Seismic phases from the Moho and its implication on the ultraslow spreading ridge

The Moho interface provides critical evidence for crustal thickness and the mode of oceanic crust accretion. The seismic Moho interface has not been identified yet at the magma-rich segments （46°-52°E） of the ultra- slow spreading Southwestern Indian Ridge （SWIR）. This paper firstly deduces the characteristics and do- mains of seismic phases based on a theoretical oceanic crust model. Then, topographic correction is carried out for the OBS record sections along Profile Y3Y4 using the latest OBS data acquired from the detailed 3D seismic survey at the SWIR in 2010. Seismic phases are identified and analyzed, especially for the reflected and refracted seismic phases from the Moho. A 2D crustal model is finally established using the ray tracing and travel-time simulation method. The presence of reflected seismic phases at Segment 28 shows that the crustal rocks have been separated from the mantle by cooling and the Moho interface has already formed at zero age. The 2D seismic velocity structure across the axis of Segment 28 indicates that detachment faults play a key role during the processes of asymmetric oceanic crust accretion.     

南海东北部陆缘地壳结构特征及下地壳高速层成因

南海东北部陆缘构造演化信息丰富,对于理解南海的演化过程至关重要。本文收集了南海东北部的深反射地震和海底广角地震成果剖面,提取地壳和下地壳高速层的厚度结果,并结合水深、重磁异常和岩石圈的流变学等地质地球物理资料,对南海东北部的地壳减薄特征、吕宋-琉球转换板块边界的性质和下地壳高速层的分布及成因进行了分析和讨论。南海东北部的地壳减薄在横向和垂向上都存在不均匀性,以下地壳减薄为主,在台西南盆地存在极端减薄地壳;南海北缘的白云凹陷、西沙海槽和西缘的中建南盆地也存在类似的极端减薄地壳,且都与刚性地块共轭或邻近,推测刚性地块的存在导致地壳初始破裂时下地壳流动和地幔上隆是局部出现地壳极端减薄的主要原因。吕宋-琉球转换板块边界两侧在海底地形、新生代反射和重磁异常等方面均存在差异,与中生代岛弧引起的高磁异常大角度相交,其可能是中生代古特提斯构造域向太平洋构造域转换的边界断裂。下地壳高速层在南海东北部广泛发育,结合其分布特征和波速比V_p/V_s的分布区间,认为其是多期次岩浆底侵形成的铁镁质基性岩。     

南海北部陆缘OBS2018-H2测线地壳结构初步结果*

南海北部陆缘洋陆转换带实施的OBS2018-H2测线的地壳速度结构, 将为探讨南海张裂-破裂机制提供重要证据。文章介绍了OBS2018-H2测线前期数据处理流程, 包括多道反射地震数据处理、海底地震仪OBS (Ocean Bottom Seismometer)数据格式转换、炮点和OBS位置校正, 以及OBS震相的初步识别, 并对地壳结构进行了初步分析。结果表明: 炮点和OBS位置校正效果良好; 多道反射地震数据为建立初始速度模型提供了良好约束; OBS综合地震剖面识别了多组清晰的P波震相, 包括Pw、Pg、PmP和Pn震相。根据测线西侧OBS36、OBS37两台站的震相分布特征初步估算台站下方地壳厚度约为6~7km, 与根据多道地震剖面LW3的双程走时估算的厚度6~9km大致相符。     

东海莫霍面起伏与地壳减薄特征初步分析

收集、整理大量由地震剖面提供的沉积层厚度资料,得到东海沉积层等厚图。对完全布格重力异常进行沉积层重力效应改正后,得到剩余重力异常,利用地震资料揭示的莫霍面深度值来约束界面反演得到东海莫霍面埋深。结果表明,东海陆架盆地莫霍面深度在25～28 km之间平缓变化,地壳厚度为14～26 km,西厚东薄;冲绳海槽盆地莫霍面深度为16～26 km,地壳厚度为12～22 km,北厚南薄。东海陆架盆地东部与冲绳海槽盆地南部地壳减薄明显,拉张因子分别达到2.6和3。初步分析认为冲绳海槽地壳以过渡壳为主,并未形成洋壳。     

Deep crustal structure of the conjugate margins of the SW South China Sea from wide-angle refraction seismic data

The South China Sea is the largest marginal basin of SE Asia, yet its mechanism of formation is still debated. A 1000-km long wide-angle refraction seismic profile was recently acquired along the conjugate margins of the SW sub-basin of the South China Sea, over the longest extended continental crust. A joint reflection and refraction seismic travel time inversion is performed to derive a 2-D velocity model of the crustal structure and upper mantle. Based on this new tomographic model, northern and southern margins are genetically linked since they share common structural characteristics. Most of the continental crust deforms in a brittle manner. Two scales of deformation are imaged and correlate well with seismic reflection observations. Small-scale normal faults (grabens, horsts and rotated faults blocks) are often associated with a tilt of the velocity isocontours affecting the upper crust. The mid-crust shows high lateral velocity variation defining low velocity bodies bounded by large-scale normal faults recognized in seismic reflection profiles. Major sedimentary basins are located above low velocity bodies interpreted as hanging-wall blocks. Along the northern margin, spacing between these velocity bodies decreases from 90 to 45 km as the total crust thins toward the Continent–Ocean Transition. The Continent–Ocean Transitions are narrow and slightly asymmetric – 60 km on the northern side and no more than 30 km on the southern side – indicating little space for significant hyper-stretched crust. Although we have no direct indication for mantle exhumation, shallow high velocities are observed at the Continent–Ocean Transition. The Moho interface remains rather flat over the extended domain, and remains undisturbed by the large-scale normal faults. The main décollement is thus within the ductile lower crust.     

南海区域岩石圈的壳-幔耦合关系和纵向演化

南海区域岩石圈由地壳层和上地幔固结层两部分组成。具典型大洋型地壳结构的南海海盆区莫霍面深度为９～１３ｋｍ,并向四周经陆坡、陆架至陆区逐渐加深;陆缘区莫霍面一般为１５～２８ｋｍ,局部区段深达３０～３２ｋｍ,总体呈与水深变化反相关的梯度带;东南沿海莫霍面深约２８～３０ｋｍ,往西北方向逐渐增厚,最大逾３６ｋｍ。南海区域上地幔天然地震面波速度结构明显存在横向分块和纵向分层特征。岩石圈底界深度变化与地幔速度变化正相关;地幔岩石圈厚度与地壳厚度呈互补性变化,莫霍面和岩石圈底界呈立交桥式结构,具有陆区厚壳薄幔—洋区薄壳厚幔的岩石圈壳－幔耦合模式。南海区域白垩纪末以来的岩石圈演化主要表现为陆缘裂离—海底扩张—区域沉降的过程,现存的壳－幔耦合模式显然为岩石圈纵向演化产物,其过程大致可分为白垩纪末至中始新世的陆缘裂离、中始新世晚期至中新世早期的海底扩张和中新世晚期以来的区域沉降等三个阶段。     

Seismic study of the Ulleung Basin crust and its implications for the opening of the East Sea (Japan Sea)

The Ulleung Basin (Tsushima Basin) in the southwestern East Sea (Japan Sea) is floored by a crust whose affinity is not known whether oceanic or thinned continental. This ambiguity resulted in unconstrained mechanisms of basin evolution. The present work attempts to define the nature of the crust of the Ulleung Basin and its tectonic evolution using seismic wide-angle reflection and refraction data recorded on ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs). Although the thickness of (10 km) of the crust is greater than typical oceanic crust, tau-p analysis of OBS data and forward modeling by 2-D ray tracing suggest that it is oceanic in character: (1) the crust consists of laterally consistent upper and lower layers that are typical of oceanic layers 2 and 3 in seismic velocity and gradient distribution and (2) layer 2C, the transition between layer 2 and layer 3 in oceanic crust, is manifested by a continuous velocity increase from 5.7 to 6.3 km/s over the thickness interval of about 1 km between the upper and lower layers. Therefore it is not likely that the Ulleung Basin was formed by the crustal extension of the southwestern Japan Arc where crustal structure is typically continental. Instead, the thickness of the crust and its velocity structure suggest that the Ulleung Basin was formed by seafloor spreading in a region of hotter than normal mantle surrounding a distant mantle plume, not directly above the core of the plume. It seems that the mantle plume was located in northeast China. This suggestion is consistent with geochemical data that indicate the influence of a mantle plume on the production of volcanic rocks in and around the Ulleung Basin. Thus we propose that the opening models of the southwestern East Sea should incorporate seafloor spreading and the influence of a mantle plume rather than the extension of the crust of the Japan Arc.     

Crustal structure and mantle transition zone thickness beneath a hydrothermal vent at the ultra-slow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (49°39′E): a supplementary study based on passive seismic receiver functions

As a supplementary study, we used passive seismic data recorded by one ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) station (49°41.8′E) close to a hydrothermal vent (49°39′E) at the Southwest Indian Ridge to invert the crustal structure and mantle transition zone (MTZ) thickness by P-to-S receiver functions to investigate previous active seismic tomographic crustal models and determine the influence of the deep mantle thermal anomaly on seafloor hydrothermal venting at an ultra-slow spreading ridge. The new passive seismic S-wave model shows that the crust has a low velocity layer (2.6 km/s) from 4.0 to 6.0 km below the sea floor, which is interpreted as partial melting. We suggest that the Moho discontinuity at ~9.0 km is the bottom of a layer (2–3 km thick); the Moho (at depth of ~6–7 km), defined by active seismic P-wave models, is interpreted as a serpentinized front. The velocity spectrum stacking plot made from passive seismic data shows that the 410 discontinuity is depressed by ~15 km, the 660 discontinuity is elevated by ~18 km, and a positive thermal anomaly between 182 and 237 K is inferred.     

南海西北部与红河地区地球物理场及其地壳深部结构特征

分析了南海西北部与红河地区地球物理场特征，计算了研究区重、磁资料的一阶小波细节变换、四阶小波逼近变换。根据重力场资料以及南海北部盆地钻井取样的测试结果，同时参考在研究区进行的地震勘探结果，对研究区的地壳结构进行了反演计算。结果表明，研究区域地壳结构较为复杂，地壳厚度在17—38km之间，总的趋势由陆向洋地壳厚度逐渐减薄，反映出该区域地壳具有陆壳、过渡壳的性质，同时存在上地幔隆起区及凹陷区。用地震层折成像结果与重力资料计算出的地壳分布趋势进行了对比验证。根据地幔对流结果探讨了研究区深部地球动力学特征及其与深部地壳结构的关系。     

A seismic refraction study of cretaceous oceanic lithosphere in the Northwest Pacific Basin

A seismic refraction study on old (110 Myr) lithosphere in the northwest Pacific Basin has placed constraints on crustal and uppermantle seismic structure of old oceanic lithosphere, and lithospheric aging processes. No significant lateral variation in structure other than azimuthally anisotropic mantle velocities was found, allowing the application of powerful amplitude modeling techniques. The anisotropy observed is in an opposite sense to that expected, suggesting the tectonic setting of the area may be more complex than originally thought. Upper crustal velocities are generally larger than for younger crust, supporting current theories of decreased porosity with crustal aging. However, there is no evidence for significant thickening of the oceanic crust with age, nor is there any evidence of a lower crustal layer of high or low velocity relative to the velocity of the rest of Layer 3. The compressional and shear wave velocities rule out a large component of serpentinization of mantle materials. The only evidence for a basal crustal layer of olivine gabbro cumulates is a 1.5 km thick Moho transition zone. In the slow direction of anisotropy, upper mantle velocities increase from 8.0 km s^-1 to 8.35 km s^-1 in the upper 15 km below the Moho. This increase is inconsistent with an homogeneous upper mantle and suggests that compositinal or phase changes occur near the Moho.     

2.5-D seismic tomographic modelling of the crustal structure of north-western Spitsbergen based on deep seismic soundings

Deep seismic sounding measurements were performed in the continent-ocean transition zone of the northern Svalbard continental margin in 1985 and 1999. Data from seismic profile AWI-99200 and from additional crossing profiles were used to model the seismic crustal structure of the study area. Seismic energy (airgun and TNT shots) was recorded by land (onshore) seismic stations, ocean bottom seismometers (OBS), and hydrophone systems (OBH). 3-D tomographic inversion methods were applied to test the previous 2-D modelling results. The results are similar to the earlier 2-D modelling, supplemented by new off-line information. The continental crust thins to the west and north. A minimum depth of about 6 km to the Moho discontinuity was found east of the Molloy Deep. The continent-ocean transition zone to the east is characterized by a complex seismic velocity structure according to the 2-D model and consists of several different crustal blocks. The zone is covered by deep sedimentary basins. Sediment thicknesses reach a maximum of 5 km. The Moho interface deepens to 28 km depth beneath the continental crust of Svalbard.     

南海IODP 367-368钻探区深地震探测的OBS站位设计分析

借助于国际大洋发现计划平台, 于2017年2月—6月间在南海实施第三次科学钻探(IODP 367-368航次)。海底地震仪(OBS)深地震探测和国际大洋发现计划(IODP)钻探成果相结合, 可以对南海北部洋陆转换带(COT)边界及地质属性的确定提供更好、更全面的深部地质过程解释。文章基于IODP 367-368钻探提出的三种可能设想(下地壳出露、最老洋壳出露、上地幔出露), 分别建立了三种初始速度模型。利用Rayinvr及Tomo2d软件, 对每一种初始模型分别开展了不同OBS间距的射线追踪和走时模拟测试对比, 以及模型的分辨率测试。测试结果表明: OBS间隔为7km比间隔为10km具有更好的射线路径与密度覆盖; 对于上地幔出露模型, 需要足够长的探测测线(>100km), 才能有效得到30km深处信息; 分辨率测试说明, OBS间距需要设置小于或等于7km时, 才能有效分辨20km速度异常体(即模糊带)。     

The final rifting evolution in the South China Sea

Seismic reflection data imaging conjugate crustal sections at the South China Sea margins result in a conceptual model for rift-evolution at conjugate magma-poor margins in time and space.The wide Early Cenozoic South China Sea rift preserves the initial rift architecture at the distal margins. Most distinct are regular undulations in the crust–mantle boundary. Individual rift basins are bounded to crustal blocks by listric normal faults on either side. Moho uplifts are distinct beneath major rift basins, while the Moho is downbended beneath crustal blocks, with a wavelength of undulations in the crust–mantle boundary that approximately equals the thickness of the continental crust. Most of the basin-bounding faults sole out within the middle crust. At the distal margins, detachment faults are located at a mid-crustal level where a weak zone decouples crust and mantle lithosphere during rifting. The lower crust in contrast is interpreted as being strong. Only in the region within about 50 km from the Continent–Ocean Transition (COT) we suggest that normal faults reach the mantle, enabling potentially a coupling between the crust and the mantle. Here, at the proximal margins detachment fault dip either seaward or landward. This may indicate the presence of exhumed mantle bordering the continental margins.Post-rift shallow-water platform carbonates indicate a delay in subsidence during rifting in the South China Sea. We propose that this is an inherent process in highly extended continental margins and a common origin may be the influx of warm asthenospheric material into initially cool sub-lithospheric mantle.On a crustal-scale largely symmetric process predominate in the initial rifting stage. At the future COT either of the rift basin-bounding faults subsequently penetrates the entire crust, resulting in asymmetry at this location. However, asymmetric deformation which is controlled by large scale detachment faulting is confined to narrow areas and does not result in a margin-wide simple-shear model. Rather considerable along-margin variations are suggested resulting in alternating “upper and lower plate” margins.     

Crustal structure and inferred rifting processes in the northeast South China Sea

TAIGER project deep-penetration seismic reflection profiles acquired in the northeastern South China Sea (SCS) provide a detailed view of the crustal structure of a very wide rifted continental margin. These profiles document a failed rift zone proximal to the shelf, a zone of thicker crust 150 km from the shelf, and gradually thinning crust toward the COB, spanning a total distance of 250–300 km. Such an expanse of extended continental crust is not unique but it is uncommon for continental margins. We use the high-quality images from this data set to identify the styles of upper and lower crustal structure and how they have thinned in response to extension and, in turn, what rheological variations are predicted that allow for protracted crustal extension. Upper crustal thinning is greatest at the failed rift (β_uc ≈ 7.5) but is limited farther seaward (β_uc ≈ 1–2). We interpret that the lower crust has discordantly thinned from an original 15–17 km to possibly less than 2–3 km thick beneath the central thick crust zone and more distal areas. This extreme lower crustal thinning indicates that it acted as a weak layer allowing decoupling between the upper crust and the mantle lithosphere. The observed upper crustal thickness variations and implied rheology (lower crustal flow) are consistent with large-scale boudinage of continental crust during protracted extension.     

南海北部陆缘地热状态及其成因探讨

对收集、整理的462组大地热流和地温梯度数据进行统计分析,结果表明南海北部陆缘具有普遍偏高的大地热流和地温梯度,大地热流总体表现为由陆架向洋盆方向递增的趋势。海底热流资料经稳态温度场计算南海北部随深度变化的热流和温度分布,获取热居里面深度,与地磁资料反演的居里面深度进行对比,发现南海北部中、下陆坡磁居里面深度浅于热居里面深度,处于地热不平衡状态。通过对地壳结构、拉张因子、莫霍面埋深、断裂带及火山活动的综合分析,表明南海北部陆缘地热状态受控于地壳拉张减薄和莫霍面抬升的构造格局,裂后晚期局部岩浆活动对地热状态亦有影响。     

Crustal velocity structure off SW Taiwan in the northernmost South China Sea imaged from TAIGER OBS and MCS data

During TAiwan Integrated GEodynamics Research of 2009, we investigated data from thirty-seven ocean-bottom seismometers (OBS) and three multi-channel seismic (MCS) profiles across the deformation front in the northernmost South China Sea (SCS) off SW Taiwan. Initial velocity-interface models were built from horizon velocity analysis and pre-stack depth migration of MCS data. Subsequently, we used refracted, head-wave and reflected arrivals from OBS data to forward model and then invert the velocity-interface structures layer-by-layer. Based on OBS velocity models west of the deformation front, possible Mesozoic sedimentary rocks, revealed by large variation of the lateral velocity (3.1–4.8 km/s) and the thickness (5.0–10.0 km), below the rift-onset unconformity and above the continental crust extended southward to the NW limit of the continent–ocean boundary (COB). The interpreted Mesozoic sedimentary rocks NW of the COB and the oceanic layer 2 SE of the COB imaged from OBS and gravity data were incorporated into the overriding wedge below the deformation front because the transitional crust subducted beneath the overriding wedge of the southern Taiwan. East of the deformation front, the thickness of the overriding wedge (1.7–5.0 km/s) from the sea floor to the décollement decreases toward the WSW direction from 20.0 km off SW Taiwan to 8.0 km at the deformation front. In particular, near a turn in the orientation of the deformation front, the crustal thickness (7.0–12.0 km) is abruptly thinner and the free-air (?20 to 10 mGal) and Bouguer (30–50 mGal) gravity anomalies are relatively low due to plate warping from an ongoing transition from subduction to collision. West of the deformation front, intra-crustal interfaces dipping landward were observed owing to subduction of the extended continent toward the deformation front. However, the intra-crustal interface near the turn in the orientation of the deformation front dipping seaward caused by the transition from subduction to collision. SE of the COB, the oceanic crust, with a crustal thickness of about 10.0–17.0 km, was thickened due to late magmatic underplating or partially serpentinized mantle after SCS seafloor spreading. The thick oceanic crust may have subducted beneath the overriding wedge observed from the low anomalies of the free-air (?50 to ?20 mGal) and Bouguer (40–80 mGal) gravities across the deformation front.     

南海北部地球物理特征及地壳结构

为了研究南海地壳结构，中国和日本合作在南海北部首次进行了以炸药为震源的综合地球物理调查。经初步分析其地壳结构主要特征为：南海北部地壳分为沉积层、上地壳层、中地壳层及下地壳层。大陆架及上陆坡地壳厚度大、稳定。下陆坡地壳厚度除中地壳外，其他壳层厚度减薄且不稳定。深海盆地壳分３层，厚度虽薄但相对稳定，其底部缺失７．３ｋｍ·ｓ－１的高速层。测区内地壳总厚度：陆壳２６—３０ｋｍ，过渡壳１３—２２ｋｍ，洋壳为８ｋｍ。     

Structure of oceanic crust adjacent to a transform margin segment: the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana transform margin

The structure of the oceanic crust adjacent to the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana transform margin is deduced from multichannel seismic reflection and seismic wide-angle data, showing crustal heterogeneities within oceanic basement; the oceanic crust adjacent to the transform margin is half as thick as standard Atlantic oceanic crust. Refraction data indicate a gradual velocity transition towards typical mantle velocities. Such an abnormal oceanic crustal structure appears quite similar to crustal structures known along transform faults. This crustal thinning may be related to thermal effects of the nearby continental crust, on the oceanic accretion processes. We did not find geophysical evidence for oceanic crust contamination by continental lithosphere.     

Investigations of the East Greenland continental margin between 70° and 72° N by deep seismic sounding and gravity studies

Results are presented from a deep seismic sounding experiment with the research vessel POLARSTERN in the Scoresby Sund area, East Greenland. For this continental margin study 9 seismic recording landstations were placed in Scoresby Sund and at the southeast end of Kong Oscars Fjord, and ocean bottom seismographs (OBS) were deployed at 26 positions in and out of Scoresby Sund offshore East Greenland between 70° and 72° N and on the west flank of the Kolbeinsey Ridge. The landstations were established using helicopters from RV POLARSTERN. Explosives, a 321 airgun and 81 airguns were used as seismic sources in the open sea. Gravity data were recorded in addition to the seismic measurements. A free-air gravity map is presented. The sea operations — shooting and OBS recording — were strongly influenced by varying ice conditions. Crustal structure 2-D models have been calculated from the deep seismic sounding results. Free-air gravity anomalies have been calculated from these models and compared to the observed gravity. In the inner Scoresby Sund — the Caledonian fold belt region — the crustal thickness is about 35 km, and thins seaward to 10 km. Sediments more than 10 km thick on Jameson Land are of mainly Mesozoic age. In the outer shelf region and deep sea a ‘Moho’ cannot clearly be identified by our data. There are only weak indications for the existence of a ‘Moho’ west of the Kolbeinsey Ridge. Inside and offshore Scoresby Sund there is clear evidence for a lower crust refractor characterised byp-velocities of 6.8–7.3 km s^?1 at depths between 6 and 10 km. We believe these velocities are related to magmatic processes of rifting and first drifting controlled by different scale mantle updoming during Paleocene to Eocene and Late Oligocene to Miocene times: the separation of Greenland/Norway and the separation of the Jan Mayen Ridge/Greenland, respectively. A thin igneous upper crust, interpreted to be of oceanic origin, begins about 50 km seaward of the Liverpool Land Escarpment and thickens oceanward. In the escarpment zone the crustal composition is not clear. Probably it is stretched and attenuated continental crust interspersed with basaltic intrusions. The great depth of the basement (about 5000 m) points to a high subsidence rate of about 0.25 mm yr^?1 due to sediment loading and cooling of the crust and upper mantle, mainly since Miocene time. The igneous upper crust thickens eastward under the Kolbeinsey Ridge to about 2.5 km; the thickening is likely caused by higher production of extrusives. The basementp-velocity of 5.8–6.0 km s^?1 is rather high. Such velocities are associated with young basalts and may also be caused by a higher percentage of dykes. Tertiary to recent sediments, about 5000 m thick, form most of the shelf east of Scoresby Sund, Liverpool Land and Kong Oscars Fjord. This points to a high sedimentation rate mainly since the Miocene. The deeper sediments have a rather high meanp-velocity of 4.5 km s^?1, perhaps due to pre-Cambrian to Caledonian deposits of continental origin. The upper sediments offshore Scoresby Sund are thick and have a rather low velocity. They are interpreted as eroded material transported from inside the Sund into the shelf region. Offshore Kong Oscars Fjord the upper sediments, likely Jurassic to Devonian deposits, are thin in the shelf region but thicken to more than 3000 m in the slope area. The crust and upper mantle structure in the ocean-continent transition zone is interpreted to be the result of the superposition of the activities of three rifting phases related to mantle plumes of different dimensions:

1. the ‘Greenland/Norway separation phase’ of high volcanic activity,
2. the ‘Jan Mayen Ridge/Greenland separation phase’ and
3. the ‘Kolbeinsey Ridge phase’ of ‘normal’ volcanic activity related to a more or less normal mantle temperature.

During period 2 and 3 only a few masses of extrusives were produced, but large volumes of intrusives were emplaced. So the margin between Scoresby Sund and Jan Mayen Fracture Zone is interpreted to be a stretched margin with low volcanic activity.     

Crustal Thinning of the Northern Continental Margin of the South China Sea

Magnetic data suggest that the distribution of the oceanic crust in the northern South China Sea (SCS) may extend to about 21 °N and 118.5 °E. To examine the crustal features of the corresponding continent–ocean transition zone, we have studied the crustal structures of the northern continental margin of the SCS. We have also performed gravity modeling by using a simple four-layer crustal model to understand the geometry of the Moho surface and the crustal thicknesses beneath this transition zone. In general, we can distinguish the crustal structures of the study area into the continental crust, the thinned continental crust, and the oceanic crust. However, some volcanic intrusions or extrusions exist. Our results indicate the existence of oceanic crust in the northernmost SCS as observed by magnetic data. Accordingly, we have moved the continent–ocean boundary (COB) in the northeastern SCS from about 19 °N and 119.5 °E to 21 °N and 118.5 °E. Morphologically, the new COB is located along the base of the continental slope. The southeastward thinning of the continental crust in the study area is prominent. The average value of crustal thinning factor of the thinned continental crust zone is about 1.3–1.5. In the study region, the Moho depths generally vary from ca. 28 km to ca. 12 km and the crustal thicknesses vary from ca. 24 km to ca. 6 km; a regional maximum exists around the Dongsha Island. Our gravity modeling has shown that the oceanic crust in the northern SCS is slightly thicker than normal oceanic crust. This situation could be ascribed to the post-spreading volcanism or underplating in this region.