Research on the dynamics of the South China Sea opening:Evidence from analogue modeling

Independent of Indochina extrusion, the South China Sea experienced a process from passive continental rifting to marginal sea drifting. According to the fault patterns in the Beibu Gulf basin and the Pearl River Mouth basin, the continental rifting and early spreading stage from 32 to 26 Ma were controlled by extensional stress field, which shifted clockwise from southeastward to south southeastward. From 24 Ma on, the sea spread in NW-SE direction and ceased spreading at around 15.5 Ma. Integrated geological information with the assumption that the South China Sea developed along a pre-Cenozoic weakness zone, we did analogue experiments on the South China Sea evolu- tion. Experiments revealed that the pre-existing weakness zone goes roughly along the uplift zone between the present Zhu-1 and Zhu-2 depression. The pre-existing weakness zone is composed of three segments trending NNE, roughly EW and NEE, respectively. The early opening of the South China Sea is accompanied with roughly 15° clockwise rotation, while the SE sub-sea basin opened with SE extension. Tinjar fault was the western boundary of the Nansha block (Dangerous Ground), while Lupar fault was the eastern boundary of the Indochina, NW-trending rift belt known as Zengmu basin developed between above two faults due to block divergent of Indochina from Nansha. In the experiment, transtensional flower structures along NW-trending faults are seen, and slight inversion occurs along some NE-dipping faults. The existence of rigid massifs changed the orientations of some faults and rift belt, and also led to deformation concentrate around the massifs. The rifting and drifting of the South China Sea might be caused by slab pull from the proto South China Sea subducting toward Borneo and/or mantle flow caused by India-Asia collision.     

莺歌海—琼东南盆地构造-地层格架及南海动力变形分区

通过对盆地地震剖面构造-地层的详细解释,在莺歌海盆地和琼东南盆地(简称莺-琼盆地)古近纪同裂陷充填序列中识别出一条区域性的构造变革界面——T70,该界面在地震剖面上表现为显著的下削上超的地震反射结构特征,发育的时代为32～30 Ma,与南海海底扩张起始和红河断裂带左旋走滑的时间一致;T70界面将莺-琼盆地的同裂陷期地层...     

南海构造格局及其演化

依据重磁资料在南海及其邻区识别出17条深大断裂和10个重磁异常区.据此并结合其他地质资料,在南海及其邻区划分出7个地质结构不同的构造单元.早白垩世南海地区曾形成过统一的基底,新生代时统一的南海基底发生肢解,这一个肢解过程经历了两个在时空上接踵发生、交叠作用的构造事件.第一个构造事件为巽他地块与华夏古陆之间古南海的萎缩、闭合和地块碰撞;第二个构造事件为南沙地块裂离华夏古陆并向巽他地块增生,且伴随新南海的持续扩张,直至中中新世.区域构造演化控制了南海沉积盆地呈"北三南三、东西两竖"格局分布,进而控制了油气富集区的分布.     

南沙地块内破裂不整合与碰撞不整合的构造分析

廷贾断裂以东的南沙地块与南海北部陆缘共轭,因此其构造过程研究对认识整个南海的构造演化具有重要意义.地震资料和区域构造背景分析揭示,破裂不整合面(BU)和碰撞不整合面(CU)是控制南沙地块内盆地演化的骨架界面;为了揭示南沙地块内的主要构造过程,本文利用地震剖面分析和数值模拟的方法,侧重对两个重要界面开展构造分析.结果显示...     

基于重力梯度结构张量特征值斜导数边界识别方法及其在南海的应用

边界识别对地质构造解释具有十分重要的意义,其可以指出地下断层、接触带和其他构造单元的边界位置.现有的边界识别滤波器大多数基于重力梯度数据及其水平和垂直导数.然而,这些传统方法具有一定的局限性,对噪音的敏感,且不能有效的均衡深浅异常的振幅,尤其是当测量异常中同时出现正异常和负异常将产生假的边界结果,对后期构造解释带来误导.针对传统方法的缺点,本文提出Tilt-Eigen边界识别方法,利用重力梯度结构张量矩阵特征值通过倾斜角计算结果的最大值实现边界识别.通过理论模型试验,该方法不仅能均衡深部浅部振幅异常的边界,避免引入额外的虚假边界异常,且识别的边界结果更加准确、收敛.将Tilt-Eigen方法用于南海实际重力数据处理,获得了20条比较清晰的边界结果.根据这些边界结果,本文推断红河断裂往ES方向延伸到南海南部区域后,开始朝正南方向延伸,与越东万安断裂相连接;推断出南沙海槽东北部为古南海缝合带,而其西南部并不是缝合带,缝合带位于其南侧的文莱沙巴附近;将南海分为8个地质构造单元.     

南海南部边缘沉积盆地构造-热演化历史

南海南部边缘发育众多含油气盆地,具有可观的油气资源潜力.本文采用基于多期有限拉张模型的应变速率方法对南海南部边缘沉积盆地进行了构造-热演化模拟,并与南海北部边缘沉积盆地的构造-热演化历史进行了对比分析.南海南部边缘晚新生代具有明显碰撞挤压、走滑改造的痕迹,而同时期北部边缘以小规模的张性断裂活动为主,由于构造活动背景的不同,造成了南、北边缘沉积盆地构造-热演化历史的差异.     

Initiation and evolution of the South China Sea: an overview

Different models have been proposed for the formation and tectonic evolution of the South China Sea(SCS), including extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula,backarc extension, two-stage opening, proto-SCS dragging,extension induced by a mantle plume, and integrated models that combine diverse factors. Among these, the extrusion model has gained the most attention. Based on simpli?ed physical experiments, this model proposes that collision between the Indian and Eurasian Plates resulted in extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, which in turn led to opening of the SCS. The extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, however, should have led to preferential opening in the west side of the SCS, which is contrary to observations. Extensional models propose that the SCS was a backarc basin, rifted off the South China Block. Most of the backarc extension models, however, are not compatible with observations in terms of either age or subduction direction. The two-stage extension model is based on extensional basins surrounding the SCS. Recent dating results indeed show two-stage opening in the SCS, but the Southwest Subbasin of the SCS is much younger, which contradicts the two-stage extension model. Here we propose a re?ned backarc extension model. There was a wide Neotethys Ocean between the Australian and Eurasian Plates before the Indian-Eurasian collision. The ocean ?oor started to subduct northward at *125 Ma, causing backarc extension along the southern margin of the Eurasian Plate and the formation of the proto-SCS. The Neotethys subduction regime changed due to ridge subduction in the Late Cretaceous, resulting in fold-belts, uplifting, erosion, and widespread unconformities. It may also have led to the subduction of the proto-SCS. Flat subduction of the ridge may have reached further north and resulted in another backarc extension that formed the SCS. The rollback of the?at subducting slab might have occurred *90 Ma ago; the second backarc extension may have initiated between 50 and 45 Ma. The opening of the Southwest Subbasin is roughly simultaneous with a ridge jump in the East Subbasin, which implies major tectonic changes in the surrounding regions, likely related to major changes in the extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula.     

The tectonic boundary between the Okcheon and Taebaeksan basins,South Korea: A restraining bend of a continental transform fault between the South and North China Cratons

The geological relationship between the Okcheon and Taebaeksan basins of the Okcheon belt on the Korean peninsula is a key issue in reconstructing the tectonic evolution of the peninsula. The boundary between the two basin sequences has been variously interpreted as a conformable, unconformable, or thrust contact, without clear evidence being provided for any of these hypotheses. Detailed examination of structures and microfabrics of deformed rocks adjacent to the contact in the Bonghwajae area suggests that the boundary between the two basin sequences is a thrust. Based on the U–Pb ages of detrital zircons from metasedimentary rocks and pre‐existing geologic data from the Okcheon belt, the thrust is a relay structure between two segments of a continental transform fault along which the Okcheon Basin was juxtaposed against the Taebaeksan Basin during the Permian–Triassic suturing of the North and South China Cratons.     

南海地球物理场特征及基底断裂体系研究

南海海域主体可划分为南海北缘、中西沙、南沙南海海盆四块，各块具有明显不同的重磁场特征。反演得到的莫霍面总体趋势由陆向洋抬升，反映陆壳、拉伸陆壳、过渡壳、洋壳的分布。东沙高磁异常含一定的高频成份，与新生代玄武岩及中生代岩浆岩有关，而其低频成份可能反映了发育的下地壳高速层，南海海域断裂极为发育，可分为北东向断裂组、东西向断裂组、北西向断裂组和南北向断裂组，南海北缘、南缘均以北东向张性断裂与北西向张剪性、剪性断裂为主要格架，形成了、南北分带、东西分块”构造格局。     

基于卫星重磁资料的南海深部构造研究

南海深部构造对研究南海构造演化和油气勘探具有重要意义.本文对南海地区的自由空气重力异常进行布格校正、海水层校正和沉积层校正,得到布格重力异常,再对布格重力异常进行区域异常和局部异常分离,利用位场界面反演方法对区域布格异常进行反演计算得到研究区域的莫霍面深度分布;采用全变倾角化极方法对研究区域的卫星磁异常数据进行化极处理,并进一步对化极磁异常作向上延拓,得到延拓后化极磁异常结果.分析布格重力异常、莫霍面深度及化极磁异常特征,结合天然地震层析成像的证据,得到以下结论：推测南海北部陆缘的古俯冲带位置是从118.5°E,24°N沿北东向延伸至109°E,15°N;红河断裂入海后经过莺歌海盆地在海南岛南部转为南北向与越东断裂相接并延伸至万安盆地;推测中特提斯洋的部分闭合位置是从110°E,2°N到101°E,21°N.     

南海及邻近地区面波层析成像和S波速度结构

本文介绍由面波层析成像得到的南海和邻近地区地壳上地幔三维S波速度结构.研究区域介于100°E～130°E和0°～30°N之间,南海位于区域中心,其北、西、南三面通过大陆架和陆坡分别与华南、印支和巽它地块相连,东面邻接台湾—菲律宾岛弧和西菲律宾海盆.由面波层析成像得到的速度结构横向变化与研究区内构造单元的划分基本相符,给...     

Oxygen and lead isotope characteristics of granitic rocks from the Nansha block (South China Sea): Implications for their petrogenesis and tectonic affinity

The pre‐Cenozoic history of the South China Sea (SCS) region is the object of continued debate. To trace the evolution of the SCS, a better understanding of the petrogenesis and tectonic affiliation of the granitic rocks that comprise the microblocks within the region is necessary. In this study, we analyzed the whole‐rock oxygen and lead isotope ratios of granitic samples dredged from two locations in the Nansha microblock, one of the microblocks in the SCS. Oxygen isotope data combined with previously published Sr isotope data show that group I rocks (δ¹⁸O = 6.00–7.20‰; average = 6.64‰) originated from a mantle source contaminated by material and/or fluid input from a Mesozoic subduction zone in the southeastern side of the microblock. Group II rocks (δ¹⁸O = 6.86‰–9.13‰; average = 7.75‰) also came from the same source, but they were additionally affected by crustal contamination. The Nansha microblock has high radiogenic lead ratios (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i = 18.602–18.756, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i = 15.660–15.713, ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb_i = 38.693–38.893), which indicate that the Nansha microblock is tectonically affiliated with the Nanling–Hainan or South China block. This notion is consistent with the results of a previous Nd isotope study. As a whole, results of our study suggest that some of the other microblocks dispersed in the SCS are also possible fragments of South China block, and thus further studies are needed to better constrain the pre‐Cenozoic evolutionary history of the SCS region.     

马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔前缘构造变形和精细结构

马尼拉俯冲带是南海的东部边界,记录了南海形成演化的关键信息,同时也是地震和海啸多发区域.本文利用过马尼拉俯冲带北段的高分辨率多道地震剖面,分析了研究区内海盆和海沟的沉积特征,精细刻画了区内增生楔前缘的构造变形、结构以及岩浆活动特征.研究区内增生楔下陆坡部分由盲冲断层、构造楔和叠瓦逆冲断层构成,逆冲断层归并于一条位于下中新统的滑脱面上,滑脱面向海方向的展布明显受到增生楔之下埋藏海山和基底隆起的影响;上陆坡的反射特征则因变形强烈和岩浆作用而难以识别;岩浆活动开始于晚中新世末期并持续至第四纪.马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔的形成时间早于16.5 Ma,并通过前展式逆冲向南海方向扩展;马尼拉俯冲带的初始形成时间可能在晚渐新世,而此时南海海盆扩张仍在持续.南海东北缘19°N-21°N区域为南海北部陆坡向海盆的延伸,高度减薄的陆壳的俯冲造成马尼拉海沟北段几何形态明显地向东凹进.     

南海南部海域中中新世(T3界面)构造变革界面地震反射特征及构造含义

南海南部海域油气资源丰富,由于盆地沉积厚度大、沉积相横向变化快和构造演化复杂等原因,致使该海域新生代地层的划分方案差异大,地层时代的认识也存在较大分歧,这极大地制约了对盆地油气资源评价的正确认识.本文在总结国内外不同分层方案基础上,通过收集国外在南海南部深水区两口关键钻井的资料,开展曾母和北康两盆地重处理二维地震剖面的构造-地层解译,以及联井剖面的井震对比,重新识别和标定新生代重要构造变革面的地震反射特征.根据海域钻井、地层岩性、沉积环境、构造应力体系和古生物资料的综合对比研究,结合婆罗洲陆地测年结果和区域构造事件,重新厘定中中新世T₃构造变革面的发育时代,年龄为15～17 Ma,分析了该界面的构造含义,认为其是南海海底扩张停止的一个构造响应界面,在南海南部海域对应南沙运动,在北婆罗洲地区表现为沙巴造山运动.     

南海南北大陆边缘盆地构造演化差异性对油气成藏条件控制

南海大陆边缘盆地由于边界条件的差异,形成了离散型、走滑-伸展型和伸展-挠曲复合型3类陆缘盆地.这些盆地由于其构造演化差异性,导致了盆地沉积充填存在较大差异,相应地导致这些盆地油气成藏条件及油气资源量的巨大差异.南海北部离散型大陆边缘盆地主要发育湖相泥岩和海相泥岩烃源岩,尽管存在较好的湖相烃源岩,但由于各断陷分隔且面积较...     

玉溪-临沧剖面宽角地震探测——红河断裂带及滇南地壳结构研究

云南位于南北地震带南段,地震活动具有频度高、强度大的特点,中小地震几乎遍及云南南部,是中国大陆内部地震活动最强的地区之一.滇南地区跨越多个重要的地质构造单元和多条地震带,其中红河断裂带是跨越该地区的一条大型的走滑断裂带,作为印支地块和华南地块两大地块的分界断裂,对人们认识板块相互运动及其深部动力学背景具有重要意义.中国地震局于2010年启动了"中国地震科学台阵探测--南北地震带南段"项目,在云南省中西部跨越红河断裂带布设一条近东西向的深地震宽角反射/折射探测剖面,本文利用该东西向深地震宽角反射/折射剖面来研究红河断裂带及滇南地区详细的地壳结构及其孕震背景.研究结果表明:沿测线地壳结构呈西薄东厚的特征,以红河断裂带为界,断裂带以西地壳较薄,约34 km,以东地壳加厚至44 km左右;红河断裂带两侧速度结构具有明显的差异,断裂带西侧速度较低,东侧速度明显偏高.由震相特征及获取的地壳结构可以看出,红河断裂带两侧由浅至深速度结构的异常特征说明该古缝合带两侧块体地壳结构岩性的巨大差异性.     

南海北部陆缘深水-超深水盆地成因机制分析

本文以海洋地质调查和油气勘探开发中积累的地质和地球物理资料的解释和分析为基础,描述和划分了南海北部被动陆缘地壳岩石圈结构构造单元,由陆向海划分出近端带、细颈化带、远端带和洋陆转换带（OCT,含边缘高地）四个构造单元.从细颈化带到OCT基本处于现今陆架坡折带之外的深水-超深水区的范围,以强烈的地壳薄化和发育大型拆离断层控制的拆离盆地为特征.这些深水-超深水盆地的同裂陷阶段均经历了早期均一断陷、中晚期拆离式断陷的演化过程,受控于南海北部大型拆离断层作用及其所导致的岩石圈临界破裂过程.新的深水-超深水盆地形成机理的认识为南海北部陆缘岩石圈的非瞬时伸展破裂过程的分析提供了新的视角,同时,陆缘深水-超深水盆地具有独特的构造-沉积体系配置和构造-热演化过程,将为科学评价南海北部陆缘深水-超深水盆地油气勘探潜力提供新的思路.     

Major element, trace element, and Sr, Nd and Pb isotope studies of Cenozoic basalts from the South China Sea

The whole rock K-Ar ages of basalts from the South China Sea basin vary from 3.8 to 7.9 Ma, which suggest that intra-plate volcanism after the cessation of spreading of the South China Sea (SCS) is comparable to that in adjacent regions around the SCS, i.e., Leiqiong Peninsula, northern margin of the SCS, Indochina block, and so on. Based on detailed petrographic studies, we selected many fresh ba-saltic rocks and measured their major element, trace element, and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope compositions. Geochemical characteristics of major element and trace element show that these basaltic rocks belong to alkali basalt magma series, and are similar to OIB-type basalt. The extent of partial melting of mantle rock in source region is very low, and magma may experience crystallization differentiation and cu-mulation during the ascent to or storing in the high-level magma chamber. Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic data of these basaltic rocks imply an inhomogeneous mantle below the South China Sea. The nature of magma origin has a two end-member mixing model, one is EM2 (Enriched Mantle 2) which may be originated from mantle plume, the other is DMM (Depleted MORB Mantle). Pb isotopic characteristics show the Dupal anomaly in the South China Sea, and combined with newly found Dupal anomaly at Gakkel ridge in Arctic Ocean, this implies that Dupal anomaly is not only limited to South Hemisphere. In variation diagrams among Sr, Nd and Pb, the origin nature of mantle below the SCS is similar to those below Leiqiong peninsula, northern margin of the SCS and Indochina peninsula, and is different from those below north and northeast China. This study provides geochemical constraints on Hainan mantle plume.     

郯庐断裂带中南段及邻区Pn波速度结构与各向异性

郯庐断裂带是一条纵贯我国大陆东部NNE走向的巨型深断裂,其中南段及邻区(115°E—122°E,29°N—38°N)跨越了华北断块区、扬子断块区和华南褶皱系三大一级构造单元,由于其重要性和复杂性,长期以来一直是地学家们研究的热点.本文从国际地震中心(ISC)、中国地震台网及区域地震台网的地震观测报告中精心挑选出6381个Pn震相数据,用Pn波时间项层析成像法反演得到了郯庐断裂带中南段及邻区上地幔顶部Pn波速度结构和各向异性.结果显示,研究区上地幔顶部具有显著的横向非均匀性,相对于7.95km·s-1的平均速度而言,Pn波速度值在7.68~8.24km·s-1范围内变化.Pn波速度分布在郯庐断裂带中段和南段具有分段性:沿中段及周边存在一NE向低速异常带,低速可能是由于岩石圈的减薄和软流圈的高温物质沿郯庐带上涌导致;沿南段表现为一NNE向弱高波速异常带,作为高低速的边界带清晰地勾勒出了华北与扬子这两个不同块体,该边界在江苏域向华北地块NW方向凹进.Pn波速度各向异性的强弱与速度分布存在一定的相关性.总体上,如鲁西隆起及以南等低速区、茅山断裂附近的高低速过渡带,其速度各向异性较为强烈;而在具有高速异常的苏北盆地、合肥盆地等稳定区域下方其各向异性较弱.本文通过Pn波震相基本未能探测到郯庐断裂带中段的方位各向异性,推测是上地幔顶部被"冻结"下来的各向异性痕迹被软流圈热物质上涌这一强烈构造运动削弱所导致.南段具有与断裂伸展方向近乎平行的快波速方向.Pn波速度横向变化和强震活动存在一定关联.强震主要发生在Pn波低速异常区或高低速过渡带上.郯城8.5级地震震中位于中段和南段高低速过渡带,该区域也是速度横向变化最大的地方,最容易集中应力和产生应力差.     

Distribution of apparent magnetization for Asia

Magsat total field anomalies over Asia were used to construct an equivalent magnetization model, which represents the apparent magnetization distribution within an equivalent layer 40 km thick and correlates well with large-scale tectonics, for example, the Kazakhstan, Tarim, Yangtze, India, Sino-Korea and Indochina blocks. The basin, plain, sea basin, and islands are delineated by magnetization lows whereas the plateau and marine ridge correspond to magnetization highs. The boundary between Tibetan Plateau and India marked by a strong gradient along its length coincides with the Yarlung Zangbo River fault roughly. The Tanlu fault belt is the boundary between positive and negative anomalies. This boundary stretches in southwest direction and joins Sanjiang fault belt. The boundary between the Southeast China block and the Yangtze block is also clearly delineated by the magnetization anomalies. Generally, the magnetization boundaries are consistent with the collisional suture of blocks.