Cretaceous tectonic and biotic evolution of the southeastern Russian continental margin

The Cretaceous tectonic and geodynamic settings of the southeastern Russian continental margin are discussed using data generated during several recent geological studies. The structural patterns of the East Asian Cretaceous continental margin are the result of the influence of global and regional processes. The interaction and reorganization of the Eurasian, Pacific and other related plates induced intraplate tectonic processes such as rifting, subduction, collision, transform faulting, and basin formation. Three major basin types are recognized in this area: (i) mainly marine active continental margins associated with shear components (Sangjian–Middle Amur Basin); (ii) passive continental margins (Bureya, Partizansk, and Razdolny basins); (iii) intracontinental basins (Amur–Zeya Basin). The evolution of the biota in this region allows the examination of Early and Late Cretaceous biostratigraphy, faunal and floral changes, and the phytogeography of the southeastern Russian continental margin.     

Seismic stratigraphy and sedimentation history of the East Mariana Basin,western Pacific

An interpretation of the seismic stratigraphy and sedimentation history of the East Mariana Basin has been made using recently collected seismic reflection and refraction data. This Mesozoic(?) age basin, between the Marshall Islands and the Mariana Trench, is subdivided into three regions. The central region with about 1000 m of sediment probably records Jurassic to Late Cretaceous sedimentation of a pelagic biogenic and clay-rich section overlain by a thick section of mainly Cenozoic carbonates shed from nearby volcanic platforms. A western region is characterized by a thinner sediment cover and a shallower acoustic basement with a similar sedimentation history except that the upper section is thinner as a consequence of fewer nearby volcanic highs. Extensive Late Cretaceous mid-plate volcanics apparently masks the lower section and forms acoustic basement. The shallower eastern region (east of 157.5°E) contains WNW-trending ridges which may be either fracture zones or high-amplitude abyssal hills. The sedimentation appears controlled by the same factors as in the other regions but the area was bypassed by most Cenozoic basin-filling turbidites because of its elevation.The isostatistically corrected basement depths between the three regions suggest that the crust in the east may be substantially younger than in the rest of the East Mariana Basin, perhaps Cretaceous in age. This requires the existence of a tectonic boundary within the basin.     

Cenozoic stratigraphy and sedimentation history of the northern Philippine Sea based on multichannel seismic reflection data

Abstract To clarify the regional distribution and characteristics of the sedimentary deposits in the northern part of the Philippine Sea, multichannel seismic reflection surveys of 26 864 km in total length were performed. The seismic reflection data were interpreted and correlated with available Deep Sea Drilling Project/Ocean Drilling Program (DSDP/ODP) data and a general stratigraphic framework of the area was established. The sedimentary deposits in this area were divided into five layers; Units I, II, III, IV and V in ascending order. Their approximate geological ages are the Early Eocene, Middle to Late Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene and Pliocene‐Pleistocene, respectively. Seismic records were classified into three seismic facies, Facies A, B and C, on the basis of their characteristics. They were judged to represent pelagic and hemipelagic sediments of non‐volcanic origin, fine pyroclastic sediments and coarse pyroclastic or volcanic sediments, respectively, by comparing them with lithological data in the DSDP/ODP holes. From the thickness and facies distributions of these sediments, a sedimentary history in the area was reconstructed as follows. The oldest sediments in the study area, Unit I, interfinger with some parts of the Daito Ridge (acoustic basement) in the Minami Daito Basin. The geological age of the unit is estimated by microfossils in the sediment and supports the idea that this part of the Daito Ridge is composed of the Early Eocene oceanic basalt. Later, a fair amount of sediments were deposited in the Minami Daito Basin in the Middle to Late Eocene age. A large volume of volcanic materials was supplied from the Paleo‐Kyushu‐Palau Ridge in the Kita Daito Basin in the Eocene and Oligocene ages. The eastern part of the Shikoku and Parece Vela basins is characterized by volcanic sediments supplied from the Nishi Shichito and West Mariana Ridges in the Miocene age. However, pelagic and hemipelagic sediments prevail in the northern part of the Shikoku Basin in the Miocene or later. In short, the area of principal sedimentation has generally shifted from west to east through geological time, reflecting the evolution of the island arc systems with the same trend in the northern Philippine Sea.     

New insights on the origin of the basement of the Xisha Uplift,South China Sea

The study of basement geochronology provides crucial insights into the tectonic evolution of oceans. However, early studies on the basement of the Xisha Uplift were constrained by limited geophysical and seismic data; Xiyong1 was the only commercial borehole drilled during the 1970 s because of the huge thickness of overlying Cenozoic strata on the continental margin. Utilizing two newly-acquired basement samples from borehole XK1, we present petrological analysis and zircon uranium(U)-lead(Pb) isotope dating data in this paper that enhance our understanding of the formation and tectonic features of the Xisha Uplift basement. Results indicate that this basement is composed of Late Jurassic amphibole plagiogneisses that have an average zircon 206 Pb/238 U age of 152.9±1.7 Ma. However, the youngest age of these rocks, 137±1 Ma, also suggests that metamorphism termination within the Xisha basement occurred by the Early Cretaceous. These metamorphic rocks have adamellites underneath them which were formed by magmatic intrusions during the late stage of the Early Cretaceous(107.8±3.6 Ma). Thus, in contrast to the Precambrian age(bulk rubidium(Rb)-strontium(Sr) analysis, 627 Ma) suggested by previous work on the nearby Xiyong1 borehole, zircons from XK1 are likely the product of Late Mesozoic igneous activity. Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous regional metamorphism and granitic intrusions are not confined to Xisha; rocks have also been documented from areas including the Pearl River Mouth Basin and the Nansha Islands(Spratly Islands) and thus are likely closely related to large-scale and long-lasting subduction of the paleo-Pacific plate underneath the continental margins of East Asia, perhaps the result of closure of the Meso-Tethys in the South China Sea(SCS). Controversies remain as to whether, or not, the SCS region developed initially on a uniform Precambrian-aged metamorphic crystalline basement. It is clear, however, that by this time both Mesozoic compressive subduction and Cenozoic rifting and extension had significantly modified the original basement of the SCS region.     

Texture and tectonic attribute of Cenozoic basin basement in the northern South China Sea

Based on the drilling data,the geological characteristics of the coast in South China,and the interpretation of the long seismic profiles covering the Pearl River Mouth Basin and southeastern Hainan Basin,the basin basement in the northern South China Sea is divided into four structural layers,namely,Pre-Sinian crystalline basement,Sinian-lower Paleozoic,upper Paleozoic,and Mesozoic structural layers.This paper discusses the distribution range and law and reveals the tectonic attribute of each structural layer.The Pre-Sinian crystalline basement is distributed in the northern South China Sea,which is linked to the Pre-Sinian crystalline basement of the Cathaysian Block and together they constitute a larger-scale continental block—the Cathaysian-northern South China Sea continental block.The Sinian-lower Paleozoic structural layer is distributed in the northern South China Sea,which is the natural extension of the Caledonian fold belt in South China to the sea area.The sediments are derived from southern East China Sea-Taiwan,Zhongsha-Xisha islands and Yunkai ancient uplifts,and some small basement uplifts.The Caledonian fold belt in the northern South China Sea is linked with that in South China and they constitute the wider fold belt.The upper Paleozoic structural layer is unevenly distributed in the northern South China.In the basement of Beibu Gulf Basin and southwestern Taiwan Basin,the structural layer is composed of the stable epicontinental sea deposit.The distribution areas in the Pearl River Mouth Basin and the southeastern Hainan Basin belong to ancient uplifts in the late Paleozoic,lacking the upper Paleozoic structural layers.The stratigraphic distribution and sedimentary environment in Middle-Late Jurassic to Cretaceous are characteristic of differentiation in the east and the west.The marine,paralic deposit is well developed in the basin basement of southwestern Taiwan but the volcanic activity is not obvious.The marine and paralic facies deposit is distributed in the eastern Pearl River Mouth Basin basement and the volcanic activity is stronger.The continental facies volcano-sediment in the Early Cretaceous is distributed in the basement of the western Pearl River Mouth Basin and Southeastern Hainan Basin.The Upper Cretaceous red continental facies clastic rocks are distributed in the Beibu Gulf Basin and Yinggehai Basin.The NE direction granitic volcanic-intrusive complex,volcano-sedimentary basin,fold and fault in Mesozoic basement have the similar temporal and spatial distribution,geological feature,and tectonic attribute with the coastal land in South China,and they belong to the same magma-deposition-tectonic system,which demonstrates that the late Mesozoic structural layer was formed in the background of active continental margin.Based on the analysis of basement structure and the study on tectonic attribute,the paleogeographic map of the basin basement in different periods in the northern South China Sea is compiled.     

Sedimentary fill history of the Huicheng Basin in the West Qinling Mountains and associated constraints on Mesozoic intracontinental tectonic evolution

The Qinling Orogenic Belt is divided commonly by the Fengxian-Taibai strike-slip shear zone and the Huicheng Basin into the East and West Qinling mountains,which show significant geological differences after the Indosinian orogeny.The Fengxian-Taibai fault zone and the Meso-Cenozoic Huicheng Basin,situated at the boundary of the East and West Qinling,provide a natural laboratory for tectonic analysis and sedimentological study of intracontinental tectonic evolution of the Qinling Orogenic Belt.In order to explain the dynamic development of the Huicheng Basin and elucidate its post-orogenic tectonic evolution at the junction of the East and West Qinling,we studied the geometry and kinematics of fault zones between the blocks of West Qinling,as well as the sedimentary fill history of the Huicheng Basin.First,we found that after the collisional orogeny in the Late Triassic,post-orogenic extensional collapse occurred in the Early and Middle Jurassic within the Qinling Orogenic Belt,resulting in a series of rift basins.Second,in the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous,a NE-SW compressive stress field caused large-scale sinistral strike-slip faults in the Qinling Orogenic Belt,causing intracontinental escape tectonics at the junction of the East and West Qinling,including eastward finite escape of the East Qinling micro-plate and southwest lateral escape of the Bikou Terrane.Meanwhile,the strike-slip-related Early Cretaceous sedimentary basin was formed with a right-order echelon arrangement in sinistral shear zones along the southern margin of the Huicheng fault.Overall during the Mesozoic,the Huicheng Basin and surrounding areas experienced four tectonic evolutionary stages,including extensional rift basin development in the Early and Middle Jurassic,intense compressive uplift in the Late Jurassic,formation of a strike-slip extensional basin in the Early Cretaceous,and compressive uplift in the Late Cretaceous.     

Geodynamical evolution of the transition zone of the Amundsen Sea (West Antarctica,the Southern Ocean)

The paper is based on the results of geoscience investigations conducted within the continental margin of the Amundsen Sea during the expeditions of the German research vessel “Polarstern”. The analysis and interpretation of the new data together with the geological and geophysical information available from the earlier studies of this region showed that the transition zone of the Amundsen Sea was formed as an Atlantic-type passive margin since the end of the Late Cretaceous to the present time. The tectonic-magmatic evolution of the continental margin has been significantly affected by the mantle-plume activity that led to the destruction of the continental and oceanic basement and to the formation of the Marie Byrd Seamount Province.     

辽宁及邻区背景噪声面波群速度结构研究

收集辽宁及邻区59个宽频带地震仪记录的自2012年1月1日至12月31日的背景噪声连续波形垂向记录, 以背景噪声的方法获取辽宁及邻区面波群速度图像。 过程采用互相关的方法提取瑞利面波格林函数, 利用CPS330提取了群速度的频散曲线, 共从1655条频散曲线中筛选出了1233条信噪比较高的频散曲线。 将研究区划分为0.5°×0.5°的网格, 应用的层析成像方法得到了周期为8~40 s的瑞利面波群速度结构分布。 结果表明: 辽宁地区地壳及上地幔存在明显的横向不均匀性。 短周期群速度分布与研究区内断裂带及地质构造地貌形态表现出良好的相关性, 其中8~15 s周期内群速度分布特征与盆地坳陷、 山区隆起对应性较好, 呈“两垒高, 一堑低”的群速度分布特点, 基本与地质构造相吻合, 地震多位于高低速过渡带内。 较长周期20~30 s的群速度在渤海湾-辽东湾中存在低速异常, 显示了渤海湾盆地和下辽河盆地具有较厚的沉积层覆盖。 35~40 s与莫霍面的深度有明显关联性,莫霍面埋深大体呈西厚东薄的特点。 38~40 s周期内郯庐断裂带东侧的低速异常可能说明渤海内存在局部的热物质上涌现象。 本文结果较好地反映了研究区内地貌地质构造情况, 与区域内地壳及上地幔结构的相关研究成果相吻合, 为辽宁及邻区的地震活动构造背景及地震孕育机理提供重要参考资料。     

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.     

海拉尔盆地中-上地壳电性结构特征研究

本文通过对横穿海拉尔盆地的一条长约222km的北西—南东向大地电磁测深剖面数据的定性分析及二维定量反演解释,首次获得了海拉尔盆地高精度大范围的电性结构图.海拉尔盆地中-上地壳电性结构纵向上具有典型的分层特性,总体可分为四层,即低阻层-高阻层-低阻层-高阻层,而横向上又具有分块特点.海拉尔盆地边缘及内部分布的众多断裂将盆地划分为隆起与坳陷相间的格局,并发现盆地内部坳陷区也存在有小规模凸起,每一构造单元内部电性结构各具特点.海拉尔盆地中-上地壳低阻层底面最深达28km,通常在6~16km之间,但厚度变化不大,在4~10km之间,且隆起区与坳陷区底面埋深差别较大.据电性结构模型推测出两条新断裂F8和F9,且断裂F9规模较大,为基底断裂.中-上地壳的低阻层可能在一定程度上控制着海拉尔盆地内油气田的分布格局.     

Processing and interpretation of vintage 2D marine seismic data from the outer Hanö Bay area,Baltic Sea

A grid of previously unpublished, vintage 2D marine seismic lines has been processed and interpreted to the east of Hanö Bay, SW Baltic Sea. The 3200 km² study area lies on the transition between the Hanö Bay Basin to the West and Baltic Synelcise to the East, NE of the Tornquist intra shield tectonic zone.Data from the NA79, NA80 and RW84 surveys were selected for this study from the extensive Oljeprospektering AB (OPAB) Baltic Sea dataset. New processing workflows have been developed for the data which focus on suppressing two significant forms of noise, namely multiple and side scattered noise. Deconvolution in the tau-p domain, parabolic radon demultiple and post stack deconvolution are shown to be effective at attenuating multiple noise, while FK filtering in shot and receiver gathers is effective at removing side scattered noise.The newly processed data were interpreted and a series of maps detailing the structure of the basement, Cambrian and Silurian/Paleozoic horizons were constructed. These maps differ significantly to previously published interpretations of the area. Within the study area, a region of significant Late Carboniferous/Early Permian transtensional faulting and Late Cretaceous inversion is mapped in detail. This structure would have exhibited normal offsets of up to 600 m before inversion with later inverted displacements of up to approximately 200 m in places. This feature appears to extend some 20 km to the SW of the study area to the major fault bounding the Christiansø High. Based on the seismic interpretation, the area appears to have had a similar overall geological history as the adjacent Tornquist Zone to the SW.     

湘西沅麻盆地早白垩世红层古地磁学研究及其对川东褶皱带新生代构造变形的指示

川东褶皱带作为华南板块中部的"侏罗山式"褶皱,开始形成于晚古生代.自白垩纪晚期开始,受太平洋板块和印度板块对欧亚大陆挤压的影响,这一构造带乃至华南板块中部又叠加了新的构造变形.但是,目前对于川东褶皱带白垩纪以来的构造演化缺乏足够的认识.位于川东褶皱带东侧、雪峰造山带西麓的沅麻盆地形成于早白垩世.晚白垩世以来,沅麻盆地与川东褶皱带处于同一构造应力场中,因此对盆地内早白垩世红层的古地磁研究对于解释川东褶皱带中生代晚期以来的构造演化有着重要的意义.该研究在沅麻盆地早白垩世红层中开展的古地磁学研究获得了可靠的原生剩磁分量：Ds=15.6°,Is=42.9°,k=118.6,α95=2.6°,表明沅麻盆地自早白垩世以来发生了4.1°±3.0°的顺时针构造转动.对川东褶皱带周缘白垩纪古地磁数据所揭示的地壳旋转变形,与断裂和褶皱轴组成的构造线迹变化之间的线性相关性分析,表明川东褶皱带位于齐岳山断裂带东南侧的部分,受印度板块-欧亚大陆、太平洋板块-华南板块间的挤压作用,自晚白垩世以来累积了约50~93 km的右旋错断量.     

The age and genesis of the structures in the Amerasian basin

An insufficient number of dated native samples and indistinct magnetic anomalies in the Amerasian Basin prevent geophysicists from identifying the exact age of most of its structural elements. Due to this, it is impossible to gain an insight into the evolution of this vast region, which is highly promising in terms of its hydrocarbon potential. Therefore, the geological time of the formation of the structural elements composing the Amerasian Basin is determined either hypothetically or very loosely (for example, Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic). In order to more precisely estimate the time of formation of the structural elements within the Amerasian Basin, we applied the geothermal method, which is highly informative in terms of the age of the lithosphere, its thickness, and the evolution of the basin structures. Besides, this method provides far narrower time constraints for the formation of the structures compared to the geological data. Based on the thermal flow data, we have numerically calculated the age of the structural elements composing the Amerasian Basin: Podvodnikov Basin (97–79 Ma), Makarov Basin (75–61 Ma), Alpha-Mendeleev Ridge (97–79 Ma), and Lomonosov Ridge (69–57 Ma). The age of these structures derived from the geothermal data agrees with the estimates determined from the geological, geomagnetic, seismic, and radiometric data. Based on the age of the structures estimated from the thermal flow data and the analysis of the geological and geophysical evidence, conclusions are made concerning the genesis and character of formation of the Podvodnikov and Makarov basins and the Alpha-Mendeleev and Lomonosov ridges within the Amerasian Basin.

     

Intra-arc opening and closure of a marginal sea: The case of the Guerrero Terrane (SW Mexico)

Abstract The pre-Oligocene structure of southwest Mexico, south of the trans-Mexico volcanic axis, is investigated from Taxco (Guerrero state, abbreviation: Gro) to the Pacific coast. Three volcano-sedimentary units are recognized; from east to west the calc-alkaline Teloloapan, tholeiitic Arcelia and calc-alkaline Zihuatanejo suites. Structural and stratigraphic data show that the Teloloapan volcanic arc, active during ?Late Jurassic and early Cretaceous, was built upon continental basement. The Teloloapan lavas are overlain by the Albian–Cenomanian Morelos platform carbonates and followed by the Upper Cretaceous Mexcala flysch. In contrast, the Arcelia pillow lavas are associated with sandstones and cherts of Albian-?Cenomanian age. The Zihuatanejo arc was also installed upon continental basement and its magmatic activity was in part coeval with Arcelia magmatism. Unlike the almost undeformed Zihuatanejo volcanic rocks, all the other volcanic units are involved in east-vergent thrusting and recumbent folding associated with ductile tectonics, as well as the Late Cretaceous Mexcala flysch overlying the Morelos platform carbonates. Contrasting with previous views, the present results do not support a major mid-Cretaceous thrusting event in the study area. The new geodynamic interpretation proposed here considers that the Arcelia rocks were formed in a marginal basin situated east of the Zihuatanejo arc. Closure of this basin in Paleocene times is responsible for the east vergent thrust tectonics in SW Mexico.     

辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流

辽河盆地是一个在前中生代基底上发展起来的裂谷盆地,实测大地热流平均值为65mW/m²,变动于44-83mW/m²之间。在给出地壳结构模型并确定各岩层放射性生热率的基础上,采用“剥层”法从地表开始,自上而下,由浅及深地扣除各岩层所提供的热量,从而得出地幔热流值。结果表明,辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流为41mW/m²,占整个地表总热流量的63％。可见,本区热量大部分来自地幔。与世界上其它地质构造单元相比,辽河裂谷盆地无论地幔热流绝对值或其与地表热流之比值,都具有介于稳定地区和构造活动区之间的特点。作者认为,辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流的上述特点,乃是中、新生代以来本区长期地质历史发展的产物。     

辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流

辽河盆地是一个在前中生代基底上发展起来的裂谷盆地,实测大地热流平均值为65mW/m2,变动于44—83mW/m2之间。在给出地壳结构模型并确定各岩层放射性生热率的基础上,采用“剥层”法从地表开始,自上而下,由浅及深地扣除各岩层所提供的热量,从而得出地幔热流值。结果表明,辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流为41mW/m2,占整个地表总热流量的63％。可见,本区热量大部分来自地幔。与世界上其它地质构造单元相比,辽河裂谷盆地无论地幔热流绝对值或其与地表热流之比值,都具有介于稳定地区和构造活动区之间的特点。作者认为,辽河裂谷盆地地幔热流的上述特点,乃是中、新生代以来本区长期地质历史发展的产物。     

Mesozoic doming extensional tectonics of Wugongshan, South China

Wugongshan in Jiangxi Province, China was a Mesozoic granitic dome-type extensional tectonics that is composed of metamorphic core complexes, ductile and brittle shear-deformed zones distributed around Mesozoic granites. Within it, the foliation defines an E-W elliptical shape and bears S-N stretching lineations. The axial part is located in Hongjiang-Wanlongshan area and occupied by oriented granites with coaxial symmetric shear fabrics. The southem and northern flanks, including rocks in the Anfu Basin to the south and the Pingxiang Basin to the north, display top-to-south and top-to-north motions, respectively. The ductile and brittle structures indicate a geometric and kinematic consistency. The extensional tectonics is developed on a Caledonian metamorphic basement and is unconformably covered by Late Cretaceous red beds. Isotopic ages on muscovite, biotite and whole rock by⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar, K-Ar and Rb-Sr suggest that the Wugongshan extensional doming began from the Triassic and ended in the Late Cretaceous. A geodynamic model is discussed. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 49632080, 49572141)     

白垩纪以来米仓山-汉南穹窿剥蚀过程及其构造意义：磷灰石裂变径迹的证据

报道了米仓山-汉南穹窿一带磷灰石裂变径迹分析结果,以制约该区白垩纪以来的剥蚀-演化历史.露头样品磷灰石裂变径迹年龄分布显示从汉南穹窿南部的核部地区向南至四川盆地北部裂变径迹的年龄逐渐变新,这与米仓山地区逆冲断裂以背驮式扩展的构造样式从汉南穹窿向南经米仓山褶皱-逆冲带发育到四川盆地北缘的构造模式相吻合.热模拟的结果显示米仓山-汉南穹窿经历了两期快速的剥蚀,其分别发生在白垩纪（约90 Ma之前）和15 Ma以来.研究区白垩纪的快速剥蚀反映了秦岭-大别造山带白垩纪的区域性剥蚀事件,这可能是对临区诸多构造事件（如西伯利亚-蒙古-中朝板块的碰撞,拉萨-羌塘-思茅-印支块体的碰撞,太平洋板块向欧亚板块的俯冲及其相关的岩浆活动）远场效应的响应;约15 Ma以来的快速剥蚀是对青藏高原隆升向东北方向传递的响应.     

Northwest trending tectonic belt in the middle Yanshan Orogenic Belt of northeast Hebei Province,North China: Tectonic evolution and geochronology

1 An out-of-line northwest trending tectonic beltin the middle part of the Yanshan Orogenic Belt The tectonic framework of the intraplate YanshanOrogenic Belt is dominated by east-west and northeastextending structures as revealed by many geologists.There lies, however, a 100-km-long enigmatic out-of-line northwest extending tectonic complex in the mid-dle part of the Yanshan Orogenic Belt (fig. 1). Theresearch on the geometry, kinematics, timing of thiscomplex tectonic belt and its r…     

Paleogene and Plio-Pleistocene basin formation around northwestern Kyushu, Japan

Cenozoic basin-forming processes in northwestern Kyushu were studied on the basis of geological and geophysical data. Gravity anomaly analysis delineated four sedimentary basins in the study area: Goto-nada, Nishisonogi, Amakusa-nada, and Shimabara. Borehole stratigraphy and reflection seismic interpretation suggest that the Goto-nada Basin was subdivided into the Paleogene and Plio-Pleistocene depocenters (Goto-nada 1 and 2). In the Paleogene, Amakusa-nada Basin was rapidly subsiding together with the Shimabara Basin as part of a large graben. Goto-nada 1 and Nishisonogi basins belonged to another depositional area. After stagnant subsidence stage in the early Miocene, the study area became a site of basaltic activity (since 10 Ma) and vigorous subsidence in the Plio-Pleistocene. Goto-nada 2 Basin is accompanied with numerous east–west active faults, and separated from the Amakusa-nada Basin by a northeast– southwest basement high, Nomo Ridge. Plio-Pleistocene subsidence of the Amakusa-nada Basin is related with low-angle normal faulting on the eastern flank of the Nomo Ridge. Shimabara Basin is a composite volcano-tectonic depression which is studded by east–west faults. Focal mechanism on active faults suggests transtensional stress regime in the study area.