冲绳海槽及邻区重力异常特征及其地质意义

通过分析冲绳海槽及邻区自由空间重力异常和布格重力异常的分布特征,对其构造地质学意义进行了定性研究。冲绳海槽空间重力异常和布格重力异常较高,与其下地幔物质上涌引起的质量盈余有关;海底正向地形单元、基底隆起等具有较高的空间重力异常,而地壳浅部低密度岩浆房表现为较低的空间重力异常;布格重力异常及其上延结果反映了地壳厚度的变化,冲绳海槽地壳显著减薄,台湾地区地壳显著增厚;琉球岛弧及弧前布格重力异常受菲律宾海板片俯冲和岛弧地壳结构的共同影响,俯冲洋壳与琉球岛弧地壳的接触带位于琉球海沟以西,大致与120mGal布格重力异常等值线相对应。     

南海北部地壳结构重震联合模拟

收集了中德合作调查的SO49-18测线北段地震剖面和水深数据,结合区域的声呐浮标、OBS和双船折射等成果信息,利用重力数据,采用LCT综合反演软件,对南海北部的地壳结构进行重震联合模拟,建立了初始2.5维地球物理模型,并由该模型计算出正演理论空间重力异常曲线.同时,采用匹配滤波技术对实测空间重力异常的不同深度异常进行分离,并与计算空间重力异常曲线进行比较,在物性参数合理的范围内逐层进行模型修饰,使计算与实测空间重力异常曲线相吻合,建立了地壳结构初始深度模型.结果显示,南海北部地壳结构总的特点是:从陆架到陆坡,地壳厚度不断减薄,呈连续阶梯状变化,上地壳厚度较小,下地壳厚度较大;北部洋陆过渡带,莫霍面埋深急剧变浅;西北次海盆地壳厚度(莫霍面埋深)较薄;中沙海台,地壳厚度相对较大.     

尼日利亚南部大陆边缘重力场特征及解释

利用中国-尼日利亚国际合作航次获得的船载重力数据,分析了尼日利亚南部大陆边缘的自由空间重力异常和布格重力异常特征,并通过两条从陆架—陆坡—陆隆一直延伸到深海盆地的重力剖面拟合出地壳密度结构。研究结果表明,地壳厚度总体上从陆架、陆坡至深海平原呈现阶梯状减薄的趋势,东侧的减薄幅度大于西侧,东侧从24 km减小到10 km,西侧从21 km减小到14 km。     

南海西北部与红河地区地球物理场及其地壳深部结构特征

分析了南海西北部与红河地区地球物理场特征，计算了研究区重、磁资料的一阶小波细节变换、四阶小波逼近变换。根据重力场资料以及南海北部盆地钻井取样的测试结果，同时参考在研究区进行的地震勘探结果，对研究区的地壳结构进行了反演计算。结果表明，研究区域地壳结构较为复杂，地壳厚度在17—38km之间，总的趋势由陆向洋地壳厚度逐渐减薄，反映出该区域地壳具有陆壳、过渡壳的性质，同时存在上地幔隆起区及凹陷区。用地震层折成像结果与重力资料计算出的地壳分布趋势进行了对比验证。根据地幔对流结果探讨了研究区深部地球动力学特征及其与深部地壳结构的关系。     

南海北部大陆边缘下的异常上地幔

1979年12月至1980年8月,中华人民共和国地质矿产部南海地质调查指挥部和美利坚合众国哥伦比亚大学拉蒙特-多尔蒂地质观测所合作,在南海中部和北部进行综合地质地球物理调查,用地震声纳浮标系统在北部陆坡下部测得了异常上地慢(259V36处),那里水深2.3公里,地壳厚7.48公里,地幔顶部的部波速度为7.68公里/秒.本文试图利用已采集的综合地球物理资料(反射地震、地震声纳浮标、测深、重力、磁力等)对这里的地壳结构和上地幔特征进行剖析,并探讨可能的生成机制.     

南海北部陆缘地壳结构探测结果分析

深部地震和重力资料反演揭示了南海北部陆缘地壳结构在总体上由北部的华南沿海（厚约30km）向南部的洋盆（5──8km）逐渐减薄。南海的近SN向拉张不仅造成南北方向地壳结构的巨大变化，也造成东西向的明显变化。在南海北部陆缘的西部，局部拉张产生了一系列裂谷构造。西沙海槽作为一条狭窄的陆内裂谷向西延伸，海槽南北两侧地壳厚度超过25km，海槽中部地壳减薄至不足10km。西端的莺歌海盆地地壳厚仅5km，缺少明显的壳内反射－折射。在珠江口盆地中部，地壳厚度在下陆坡明显减薄，地壳下部存在较薄的（3──4km）高速层（地震波速7．2──7．5km·s－1）；在珠江口盆地东部，地壳底部存在约 10km厚、300km宽的高速层。在台湾地区，由于弧陆碰撞，曾经减薄的陆壳在碰撞带增厚，莫霍面深度超过30km。南海北部陆缘在裂谷拉张和海底扩张期间岩浆活动平静，表明南海北部陆缘为非火山型陆缘。     

南极布兰斯菲尔德海峡及邻区地壳结构反演及构造解析

南极布兰斯菲尔德海峡及邻区是南极半岛海域火山、地震等新构造运动最活跃的地区,由于前人对资料处理解释的差异,导致盆地的构造格局仍部分存疑。本文以研究区的卫星重力数据为基础,以多道反射地震和部分岩性资料为约束,采用重震联合反演方法构建了三条横跨研究区的地壳结构剖面,并进一步研究布兰斯菲尔德海峡盆地的地壳结构。研究结果表明布兰斯菲尔德海峡盆地莫霍面深度为33—38km。菲尼克斯板块俯冲消减下沉至南设得兰岛弧之下,导致南设得兰海沟的俯冲带后撤,产生3—4km厚的岩浆混染地壳,密度为2.9g/cm~3。分析认为受板块运动和弧后扩张影响,沿布兰斯菲尔德海峡盆地扩张脊分布的海底火山裂隙式喷发,并进一步导致盆地的持续性扩张。     

东海莫霍面起伏与地壳减薄特征初步分析

收集、整理大量由地震剖面提供的沉积层厚度资料,得到东海沉积层等厚图。对完全布格重力异常进行沉积层重力效应改正后,得到剩余重力异常,利用地震资料揭示的莫霍面深度值来约束界面反演得到东海莫霍面埋深。结果表明,东海陆架盆地莫霍面深度在25～28 km之间平缓变化,地壳厚度为14～26 km,西厚东薄;冲绳海槽盆地莫霍面深度为16～26 km,地壳厚度为12～22 km,北厚南薄。东海陆架盆地东部与冲绳海槽盆地南部地壳减薄明显,拉张因子分别达到2.6和3。初步分析认为冲绳海槽地壳以过渡壳为主,并未形成洋壳。     

琼东南盆地深水区长昌凹陷地壳结构特征

长昌凹陷位于琼东南盆地深水区,向东通过西沙海槽与南海西北次海盆相通,其近东西向的展布形态明显异于深水区其他凹陷的NE-NEE向形态,为了弄清其地壳结构,从而更好地分析凹陷的结构和演化机制,这里根据深反射地震资料、VSP资料和最新重力资料对长昌凹陷的地壳结构进行了综合地球物理模拟.结果显示:长昌凹陷北侧地壳厚度为22～24 km,南侧地壳厚度约20～22 km,从两侧向长昌凹陷中央地壳厚度逐渐减薄,最薄处只有2.8 km;莫霍面深度与沉积基底呈镜像关系,沉积基底最深的地方莫霍面深度最浅,最浅深度距海平面13.8 km;凹陷中央东部存在一层厚约4 km的下地壳高速层,该层在地震剖面和层速度剖面上均可识别.     

台湾地区重力场特征及莫霍面反演

台湾地区空间重力异常幅值在-240~340mGal之间变化,布格重力异常幅值在-140~380mGal之间变化,重力异常及圈闭走向呈现北东、北北东向。将小波分析方法引入台湾地区的重力异常数据处理,经过分析比对,台湾地区布格重力异常小波分析三阶逼近结果代表莫霍面起伏形态,利用重力数据反演了深部界面莫霍面,研究区莫霍面深度为12~32km,莫霍面展布呈现北东走向,台湾岛区莫霍面深,在24~31km之间变化,由西北往东南为厚-薄-厚分布,台湾东部海区莫霍面深度浅,在12~17km之间变化,台湾岛属于陆壳结构,靠近菲律宾海的台湾岛外海地区,属于海洋性地壳结构。     

Morphotectonics, Volcanism and Hydrothermal Activity on the East Pacific Rise between 21°12′ S and 22°40′ S

The morphotectonic setting of the East Pacific Rise (EPR) between21°12 and 22°40 S and its recent and past hydrothermalactivity were the focus of the Russian R/V Geolog Fersmans expeditionin 1987–1988.The EPR axial zone in the study area is comprised of three segmentsseparated by overlapping spreading centers (OSCs) near 21°44 and22°08 S. The northern segment is the shallowest of three and hasa distinct massive axial ridge, trapeziodal in cross-section, toppedby a very wide flat summit surface and cut by a well-developedcentral graben. These features testify to intense magmatism and to avoluminous crustal magmatic chamber underlying the whole segment.Fine-scale segmentation is most clearly revealed in the structure ofthe central graben within which several 4th-order segments can bedistinguished. This scale of segmentation is also reflected on flanks of theaxis by variations in the character and intensity of faulting.According to structural and petrologic data, the magmatism is mostintense in the central part of the segment which is probably locateddirectly over a magmatic diapir supplying the melt to the whole segment.Magma migration at the subcrustal level from the center towards the ends ofthe segment with discrete injection into the crustal magmatic chamber ispresumed.The central segment is broken into two morphologically distinct partsseparated by a deval. In the subsided northern part, the wide summit of theaxial ridge is cut by a well-developed, intensely fractured axialgraben. In the southern part, the axial ridge is relatively elevated, butnarrow with an ephemeral graben along its crest. The character and intensityof faulting on the axial flanks are also considerably different in thenorthern and southern parts of the segment. Thus, the magmatic supply tothese two parts is thought to originate from two different sources. If so,then at present the magma chamber underlying the southern part of thesegment is probably at the stage of replenishment, while in the north it isat the stage of deep cooling.The southern segment is structurally similar to the central one. Howeverthere is considerably less intensive magmatic activity in this region,especially south of 22°30 S where the axial ridge is narrow, andtriangular in cross-section.Both OSCs studied are marked by abrupt narrowing and sharp subsidence ofthe tips of axial ridges within the northern limbs. The southern OSC limbsare morphologically similar to normal sections of axial ridges. In bothcases the flanks are structurally and morphologically disrupted adjacent tothe OSCs and oblique structures can be traced far southward of the OSCflanks. Due to the spatial position of oblique structures on the the flanksit is presumed that the OSC near 22°07 S is migrating northward.The 21°44 S OSC zone has apparently undergone small spatialoscillations. In spite of the small amplitude of lateral displacement, thiszone is marked by prominent bathymetric anomalies.Numerous massive sulfide deposits were discovered atop the axial ridgealong the entire length of the uplifted and hydrothermally active northernsegment. Ore metal concentrations in near-bottom waters are maximumover the southern part of the northern segment, while maximum concentrationsof the same metals in surficial sediments are confined to the central partof the same segment. We surmise that there has been a recentalong-axis shift of the zone of maximum hydrothermal activity fromthe middle of the segment to its present position in the southern part ofthe segment. Considering sedimentation rates, the age of this shift can beapproximately estimated to be 5 to 10 thousand years before the present.The relatively Mg-enriched basalts of the middle part of thenorthern segment represent a tike of a more primitive pattern, while therelatively Fe-rich rocks of its southern part probably reflect alarge degree of fractionation at shallow crustal levels. Considering thistrend, in addition to morphotectonic data we presume that subaxial magmaflow from the middle to the southern part of the segment is responsible forthe along-axis shift of hydrothermal activity.In the central segment of the study area, massive sulfides have only beendiscovered south of the 21°55 S deval, where the axial ridgeshoals and where the existence of a subjacent magma chamber is presumed.The very weak manifestations of recent volcanism within the southernsegment explain the absence of hydrothermal activity and sulfide depositswithin this segment.     

Possible northward extension of the Philippine Fault Zone offshore Luzon Island (Philippines)

The Philippine Fault Zone, a system of left-lateral strike-slip faults traversing the length of the Philippine Islands, is associated with the oblique convergence between the Philippine Sea Plate (PSP) and the Eurasian Plate (EP). Although it is a major deformational structure within the diffuse PSP–EP convergent boundary, some of its segments, particularly its marine extensions, are not well studied. To investigate the crustal deformation in the marine prolongation of the Philippine Fault Zone offshore Luzon Island, multi-channel seismic (MCS) data, gravity data and centroid moment tensor solutions were used in this study. Focal mechanism solutions from the Global CMT catalog were inverted to determine the average principal stress directions and consequently understand the prevailing stress regime in the study area. The stress inversion results indicate that the direction of maximum compression (σ1) is 321°N, which coincides with the PSP–EP convergence direction. From the MCS profiles, the study area was subdivided into deformation zone and a relatively stable zone. Thrust faulting, folding and general uplift are observed in the deformation zone. This zone is further subdivided into the active and inactive segments. In the active segment, uplift is occurring in the submarine ridge. This deformation pattern can be related to the ongoing uplift in some regions bisected by the PFZ. The inactive segment, characterized by intense folding of the sequences and faulting of the basement and overlying sequences, is suggested as the precursor of the Philippine Fault Zone. Deformation appears to be recently shifted to the east as delineated by an uplifted N-NW trending submarine ridge offshore NW Luzon Island.     

Segmentation and morphotectonic variations along a slow-spreading center: The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (24°00′ N– 30°40′ N)

Analysis of Sea Beam bathymetry along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 24°00 N and 30°40 N reveals the nature and scale of the segmentation of this slow-spreading center. Except for the Atlantis Transform, there are no transform offsets along this 800-km-long portion of the plate boundary. Instead, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is offset at intervals of 10–100 km by nontransform discontinuities, usually located at local depth maxima along the rift valley. At these discontinuities, the horizontal shear between offset ridge segments is not accommodated by a narrow, sustained transform-zone. Non-transform discontinuities along the MAR can be classified according to their morphology, which is partly controlled by the distance between the offset neovolcanic zones, and their spatial and temporal stability. Some of the non-transform discontinuities are associated with off-axis basins which integrate spatially to form discordant zones on the flanks of the spreading center. These basins may be the fossil equivalents of the terminal lows which flank the neovolcanic zone at the ends of each segment. The off-axis traces, which do not lie along small circles about the pole of opening of the two plates, reflect the migration of the discontinuities along the spreading center.The spectrum of rift valley morphologies ranges from a narrow, deep, hourglass-shaped valley to a wide valley bounded by low-relief rift mountains. A simple classification of segment morphology involves two types of segments. Long and narrow segments are found preferentially on top of the long-wavelength, along-axis bathymetric high between the Kane and Atlantis Transforms. These segments are associated with circular mantle Bouguer anomalies which are consistent with focused mantle upwelling beneath the segment mid-points. Wide, U-shaped segments in cross-section are preferentially found in the deep part of the long-wavelength, along-axis depth profile. These segments do not appear to be associated with circular mantle Bouguer anomalies, indicating perhaps a more complex pattern of mantle upwelling and/or crustal structure. Thus, the long-recognized bimodal distribution of segment morphology may be associated with different patterns of mantle upwelling and/or crustal structure. We propose that the range of observed, first-order variations in segment morphology reflects differences in the flow pattern, volume and temporal continuity of magmatic upwelling at the segment scale. However, despite large first-order differences, all segments display similar intra-segment, morphotectonic variations. We postulate that the intra-segment variability represents differences in the relative importance of volcanism and tectonism along strike away from a zone of enhanced magma upwelling within each segment. The contribution of volcanism to the morphology will be more important near the shallowest portion of the rift valley within each segment, beneath which we postulate that upwelling of magma is enhanced, than beneath the ends of the segment. Conversely, the contribution of tectonic extension to the morphology will become more important toward the spreading center discontinuities. Variations in magmatic budget along the strike of a segment will result in along-axis variations in crustal structure. Segment mid-points may coincide with regions of highest melt production and thick crust, and non-transform discontinuities with regions of lowest melt production and thin crust. This hypothesis is consistent with available seismic and gravity data.The rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is in general an asymmetric feature. Near segment mid-points, the rift valley is usually symmetric but, away from the segment mid-points, one side of the rift valley often consists of a steep, faulted slope while the other side forms a more gradual ramp. These observations suggest that half-grabens, rather than full-grabens, are the fundamental building blocks of the rift valley. They also indicate that the pattern of faulting varies along strike at the segment scale, and may be a consequence of the three-dimensional, thermo-mechanical structure of segments associated with enhanced mantle upwelling beneath their mid-points.     

Crustal structure of the ultra-slow spreading Knipovich Ridge,North Atlantic,along a presumed ridge segment center

A combined ocean bottom seismometer, multichannel seismic reflection and gravity study has been carried out along the spreading direction of the Knipovich Ridge over a topographic high that defines a segment center. The youngest parts of the crust in the immediate vicinity of the ridge reveal fractured Oceanic Layer 2 and thermally expanded and possibly serpentinized Oceanic Layer 3. The mature part of the crust has normal thickness and seismic velocities with no significant crustal thickness and seismic velocity variations. Mature Oceanic Layer 2 is in addition broken into several rotated fault blocks. Comparison with a profile acquired ~40 km north of the segment center reveals significant differences. Along this profile, reported earlier, periods of slower spreading led to generation of thin crust with a high P-wave velocity (Vp), composed of a mixture of gabbro and serpentinized mantle, while periods of faster spreading led to generation of more normal gabbroic crust. For the profile across the segment center no clear relation exists between spreading rate and crustal thickness and seismic velocity. In this study we have found that higher magmatism may lead to generation of oceanic crust with normal thickness even at ultra-slow spreading rates.     

Tectonic development of the Mid-Norway continental margin

The area reviewed covers the Mid-Norway continental margin between latitudes 62°N and 68°N. Main structural elements, as defined at the base Cretaceous level, are the Tröndelag Platform, underlying the inner shelf, the Möre and Vöring Basins, located beneath the outer shelf and slope, and the Möre Platform and the Outer Vöring Plateau, forming a base of slope trend of highs. Sediments contained in the Mid-Norway Basin range in age from Late Palaeozoic to Cenozoic. The basement was consolidated during the Caledonian orogenic cycle. Devonian and Early Carboniferous wrench movements along the axis of the Arctic-North Atlantic Caledonides are thought to have preceded the Namurian onset of crustal extension. Rifting processes were intermittently active for some 270 My until crustal separation between Greenland and Fennoscandia was achieved during the Early Eocene. During the evolution of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea rift system a stepwise concentration of tectonic activities to its axial zone (the area of subsequent continental separation) is observed. During the Late Palaeozoic to Mid-Jurassic a broad zone was affected by tensional faulting. During the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous the Tröndelag Platform was little affected by faulting whilst major rift systems in the Möre and Vöring Basins subsided rapidly and their shoulders became concomitantly upwarped. During the latest Cretaceous and Early Palaeogene terminal rifting phase only the western Möre and Vöring Basins were affected by intrusive and extrusive igneous activity. Following the Early Eocene crustal separation and the onset of sea floor spreading in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea, the Vöring segment of the Mid-Norway marginal basin subsided less rapidly than the Möre segment. During the Early and Mid Tertiary, minor compressional deformations affected the Vöring Basin and to a lesser degree the Möre Basin. Tensional forces dominated the Late Palaeozoic to Early Cenozoic evolution of the Mid-Norway Basin and effected strain mainly in the area where the crust was weakened by the previous lateral displacements. The lithosphere thinned progressively and the effects of the passively upwelling hot asthenospheric material became more pronounced. Massive dyke invasion of the thinned crust preceded its rupture.     

Gravity anomalies of the ridge-transform system in the South Atlantic between 31 and 34.5° S: Upwelling centers and variations in crustal thickness

To decipher the distribution of mass anomalies near the earth's surface and their relation to the major tectonic elements of a spreading plate boundary, we have analyzed shipboard gravity data in the vicinity of the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 31–34.5° S. The area of study covers six ridge segments, two major transforms, the Cox and Meteor, and three small offsets or discordant zones. One of these small offsets is an elongate, deep basin at 33.5° S that strikes at about 45° to the adjoining ridge axes.By subtracting from the free-air anomaly the three-dimensional (3-D) effects of the seafloor topography and Moho relief, assuming constant densities of the crust and mantle and constant crustal thickness, we generate the mantle Bouguer anomaly. The mantle Bouguer anomaly is caused by variations in crustal thickness and the temperature and density structure of the mantle. By subtracting from the mantle Bouguer anomaly the effects of the density variations due to the 3-D thermal structure predicted by a simple model of passive flow in the mantle, we calculate the residual gravity anomalies. We interpret residual gravity anomalies in terms of anomalous crustal thickness variations and/or mantle thermal structures that are not considered in the forward model. As inferred from the residual map, the deep, major fracture zone valleys and the median, rift valleys are not isostatically compensated by thin crust. Thin crust may be associated with the broad, inactive segment of the Meteor fracture zone but is not clearly detected in the narrow, active transform zone. On the other hand, the presence of high residual anomalies along the relict trace of the oblique offset at 33.5° S suggests that thin crust may have been generated at an oblique spreading center which has experienced a restricted magma supply. The two smaller offsets at 31.3° S and 32.5° S also show residual anomalies suggesting thin crust but the anomalies are less pronounced than that at the 33.5° S oblique offset. There is a distinct, circular-shaped mantle Bouguer low centered on the shallowest portion of the ridge segment at about 33° S, which may represent upwelling in the form of a mantle plume beneath this ridge, or the progressive, along-axis crustal thinning caused by a centered, localized magma supply zone. Both mantle Bouguer and residual anomalies show a distinct, local low to the west of the ridge south of the 33.5° S oblique offset and relatively high values at and to the east of this ridge segment. We interpret this pattern as an indication that the upwelling center in the mantle for this ridge is off-axis to the west of the ridge.     

Crustal structure and variation along the southern part of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge

As an interoceanic arc, the Kyushu-Palau Ridge（KPR） is an exceptional place to study the subduction process and related magmatism through its interior velocity structure. However, the crustal structure and its nature of the KPR,especially the southern part with limited seismic data, are still in mystery. In order to unveil the crustal structure of the southern part of the KPR, this study uses deep reflection/refraction seismic data recorded by 24 ocean bottom seismometers to reconstruct a detail...     

用不同层次方法分析南海及其北部沿岸的地壳稳定性

论述了地壳稳定性的层次,一般从高到低,从大到小可分为3个层次。高层次着重从岩石圈块体运动和大区域的大地构造因素分析岩石圈块体的活动性;中层次着重从地壳块体运动和区域构造因素分析地壳块体的稳定性;低层次着重从地壳浅层的新构造运动和地震活动对工程建设的影响程度进行分析。从这个意义来说,地壳稳定性分析从大到小可分大区域、中区域和小区域3个层次,大区域地壳稳定性评价是概略评价,而小区域地壳稳定性评价则是详细评价,在此基础上对南海及北部沿岸不同层次的地壳稳定性进行了分析。     

Structure of oceanic crust adjacent to a transform margin segment: the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana transform margin

The structure of the oceanic crust adjacent to the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana transform margin is deduced from multichannel seismic reflection and seismic wide-angle data, showing crustal heterogeneities within oceanic basement; the oceanic crust adjacent to the transform margin is half as thick as standard Atlantic oceanic crust. Refraction data indicate a gradual velocity transition towards typical mantle velocities. Such an abnormal oceanic crustal structure appears quite similar to crustal structures known along transform faults. This crustal thinning may be related to thermal effects of the nearby continental crust, on the oceanic accretion processes. We did not find geophysical evidence for oceanic crust contamination by continental lithosphere.     

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.