A revised fit of South America and South Central Africa

A new set of parameters for the total plate tectonic reconstruction of South America and south central Africa is presented: euler pole 46.75°N, 32.65°W; rotation angle 56.40°. This fit is constrained by at least three pre-drift tectonic features crossing from one continent to the other: (1) the geophysically defined eastern and western boundaries of the submarine Jurassic Outeniqua Basin (South Africa) and the Falkland Plateau Basin; (2) the Late Precambrian transcurrent fault and mylonite belts of Pernambuco (Brazil) and Foumban (West Africa); and (3) the Triassic northern tectonic front of the Cape Fold Belt and the major morphological feature on the Falkland Plateau with which it is closely lined up. Isotopic ages of Falkland Plateau gneisses correspond to Cape Pluton and Cape Fold Belt ages, suggesting their palaeoposition was within the realm of the Cape Fold Belt.In addition, the bathymetrically and geophysically defined northeastern apex of the Falkland Plateau fits into the re-entrant angle defined on the South African margin by the steep southeast-facing sheared Agulhas margin and the southern face of the Tugela Cone. Simultaneously known Precambrian outcrops in northeastern Brazil and in the Gulf of Benin area of West Africa are juxtaposed rather than overlapped. Reconstructions producing a closer fit of these cratonic areas are considered untenable.     

Influence of Neoproterozoic tectonic fabric on the origin of the Potiguar Basin,northeastern Brazil and its links with West Africa based on gravity and magnetic data

The Potiguar Basin is a ∼6,000 m thick aborted NE-trending rift that was formed during the Cretaceous in the continental margin of northeastern Brazil. Its ∼E–W-trending offshore faults form part of the successful continental margin rift that evolved into the South Atlantic Ocean. The region represents one of the most significant pre-Pangea breakup piercing points between eastern South America and West Africa. We used gravity, aeromagnetic, and geological data to assess the role of reactivated Precambrian shear zones and major terrain boundaries in the development of the Potiguar Basin from the Cretaceous to the Cenozoic. We also looked for possible links between these structures in northeastern Brazil and their continuation in West Africa. Our results indicate that the major fault systems of the Potiguar Basin were superimposed on the Precambrian fabric. Both gravity and magnetic maps show lineaments related to the shear zones and major terrain boundaries in the Precambrian crystalline basement, which also characterize the architecture of the rift. For example, the Carnaubais fault, the master fault of the rift system, represents the reactivation of the Portalegre shear zone, the major tectonic boundary between Precambrian terrains in the crystalline basement. In addition, part of the Moho topography is controlled by these shear zones and developed during the period of main rift extension in the Neocomian. The shear zones bounding the Potiguar rift system continue in West Africa around and underneath the Benue Basin, where fault reactivation also took place.     

琼东南盆地地壳伸展深度依赖性及其动力学意义

地壳或岩石圈尺度内伸展因子随深度变化特征对于理解岩石圈演化有重要的指示意义.我们利用南海北部大陆边缘琼东南盆地区深反射地震剖面的地壳分层模型,计算了沿剖面上地壳与全地壳的伸展因子.结果表明:琼东南盆地区具有明显的地壳尺度内伸展的深度相关性（上地壳尺度伸展因子变化范围为1.0~2.0,全地壳尺度的伸展因子变化范围为1.2~2.5）;琼东南盆地各构造单元内的上地壳与全地壳伸展具有明显的非均一性(长昌凹陷上地壳尺度伸展最大,乐东—陵水凹陷其次,松南—宝岛凹陷最小;长昌凹陷和松南—宝岛凹陷的地壳尺度伸展因子较乐东—陵水凹陷大) 与各向异性(南东—北西剖面较之北东—南西向剖面地壳伸展因子大).这些结果预示着琼东南盆地区地壳伸展优势方向为北西向,盆地区东西部的伸展过程或伸展机制可能差异较大拟或存在太平洋岩石圈俯冲角空间差异或地幔岩浆产出时空差异.结合研究区相关研究成果,推断地壳伸展因子的深度相关性可能是共轭大陆边缘低角度拆离控制的简单剪切系统内伴随地幔挤出的动力学现象.     

Deep process of the collision and deformation on the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau: Revelation from investigation of the deep seismic profiles

The seismic investigation achievements from three kinds of methods have revealed the lithospheric structure and the deep process of deformation caused by collision. It is found that convergent collision and deep subduction of the continental lithosphere are in progress along the northern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The deep process of due collision and deformation is different from that of oblique collision. It is revealed in the study that the deep process of the collision and deformation on the northern margin is different from that on the southern margin of the Tibetan Plateau.     

Quaternary integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China

Quaternary strata in China mainly comprise continental deposits in a variety of depositional settings. The continental Quaternary in temperate northern China consists mainly of eolian and fluvio-lacustrine deposits; that in subtropical southern China, mainly of vermiculated red soils, cave/fissure deposits, and fluvio-lacustrine deposits; and that in the alpine Tibetan Plateau, mainly of fluvio-lacustrine and piedmont deposits. The marine Quaternary in China consists of detrital deposits and biogenic reef deposits. The integration of biostratigraphy, magnetostratigraphy, climatostratigraphy and an astronomically calibrated chronology has led to the establishment of high-precision climatochronostratigraphic timescales for the detrital marine Quaternary in the South China Sea and the loess-paleosol sequence in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Extremely high-precision230 Th dating has provided a high-precision absolute age model for cave stalagmites over the past 640000 years as well as highresolution oxygen isotope records representing orbital-to suborbital-scale climate changes. By combining magnetic stratigraphy and biostratigraphy, robust chronostratigraphic frameworks for non-eolian continental Quaternary deposits on the scale of Quaternary geomagnetic polarities have been established. The continental Pleistocene Series consists, from oldest to youngest,of the Nihewanian Stage of the Lower Pleistocene, the Zhoukoudianian Stage of the Middle Pleistocene, and the Salawusuan Stage of the Upper Pleistocene. Stages of the continental Holocene Series have not yet been established. This review summarizes recent developments in the Quaternary chronostratigraphy of representative Quaternary strata and associated faunas, and then proposes an integrative chronostratigraphic framework and a stratigraphic correlation scheme for Quaternary continental strata in China. In the near-future, it is hoped to establish not only a Chinese continental Quaternary climatochronostratigraphic chart on the scale of glacial-interglacial cycles but also a Quaternary integrative chronostratigraphic chart including both continental and marine strata in China.     

Crustal wide-angle reflection imaging along Lianxian-Gangkou profile in Guangdong province,China

A 400 km-long wide-angle seismic experiment along Lianxian-Gangkou profile in South China was carried out to study contact relationship between southeast continental margin of Yangtze block and northwest continental margin of Cathaysia block. We reconstructed crustal wide-angle reflection structure by the depth-domain pre-stack migration and the crustal velocity model constructed from the traveltime fitting. The wide-angle reflection section shows different reflection (from crystalline basement and Moho) pa...     

南海北部陆缘东部的地壳结构

本文利用中、美联合调查南海海洋地质项目所采集的双船地震扩展排列剖面资料,研究了南海北部陆缘的地壳结构．其特征为：从陆架到深海平原,地壳呈阶梯状减薄,地壳厚度分别为２６-２８ｋｍ,２３-２４ｋｍ,１３-１５ｋｍ,以及南海洋盆中５-７ｋｍ厚的洋壳,反映了地壳在新生代早期是幕式拉张的．地壳底部存在高速地壳层,地震波速度为７．１-７．４ｋｍ／ｓ．它是在地壳被拉张后,上地幔熔融物质上涌到地壳底部冷却而形成的．     

南海大陆边缘动力学:科学实验与研究进展

国家重点基础研究发展计划(973)项目(2007CB411700)首次在南海南部大陆边缘及西南次海盆开展长排列大震源多道地震、海底地震仪(OBS)折射/反射地震等的综合地球物理探测,结合地质构造、地球化学、动力模拟等的综合研究,形成如下重要认识:南海海盆新生代发生了早、晚两期海底扩张.早期扩张发生于33.5～25 Ma...     

青藏高原东缘的地壳流及动力过程

黏滞性地壳流对地壳及上地幔变形作用及动力机制,是大陆新生代造山带的一个重要研究内容.青藏高原中下地壳存在部分熔融或含水物质的黏滞性流体,已为一系列地球物理及岩石学研究所证实.为研究青藏高原东缘地壳流的动力作用,本文用密集的被动源宽频带地震台的观测数据,反演了地壳上地幔精细速度结构和泊松比.研究表明,川西及滇西北高原的中地壳内普遍存在低速层,而高泊松比的地壳只分布在川西北地区.位于中地壳的黏滞性地壳流从青藏高原腹地羌塘高原流出,自北西向南东流入青藏高原东缘.这些黏滞性地壳流带动了上地壳块体水平移动,当它们受到刚强的四川盆地及华南地块阻挡时将发生分层作用,地壳流将分为二或更多分支不同方向的分流,向上的一支地壳流将对上地壳产生挤压,引起地面隆升,向下的一支地壳流将使莫霍面下沉加厚下地壳·黏滞性地壳流的运动在地壳中产生应变破裂发生强烈地震活动,地震的空间分布与震源机制也受到地壳流动力作用控制.     

上新世以来构造隆升对亚洲夏季风气候变化的影响

大量地质证据表明,上新世以来(最近5 MaB.P.)青藏高原北部及非洲东部和南部地区出现过显著的构造隆升,而与此同时亚洲季风也经历了显著变化,这两者之间是否存在着因果联系一直是地学界所关心和争论的一个重要科学问题.本文利用美国国家大气研究中心(NCAR)的公用大气模式(CAM 3.1)就上新世以来青藏高原北部及东-南非高原的构造隆升对亚洲夏季风气候变化的影响进行了数值试验研究.结果表明,上新世以来亚洲夏季风的增强与两地构造隆升密切相关,但两者隆升对于亚洲季风子系统的作用是有区别的.青藏高原北部隆升主要造成东亚北部夏季风的增强及季风降水的增多,但对南亚夏季风的作用较小;东-南非高原的隆升明显增强南亚夏季风,但对东亚北部夏季风的影响有限.     

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.     

Present-day horizontal deformation status of continental China and its driving mechanism

Based on velocity data of 933 GPS sites and using the methods of Ordinary Kriging interpolation and shape function derivation, this study has obtained the strain rate field of continental China in the spherical coordinates. In comparison with previous research results, it is found that such a strain rate field can be described by both the continuous deformation and block motions in the continent. The Tibetan Plateau and Tianshan region are characterized by continuous deformation which is distributed across the whole area. Within the blocks of South China, Tarim, Ordos, and Northeast China, little crustal deformation and deformation occurs primarily on the faults along their boundaries, which can be explained by the model of block motion. In other regions, such as the Yinshan-Yanshan block, North China block, and East Shandong-Yellow Sea, deformation patterns can be explained by both models. Besides, from southwest to northeast of continental China, there are three remarkable extensional zones of NW trending. These results imply that the NNE directed push of the India plate is the primary driving force accounting for the internal deformation of continental China. It produces the uplift, hori-zontal shortening and vertical thickening of the Tibetan Plateau as well as radiation-like material extru-sion. Of these extruded materials, one part accommodates the eastward "escape" of other blocks, generating convergence and compression of western China and widespread extension and local com-plicated deformation in eastern China under the joint action of the surrounding settings. The other part opens a corridor between the South China block and Tibetan Plateau, flowing toward southeast to the Myanmar range arc and filling the gap there which is produced by back-arc extension due to plate subduction.     

南海北部珠江口—琼东南盆地地壳速度结构与几何分层

基于南海北部大陆边缘珠江口—琼东南盆地深水区实施的14条近垂直深反射地震探测叠加速度谱,利用Dix公式将叠加速度剖面转换为地壳层速度剖面,并利用时深转换方法构建了深度域地壳层速度模型,综合各地壳速度剖面分析了南海北部大陆边缘珠江口与琼东南盆地不同深度层次的P波速度变化趋势以及地壳几何分层特征.结果表明,琼东南盆地区可分为4～8 km沉积层（V_P为1.7～4.7 km/s）、4～10 km厚的上地壳层（V_P为5.2～6.3 km/s）、5 km〗左右的下地壳层（V_P为6.4～7.0 km/s）以及2～6 km厚的高速下地壳底层（V_P＞7.0 km/s）.V_P＞7.0 km/s下地壳高速层的存在被认为是岩石圈伸展、下地壳底部底辟构造或者是残存的原始华夏下地壳基性层的地震学指示;综合研究区地球物理探测成果构建了跨越华南大陆与南海北部陆坡区剖面莫霍和岩石圈底界图像,揭示出岩石圈上地幔在华南大陆与南海北部大陆边缘的减薄特征.     

Lithospheric model with thick oceanic crust at the continental boundary: A mechanism for shallow spreading ridges in young oceans

In a general lithospheric model of a simple divergent ocean and continental margin that satisfies the constraints of isostasy and gravity anomalies, the free-air gravity anomaly at the margin is modelled by an oceanic crust that thickens exponentially toward the margin from its common value of 6.4 km about 600 km from the margin to 17.7 km at the margin; this postulated thickening is supported empirically by seismic refraction measurements made near continental margins. The thickness of the oceanic crust matches that of the continental lithosphere at breakup, as observed today in Afar and East Africa, and is interpreted as the initial oceanic surface layer chilled against the continental lithosphere. With continued plate accretion, the chilled oceanic crust thins exponentially to a steadystate thickness, which is achieved about 40 m.y. after breakup. These findings contrast with the generally held view that the oceanic crust has a uniform thickness.During the first 40 m.y. of spreading, the thicker oceanic crust, of density 2.86 g/cm³, displaces the denser (3.32 g/cm³) subjacent material; by isostasy, the spreading ridge and the rest of the seafloor thus stand higher in younger( <40m.y.) oceans than they do in older(>40m.y.) oceans. This is postulated to be the cause of the empirical relationship between the crestal depth of spreading ridges and the age (or half-width) of ocean basins.     

青藏高原东南缘地质构造基本形态与地震各向异性基本特征

青藏高原东南缘受印度板块NE向推挤和高原物质SE向挤出及四川盆地、 华南块体阻挡的共同作用, 成为高原物质SE向逃逸的关键通道。 本文综述了青藏高原东南缘由不同震相和不同方法得到的不同深度的地震各向异性结果, 结合区域内断裂分布、 地表运动、 构造应力以及深部结构等方面, 全面分析了青藏高原东南缘上地壳至中下地壳及上地幔的介质各向异性与变形耦合特征。 青藏高原东南缘壳幔地震各向异性的差异反映了区域内复杂的深部构造和壳幔变形。 由于青藏高原形成机制、 壳幔耦合状态和软弱层分布形态等科学问题尚处于学术探讨之中, 有效结合不同数据和综合多种方法, 有益于获得更加准确、 精细的地壳—上地幔地震各向异性图像, 对深部物质运动与动力模式进行更有效的约束。     

Continental drift,plateau uplift,and the evolutions of monsoon and arid regions in Asia,Africa, and Australia during the Cenozoic

Monsoon and arid regions in the Asia-Africa-Australia(A-A-A) realm occupy more than 60% of the total area of these continents. Geological evidence showed that significant changes occurred to the A-A-A environments of the monsoon and arid regions, the land-ocean configuration in the Eastern Hemisphere, and the topography of the Tibetan Plateau(TP) in the Cenozoic. Motivated by this background, numerical experiments for 5 typical geological periods during the Cenozoic were conducted using a coupled ocean-atmosphere general circulation model to systemically explore the formations and evolutionary histories of the Cenozoic A-A-A monsoon and arid regions under the influences of continental drift and plateau uplift. Results of the numerical experiments indicate that the timings and causes of the formations of monsoon and arid regions in the A-A-A realm were very different. The northern and southern African monsoons existed during the mid-Paleocene, while the South Asian monsoon appeared in the Eocene after the Indian Subcontinent moved into the tropical Northern Hemisphere. In contrast, the East Asian monsoon and northern Australian monsoon were established much later in the Miocene. The establishment of the tropical monsoons in northern and southern Africa, South Asia, and Australia were determined by both the continental drift and seasonal migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone(ITCZ), while the position and height of the TP were the key factor for the establishment of the East Asian monsoon. The presence of the subtropical arid regions in northern and southern Africa,Asia, and Australia depended on the positions of the continents and the control of the planetary scale subtropical high pressure zones, while the arid regions in the Arabian Peninsula and West Asia were closely related to the retreat of the Paratethys Sea. The formation of the mid-latitude arid region in the Asian interior, on the other hand, was the consequence of the uplift of the TP.These results from this study provide insight to the important roles played by the earth's tectonic boundary conditions in the formations and evolutions of regional climates during geological times.     

南海共轭大陆边缘构造属性的综合地球物理研究

利用南海最新的重磁资料,在岩石物性分析和全海域分带变倾角化极磁异常反演磁性基底分布的基础上,选择6条典型剖面拟合反演其密度与磁性结构,在此基础上进行了深部结构的对比分析.反演中尽可能以海底地震仪探测数据(OBS)、多道地震等结果作为约束,其中FF'剖面层速度分析是利用“南海大陆边缘动力学及油气资源潜力”973项目200...     

南海地区地震背景噪声成像与壳幔深部结构

利用南海地区28个陆地地震台站和2个布设于太平岛和东沙岛的新增海岛地震台站2011—2016年间的连续地震背景噪声波形数据,使用互相关方法计算得到了台站间的互相关函数,并提取出Rayleigh面波群速度和相速度频散曲线.采用快速行进和子空间方法反演获得了南海及周边地区12～40s周期的Rayleigh面波群速度和相速度图像,并联合反演得到了研究区深至60km的三维S波速度结构.考虑到南海数千米厚海水层对于面波频散反演的严重影响,本文在反演模型中加入了水层,显著提高了反演结果的可靠性.成像结果表明:南海及周边地区地壳上地幔顶部S波速度结构存在显著的横向不均匀性,并与这一区域的主要构造单元具有较好的空间对应关系.在5～10km深度,莺歌海—宋红盆地区的低速异常特征可能与盆地较厚的沉积层有关.在5～15km深度,海域高速异常区与海盆空间位置具有高度一致性,推测与海盆区地壳厚度相对陆缘区明显偏薄有关.当深度从20km增加至30km,海盆区的高速特征扩展至了陆缘地区,反映了地壳厚度从海盆至陆缘逐渐增厚的趋势,与OBS(海底地震仪)深地震剖面给出的地壳精细结构结果一致.至35～60km深度,海盆的高速异常特征依然明显,且速度值随深度增加整体呈现上升的趋势,推测南海海盆区的岩石圈厚度应该大于60km.     

南海岩石层及边界构造的地球物理特征

南海经历了中生代主动大陆边缘到新生代被动大陆边缘的转换,其岩石层地球物理场具有明显的块、带特征.本文通过综合分析南海地区深地震探测、面波层析成像、重磁异常以及地热与岩石层流变学等各种地质地球物理资料,对南海地壳及岩石层的综合地球物理特征进行了深入总结,发现深地震探测剖面所确定的洋、陆壳转换位置与空间重力异常梯级带位置较为一致,据此拟定了南海洋、陆壳的转换边界;依据多条地壳结构剖面中拉张减薄的程度确定了正常减薄陆壳、洋陆壳过渡带及洋壳等属性特征,并初步圈定了南海下地壳高速层的分布范围.对比分析了南、北陆缘地壳结构及其拉张减薄的变化特征,从综合地球物理特征的相似性上推测了北部陆缘的中西沙陆块与南部陆缘的南沙礼乐滩陆块具有共轭对称性.依据S波速度梯度变化确定了南海岩石层厚度分布情况,揭示出南海北部陆缘存在一条岩石层厚度的减薄带,且该减薄带与高热流带具有较好的一致性.在综合分析的基础上,以深地震探测剖面与重、磁异常变化的对应性为基础,划定了南海边界构造的位置.     

Subsidence, extension and thermal history of the West African margin in Senegal

The subsidence of the Atlantic margin in Senegal clearly shows two rapid stages related to the formation of (1) the Central Atlantic during the early Jurassic (around 200 Ma), and (2) the Equatorial Atlantic during the Cretaceous (100 Ma). A simple model of extension is used to interpret the subsidence history and to derive the thermal evolution of this basin. The present-day gravity, bathymetry, bottom hole temperatures (BHT) in oil exploration boreholes and heat flow density are used to control the validity of the model. Two cross sections from the outcropping basement to oceanic crust are used, one in Casamance and the other one at the south to latitude of Dakar. The model can fully explain the first-order subsidence history as well as the present-day observations, and therefore can provide valuable information about the thermal evolution of sediments and about the structure of the continental crust along the margin. Comparisons with the opposite margin in North America (Blake Plateau and Carolina trough) indicate a rather different evolution (the North American margin did not undergo the second stage of rifting) and a different crustal structure (crustal thinning is less important on the African margin).