南海西南次海盆两侧陆缘中生代晚期构造接触关系

为探究南海西南次海盆两侧陆缘地块在中生代晚期构造接触关系及其对南海形成演化的影响,利用过南海西南次海盆两侧陆缘采集的地球物理资料以及公开发表的数据资料,对两侧陆缘的地壳结构及前新生界构造变形特征进行了研究.研究结果显示,西南次海盆两侧陆缘的地壳结构及物质组成存在差异,属于性质不同的两个微地块;两侧陆缘前新生代地层在晚中生代经历了来自不同方向的挤压作用,且遭受抬升剥蚀.结合南海及邻区中生代花岗岩分布特征及区域构造背景,进一步推测两侧陆缘地块在晚中生代以俯冲碰撞的方式完成拼贴缝合,该俯冲碰撞带是南海北部俯冲带在南海西南方向的延伸,并且新生代南海的扩张可能与该俯冲碰撞带这个先存的软弱带有关,是南海海盆初始破裂的部位.      

关于南海北部特提斯的讨论

南海及邻区处于欧亚大陆与冈瓦纳古陆拼合带的东南端,是特提斯构造域和濒太平洋构造域交汇的重要地区.特提斯缝合带沿金沙江-哀牢山构造带进入南海,人们从而认为南海可能存在特提斯洋遗迹,并认为缝合带存在于磁静区中.本文通过对南海北部陆坡地球物理资料的解释结果,包括重力、磁力、海底地震和深反射地震数据,以及区域地质特征分析,研究了南海北部陆缘高磁异常带和磁静区的成因.结果表明高磁异常带是中白垩世时期古太平洋板块转向俯冲形成的陆缘火山弧,当时存在古俯冲带.磁静区经历了后期大陆边缘张裂和古南海和南海的打开,并经历了高温热物质的底辟作用,使得地壳拉张减薄,居里面抬升形成磁静区.经历了南海的扩张后,原始的俯冲带可能已经向南迁移到南海南部或者已经俯冲消失,其中也不存在缝合带.      

南海成因及其演化模式探讨

尽管南海已进行深入的调查与研究,提出多种成因模型,包括挤出模型、弧后扩张模型、古南海俯冲拖曳模型等,但因其所处构造位置特殊,周边构造环境经历了复杂的改造,所有成因模式均未能得到广泛的认可。本文从三大板块相互作用入手,结合南海实测数据,提出南海形成的弧后扩张—左旋剪切模型。认为南海是古南海往北俯冲的弧后盆地,菲律宾海板块往北漂移形成的大规模左旋走滑是南海扩张的触发因素。印度—欧亚碰撞产生中南半岛挤出主要影响西南海盆扩张方向,使得扩张轴从近东西向转为北东向。南海及邻区晚中生代以来的演化可以分为以下阶段：1）早白垩世开始澳大利亚板块往北漂移,新特提斯洋往北俯冲消亡,导致弧后扩张,形成古南海;2）晚白垩世末—始新世,古南海往北俯冲,导致弧后拉张形成陆缘裂谷;3）早渐新世,受菲律宾海板块西缘大型左旋走滑影响,在原有裂谷的基础上从东往西海底扩张,形成南海;4）渐新世末,受俯冲后撤的影响,扩张中心往南跃迁,同时受西缘断裂左旋活动的影响,扩张轴从近东西西逐步转为北东向;5）早中新世晚期,南沙地块—北巴拉望地块与卡加延脊碰撞,南海扩张停止。     

南海围区中生代构造古地理演化

对南海围区中生代岩相、构造以及古地理进行了系统总结与研究,编制了南海围区6 个时期 ( 包括T3--K2 ) 构造古地理简图,阐述了南海围区主要的缝合带形成时间和中生代活动及其对南海围区中生代的古地理的控制与影响。经研究,南海围区盆地类型、中生界地层以及古地理环境受特提斯的闭合以及环太平洋俯冲带的影响控制。虽然南海的存在使F6 系列断裂有了现在的格局,但是古太平洋构造带一直控制着中生代加里曼丹、巴拉望、潮汕凹陷以及台湾等地的盆地的形成。讨论了南海及其围区中生代构造古地理的演化,南海围区地层从早侏罗世到晚侏罗世沉积相显示是由海相到陆相的转变,晚三叠世到晚白垩世每个时期都呈现北陆南海的古地理格局。     

南海及其围区中生代岩相古地理和构造演化

以岩相古地理分析和编图为基础,结合构造变动和岩浆活动资料,阐述了南海及其围区中生代构造演化。中生代时研究区位于欧亚大陆的东南缘,受特提斯域和太平洋域交替复合影响。早三叠世时古特提斯洋经过黑水河盆地东延至南海。从中三叠世开始构造岩相古地理演化出现明显的东西分异。晚三叠世时,受印支运动影响华南地块与印支地块拼合,研究区西部抬升,黑水河水道关闭;而研究区东部和东南部却受古太平洋的影响发生海侵,形成“粤东-西北加里曼丹海盆”,该海盆在早侏罗世遭受更大海侵,导致与中特提斯的良好贯通。中侏罗世在中特提斯发生过短暂海侵而形成“滇缅海”。晚侏罗世至早白垩世是中特提斯洋和古太平洋的俯冲鼎盛期,形成绵延数千km的欧亚大陆东南缘俯冲增生带。文中还讨论了中特提斯向南海延伸的通道、中特提斯与古太平洋对南海中生代演化的交替和复合影响以及南海东北部新近发现的晚中生代俯冲带等问题。     

南海打开模式:右行走滑拉分与古南海俯冲拖曳

南海作为东亚大陆边缘最大的边缘海,位于太平洋、印澳和欧亚三个板块的夹持之下,处于特提斯构造域和太平洋构造域的联合作用部位,是揭示新生代两大动力学体系交接转换特征的良好场所。南海海盆为菱形洋盆,包括西北次海盆、东部次海盆和西南次海盆,均在古近纪—中中新世形成,同时伴随着南海北部、西部和南部盆地群发育,盆地边缘油气资源丰富,被称为第二个"波斯湾"。本文搜集了前人对南海洋盆深部形态、磁条带、转换断层等成果,以及南海周边盆地群的沉积体系、沉积相、不整合面相关资料,综合对比了南海北部、西部和南部盆地群的沉积序列、沉积相、沉积厚度,厘定了盆地群断裂体系、断裂组合特征,揭示了南海北部、南部盆地群及西部盆地群中的中建南和万安盆地都是在右行右阶走滑拉分背景下形成的。北部盆地群新生代古近系西厚东薄,新近系东厚西薄,NNE—NE向断裂体系活动早期西强东弱,而晚期东强西弱,从西向东依次停止。同时指出,南海是在NNE向断裂体系右行右阶走滑拉分和古南海俯冲拖曳的联合作用下打开:于34~32 Ma西北次海盆和东部次海盆受控于NNE向断裂的右行右阶走滑拉分作用,沿着NNE-SSW方向开启;32~23 Ma,NNE向走滑断裂活动自西向东逐步停止;于23 Ma左右,"消失"的南海以西的NNE向走滑断裂完全停止活动,同时由于婆罗洲地块逆时针旋转,古南海的俯冲带走向由近E-W向变为NE向,俯冲板块拖曳力也转变为NW-SE向并且占据主导地位,在拖曳力作用下礼乐—巴拉望地块后缘陆壳伸展,导致西南次海盆打开,东部次海盆的扩张方向由NNE-SSW转变为NW-SE向。于15Ma,礼乐—巴拉望地块与婆罗洲地块碰撞,南海停止扩张。     

南海海盆海底扩张年代之探讨

根据海底地形地貌特征和区域构造走向,可将南海海盆分为三个次海盆：西北次海盆、西南次海盆和中央次海盆。通过地磁异常资料之分析对比,在中央次海盆中鉴别出５ｄ－１１号磁异常条带,推测其海底扩张年代为晚渐新世一早中新世（３２－１ＭａＢＰ）;在西南次海盆中鉴别出１８－１３号磁异常条带,推测其海底扩张年代为晚始新世一早渐新世（４２－３５ＭａＢＰ）。通过对穿过中央次海盆与西南海盆的地震反射剖面之分析,发现西南次     

古南海俯冲过程:婆罗洲晚白垩世-渐新世地层沉积记录

古南海的俯冲消亡是深入揭示南海扩张机制和重塑东南亚中新生代构造演化的关键,然而目前对于古南海的俯冲过程仍存在诸多争议。马来西亚婆罗洲出露完整的晚白垩世-渐新世沉积地层,是研究古南海构造演化的重要窗口。本文通过碎屑矿物组成、元素地球化学及Nd同位素分析,对婆罗洲晚白垩世-渐新世地层沉积物来源进行示踪,反演区域古地理格局及构造演化。结果显示,晚白垩世-古新世Rajang群沉积物主要来源于古太平洋俯冲形成的岩浆岩带,马来半岛与印支陆块南缘对古新世-晚渐新世地层沉积贡献明显增加,暗示古太平洋板块俯冲的影响持续到早古新世(～60 Ma)。晚始新世,随着澳大利亚板块持续向北漂移,婆罗洲逆时针旋转引起残余海盆剪刀式闭合。～37Ma,曾母陆块与婆罗洲碰撞, Rajang群抬升剥蚀。渐新世,古南海在婆罗洲东北部沙巴开始俯冲,对应于南海的打开。古南海自西向东斜向俯冲消亡,婆罗洲的逆时针旋转与沿卢帕尔线的走滑使Rajang群与Kuching超级群叠置。     

古南海构造属性及其与特提斯和古太平洋构造域的关系

为了进一步理解南海地区前新生代的构造演化过程,明确古南海构造属性及其与特提斯和古太平洋构造域的关系,通过对古南海遗迹（蛇绿岩、蛇绿混杂岩以及俯冲增生带）的研究,结合周围陆区地质及古生物资料,将古南海的演化划分为4个阶段。①古特提斯残留海阶段（T₁-T₂）:古南海是在早-中三叠世的古特提斯残余海基础上发展而来,与古特提斯残余海是一个连续的演化过程。②古太平洋边缘海阶段（T₃）:晚三叠世,由于古特提斯洋的全面关闭,古南海主要受古太平洋的影响。③中特提斯与古太平洋叠加影响阶段（J-K₁）:早侏罗世,古南海开始扩张,并受中特提斯和古太平洋叠加影响;晚侏罗世,南沙地块向华南大陆开始漂移,古南海进一步强烈扩张。④俯冲消亡阶段（K₂末期-E）:晚白垩世,南沙地块开始裂离华南大陆,古南海开始向南俯冲;至始新世,伴随着新南海的扩张,古南海加速消亡于巽他地块之下,并在南海南部地区形成了卢帕尔线蛇绿岩带以及一系列的俯冲增生带。     

华南和南海北部陆缘岩石圈速度结构特征与沉积盆地成因

新近地震层析资料表明, 华南和南海北部陆缘岩石圈及下伏的软流层中存在规模宏大的低速异常带, 它们在研究区新生代演化历史中曾发挥重要的控制作用.其中, 岩石圈底面及内部的巨型NW向异常低速带表明中生代末至新生代早期的神狐运动不仅在华南与南海北部陆缘产生NE向张裂构造体系并催生出内陆-陆架-陆坡沉积盆地, 还导致南海海盆的早期扩张.软流层NNW向的异常低速带则反映岩石圈SSE向的蠕动直接导致南海中央海盆的海底扩张及陆缘地区的持续裂解.研究区深部速度结构特征是历史动力过程所残留的痕迹, 华南陆缘和南海北部新生代沉积盆地的形成和发展, 与岩石圈及软流层的结构和运动方式密切相关.      

Characteristics of the Density and Magnetic Susceptibility of Rocks in Northern Borneo and their Constraints on the Lithologic Identification of the Mesozoic Rocks in the Southern South China Sea

Based on the volume magnetic susceptibility and specific gravity measurements and mineral and lithologic identification results for 540 samples,the rock type,density,and magnetic susceptibility of rocks from northern Borneo were analyzed,and the applicability of gravity and magnetic data to the lithologic identification of the Mesozoic strata in the southern South China Sea was assessed accordingly.The results show that there are 3 types and 25 subtypes of rocks in northern Borneo,mainly intermediate-mafic igneous rocks and exogenous clastic sedimentary rocks,with small amounts of endogenous sedimentary rocks,felsic igneous rocks,and metamorphic rocks.The rocks that are very strongly-strongly magnetic and have high-medium densities are mostly igneous rocks,tuffaceous sandstones,and their metamorphic equivalents.The rocks that are weakly magnetic-non-magnetic and have medium-very low densities are mostly conglomerates,sandstones,siltstones,mudstones,and coal.The rocks that are weakly magnetic-diamagnetic and have highmedium densities are mostly limestones and siliceous rocks.The Cenozoic rocks are characterized by low densities and medium susceptibilities;the Mesozoic rocks are characterized by medium densities and medium-high susceptibilities;and the pre-Mesozoic rocks are characterized by high densities and low magnetism.Based on these results and the distribution characteristics of the various rock types,it was found that the pre-Mesozoic rocks produce weak regional gravity anomalies;the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks produce negative regional gravity anomalies;whereas the Mesozoic igneous rocks produce positive regional gravity anomalies;and the Cenozoic igneous rocks produce positive regional gravity anomalies.The regional high magnetic anomalies in the southern part of the South China Sea originate from the Mesozoic mafic igneous rocks and their metamorphic equivalents;and the regional medium magnetic anomalies may be produced by the felsic igneous rocks and their metamorphic equivalents.Accordingly,the identification of the Mesozoic lithology in the southern South China Sea shows that the Mesozoic sedimentary rocks are distributed over a large area of the southern South China Sea.Thus,it is concluded that the Mesozoic strata in this area have the potential for oil and gas exploration.     

Satellite Gravity Anomalies and Their Correlation with the Major Tectonic Features in the South China Sea

The South China Sea (SCS) is a region of interaction among three major plates: the Pacific, Indo-Australian and Eurasian. The collision of the Indian subcontinent with the Eurasian plate in the northwest, back-arc spreading at the center, and subduction beneath the Philippine plate along Manila trench in the east and the collision along Palawan trough in the south have produced complex tectonic features within and along the SCS. This investigation examines the satellite-derived gravity anomalies of the SCS and compares them with major tectonic features of the area. A map of Bouguer gravity anomaly is derived in conjunction with available seafloor topography to investigate the crustal structure. The residual isostatic gravity anomaly is calculated assuming that the Cenozoic sedimentary load is isostatically compensated. The features in the gravity anomalies in general correlate remarkably well with the major geological features, including offsets in the seafloor spreading segments, major faults, basins, seamounts and other manifestations of magmatism and volcanism on the seafloor. They also correlate with the presumed location of continental-oceanic crust boundary. The region underlain by oceanic crust in the central part of the SCS is characterized by a large positive Bouguer gravity anomaly (220–330 mgal) as well as large free-air and residual isostatic anomalies. There are, however, important differences among spreading segments. For example, in terms of free-air gravity anomaly, the southwest section of mid-ocean has an approximately 50 km wide belt of gravity low superimposed on a broad high of 45 mgal running NW–SE, whereas there are no similar features in other spreading segments. There are indications that gravity anomalies may represent lateral variation in upper crustal density structure. For instance, free air and isostatic anomalies show large positive anomalies in the east of the Namconson basin, which coincide with areas of dense volcanic material known from seismic surveys. The Red River Fault system are clearly identified in the satellite gravity anomalies, including three major faults, Songchay Fault in the southwest, Songlo Fault in the Northeast and Central Fault in the center of the basin. They are elongated in NW–SE direction between 20±30'N and 17°N and reach to Vietnam Scarp Fault around 16°30'N. It is also defined that the crustal density in the south side of the Central Basin is denser than that in the north side of the Central Basin.     

Expansion of the South China Sea basin: Constraints from magnetic anomaly stripes,sea floor topography,satellite gravity and submarine geothermics

The widely distributed E–W-trending magnetic anomaly stripes in the central basin and the N–E-trending magnetic anomaly stripes in the southwest sub-basin provide the most important evidence for Neogene expansion of the South China Sea. The expansion mechanism remains, however, controversial because of the lack of direct drilling data, non-systematic marine magnetic survey data, and irregular magnetic anomaly stripes with two obvious directions. For example, researchers have inferred different ages and episodes of expansion for the central basin and southwest sub-basin. Major controversy centers on the order of basinal expansion and the mechanism of expansion for the entire South China Sea basin. This study attempts to constrain these problems from a comprehensive analysis of the seafloor topography, magnetic anomaly stripes, regional aeromagnetic data, satellite gravity, and submarine geothermics. The mapped seafloor terrain shows that the central basin is a north-south rectangle that is relatively shallow with many seamounts, whereas the southwest sub-basin is wide in northeast, gradually narrows to the southwest, and is relatively deeper with fewer seamounts. Many magnetic anomaly stripes are present in the central basin with variable dimensions and directions that are dominantly EW-trending, followed by the NE-, NW- and NS-trending. Conversely such stripes are few in the southwest sub-basin and mainly NE-trending. Regional magnetic data suggest that the NW-trending Ailaoshan-Red River fault extends into the South China Sea, links with the central fault zone in the South China Sea, which extends further southward to Reed Tablemount. Satellite gravity data show that both the central basin and southwest sub-basin are composed of oceanic crust. The Changlong seamount is particularly visible in the southwest sub-basin and extends eastward to the Zhenbei seamount. Also a low gravity anomaly zone coincides with the central fault zone in the sub-basin. The submarine geothermic distribution demonstrates that the southwest sub-basin has a higher geothermal value than the central basin, and that the central fault zone is defined by a low thermal anomaly. This study suggests that NW–SE expansion of the southwest subbasin is later than the N–S expansion of the central basin with the sub-basin extending into the central basin and with both expansions ending at the same time. The expansion of southwestern sub-basin, similar to the Japanese Sea, is likely caused by left-lateral strike slip on the central fault zone in the South China Sea, which may have significance for finding oil and gas in this region.     

Mesozoic and early Cenozoic tectonic convergence-to-rifting transition prior to opening of the South China Sea

We have investigated Mesozoic geological problems around the South China Sea (SCS) based on gravimetric, magnetic, seismic, and lithofacies data. Three-dimensional analytical signal amplitudes (ASA) of magnetic anomalies clearly define the inland tectonic boundaries and the residual Mesozoic basins offshore. The ASA suggest that the degree of magmatism and/or the average magnetic susceptibility of igneous rocks increase southeastwards and that late-stage A-type igneous rocks present along the coast of southeast China possess the highest effective susceptibility. The geophysical data define Mesozoic sedimentary and tectonic structures and reveal four major unconformities [Pz/T–J, T–J/J, J/K, and Mesozoic/Cenozoic (Pz, Palaeozic; T, Triassic; J, Jurassic; K, Cretaceous)], corresponding to regional tectonic events revealed by nine palaeogeographic time slices based on prior geological surveys and our new fieldwork. Showing both sedimentary and volcanic facies and regional faults, our palaeogeographic maps confirm an early Mesozoic northwestward-migrating orogeny that gradually obliterated the Tethyan regime, and a middle-to-late Mesozoic southeastward migration and younging in synchronized extension, faulting, and magmatism. Three major phases of marine deposition developed but were subsequently terminated by tectonic compression, uplift, erosion, faulting, rifting, and/or magmatism. The tectonic transition from the Tethyan to Pacific regimes was completed by the end of the Middle Triassic (ca. 220 Ma), reflecting widespread Mesozoic orogeny. The transition from an active to a passive continental margin occurred at the end of the Early Cretaceous (ca. 100 Ma); this was accompanied by significant changes in sedimentary environments, due likely to an eastward retreat of the palaeo-Pacific subduction zone and/or to the collision of the West Philippine block with Eurasia. The overall Mesozoic evolution of southeast China comprised almost an entire cycle of orogenic build-up, peneplanation, and later extension, all under the influence of the subducting palaeo-Pacific plate. Continental margin extension and rifting continued into the early Cenozoic, eventually triggering the Oligocene opening of the SCS.     

试论南海新构造运动的时限及其差异性

根据南海地形地貌、地质地球物理剖面资料、重磁场异常、地壳结构特征和岩石圈动力学环境,对南海新构造运动起始时限进行了新的解释。传统的观点是把新近纪作为新构造下限,依此观点,南海地区在古近系、新近系之间应为不整合接触,但在此阶段并没有发生重大变革的构造事件。而符合南海地区准平原化阶段的时代是在中中新世末至晚中新世(N12/N13)之间,在此时段普遍存在区域构造不整合接触和地层缺失、断裂、变形及火山活动等构造变动事件。本文把中中新世末作为南海地区新构造运动开始的时间。通过对南海地区中中新世末至晚中新世之间的构造变动事件的对比研究,可以看出新构造运动在不同地点有时间和强度的差异性、构造运动的差异性、沉积相和沉积建造的差异性等特征。     

Late Mesozoic tectonic structure and evolution along the present-day northeastern South China Sea continental margin

The northeastern South China Sea continental margin holds the key to understanding Late Mesozoic tectonics and evaluating hydrocarbon potentials in Mesozoic tectonic and stratigraphic structures offshore southeast China. With newly obtained and processed seismic data, and new drilling and logging data, we correlate regional Mesozoic stratigraphy and analyze major Mesozoic tectonic events and structures. In particular, we focus our study on the three major tectonic units in the area, the Chaoshan Depression, the Tainan Basin, and the Dongsha–Penghu Uplift, which are separated by basement high, thrust fold, and (or) faults. Stratigraphic correlations suggest a major phase of southeastward regression, spanning in time from the late Early Jurassic (180 Ma) to the Early Cretaceous (120 Ma). Seismic data reveal two major tectonic events, with the first one in the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous, contemporary with the regression, and the second one in the Late Cretaceous. Regional magnetic anomaly map after the reduction to the pole clearly reveals the boundary between the Dongsha–Penghu Uplift and the Chaoshan–Tainan depositional system. The seismic and magnetic data also suggest that, while the Dongsha–Penghu Uplift has highly magnetized sources buried mostly in the upper crust at depths from about 2 km to about 20 km, the Chaoshan–Tainan depositional system has thick Mesozoic sediments of low magnetization.     

Insights about the structure and development of Zhongsha Bank in the South China Sea from integrated geophysical modelling

ABSTRACT

We construct a complete density transection based on the velocity structures across the Zhongsha Bank in the South China Sea. Gravity modelling of the lateral density contrasts between tectonic units helps us to determine the structural attributes and boundaries between continental blocks and deep basins. The configuration of the continent–ocean boundary (COB) around the Zhongsha Bank is mapped based on the gravity/magnetic anomaly and crustal structures. A low-density mantle is found beneath the Zhongsha Bank and the oceanic basins, and this mantle is associated with the high heat-flow background. The COB orientation is northeast-east in the north of the bank, with faulted linear structures. In further southeast, where there is a more intact crust, the COB orientation changed to north-northeast. The reconstructed density model and gravity/magnetic map indicate that the Zhongsha Bank is conjugated with the Liyue Bank by a rifted basin, where the crust had experienced localized deformation before the seafloor spreading. Because of the insufficient magmatism in the oceanic basin, the spreading ridge propagates into the weakened continental lithosphere between the two continental blocks, thus completely separating the Zhongsha Bank from the Liyue Bank. Seafloor spreading ridge jumps within the South China Sea may also be affected by the heterogeneous lithosphere beneath the continental blocks and oceanic basins.