南海北部洋陆转换带地震反射特征和结构单元划分

张裂大陆边缘和盆地主要通过岩石圈的伸展作用形成,被动大陆边缘岩石圈的减薄导致了岩浆的减压熔融,最终形成了洋壳和减薄的转换带。处理和分析了2010年中国科学院南海海洋研究所"实验2"号采集的南海北部地球物理调查的多道地震数据(MCS2010-1),总结了南海北部洋陆转换带的地震反射特征。转换带主要由北部裂陷期下沉区段,中部海山或埋藏海山隆起带和靠近海盆一侧的掀斜断块带组成。通过对比以前南海北部采集的反射地震数据和折射地震波速度模型,圈定了洋陆转换带的分布范围,洋陆转换带的宽度在南海东北部是225km,中部是160km,西北部是110km。依据零星的大于6级地震震中分布,揭示了南海北部洋陆转换带目前仍是一个地震构造活跃带。     

南海北部陆缘构造属性研究进展

南海北部陆缘位于特提斯与古太平洋两大构造域的叠合部位,构造特征十分复杂,其构造属性一直是国内外学者争论的焦点,从主动陆缘到被动陆缘,火山型被动陆缘到非火山型被动陆缘等均有表述。南海复杂的形成机制以及东、西部构造差异性所引起的地球物理、岩浆活动等认识的异同,是造成南海北部陆缘构造属性认识差异的主要原因。通过与全球典型地区的比较研究,进一步加强对南海形成演化过程分析,开展大洋钻探与多学科综合分析,揭示南海海盆的多期扩张与多盆张裂特征,是认识南海北部陆缘构造属性的关键。探讨了南海三叉裂谷张裂模式,初步认为南海第1次扩张具有非火山型被动陆缘性质,第2次扩张具有火山型陆缘性质。     

南海北部新生代盆地群构造特征及其成因

南海北部陆缘自西向东分布有北部湾、琼东南、珠江口和台西南等新生代盆地。前人认为这些盆地是华南大陆东南缘裂解直至南海北部被动陆缘形成过程中逐渐形成的,但大量地震剖面揭示,南海北缘主控盆断裂倾向陆地,与典型的被动陆缘的主断裂倾向海盆的特征明显不符。因而,南海北部陆架盆地成因显然不是被动大陆边缘的Mckenzie伸展机制。为此,基于大量陆地调查和海域地震剖面资料的对比,揭示了南海北部陆缘至少在34Ma之前不是被动大陆边缘,早期陆缘断裂十分发育,主控断层为NE—NNE走向,和陆地同期走滑断层具有连续性。这些NNE—NE向断裂右行右阶走滑控制了拉分盆地内的EW或NEE方向的次级断裂,并控制了盆地内部近EW向的次级构造单元展布。因此,新生代南海北部陆缘的一系列盆地是动力学成因上具有密切联系的右行右阶拉分盆地群。这个拉分成因模式与南海北部陆缘新生代盆地内部沉积沉降中心迁移、构造跃迁、岩浆展布等特征非常一致。而南海北部真正成为典型被动大陆边缘的时间是在15Ma之后,但此时南海却停止了扩张,而且大约在10～5Ma由于菲律宾海板块沿吕宋岛弧-台湾造山带逐步楔入欧亚板块导致最后的弥散性NWW向断裂切割南海北部所有构造。从盆地动力学考虑,南海北部陆架盆地的成因主要与太平洋板块的动力学联系较为紧密。     

南海北部白云凹陷及其邻区的岩石圈强度分析

选取纵穿南海北部陆缘的长排列多道地震剖面,利用挠曲回剥和重力异常模拟相结合的过程导向法(process-oriented gravity modelling,POGM),计算了研究区内不同构造单元同张裂及裂后阶段的岩石圈有效弹性厚度(effective elastic thickness,Te),并对其分布特征进行了详细分析。计算结果显示:张裂过程中岩石圈强度很弱;而裂后阶段岩石圈强度在不同构造单元并不相同,其中番禺低隆起和下陆坡区强度较高,Te约为15km,而在北部坳陷带为7km左右,白云凹陷地区强度最低,仅为5km左右。获得的岩石圈强度结果,加深了对南海北部大陆边缘盆地特征和岩石圈构造演化过程的认识,具有重要的意义。     

南沙地块南薇隆起区的地震反射特征和结构单元划分

南薇隆起区地处南沙地块西北部,紧邻西南次海盆,周围发育大量陆缘裂解盆地。裂陷盆地拥有丰富的油气资源。地块经历了中生代末期至古近纪裂谷拉张,并随晚始新世的海底扩张向南漂移至现今位置。结合区域以往地震剖面和钻井数据,分析了2013年中科院南海海洋研究所"实验2号"采集的高分辨率单道地震数据(Nan-1),总结了南薇隆起区的地震反射特征。认为南薇隆起区主要由南部裂陷下沉带和北部埋藏火山隆起带两个结构单元组成。从北到南,埋藏火山隆起带跨越约63km的范围,裂陷下沉带跨越约58km的范围。地震剖面清晰地揭示了该区向海盆侧隆起且在SE向成带的特征。南薇区具有拉张背景,其形成与演化主要是与西南次海盆的扩张作用,以及南沙地块与婆罗洲地块的碰撞作用等有关。自上新世以来,整个南薇隆起区进入构造活动相对稳定阶段,地壳稳定性较好。     

南海大陆边缘动力学研究进展:从陆缘裂解到海底扩张

南海处于印度—澳大利亚、欧亚和太平洋三大板块汇聚中心,地理位置独特,地质作用复杂,是研究大陆裂解—海底扩张过程以及大陆边缘动力学的天然地质实验室。通过总结近年来对南海大陆边缘动力学研究的最新进展认为:①南海北部陆缘为非火山型被动陆缘,其东段虽有岩浆底侵活动,但其为海底扩张结束后的产物,南部陆缘未发现下地壳高速层,也为非火山型陆缘;②南海陆缘上下地壳的拉张因子存在差异,表明陆缘的张裂变形在纵向上并非是均一的,而具有随深度变化的特点;③南海海盆是通过2期扩张形成的,具有由NE向SW渐进式扩张的特点,其东侧表现为成熟的洋盆,而西侧保留了更多陆缘裂谷的特征;④南海海盆形成的动力学模型存在碰撞挤出模型和古南海拖曳模型2种争论,2种模型各有优缺点,需要今后进一步综合研究。     

南海北部陆缘张裂—岩石圈折沉的地壳响应

南海北部陆缘在中生代晚期曾形成宏伟的华夏陆缘造山带。火成岩岩石学、岩相古地理学和地球物理学证据显示，该造山带不仅具有巨厚（50－60km)的陆壳，而且还有巨厚（160－180km)的岩石圈根，在地势上曾出现过高3500－4000m的华夏山系。陆缘裂陷盆地的形成发育历史、地壳－岩石圈深部结构、火成岩地球化学特征及理论计算均表明，南海北部陆缘从晚白垩世以来发生的张裂作用起始于华夏陆缘造山带的拉伸塌陷，岩石圈折沉是南海北部陆缘张裂的重要的引发机制。因此，南海北部陆缘张裂既不同于弧后扩张，也不受控于大西洋式的海底扩张，而是该区大陆构造演化和深部壳幔相互作用的结果。     

南海及其周缘中新生代火山活动时空特征与南海的形成模式

根据南海海区、华南和中南半岛的地面露头、钻井、拖网及地球物理资料,分析了南海地区火山活动的时空分布特点。在南海陆缘和周边陆区中生代末期花岗岩分布非常广泛。新生代火山岩活动规模较小,主要是海底扩张之后在洋盆扩张脊、北部陆缘的陆洋边界附近、雷琼地区和中南半岛南部的玄武岩。在南海北部陆缘的深部地震调查中发现,在地壳下部存在小规模的高速异常体,结合浅部的晚第三纪一第四纪火山活动,认为该高速体形成于南海扩张之后。这些特征表明,在南海的拉张过程中岩浆供应不丰富,在陆缘未形成大规模的侵入和喷出岩。南海陆缘属于岩浆匮乏型被动大陆边缘。南海海区残留多个刚性断裂陆块,反映了裂谷拉张过程中脆性破裂。根据这些特征,南海形成难以用印藏碰撞引起的软流圈物质上涌导致岩石圈破裂这样的模式来解释。     

南海南部海底地震仪试验及初步结果

采用德国SedisIV型海底地震仪(OBS)和中国科学院地质与地球物理研究所自主研发的OBS,以4×24.5L的大容量气枪阵列为震源,于2009年4～6月在南海南部开展了OBS试验,获得了两条勘测线,其中OBS2009-1测线(剖面1)从南海西南次海盆南部陆缘延伸到海盆中央,另一条OBS2009-2测线(剖面2)穿过礼乐滩东部向西北延伸进入海盆。由剖面2的14台OBS采集的广角地震反射、折射勘测地震数据可知,此次试验,OBS地震记录清晰、震相丰富,所使用的气枪有足够的能量输出,显示了其良好的工作能力,是一次比较成功的地震勘测。数据初步处理和初至波层析成像结果表明,礼乐滩地块的基底较高,很有可能与南海北部陆缘存在共轭关系,但与南海北部陆缘不同的是,北部陆缘有较厚的沉积层覆盖,而礼乐滩块体上的沉积层很薄;东部次海盆地壳明显被拉薄,海盆内的地壳也很薄,莫霍面埋深较浅。     

南海北部陆缘张裂--岩石圈拆沉的地壳响应

南海北部陆缘在中生代晚期曾形成宏伟的华夏陆缘造山带。火成岩岩石学、岩相古地理学和地球物理学证据显示，该造山带不仅具有巨厚(50～60 km)的陆壳，而且还有巨厚(160～180 km)的岩石圈根，在地势上曾出现过高3 500～4 000 m 的华夏山系。陆缘裂陷盆地的形成发育历史、地壳-岩石圈深部结构、火成岩地球化学特征及理论计算均表明，南海北部陆缘从晚白垩世以来发生的张裂作用起始于华夏陆缘造山带的拉伸塌陷，岩石圈拆沉是南海北部陆缘张裂的重要的引发机制。因此，南海北部陆缘张裂既不同于弧后扩张，也不受控于大西洋式的海底扩张，而是该区大陆构造演化和深部壳幔相互作用的结果。     

南海热流分布特征

南海地热异常明显与主要构造断裂带和水热/岩浆活动有关。东部平行于马尼拉海沟的一条SN向低热流异常带起因于南海洋壳对吕宋岛的俯冲。南沙海槽及其南部陆缘的地温场比较复杂。南部的曾母盆地是一个显著的高地热异常区,它起因于年轻的构造拉张,其地幔热流高达中央海盆洋壳的地幔热流值。西南次海盆也是一个高地热异常区,虽然该次海盆形成较早,但与年轻的构造拉张有关。热流资料的分析结果表明,南海中央海盆西缘断裂带、西南次海盆和曾母盆地构成的NE向高热流异常带可能是一个大型的现代构造拉张带。     

珠江口盆地开平凹陷断裂构造特征与动力学机制探讨

珠江口盆地作为南海北部陆缘勘探程度较高的含油气盆地,断裂特征分析对认识盆地演化模式和油气成藏机理至关重要。根据高分辨率地震数据和钻井资料对盆地西南部开平凹陷进行精细地震地质解释,依据断裂级别与规模将该区断裂构造类型划分为一级控盆断裂、二级控凹断裂、三级控带断裂以及四级控圈断裂;在地震剖面上识别出“Y”字型断层、阶梯状断层及卷心型断层等多种剖面组合样式;根据断裂平面分布图识别出平行式、雁列式、斜交式3种平面组合类型;定量统计断裂走向特征可知,在右旋应力场作用下,自始新世到早中新世断裂走向持续发生近NE→EW→近NW向的顺时针旋转,且断裂活动性逐渐减弱。并认为受印度?欧亚板块碰撞、太平洋板块俯冲后撤和古南海持续南移的影响,盆地形成典型的伸展拉张应力场环境,促成始新世?渐新世期间近NE向、EW向和中新世期间发育的近NW向3组断裂发育。对开平凹陷的地质构造特征加以解释补充,为南海北缘洋陆过渡带的发育特性和成因机制提供参考。     

海盆沉积“源-汇”系统分析:南海北部珠江海谷-西北次海盆第四纪深水浊积扇

运用近年来采集的高分辨率地震资料和多波束测深数据,在珠江海谷及西北次海盆深海平原区发现大规模发育的第四纪重力流沉积体系,该沉积体系沿珠江海谷以北西-南南东方向贯穿整个北部陆坡,进入西北次海盆后呈扇形展开,形成珠江海谷-西北次海盆大型深水浊积扇系统。据沉积体系空间展布特征差异,将珠江海谷划分为北、中、南三段,北段为过路侵蚀和水道下切,中段以水道充填和天然堤沉积为主,南段以水道-天然堤和朵叶体沉积共存为特征,揭示出北部陆坡珠江海谷是珠江口外陆缘物质输送海盆深海平原的主要通道;海盆区总体以朵叶体发育为特色,呈扇形展布。深水扇系统可分为三期次沉积体,其区域结构记录了重力流沉积物从侵蚀、卸载到南海海盆作为限制性盆地接收陆源沉积物的全过程,为“源-渠-汇”的研究构建了一个完美的范例。本文以珠江海谷-西北次海盆第四纪深水浊积扇沉积体系为例,完整地揭示了水道-扇体的组构和特征,清晰呈现了陆坡-海盆砂体展布的规律,可为建立南海北部新近纪早期深水扇形成模式提供参考,有助于指导南海深水油气勘探工作。     

Deep structures of the Palawan and Sulu Sea and their implications for opening of the South China Sea

Compared to the northern South China Sea continental margin, the deep structures and tectonic evolution of the Palawan and Sulu Sea and ambient regions are not well understood so far. However, this part of the southern continental margin and adjacent areas embed critical information on the opening of the South China Sea (SCS). In this paper, we carry out geophysical investigations using regional magnetic, gravity and reflection seismic data. Analytical signal amplitudes (ASA) of magnetic anomalies are calculated to depict the boundaries of different tectonic units. Curie-point depths are estimated from magnetic anomalies using a windowed wavenumber-domain algorithm. Application of the Parker–Oldenburg algorithm to Bouguer gravity anomalies yields a 3D Moho topography. The Palawan Continental Block (PCB) is defined by quiet magnetic anomalies, low ASA, moderate depths to the top and bottom of the magnetic layer, and its northern boundary is further constrained by reflection seismic data and Moho interpretation. The PCB is found to be a favorable area for hydrocarbon exploration. However, the continent–ocean transition zone between the PCB and the SCS is characterized by hyper-extended continental crust intruded with magmatic bodies. The NW Sulu Sea is interpreted as a relict oceanic slice and the geometry and position of extinct trench of the Proto South China Sea (PSCS) is further constrained. With additional age constraints from inverted Moho and Curie-point depths, we confirm that the spreading of the SE Sulu Sea started in the Early Oligocene/Late Eocene due to the subduction of the PSCS, and terminated in the Middle Miocene by the obduction of the NW Sulu Sea onto the PCB.     

台湾海峡盆地的地质构造特征及演化

分析了台湾海峡盆地形成的区域地质背景,将其纳入东海和南海盆地形成的框架内考虑,研究其区域演化阶段和盆地演化特征。结果表明,以台湾海峡盆地为中心的包括南海北部陆缘和东海在内的中国东南沿海地区在古新世—始新世期间处于统一的边缘海盆构造背景之下,而自晚始新世起,南海北部大陆边缘与其北部的台湾海峡地区、东海逐渐走上了不同的演化道路,前者向非典型的被动大陆边缘演变,而后者则继续其自古新世—始新世以来的演化进程,形成了自古新世至晚中新世间的4个有序分布的裂陷盆地群和相应的盆间弧体系。台湾海峡盆地有两次独特的前陆盆地经历,分别发生于晚渐新世—早中新世和晚中新世末至今,并且以第二次前陆最为强烈。     

Geophysical investigations of crust-scale structural model of the Qiongdongnan Basin, Northern South China Sea

Rifting of the Qiongdongnan Basin was initiated in the Cenozoic above a pre-Cenozoic basement, which was overprinted by extensional tectonics and soon after the basin became part of the rifted passive continental margin of the South China Sea. We have integrated available grids of sedimentary horizons, wells, seismic reflection data, and the observed gravity field into the first crust-scale structural model of the Qiongdongnan Basin. Many characteristics of this model reflect the tectonostratigraphic history of the basin. The structure and isopach maps of the basin allow us to reconstruct the history of the basin comprising: (a) The sediments of central depression are about 10 km thicker than on the northern and southern sides; (b) The sediments in the western part of the basin are about 6 km thicker than that in the eastern part; (c) a dominant structural trend of gradually shifting depocentres from the Paleogene sequence (45–23.3 Ma) to the Neogene to Quaternary sequence (23.3 Ma–present) towards the west or southwest. The present-day configuration of the basin reveals that the Cenozoic sediments are thinner towards the east. By integrating several reflection seismic profiles, interval velocity and performing gravity modeling, we model the sub-sedimentary basement of the Qiongdongnan Basin. There are about 2–4 km thick high-velocity bodies horizontal extended for a about 40–70 km in the lower crust (v > 7.0 km/s) and most probably these are underplated to the lower stretched continental crust during the final rifting and early spreading phase. The crystalline continental crust spans from the weakly stretched domains (about 25 km thick) near the continental shelf to the extremely thinned domains (<2.8 km) in the central depression, representing the continental margin rifting process in the Qiongdongnan Basin. Our crust-scale structural model shows that the thinnest crystalline crust (<3 km) is found in the Changchang Sag located in the east of the basin, and the relatively thinner crystalline crust (<3.5 km) is in the Ledong Lingshui Sag in the west of the basin. The distribution of crustal extension factor β show that β in central depression is higher (>7.0), while that on northern and southern sides is lower (<3.0). This model can illuminate future numerical simulations, including the reconstruction of the evolutionary processes from the rifted basin to the passive margin and the evolution of the thermal field of the basin.     

The role of rifting in the development of the continental margins of the southwest subbasin,South China Sea: Insights from an OBS experiment

The continental margins of the southwest subbasin in the South China Sea mark a unique transition from multi-stages magma-poor continental rifting to seafloor spreading. We used reflection and refraction profiles across the margins to investigate the rifting process of the crust. Combining with the other seismic profiles acquired earlier, we focused on the comparative geological interpretation from the result of multichannel seismic analysis and wide-angle seismic tomography. Our result provides the evidence of upper crustal layer with abundant fractures below the acoustic basement with a P-wave velocity from 4.0 to 5.5 km s^?1. It indicates extensive deformation of the brittle crust during the continental rifting and can make a good explanation for the observed extension discrepancy in the rift margins of the South China Sea. The seismic chronostratigraphic result shows the possibility of the intra-continental extension center stayed focused for quite a long time in Eocene. Additionally, our evidence suggested that continental margin of the southwest subbasin had experienced at least three rifting stages and the existence of the rigid blocks is an appropriate explanation to the asymmetric rifting of the South China Sea.     

Magnetic zoning and seismic structure of the South China Sea ocean basin

We made a systematic investigation on major structures and tectonic units in the South China Sea basin based on a large magnetic and seismic data set. For enhanced magnetic data interpretation, we carried out various data reduction procedures, including upward continuation, reduction to the pole, 3D analytic signal and power spectrum analyses, and magnetic depth estimation. Magnetic data suggest that the South China Sea basin can be divided into five magnetic zones, each with a unique magnetic pattern. Zone A corresponds roughly to the area between Taiwan Island and a relict transform fault, zone B is roughly a circular feature between the relict transform fault and the northwest sub-basin, and zones C, D, and E are the northwest sub-basin, the east sub-basin, and the southwest sub-basin, respectively. This complexity in basement magnetization suggests that the South China Sea evolved from multiple stages of opening under different tectonic settings. Magnetic reduction also fosters improved interpretation on continental margin structures, such as Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary basins and the offshore south China magnetic anomaly. We also present, for the first time, interpretations of three new 2D reflection seismic traverses, which are of ~2,000 km in total length and across all five magnetic zones. Integration of magnetic and seismic data enables us to gain a better 3D mapping on the basin structures. It is shown that the transition from the southwest sub-basin to the east sub-basin is characterized by a major ridge formed probably along a pre-existing fracture zone, and by a group of primarily west-dipping faults forming an exact magnetic boundary between zones D and E. The northwest sub-basin has the deepest basement among the three main sub-basins (i.e., the northwest sub-basin, the southwest sub-basin, and the east sub-basin). Our seismic data also reveal a strongly faulted continent–ocean transition zone of about 100 km wide, which may become wider and dominated with magmatism or transit to an oceanic crust further to the northeast.     

Characteristics of seismic reflections in central region of the South China Sea and their geological significance

I~IOXThe speCiality in gootectonic position and complicity in origin and evolution of the sleuth China Sea (SCS) has aroused particular attention of the geoscientists at home and abroad. The central region, which consists of continental slope, island slope and a deep-sea basin, is an importantarea for the study of the mechanism of origin and evolution of the SCS. In addition to the surveysof bathemetry, gravity and magnetism, seismic surveys have been carried out by domestic andforeign in…     

Rifting to Spreading Process along the Northern Continental Margin of the South China Sea

Understanding the development from syn-rift to spreading in the South China Sea (SCS) is important in elucidating the western Pacific's tectonic evolution because the SCS is a major tectonic constituent of the many marginal seas in the region. This paper describes research examining the transition from rifting to spreading along the northern margin of the SCS, made possible by the amalgamation of newly acquired and existing geophysical data. The northernmost SCS was surveyed as part of a joint Japan-China cooperative project (JCCP) in two phases in 1993 and 1994. The purpose of the investigation was to reveal seismic and magnetic characteristics of the transitional zone between continental crust and the abyssal basin. Compilation of marine gravity and geomagnetic data of the South China Sea clarify structural characteristics of its rifted continental and convergent margins, both past and present. Total and three component magnetic data clearly indicate the magnetic lineations of the oceanic basin and the magnetic characteristics of its varied margins. The analyses of magnetic, gravity and seismic data and other geophysical and geological information from the SCS led up to the following results: (1) N-S direction seafloor spreading started from early Eocene. There were at least four separate evolutional stages. Directions and rates of the spreading are fluctuating and unstable and spreading continued from 32 to 17 Ma. (2) The apparent difference in the present tectonism of the eastern and western parts of Continent Ocean Boundary (COB) implies that in the east of the continental breakup is governed by a strike slip faulting. (3) The seismic high velocity layer in the lower crust seems to be underplated beneath the stretched continental crust. (4) Magnetic anomaly of the continental margin area seems to be rooted in the uppermost sediment and upper part of lower crust based on the tertiary volcanism. (5) Magnetic quiet zone (MQZ) anomaly in the continental margin area coincides with COB. (6) The non-magnetic or very weakly magnetized layer is probably responsible for MQZ. One of the causes of demagnetization of the layer is due to hydrothermal alteration while high temperature mantle materials being underplated. Another explanation is that horizontal sequences of basalt each with flip-flop magnetization polarity cancel out to the resultant magnetic field on the surface. We are currently developing a synthetic database system containing datasets of seismicity, potential field data, crustal and thermal structures, and other geophysical data to facilitate the study of past, contemporary and future changes in the deep sea environment around Japan; i.e. trench, trough, subduction zones, marginal basins and island arcs. Several special characteristics are an object-oriented approach to the collection and multi-faceted studies of global data from a variety of sources.