Na2O、K2O对SiO2的变化趋势图中可以判断,本区可能存在双峰式火山活动,褐色火山玻璃代表中-基性端元,而无色火山玻璃代表酸性端元。无色火山玻璃与褐色火山玻璃具有共同的岩浆源区,结晶分异可能是源区岩浆演化的主要方式。这种双峰式火山活动暗示火山活动源区处于大陆拉张减薄环境,支持西沙海槽是一个正在活化的伸展大地构造现象这一观点,同时肯定基于地球物理学和岩石学研究资料所提出的海南地幔柱的存在。