Geological Characteristics and Distribution of Submarine Physiographic Features in the Taiwan Region

The sea floor topography around Taiwan is characterized by the asymmetry of its shallow and flat shelves to the west and markedly deep troughs and basins to the south and east. Tectonics and sedimentation are major controls in forming the submarine physiographic features around Taiwan. Three Pliocene-Quaternary shelves are distributed north and west of Taiwan: East China Sea Shelf (passive margin shelf), the Taiwan Strait Shelf (foreland shelf), and Kaoping Shelf (island shelf) from north to south parallel to the strike of Taiwan orogen. Off northeastern Taiwan major morpho/tectonic features associated with plate subduction include E-W trending Ryukyu Trench, Yaeyama accretionary wedge, forearc basins, the Ryukyu Arcs, and the backarc basin of southern Okinawa Trough. Off eastern Taiwan lies the deep Huatung Basin on the Philippine Sea plate with a relatively flat floor, although several large submarine canyons are eroding and crossing the basin floor. Off southeastern Taiwan, the forearc region of the Luzon Arc has been deformed into five alternating N-S trending ridges and troughs during initial arc-continent collision. Among them, the submarine Hengchun Ridge is the seaward continuation of the Hengchun peninsula in southern Taiwan. Off southwestern Taiwan, the broad Kaoping Slope is the major submarine topographic feature with several noticeable submarine canyons. The Penghu Canyon separates this slope from the South China Sea Slope to the west and merges southwards into the Manila Trench in the northern South China Sea. Although most of sea floors of the Taiwan Strait are shallower than 60?m in water depth, there are three noticeable bathymetric lows and two highs in the Taiwan Strait. There exists a close relationship between hydrography and topography in the Taiwan Strait. The circulation of currents in the Taiwan Strait is strongly influenced by seasonal monsoon and semidiurnal tides. The Penghu Channel-Yunchang Ridge can be considered a modern tidal depositional system. The Taiwan Strait shelf has two phases of development. The early phase of the rift margin has developed during Paleoocene-Miocene and it has evolved to the foreland basin in Pliocene-Quaternary time. The present shelf morphology results mainly from combined effects of foreland subsidence and modern sedimentation overprinting that of the Late Pleistocene glaciation about 15,000 years ago.     

Geological Characteristics and Distribution of Submarine Physiographic Features in the Taiwan Region

The sea floor topography around Taiwan is characterized by the asymmetry of its shallow and flat shelves to the west and markedly deep troughs and basins to the south and east. Tectonics and sedimentation are major controls in forming the submarine physiographic features around Taiwan. Three Pliocene-Quaternary shelves are distributed north and west of Taiwan: East China Sea Shelf (passive margin shelf), the Taiwan Strait Shelf (foreland shelf), and Kaoping Shelf (island shelf) from north to south parallel to the strike of Taiwan orogen. Off northeastern Taiwan major morpho/tectonic features associated with plate subduction include E-W trending Ryukyu Trench, Yaeyama accretionary wedge, forearc basins, the Ryukyu Arcs, and the backarc basin of southern Okinawa Trough. Off eastern Taiwan lies the deep Huatung Basin on the Philippine Sea plate with a relatively flat floor, although several large submarine canyons are eroding and crossing the basin floor. Off southeastern Taiwan, the forearc region of the Luzon Arc has been deformed into five alternating N-S trending ridges and troughs during initial arc-continent collision. Among them, the submarine Hengchun Ridge is the seaward continuation of the Hengchun peninsula in southern Taiwan. Off southwestern Taiwan, the broad Kaoping Slope is the major submarine topographic feature with several noticeable submarine canyons. The Penghu Canyon separates this slope from the South China Sea Slope to the west and merges southwards into the Manila Trench in the northern South China Sea. Although most of sea floors of the Taiwan Strait are shallower than 60 m in water depth, there are three noticeable bathymetric lows and two highs in the Taiwan Strait. There exists a close relationship between hydrography and topography in the Taiwan Strait. The circulation of currents in the Taiwan Strait is strongly influenced by seasonal monsoon and semidiurnal tides. The Penghu Channel-Yunchang Ridge can be considered a modern tidal depositional system. The Taiwan Strait shelf has two phases of development. The early phase of the rift margin has developed during Paleoocene-Miocene and it has evolved to the foreland basin in Pliocene-Quaternary time. The present shelf morphology results mainly from combined effects of foreland subsidence and modern sedimentation overprinting that of the Late Pleistocene glaciation about 15,000 years ago.     

Morphology and tectonics of the Yap Trench

We conducted swath bathymetry and gravity surveys the whole-length of the Yap Trench, lying on the southeastern boundary of the Philippine Sea Plate. These surveys provided a detailed morphology and substantial insight into the tectonics of this area subsequent the Caroline Ridge colliding with this trench. Horst and graben structures and other indications of normal faulting were observed in the sea-ward trench seafloor, suggesting bending of the subducting oceanic plate. Major two slope breaks were commonly observed in the arc-ward trench slope. The origin of these slope breaks is thought to be thrust faults and lithological boundaries. No flat lying layered sediments were found in the trench axis. These morphological characteristics suggest that the trench is tectonically active and that subduction is presently occurring. Negative peaks of Bouguer anomalies were observed over the arc-ward trench slope. This indicates that the crust is thickest beneath the arc-ward trench slope because the crustal layers on the convergent two plates overlap. Bouguer gravity anomalies over the northern portion of the Yap Arc are positive. These gravity signals show that the Yap Arc is uplifted by dynamic force, even though dense crustal layers underlie the arc. This overlying high density arc possibly forces the trench to have great water depths of nearly 9000 m. We propose a tectonic evolution of the trench. Subduction along the Yap Trench has continued with very slow rates of convergence, although the cessation of volcanism at the Yap Arc was contemporaneous with collision of the Caroline Ridge. The Yap Trench migrated westward with respect to the Philippine Sea Plate after collision, then consumption of the volcanic arc crust occurred, caused by tectonic erosion, and the distance between the arc and the trench consequently narrowed. Lower crustal sections of the Philippine Sea Plate were exposed on the arc-ward trench slope by overthrusting. Intense shearing caused deformation of the accumulated rocks, resulting in their metamorphism in the Yap Arc.     

Okinawa Trough genesis: structure and evolution of a backarc basin developed in a continent

The Okinawa marginal basin was opened by crustal extension into the Asian continent, north of the Taiwan collision zone. It is located behind the Ryukyu Trench subduction zone and the Ryukyu active volcanic arc. If we except the Andaman Sea, the Okinawa Trough is the only example of marginal backarc basin type, opened into a continent at an early stage of evolution. Active rifting and spreading can be observed. Synthesis of siesmic reflection, seismic refraction, drilling, dredging and geological field data has resulted in interpretative geological cross sections and a structural map of the Ryukyu-Okinawa area. The main conclusions of the reconstruction of this backarc basin/volcanic arc evolution are. (1) Backarc rifting was initiated in the volcanic arc and propagated along it during the Neogene. It is still active at both ends of the basin. Remnants of volcanic arc are found on the continental side of the basin. (2) There was synchronism between opening and subsidence of the Okinawa Trough and tilting and subsidence of the forearc terrace. The late Miocene erosional surface is now 4000 m below sea-level in the forearc terrace, above the trench slope. Retreat and subsidence of the Ryukyu trench line relative to the Asian continental plate, could be one of the causes of tilting of the forearc and extension in the backarc area. (3) A major phase of crustal spreading occurred in Pliocene times 1.9 My ago in the south and central Okinawa Trough. (4) En échelon rifting and spreading structures of the central axes of the Okinawa Trough are oblique to the general trend of the arc and trench. The Ryukyu arc sub-plate cannot be considered as a rigid plate. Rotation of 45° to 50° of the southern Ryukyu arc, since the late Miocene, is inferred. The timing and kinematic evolution of the Taiwan collision and the south Okinawa Trough opening suggest a connection between these two events. The indentation process due to the collision of the north Luzon Arc with the China margin could have provoked: lateral extrusion; clockwise rotation (45° to 50° according to palaeomagnetic data) and buckling of the south Ryukyu non-volcanic arc; tension in the weak crustal zone constituted by the south Ryukyu volcanic arc and opening of the south Okinawa Trough. Similar lateral extrusions, rotations, buckling and tensional gaps have been observed in indentation experiments. Additional phenomena such as: thermal convection, retreating trench model or anchored slab model could maintain extension in the backarc basin. Such a hypothetical collision-lateral backarc opening model could explain the initiation of opening of backarc basins such as the Mariana Trough, Bonin Trough, Parece Vela — Shikoku Basin and Sea of Japan. A new late Cenozoic palaeogeographic evolution model of the Philippine Sea plate and surrounding areas is proposed.     

Petrologic perspectives on tectonic evolution of a nascent basin (Okinawa Trough) behind Ryukyu Arc：A review

Okinawa Trough is a back-arc, initial marginal sea basin, located behind the Ryukyu Arc–Trench System. The formation and evolution of the Okinawa Trough is intimately related to the subduction process of the Philippine Sea Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate since the late Miocene. The tectonic evolution of the trough is similar to other active back-arcs, such as the Mariana Trough and southern Lau Basin, all of which are experiencing the initial rifting and subsequent spreading process. This study reviews all petrologic and geochemical data of mafic volcanic lavas from the Okinawa Trough, Ryukyu Arc, and Philippine Sea Plate, combined with geophysical data to indicate the relationship between the subduction sources(input) and arc or back-arc magmas(output) in the Philippine Sea Plate–Ryukyu Arc–Okinawa Trough system(PROS). The results obtained showed that several components were variably involved in the petrogenesis of the Okinawa Trough lavas: sub-continental lithospheric mantle underlying the Eurasian Plate, Indian mid-oceanic ridge basalt(MORB)-type mantle, and Pacific MORB-type mantle. The addition of shallow aqueous fluids and deep hydrous melts from subducted components with the characteristics of Indian MORB-type mantle into the mantle source of lavas variably modifies the primitive mantle wedge beneath the Ryukyu and subcontinental lithospheric mantle(SCLM) beneath the Okinawa Trough. In the northeastern end of the trough and arc, instead of Indian MORB-type mantle, Pacific MORB-type mantle dominates the magma source. Along the strike of the Ryukyu Arc and Okinawa Trough, the systematic variations in trace element ratios and isotopic compositions reflect the first-order effect of variable subduction input on the magma source. In general, petrologic data, combined with geophysical data, imply that the Okinawa Trough is experiencing the "seafloor spreading" process in the southwest segment, "rift propagation" process in the middle segment, and "crustal extension" process in the northeast segment, and a nascent ocean basin occurs in the southwest segment.     

台湾增生楔的构造单元划分及其变形特征

台湾增生楔位于欧亚板块、菲律宾海微板块和南海的结合部位,是现代弧陆碰撞研究的理想场所。通过对南海973航次在该区域的多道地震剖面的解释,对该增生楔进行了构造单元的划分,并分析了变形特征。认为台湾增生楔是由3个部分,即弧陆碰撞产生的增生部分、洋内俯冲产生的增生部分和增生楔后端在恒春海脊和北吕宋海槽之间的构造楔组成,研究区的高屏斜坡、恒春海脊和北吕宋海槽西端变形带分别是3个部分的反映。自中中新世以来,南海洋壳开始沿着马尼拉海沟向菲律宾海微板块俯冲,形成增生楔中洋内俯冲增生部分;与此同时菲律宾海微板块开始向NW方向移动,前缘的吕宋岛弧自6．5Ma B．P以来与亚洲陆缘斜向碰撞,形成增生楔中弧陆碰撞增生部分。碰撞首先发生在台湾岛的北部,由于弧陆强烈的挤压作用,增生楔后端部分向北吕宋海槽倒冲楔人,使得上部的北吕宋海槽的沉积发生隆升变形。滨海的各个地貌单元可以和台湾陆上的地貌单元相联系,它们具有相似的地质特征,但是由于陆上部分增生历史久,不仅抬升为陆,而且地层的年代也更老。     

Velocity-Interface Structure of the Southwestern Ryukyu Subduction Zone from EW9509-1 OBS/MCS Data

A wide-angle seismic survey, combining ocean-bottom seismometers (OBS) and multi-channel seismic (MCS) profiling, was implemented in the southwestern Ryukyu subduction zone during August and September 1995. In this paper, we present the data analysis of eight OBSs and the corresponding MCS line along profile EW9509-1 from this experiment. Seismic data modeling includes identification of refracted and reflected arrivals, initial model building from velocity analysis of the MCS data, and simultaneous and layer-stripping inversions of the OBS and MCS arrivals. The velocity-interface structure constructed along profile EW9509-1 shows that the northward subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate has resulted in a northward thickening of the sediments of the Ryukyu Trench and the Yaeyama accretionary wedge north of the trench. The boundary between the subducting oceanic crust and the overriding continental crust (represented by a velocity contour of 6.75 km/s) and a sudden increase of the subducting angle (from 5 degrees to 25 degrees) are well imaged below the Nanao Basin. Furthermore, velocity undulation and interface variation are found within the upper crust of the Ryukyu Arc. Therefore, the strongest compression due to subduction and a break-off of the slab may have occurred and induced the high seismicity in the forearc region. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Formation and tectonic evolution of outer margin upfold zone of East China Sea Shelf

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日本南海海槽俯冲带的地质特征及其构造意义

日本西南部的南海海槽是一个典型的俯冲系统，由菲律宾海板块向欧亚板块俯冲形成，其俯冲板片包含了九州-帕劳洋脊（KPR）、Kinan海山链、四国海盆和伊豆-小笠原岛弧（IBA）等多种地质单元。为了研究不同地质单元的板块俯冲效应，本文系统分析了南海海槽的地球物理和岩石地球化学特征。重力和热流特征显示南海海槽中部具有低的重力异常（-20–-40 mGal）和高的热流值（60–200 mW/m²），而东西两侧的热流值（20–80 mW/m²）较低。地震模拟结果显示俯冲板块的地壳厚度为5–20 km。地球化学结果表明俯冲板块的下覆地幔成分从西到东逐渐亏损。无震洋脊（如KPR、Kian海山链和Zenisu洋脊）的俯冲是控制南海海槽俯冲效应的主要因素。首先，无震洋脊的俯冲可能使上覆板块发生变形，沿着增生楔前缘出现不规则的地形凹陷。其次，无震洋脊的俯冲是大型逆冲地震的止裂体，阻碍了南海海槽1944年Mw 8.1和1946年Mw 8.3地震破裂的传播。此外，KPR和热的、年轻的四国海盆的俯冲会导致俯冲板片熔融，在日本岛弧上出现埃达克质岩浆活动，并为斑岩铜金矿床提供成矿物质。地球物理和地球化学特征的差异表明尽管IBA已经和日本岛弧发生碰撞，但作为IBA的残留弧，KPR仍然处于俯冲阶段，与日本岛弧之间有明显的地形分界，呈现单向收敛的状态。     

The basins of Sundaland (SE Asia): Evolution and boundary conditions

Most of the basins developed in the continental core of SE Asia (Sundaland) evolved since the Late Cretaceous in a manner that may be correlated to the conditions of the subduction in the Sunda Trench. By the end of Mesozoic times Sundaland was an elevated area composed of granite and metamorphic basement on the rims; which suffered collapse and incipient extension, whereas the central part was stable. This promontory was surrounded by a large subduction zone, except in the north and was a free boundary in the Early Cenozoic. Starting from the Palaeogene and following fractures initiated during the India Eurasia collision, rifting began along large faults (mostly N–S and NNW–SSE strike-slip), which crosscut the whole region. The basins remained in a continental fluvio-lacustrine or shallow marine environment for a long time and some are marked by extremely stretched crust (Phu Khanh, Natuna, N. Makassar) or even reached the ocean floor spreading stage (Celebes, Flores). Western Sundaland was a combination of basin opening and strike-slip transpressional deformation. The configuration suggests a free boundary particularly to the east (trench pull associated with the Proto-South China Sea subduction; Java–Sulawesi trench subduction rollback). In the Early Miocene, Australian blocks reached the Sunda subduction zone and imposed local shortening in the south and southeast, whereas the western part was free from compression after the Indian continent had moved away to the north. This suggests an important coupling of the Sunda Plate with the Indo-Australian Plate both to SE and NW, possibly further west rollback had ceased in the Java–Sumatra subduction zone, and compressional stress was being transferred northwards across the plate boundary. The internal compression is expressed to the south by shortening which is transmitted as far as the Malay basin. In the Late Miocene, most of the Sunda Plate was under compression, except the tectonically isolated Andaman Sea and the Damar basins. In the Pliocene, collision north of Australia propagated toward the north and west causing subduction reversal and compression in the short-lived Damar Basin. Docking of the Philippine Plate confined the eastern side of Sundaland and created local compression and uplift such as in NW Borneo, Palawan and Taiwan. Transpressional deformation created extensive folding, strike-slip faulting and uplift of the Central Basin and Arakan Yoma in Myanmar. Minor inversion affected many Thailand rift basins. All the other basins record subsidence. The uplift is responsible for gravity tectonics where thick sediments were accumulated (Sarawak, NE Luconia, Bangladesh wedge).     

New Bathymetry and Magnetic Lineations Identifications in the Northernmost South China Sea and their Tectonic Implications

The seafloor spreading of the South China Sea (SCS) was previously believed to take place between ca. 32 and 15 Ma (magnetic anomaly C11 to C5c). New magnetic data acquired in the northernmost SCS however suggests the existence of E–W trending magnetic polarity reversal patterns. Magnetic modeling demonstrates that the oldest SCS oceanic crust could be Late Eocene (as old as 37 Ma, magnetic anomaly C17), with a half-spreading rate of 44 mm/yr. The new identified continent–ocean boundary (COB) in the northern SCS generally follows the base of the continental slope. The COB is also marked by the presence of a relatively low magnetization zone, corresponding to the thinned portion of the continental crust. We suggest that the northern extension of the SCS oceanic crust is terminated by an inactive NW–SE trending trench-trench transform fault, called the Luzon–Ryukyu Transform Plate Boundary (LRTPB). The LRTPB is suggested to be a left-lateral transform fault connecting the former southeast-dipping Manila Trench in the south and the northwest-dipping Ryukyu Trench in the north. The existence of the LRTPB is demonstrated by the different patterns of the magnetic anomalies as well as the different seafloor morphology and basement relief on both sides of the LRTPB. Particularly, the northwestern portion of the LRTPB is marked by a steep northeast-dipping escarpment, along which the Formosa Canyon has developed. The LRTPB probably became inactive at ca. 20 Ma while the former Manila Trench prolonged northeastwards and connected to the former Ryukyu Trench by another transform fault. This reorganization of the plate boundaries might cause the southwestern portion of the former Ryukyu Trench to become extinct and a piece of the Philippine Sea Plate was therefore trapped amongst the LRTPB, the Manila Trench and the continental margin.     

Geometry and structure of the Vitiaz Trench Lineament (SW Pacific)

Swath bathymetric, sonar imagery and seismic reflection data collected during the SOPACMAPS cruise Leg 3 over segments of the Vitiaz Trench Lineament and adjacent areas provide new insights on the geometry and the stuctural evolution of this seismically inactive lineament. The Vitiaz Trench Lineament, although largely unknown, is one of the most important tectonic feature in the SW Pacific because it separates the Cretaceous crust of the Pacific Plate to the north from the Cenozoic lithosphere of the North Fiji and Lau Basins to the south. The lineament is considered to be the convergent plate boundary between the Pacific and Australian Plates during midde to late Tertiary time when the Vitiaz Arc was a continuous east-facing are from the Tonga to the Solomon Islands before the development of the North Fiji and Lau Basins. Progressive reversal and cessation of subduction from west to east in the Late Miocene-Lower Plioene have been also proposed. However, precise structures and age of initiation and cessation of deformation along the Vitiaz Trench Lineament are unknown.The lineament consists of the Vitiaz Trench and three discontinuous and elongated troughs (Alexa, Rotuma and Horne Troughs) which connect the Vitiaz Trench to the northern end of the Tonga Trench. Our survey of the Alexa and Rotuma Troughs reveals that the lineament is composed of a series of WNW-ESE and ENE-WSW trending segments in front of large volcanic massifs belonging to the Melanesian Border Plateau, a WNW trending volcanic belt of seamounts and ridges on Pacific crust. The Plateau and Pacific plate lying immediately north of the lineament have been affected by intense normal faulting, collapse, and volcanism as evidenced by a series of tilted blocks, grabens, horsts and ridges trending N 120° to N100° and N60°–70°. This tectonism includes several normal faulting episodes, the latest being very recent and possibly still active. The trend of the fault scarps and volcanic ridges parallels the different segments of the Vitiaz Trench Lineament, suggesting that tectonics and volcanism are related to crustal motion along the lineament.Although the superficial observed features are mainly extensional, they are interpreted as the result of shortening along the Vitiaz Trench Lineament. The fabric north of the lineament would result from subduction-induced normal faulting on the outer wall of the trench and the zig-zag geometry of the Vitiaz Trench Lineament might be due to collision of large volcanic edifices of the Melanesian Border Plateau with the trench, provoking trench segmentation along left-lateral ENE-WSW trending transform zones. The newly acquired bathymetric and seismic data suggest that crustal motion (tectonism associated with volcanism) continued up to recent times along the Vitiaz Trench Lineament and was active during the development of the North Fiji Basin.     

冲绳海槽现代张裂的地球物理特征

位于东海陆架与琉球岛弧之间的冲绳海槽为板块俯冲作用形成的弧后断陷盆地,具有独特的构造地貌特征。自中新世末以来历经了4个强烈拉张的演化时期,目前已达到张裂的高级阶段。地球物理资料显示,海槽中的现代拉张作用仍在进行,表现在海槽轴部快速沉降形成地堑槽,对称分布的张性断裂,晚更新世—全新世以来的岩浆活动,从老至新排列的磁异常务带以及高地热流、频繁的地震活动等,充分体现了冲绳海槽的现代扩张特点。     

琉球群岛以东海区沉积物重矿物分布及来源

琉球群岛东部海区沉积物中富含大量火山碎屑矿物、岛屿岩石遭受风化蚀变形成的普通角闪石以及水生的铁锰微结核,其重矿物种类、特征、组合分区等与火山作用、沉积环境、地形、物质来源等内外生因素密切相关。通过对本区重矿物的种类、特征及组合分区的研究,初步判断位于研究区北部、菲律宾板块向欧亚大陆俯冲而导致的正在活动的的琉球岛弧区为火山碎屑的主要源区,重矿物成分主要为水携成因来源,受同期火山作用控制;少量紫苏辉石来自先期形成的海岭或海底高原(如冲大东海岭、奄美海岭及九州海岭等)上的火山岩系,是经过剥蚀、搬运再沉积的产物;琉球群岛、九州等火山活动产物受海底高地等阻隔而在本区表现为向南或东南影响力逐渐减小;本区地质历史上的及正在进行的岩浆活动主要以基性及中性岩浆为主。此外,流经本区的黑潮对自生铁锰微结核的富集具有重要影响。     

Plate boundaries and evolution of the Solomon Sea region

The Solomon Sea Plate was widely developed during late Oligocene, separating the proto-West Melanesian Arc from the proto-Trobriand Arc. Spreading in the Bismarck Sea and in the Woodlark Basin resulted from interaction between the Pacific and Australian Plates, specifically from the collision of the proto-West Melanesian Arc with north New Guinea, which occurred after arc reversal. This model explains the extensive Miocene, Pliocene, and Quaternary volcanism of the Papua New Guinea mainland as it related to southward subduction of the Trobriand Trough. Our interpreted plate motions are concordant with the geological evidence onshore and also with complex tectonic features in the Solomon Sea Basin Region.     

日本九州俯冲带b值成像及其构造意义 *

日本九州俯冲带是菲律宾海板块与欧亚板块汇聚边界上一个独具特色的区域, 也是研究俯冲带内板块构造作用的理想场所。为了解该俯冲带内的板间应力状态和相互作用, 本研究利用震源深度大于20km的97251个地震事件, 通过b值计算详细刻画了该俯冲板片上表面以及垂直海沟走向的剖面特征。结果发现, b值表现出明显的空间变化, 整体上沿南海海槽和琉球海沟从东北往西南方向逐渐增大, 同时在俯冲的九州-帕劳海脊上存在显著的低值区。从b值与应力的负相关性推断, 进入俯冲带的海脊以及海脊东北侧的四国海盆洋壳与俯冲带上覆板片耦合作用较强; 而在海脊西南侧, 俯冲带内汇聚板片的耦合作用相对较弱。究其原因, 本文认为九州-帕劳海脊两侧俯冲洋壳在形成时代和汇聚速率上的差异起着重要作用。对于九州-帕劳海脊来说, 俯冲带浅部的低b值区主要是由于隆起的海脊增强了与上覆板块的耦合作用。随着俯冲深度的增加和俯冲板片倾角的急剧变陡, 沿海脊可能发生了板片撕裂, 从而释放了海脊与上覆板片间的挤压-剪切应力, 使耦合程度大大减弱。     

Neogene sediment thickness and Miocene basin-floor fan systems of the Celebes Sea

In the Celebes Sea Basin the Middle Miocene turbidites were correlated from ODP site 767 throughout the studied area. Differences in their regional thickness variations and distribution indicate two source areas. The Middle Miocene turbidite–fan complexes of the central and southern Celebes Sea Basin are controlled by the paleo-Tarakan delta system, the tectonic events and the basin floor morphology, respectively. The main source area for the time correlative turbidites along the southern Sulu Arc is assumed to be Mindanao.The correlation of the Middle Miocene to Pleistocene sequences exhibit tentative ages for the development of the accretionary wedges along the Cotabato Trench and along the North Sulawesi subduction. A post-Middle Miocene to pre-Pliocene age is inferred for the Cotabato wedge and a Plio-Pleistocene age is assumed for the North Sulawesi wedge.     

Oblique subduction of the Gagua Ridge beneath the Ryukyu accretionary wedge system: Insights from marine observations and sandbox experiments

The Gagua Ridge, carried by the Philippine Sea Plate, is subducting obliquely beneath the southernmost Ryukyu Margin. Bathymetric swath-mapping, performed during the ACT survey (Active Collision in Taiwan), indicates that, due to the high obliquity of plate convergence, slip partitioning occurs within the Ryukyu accretionary wedge. A transcurrent fault, trending N95° E, is observed at the rear of the accretionary wedge. Evidence of right lateral motion along this shear zone, called the Yaeyama Fault, suggests that it accommodates part of the lateral component of the oblique convergence. The subduction of the ridge disturbs this tectonic setting and significantly deforms the Ryukyu Margin. The ridge strongly indents the front of the accretionary wedge and uplifts part of the forearc basin. In the frontal part of the margin, directly in the axis of the ridge, localized transpressive and transtensional structures can be observed superimposed on the uplifted accretionary complex. As shown by sandbox experiments, these N330° E to N30° E trending fractures result from the increasing compressional stress induced by the subduction of the ridge. Analog experiments have also shown that the reentrant associated with oblique ridge subduction exhibits a specific shape that can be correlated with the relative plate motion azimuth.These data, together with the study of the margin deformation, the uplift of the forearc basin and geodetic data, show that the subduction of the Gagua Ridge beneath the accretionary wedge occurs along an azimuth which is about 20° less oblique than the convergence between the PSP and the Ryukyu Arc. Taking into account the opening of the Okinawa backarc basin and partitioning at the rear of the accretionary wedge, convergence between the ridge and the overriding accretionary wedge appears to be close to N345° E and thus, occurs at a rate close to 9 cm yr^–1. As a result, we estimate that a motion of 3.7 cm yr^–1±0.7 cm should be absorbed along the transcurrent fault. Based on these assumptions, the plate tectonic reconstruction reveals that the subducted segment of the Gagua Ridge, associated with the observable margin deformations, could have started subducting less than 1 m.y. ago.     

Neogene geological history of the Tohoku Island Arc system

The Pacific-type orogeny in the Tohoku Island Arc is discussed using marine geological and geophysical data from both Pacific and Japan Sea along the Tohoku region. The Tohoku Arc is divided into three belts; inner volcanic and sedimentary belt, intermediate uplifted belt and outer sedimentary trench belt. Thick Neogene sediments which are distinguished in several layers by continuous seismic reflection profiling occur on both sides of the intermediate belt. The dominant structural trend of the Neogene layers is approximately parallel to the coast line and to the axis of the Japan Trench and has a extension of approximately 100 km in each unit on the Pacific side. The trench slope break is an uplifted zone of Neogene layers. The structural trend of the upper continental slope and outer shelf is relative uplift of the landward side. Tilted block movement toward the west is the dominant structural trend on the Japan Sea side. Structural trends which can be seen in both the inner and outer belts may suggest horizontal compressional stress of east to west. Orogenesis and tectogenesis in the Tohoku Arc has been active since early Miocene or latest Oligocene. It may be implied that the Japan Trench was not present during Late Cretaceous to Paleogene, as is suggested by the volcanism of the Tohoku Arc. The basic framework of the present structure was formed during late Miocene to early Pliocene in both the inner and outer belts. Structural movements were reactivated during late Pleistocene.     

Petrogenesis and tectonic implication of lavas from the Yap Trench,western Pacific

We present major and trace element data of lava recovered from the northern Yap Trench in the western Pacific and discuss their petrogenesis and tectonic implications within the framework of interactions between the Caroline Ridge and Yap Trench. Rocks were collected from both landward and seaward trench slopes and exhibited geochemical characteristics similar to backarc basin basalt (BABB) and mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), including high Fe content, tholeiitic affinity, high TiO2 value at a given FeOT/MgO ratio, Ti/V ratio between 20 and 50, low Ba/Nb ratio and Th/Nb ratio, and trace element patterns commonly displayed by BABB and MORB, which are distinct from arc lava. These rocks seem to have been generated during mantle upwelling and decompression melting at a spreading center. However, compared with typical forearc lava produced by seafloor spreading in the Mariana forearc region, such as the early Eocene forearc basalts and late Neogene forearc lava in the southernmost Mariana Trench, the Yap Trench lava is derived from a more fertile mantle and feature a more minor subduction component; thus, they cannot be the products of forearc mantle decompression melting. We suggest that the landward slope lava represents backarc basin crust that was overthrust onto the forearc lithosphere during the collision of the Caroline Ridge with the Yap Trench (20–25 Ma), which played a key role in the evolution of the Yap subduction system. Moreover, the seaward slope lava represents the subduction plate crust that accreted onto the deep trench during the collision. This collision event resulted in the cessation of Yap Arc magmatism; thus, the Yap Trench volcanic rocks (<25 Ma) previously suggested to be arc magma products may actually represent the nascent island arc lava with a lower subduction component than in the mature Mariana Arc lava.