Crustal Structural and Tectonic Evolution and Oil Prospect Evaluation in the Songpan-Zoigê Block

1 Introduction The Songpan-Zoigê Block (SRB) lies in the east of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is a triangle block confined and surrounded by three structure belts: the east Kunlun-west Qinling belt (EK-WQLB) to the north, the Sichuan Basin to the southeast and the Garzê-Litang-Jinsha River belt to the southwest. This block is also the joint part of three tectonic domains: the North China, South China and Qinghai-Tibet domains (Huang and Chen, 1987). The development and evolutio…     

Crustal Structural and Tectonic Evolution and Oil Prospect Evaluation in the Songpan-Zoige Block

Recent study of magnetotelluric （MT） inversion indicates that the basement of the Songpan- Zoige area could be a stable continental crust. There has developed quite thick and stable Paleozoic continental shelf margin-platform clastic and carbonate sediments during the Triassic. Preliminary field geologic investigation and hydrocarbon potential study show that good-quality source rocks, mainly argillaceous and carbonaceous shale, were deposited in the Cambrian and Silurian in this region, while diverse reservoirs of platform facies carbonate and clastic rocks were in the Carboniferous and Permian. The good vertical source-reservoir-seal configuration might indicate that there exists a certain potential for oil and gas exploration in this area.     

Tectonic Evolution and Petroleum Systems in the Junggar Basin

The Junggar basin is located in the northern part of Xinjiang of China. It is part of the Kazakstan plate, surrounded by the Paleozoic folded mountains: the Halaart, Zayier and Chepaizi Mountains in the northwest, the Qingelidi and Karamaili Mountains in the northeast, and the Tianshan Mountains in the south. In different evolution stages, the basin's types are different, and the stratigraphy and deposition are also different. From the Carboniferous to Tertiary the basin has in turn gone through rift basin, collision foreland basin, intraplate depression basin and regenerated foreland basin. Based on an analysis of thermal evolution history and buried history of the source rocks, three major periods of oil generation are found in the basin. According to the characteristics of source rock distribution, evolution, oil-source correlation, structure and multi-phase and mixed pools, the Junggar basin could be divided into 4 composite petroleum systems. Due to the variation in sedimentary facies, difference in     

Tectonic Evolution of China and Its Control over Oil Basins

This paper is a brief review of the tectonic frame and crustal evolution of China and their control over the oil basins. China is subdivided into three regions by the Hercynian Ertix-Almantai(EACZ) and Hegenshan (HGCZ) convergent zones in the north, and the Indusinian Muztagh-Maqen(MMCZ) and the Fengxiang-Shucheng (FSCZ) convergent zones in the south. The northern region represents the southern marginal tract of the Siberian platform. The middle region comprises the SinoKorea (SKP), Tarim (TAP) platforms and surrounding Paleozoic orogenic belts. The southern region includes the Yangtze platform (YZP), the Cathaysia (CTA) paleocontinent and the Caledonides between them in the eastern part, and the Qinghai-Tibet plateau composed of themassifs and Meso-and Cenozoic orogenic belts in the western part. The tectonic evolutions of China are described in three stages: Jinningian and pre-Jinningian, Caledonian to Indusinian, and post-Indosinian. Profound changes occurred at the end of Jinningian (ca. 830 Ma) and the Indusinian (ca. 210 Ma) tectonic epochs, which had exerted important influence on the formation of different types of basins. The oil basins distribute in four belts in China, the large superimposed basins ranging from Paleozoic to Cenozoic(Tarim and Junggar) in the western belt, the large superimposed basins ranging from Paleozoic to Mesozoic (Ordos and Sichuan) in the central belt, the extensional rift basins including the Cretaceous rift basins (Songliao) and the Cenozoic basin (Bohaiwan) in the eastern belt, and the Cenozoic marginal basins in the easternmost belt in offshore region. The tectonic control over the oil basins consists mainly in three aspects: the nature of the basin basement, the coupling processes of basin and orogen due to the plates interaction, and the mantle dynamics, notably the mantle upwelling resulting in crustal and lithuspheric thinning beneath the oil basins.     

Metamorphic Core Complexes and Its Significance in the Continental Crustal Evolution

Metamorphic core complexes are a basic structural pattern related toextensional tectonics.Several characteristics of different scales of metamorphiccore complexes in the Fangshan and Yunmengshan(Beijing),Zhongtiaoshan(Shanxi),and Dengfong(Henan)are examined.A three-layer model formetamorphic core complexes is suggested.The conclusion is that metamorphiccore complexes are the result of multiphase intracontinental crustal extensionsand are an important tectonic pattern.which exposes the basementmetamorphic rocks to the ground surface in the intracontinental cover.     

Tectonic Characteristics and Evolution of the Taiwan Strait

The Taiwan Strait is a part of the continental-margin rift of eastern China, which can tectonically be divided into the Taiwan Strait basin, southwestern Taiwan basin and Penhu-Beigang uplift. The basins are structurally semi-graban down-faulted ones in character. The Cretaceous-Cenozoic sedimentary strata in the basins have a maximum thickness of over 10,000 m. The formation and development of the Taiwan Strait rift were not only affected by both the East China Sea basin and South China Sea basin but also closely related to the Central Range collision orogen of Taiwan. In the Cenozoic, the Taiwan Strait area experienced, under the influence of a multiple of tectonic mechanisms, three stages of evolution: poly-centre downfault-ing, down warping-faulting and foreland basin formation. The depositional centres of the basins migrated from west to east during the Tertiary, resulting in the thinning of the Palaeogene strata from west to east but that of the Neogene in the reverse direction. All this determine     

Fluid Activity and Tectonic Evolution in the Northern Qilian High-pressure Metamorphic Belt

The Northern Qilian high-pressure metamorphic belt has experienced multiple deformation-metamorphism, which consists of at least four stages.In 550.8-526 Ma, eclogites were formed. High temperature and pressure caused the escape of a large quantity of gas-liquid fluids from rocks while silicate melt was generated. In the late stage, small amounts of CO2 and H2O infiltrating along fractures were introduced.In the formation of glaucophane schist (447-362 Ma), devolatilization reactions were dominated during the subduction-uplift stage of the paleoplate.In the uplift-exhumation stage (400-380 Ma) the increase of internal space of fractures in the rocks favoured fluid infiltration and concentration. These fluids participated in hydration reactions in the retro-metamorphism. The fluids participating in the mineral reactions have the compositions of CaCl2-NaCl-H2O.In subsequent thrusting (<380 Ma), the metamorphic terrain was uplifted to the shallower crust and ductile-shearing deformation took place, which c     

Himalayan Tectonic Evolution in the East Asian Peri-Pacific Region

This paper summarizes the Late Palaeozoic. Indosinian and Yanshanian palaeotectonic settings in theperi-Pacific region of East Asia. On that basis, the Himalayan crustal movement in the region is divided intothe early and late tectonic stages and two principal tectonic phases. From the ocean to the continent, 5 giganticHimalayan formation-deformation belts are distinguished; they are the Northwest Pacific trench-island arcbelt. the Northwest Pacific marginal sea basin bell. the East China Sea-northern South China Seacontinental-shelf down-faulted belt. the East Asian epicontinental rift belt. and the East Asian intracontinentalrift belt. The Early and Late Himalayan tectonic evolution is dealt with. Finally the state of the Himalayan re-gional stress field and its evoution in the region are discussed. It is considered that the mechanism of their for-mation is closely related to the continent-ocean and surface-deep earth interaction.     

Tectonic and Geodynamic Setting of Oil and Gas Basins in China

About 26 sedimentary basins bearing oil and gas are developed in China. They can be classified into two main types , extensional basins and foreland basins . The former are chiefly distributed in the eastern part and the latter in the central and northwestern parts of the country . The present paper discusses the structural characteristics of these basins , including subsidence history , thermal history and structural style and kinematics . Combined with tectonic setting analysis of geophysical data and eruptive rocks , the geodynamic setting of the basins is established , and the formation mechanism of the basins is deduced to have been related to the subduction of the Izanagi and west Pacific plates and the closing of the Tethys ocean.     

Seismic Activity and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation of Crustal Stability in the Beijing Region

This paper discusses the seismic activity in Beijing M unicipality and its adjacent areas (which are referred to as the Beijing region in the paper). By using fuzzy mathematics, the factors controlling regional crustal stability are transformed into fuzzy information and then a model of fuzzy diagnosis is established. A fuzzy comprehensive evaluation of regional crustal stability in the Beijing region is made according to the seismic and geological conditions of the region.     

Tectonic Evolution of the Junggar Foreland Basin in the Late Carboniferous-Permian

A comprehensive study has been carried out to subdivide and correlate the Upper Carboniferous and Permian sedimentary successions in the Junggar basin based on outcrops and drilling and geophysical data. The study results, combined with geological analyses of the basin's periphery and the basement, as well as studies of the sedimentary rocks within the basin, the unconformities, tectonic geometry, kinematics and geodynamics, lead to the conclusion that the Junggar basin was characterized by the development of foreland basin systems during the Late Carboniferous and Permian. During that period, three foreland basin systems were developed: (1) the northwest foreland basin system, which trended nearly north-south from Mahu to the Chepaizi Palaeo-mountain during its early stage of development and thus it was also referred to as the west foreland basin system; (2) the Karamaili foreland basin system in the east and (3) the Northern Tianshan foreland basin system in the south. These systems are different in s     

Tectonic Framework and Evolution of the Dabie Mountains in Anhui, Eastern China

The Dabie Mountains are believed to be a collisional orogenic belt between the Yangtze amd Sino-Koreancontinental plates. It is composed of the foreland fold-thrust zone, the subducting cover and basement of theYangtze continental plate, the coesite- and diamond-bearing ultra-high pressure metamorphic zone and themeta-ophiolitic melange zone in the subducting basement, the fore-arc flysch nappe and the back thrust zoneoccurring respectively on the southern and northern margins of the Sino-Korean continental plate and the in-herited basin with molassic deposits on the northern margin. When the palaeo-Dabie oceanic plate subductednorthward in the Early Palaeozoic, volcanic arc and back arc basin probably formed on the southern margin ofthe Sino-Korean continental plate. The Sm / Nd isotopic dating of the strata and eclogite which were drawn in-to the foreland fold-thrust zone indicates that the intense collision of the two continental plates took place inthe Early Mesozoic.     

Geochemistry of Basic Dykes in Wudang Block and Its Tectonic Significance

Geochemical characteristics of the Neoproterozoic basic dykes widely exposed in the Wudang block of South Qinling show that the dykes possess the characteristics of continental tholeiitic basalts and were formed in a setting of continental rifting.Therefore,there was an ancient continental block in the areas of southern Qinling and Yangtze block during the Jinning period,and an important firting event of this ancient block occurred in the Early Neoproterozoic.     

Tectonic Evolution of the Himalayan Collision Belt

This paper discusses the tectonic divisions of the Himalayan collision belt anddeals with the tectonic evolution of the collision belt in the context of crustal accretion in thefront of the collision belt, deep diapirism and thermal-uplift extension and deep material flow-ing of the lithosphere-backflowing. Finally it proposes a model of the tectonic evolution-progressive intracontinental deformation model-of the Himalayan belt.     

Deformation Characteristics and Tectonic Evolution of the Eastern Qinling Orogenic Belt

The Qinling Mountains separating the northern from the southern China plate is a key region for the study of structural evolution of eastern Asia. It is composed of the Palaeozoic fold belt in its northern part and the Variscan and Indosinian fold belts in its southern part. The evolution of the former is marked by the closure of a northward subducting oceanic basin in the early stage, followed by southward obduction of ophiolites and intracontinental thrusting during the Variscan; whereas that of the latter is represented by intracontinental, shallow crustal deformation on the basis of a large-scale detachment structure(with a horizontal slip of at least of 100 km). Since the late Palaeozoic, however, both of the belts have been cut by a series of east-west sinistral strike-slip faults.     

Tectonic Units and Their Fundamental Characteristics on the Northern Margin of the Alxa Block

The northern margin of the Alxa block is the junction of a tectonic units. Four first-order tectonic units are distinguished: 1. the Yagan structural zone characteristic of an immature island arc; 2. the Zhusileng-Hangwula structural zone, which was a passive continental margin in the Early Palaeozoic and was transformed into an active continental margin in the Late Palaeozoic;3. the Shalazha structural zone characteristic of a mature island arc; 4. the Nuru-Langshan structural zone, which was a Proterozoic orogenic belt and later evolved into an extensional transtional crust in the Palaeozoic. The above-mentioned tectonic units differ remarkably in sedimentary formations, magmatic rock associations, metamorphism and geochemistry and are bounded by faults between one another.     

Earthquake-related Tectonic Deformation of Soft-sediments and Its Constraints on Basin Tectonic Evolution

The authors introduced two kinds of newly found soft-sediment deformation-synsedimentary extension structure and syn-sedimentary compression structure, and discuss their origins and constraints on basin tectonic evolution. One representative of the syn-sedimentary extension structure is syn-sedimentary boudinage structure, while the typical example of the syn-sedimentary compression structure is compression sand pillows or compression wrinkles. The former shows NW-SE-trendlng contemporaneous extension events related to earthquakes in the rift basin near a famous Fe-Nb-REE deposit in northern China during the Early Paleozoic （or Mesoproterozoic as proposed by some researches）, while the latter indicates NE-SW-trending contemporaneous compression activities related to earthquakes in the Middle Triassic in the Nanpanjiang remnant basin covering south Guizhou, northwestern Guangxi and eastern Yunnan in southwestern China. The syn-sedimentary boudinage structure was found in an earthquake slump block in the lower part of the Early Paleozoic Sailinhudong Group, 20 km to the southeast of Bayan Obo, Inner Mongolia, north of China. The slump block is composed of two kinds of very thin layers-pale-gray micrite （microcrystalline limestone） of 1-2 cm thick interbedded with gray muddy micrite layers with the similar thickness. Almost every thin muddy micrite layer was cut into imbricate blocks or boudins by abundant tiny contemporaneous faults, while the interbedded micrite remain in continuity. Boudins form as a response to layer-parallel extension （and/or layer-perpendicular flattening） of stiff layers enveloped top and bottom by mechanically soft layers. In this case, the imbricate blocks cut by the tiny contemporaneous faults are the result of abrupt horizontal extension of the crust in the SE-NW direction accompanied with earthquakes. Thus, the rock block is, in fact, a kind of seismites. The syn-sedimentary boudins indicate that there was at least a strong earthquake belt on the southeast side of the basin during the early stage of the Sailinhudong Group. This may be a good constraint on the tectonic evolution of the Bayan Obo area during the Early Paleozoic time. The syn-sedimentary compression structure was found in the Middle Triassic flysch in the Nanpanjiang Basin. The typical structures are compression sand pillows and compression wrinkles. Both of them were found on the bottoms of sand units and the top surface of the underlying mud units. In other words, the structures were found only in the interfaces between the graded sand layer and the underlying mud layer of the flysch. A deformation experiment with dough was conducted, showing that the tectonic deformation must have been instantaneous one accompanied by earthquakes. The compression sand pillows or wrinkles showed uniform directions along the bottoms of the sand layer in the flysch, revealing contemporaneous horizontal compression during the time between deposition and diagenesis of the related beds. The Nanpanjiang Basin was affected, in general, with SSW-NNE compression during the Middle Triassic, according to the syn-sedimentary compression structure. The two kinds of syn-sedimentary tectonic deformation also indicate that the related basins belong to a rift basin and a remnant basin, respectively, in the model of Wilson Cycle.     

Salanced Cross Section for Restoration of Tectonic Evolution in the Southwest Okinawa Trough

On the basis of the multi.channel seismic data and the other data, using 2DMove software, the tectonic evolution in three seismic profiles was restored since Pliocene. The tectonic restoration results show that： （1） the initial active center lay in the west slope and then was transferred to east and south via trough center during the evolution process; （2） several main normal faults controlled the evolution of the southern Okinawa Trough; （3） since Late Pliocene, the southern Okinawa Trough has experienced two spreading stages. The early is depression in Early-Middle Pleistocene and the late is back-arc spreading in Late Pleistocene and Holocene, which is in primary oceanic crust spreading stage.     

Evolution of the Late Triassic Paleo-uplift in the Southwestern Upper Yangtze Region and its Tectonic SignificanceEI北大核心CSCD

Based on field geological survey and stratigraphic analysis, a Late Triassic Paleo-uplift is identified in the southwestern upper Yangtze region. The tectonic features, evolution history and tectonic significance of this paleo-uplift are discussed in detail in this paper. The results suggest that the hiatus of the Upper Triassic in the southwestern upper Yangtze region was resulted from the paleo-uplift that roughly parallel to the southwest margin of the upper Yangtze region. The formation of the paleo-uplift is related to the closure of the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan-Songma-Babu and Ganzi-Litang Oceans and their subsequent collisional orogenesis along the southwest margin of the upper Yangtze region. The forebulges of the Youjiang and Chuxiong Foreland Basins were formed by the closure of the Jinshajiang-Ailaoshan-Songma-Babu Ocean, comprising the paleo-uplift at the end of the Early Triassic. Then the forebulge of the Xichang Foreland Basin was developed by the closure of the Ganzi-Litang Ocean in the Norian, and became a new part of the paleo-uplift. Owing to the termination of the Youjiang Foreland Basin at the end of the Rhaetian, the paleo-uplift was composed only of the forebulges of the Chuxiong and Xichang Foreland Basins. The discovery of the paleo-uplift will help us to better understand the prototype of the Sichuan Basin and the tectonic evolution of the southwestern upper Yangtze region during the Late Triassic. © 2017, Science Press. All right reserved.