Structural evolution of the Kopeh Dagh fold-and-thrust belt (NE Iran) and interactions with the South Caspian Sea Basin and Amu Darya Basin

We present a detailed stratigraphic and structural study of the Kopeh Dagh fold-and-thrust belt in NE Iran, which is an investigation of the complex polyphased tectonic history of this belt and its links with the adjacent South Caspian Sea and Amu Darya basins. Based on numerous field surveys, a large amount of 2D and 3D seismic data, borehole data and more than 150 new biostratigaphic datings, a new detailed biostratigraphic chart and 4 main regional cross-sections illustrate the importance of lateral facies variations and structural inheritance in the present-day structure of the belt.After the Cimmerian orogeny corresponding to the closure of the Paleotethys Ocean in Late Triassic/Early Jurassic times, a Middle Jurassic post-collisional rifting event was associated with the deposition of one of the main source rocks of the Kopeh Dagh and the Amu Darya Basin (Kashafrud Formation). Following this rifting event, over 7 km of sediments were accumulated until the Tertiary above a regional post-Triassic unconformity. The occurrence of local uplifts during the Late Cretaceous-Early Paleocene is interpreted as a consequence of regional-scale modification of plate-slab coupling in the Neotethys subduction zone. The main inversion of the Kopeh Dagh occurred at Late Eocene times, when the far-field deformation developed in Eurasia as a consequence of the locking of the Neo-Tethys subduction. This folding phase is sealed in the western part of the belt by a major Eocene-Oligocene unconformity at the base of the thick sedimentary series belonging to the South Caspian Sea Basin. The bulk of sedimentary infill in the South Caspian Sea Basin is Oligocene and younger, and it is probably related to syn-compressional downward flexure of the resistant basement basin at the onset of the Alpine phase. In the eastern part of the Kopeh Dagh, this deformation is characterized by Middle Jurassic graben inversion with evidence of forced folding, short-cuts and as well by larger scale basement uplifts. In contrast, the northwestern part of the belt shows thrust faults involving basement and fault-propagation folds within the sedimentary sequence. The Kopeh Dagh presents tectonic structures that are parallel to the Paleotethys suture zone, which emphasizes the importance of the structural inheritance and inversion processes during the structural evolution of the belt. Finally, a change from a mostly dip-slip to a mostly strike-slip tectonics occurred during the Pliocene within the Kopeh Dagh as a consequence of a major tectonic reorganization in North-East Iran.     

东海陆架盆地中生代残留地层特征及其构造启示

东海陆架盆地是位于中国东部华南大陆边缘的一个中、新生代叠合盆地,具有较大油气潜力。目前东海陆架盆地油气的发现均来自于新生界,对中生代残留地层的各方面特征认识不足:在空间上通常集中于特定构造单元,且基本位于盆地西部;在时间上主要涉及白垩纪和侏罗纪,且多是定性或半定量的研究。本文在前人研究的基础上,收集、整理了研究区目前最新、最全的反射地震资料和钻井数据,从钻遇中生界井的标定出发,以地震资料的层序划分和解释为基础,进行残留地层的研究,空间上统一盆地东、西两大坳陷带,时间上统揽白垩纪、侏罗纪以及前侏罗纪三个时期。结果表明,东海陆架盆地中生代残留地层遭受了后期严重的剥蚀改造,总体呈现东厚西薄、南厚北薄的特征,残留地层范围随时间不断东扩。对比各时期残留地层平面展布特征,揭示了东海陆架盆地的演变过程:三叠纪时期盆地原型为被动大陆边缘坳陷型盆地,早、中侏罗世时期为活动大陆边缘弧前盆地,晚侏罗世—晚白垩世时期为大陆边缘弧后伸展盆地;与此相对应,古太平洋板块俯冲肇始于晚三叠世—早、中侏罗世时期,板块后撤始于晚侏罗世。东海陆架盆地在中生代的东侧边界位于钓鱼岛隆褶带的东侧。     

Structure of the Basin and Ridge System West of New Caledonia (Southwest Pacific): A Synthesis

Complementary to previous work mainly based on seismic interpretation, our compilation of geophysical data (multibeam bathymetry, gravity, magnetic and seismic) acquired within the framework of the ZoNéCo (ongoing since 1993) and FAUST (1998–2001) programs enables us to improve the knowledge of the New Caledonia Basin, Fairway Basin and Fairway Ridge, located within the Southwest Pacific region. The structural synthesis map obtained from geophysical data interpretation allows definition of the deep structure, nature and formation of the Fairway and New Caledonia Basins. Development of the Fairway Basin took place during the Late Cretaceous (95–65 Ma) by continental stretching. This perched basin forms the western margin of the New Caledonia Basin. A newly identified major SW–NE boundary fault zone separates northern NW–SE trending segments of the two basins from southern N–S trending segments. This crustal-scale fault lineament, that we interpret to be related to Cretaceous-early Cainozoic Tasman Sea spreading, separates the NW–SE thinned-continental and N–S oceanic segments of the New Caledonia Basin. We can thus propose the following pattern for the formation of the study area. The end of continental stretching within the Fairway and West Caledonia Basins ( 65–62 Ma) is interpreted as contemporaneous with the onset of emplacement of oceanic crust within the New Caledonia Basin’s central segment. Spreading occurred during the Paleocene (62–56 Ma), and isolated the Gondwanaland block to the west from the Norfolk block to the east. Finally, our geophysical synthesis enables us to extend the structural Fairway Basin down to the structural Taranaki Basin, with the structural New Caledonia Basin lying east of the Fairway Basin and ending further north than previously thought, within the Reinga Basin northwest of New Zealand.     

沙捞越盆地的盆地类型分析

针对沙捞越盆地盆地类型的不同观点,通过盆地区域构造背景、构造演化阶段、构造沉降曲线的分析以及构造地质事件的恢复,得到以下认识:①盆地的构造演化可划分为晚白垩世—晚始新世,拉让洋壳向婆罗洲基底俯冲,并在婆罗洲中部形成火山岛弧的俯冲增生期;渐新世—早中新世,拉让洋壳俯冲消减完毕,路科尼亚地块与婆罗洲碰撞,并俯冲于婆罗洲基底之下,形成周缘前陆盆地的前陆盆地期;中中新世至今,南中国海开启、婆罗洲碰撞抬升引起盆地稳定沉降的被动边缘期3个阶段。②盆地所选井的构造沉降曲线具有早期缓慢沉降、晚期快速沉降这一前陆盆地的典型特征。③盆地构造地质事件复原图表明,盆地晚期处于被动大陆边缘构造背景。由此,认为沙捞越盆地为复合型盆地,即早期为前陆盆地,晚期则转化为大陆边缘型盆地。     

加里曼丹岛和马来半岛中生代岩相古地理特征及其构造意义

印支运动以后,在现今的南海及其周围存在过2个古海洋,其中晚侏罗世一早白垩世消失于南海北部陆缘区、北巴拉望-礼乐滩-南沙地块以北的古海洋为“中特提斯”,而早第三纪期间消失于南沙地块以南沙捞越一带的古海洋为“古南海”。它们的结束时间和消失的古地理位置完全不同。对它们的正确识别和区分,对目前进行的南海周边地区中一新生代构造演化研究极为重要。对马来半岛、加里曼丹岛中生代岩相古地理资料的整理和分析结果支持如下结论：中特提斯洋的延伸是从苏门答腊的Woyla缝合线,过婆罗洲的Meratus缝合线。然后绕西南婆罗洲地块至加里曼丹岛的西北(Lupar带或者Boyan带),进入南海西南角(南沙-礼乐滩-北巴拉望地块等以北),再接南海北部陆缘区内的中特提斯缝合线。该区中生代海相地层的分布明显受构造演化的控制,整体趋势是向南退缩。印支运动以前、早-中三叠世的海侵广泛分布于古特提斯带及以南地区,涉及华南,中南地块,马来半岛及以南地区;印支运动基本结束了古特提斯带的海侵,因此晚三叠世一早侏罗世的海侵主要限于中特提斯海域及以南地区,如与中特提斯洋相邻的陆域,包括华南的湘赣粤海湾晚三叠世一早侏罗世的海侵、中南半岛东南部早侏罗世的海侵以及新加坡早侏罗世的海相地层。白垩纪海相地层主要分布于中特提斯以南地区,如加里曼丹岛。     

从地质演化特征探讨墨西哥湾地区油气富集的基本规律

墨西哥湾东部主体经历了中生代裂谷拉张、中侏罗世裂谷和地壳衰减、晚侏罗世洋壳形成及早白垩世的区域沉降4个演化阶段;西部主要受中生代太平洋板块向北美板块的俯冲影响,属弧后拉张。由于持续稳定的沉降,墨西哥湾沉积了巨厚的以海相地层为主的中生代地层,并提供了有利的烃源岩、储层和盖层。大量的构造、地层和复合型圈闭为油气富集提供了有利的场所。墨西哥湾盆地为典型的高演化拉张盆地,巴西东部(包括海区)为中等演化拉张盆地,二者均已成为重要的油气富集区。我国东部海区中生界南部以海相地层为主,北部以陆相地层为主,为一个低—中等演化的拉张盆地。前二者的油气富集规律为我国东部海区中生代盆地的找油提供了借鉴作用。     

Present-Day Fluid Dynamics in the South Caspian Basin: Features and Quantitative Estimates

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - The South Caspian Basin (SCB), located within the Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt, is known for its intensive modern fluid dynamics, a quantitative and...     

南海北缘新生代盆地沉积与构造演化及地球动力学背景

南海北缘新生代沉积盆地是全面揭示南海北缘形成演化及与邻区大地构造单元相互作用的重要窗口。通过对盆地沉积-构造特征分析,南海北缘新生代裂陷过程显示出明显的多幕性和旋转性的特点。在从北向南逐渐迁移的趋势下,东、西段裂陷过程也具有一定的差异,西部裂陷活动及海侵时间明显早于东部,裂陷中心由西向东呈雁列式扩展。晚白垩世-早始新世裂陷活动应是东亚陆缘中生代构造-岩浆演化的延续,始新世中、晚期太平洋板块俯冲方向改变导致裂陷中心南移,印度欧亚板块碰撞效应是南海中央海盆扩张方向顺时针旋转的主要原因。     

Depth of Diagenetic Processes and Lower Boundary of the Biosphere in the South Caspian Basin

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - An assessment of the depth of the diagenetic zone and biosphere in the South Caspian Basin (SCB) is given based on a set of more than 400 measurements...     

Isostasy and paleotemperatures in the Southern Tyrrhenian Basin,Mediterranean Sea

The present-day basement depth of the seafloor in the absence of sediment loading was inferred along a traverse crossing the Southern Tyrrhenian Basin. A correction for sediment loading was proposed on the basis of density, seismic velocity and porosity data from selected deep boreholes. The empirical relation between sediment correction and seismic two-way travel time was extrapolated downward by applying the Nafe–Drake curve and a specific porosity–depth relation. The sediment loading response of the basement calculated for flexural isostasy is on average about one hundred meters lower than results for local isostasy. A pure lithosphere extensional model was then used to predict quantitatively the basement subsidence pattern on the margins of the basin. The basement depth is consistent with uniform extension model predictions only in some parts of the margins. The observed variability in the region of greatest thinning (transition from continental to oceanic crust) is attributable to the weakening effect caused by diffuse igneous intrusions. Subsidence of the volcanic Calabrian–Sicilian margin is partly accounted for by magmatic underplating. The comparison of the calculated subsidence with an oceanic lithosphere cooling model shows that subsidence is variable in some areas, particularly in the Marsili Basin. This argues for a typical back-arc origin for the Tyrrhenian Basin, as a result of subduction processes. By taking into account the geodynamic setting, stratigraphic data from the deepest hole and the terrestrial heat flow, we reconstructed the paleotemperatures of cover sediments. The results suggest that low temperatures generally have prevailed during sediment deposition and that the degree of maturation is expected not to be sufficient for oil generation processes.     

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。     

西太平洋侏罗纪海洋地壳断裂特征及其成因机制*

侏罗纪洋壳为现存最古老的海洋地壳, 残留在地球表面上很少, 目前对于侏罗纪洋壳的断裂特征和构造变形了解很少。本文利用高分辨率的反射地震剖面精细解释了位于西太平洋的侏罗纪洋壳基底、沉积地层和断裂结构, 发现在研究区存在基底断层、沉积断层和垮塌断层三种类型的断裂构造, 并对其走向、倾角、断距等几何参数与变形特征进行了推测和定量研究。研究还发现, 基底断层是洋壳受到板块伸展拉张而产生的, 在后期海底沉积过程中持续发育并错断上覆沉积物, 在海底形成明显的断层陡坎。沉积断层是沉积地层自身重力作用的产物,受到沉积地层岩石性质的控制。垮塌断层是岩浆侵出或者侵入形成海山, 导致洋壳及其上覆沉积局部抬升并向两侧推移, 引起先存的基底断层和沉积断层重新错动产生的。研究区内切断洋壳基底和上覆沉积的活动断层的推测走向大体符合侏罗纪洋壳基底面起伏、重力异常骤变界面以及地磁异常条带等的走向, 表明这些断裂从侏罗纪洋中脊的海底扩张中演变而来, 并且持续活动至今。这些发育在古老洋壳上的断层能够长时间让水进入岩石圈并进入俯冲带及地球内部, 从而促进地球水循环。尽管目前尚未发现这些断裂产生大地震, 但这些断层可能随着板块俯冲而演变成俯冲带地震大断裂, 今后研究应该关注这类断层在靠近海沟之前的演化规律和潜在地震风险。     

Basin development subsequent to ridge-trench collision: the Jane Basin,Antarctica

The Jane Arc and Basin system is located at the eastern offshore prolongation of the Antarctic Peninsula, along the southern margin of the South Orkney Microcontinent. Three magnetic anomaly profiles orthogonal to the main tectonic and bathymetric trends were recorded during the SCAN97 cruise by the Spanish R/V Hespérides. In our profiles, chron C6n (19.5 Ma) was identified as the youngest oceanic crust of the Northern Weddell Sea, whose northern spreading branch was totally subducted. The profiles from the Jane Basin allow us to date, for the first time, the age of the oceanic crust using linear sea floor magnetic anomalies. The spreading in the Jane Basin began around the age of the oldest magnetic anomaly at 17.6 Ma (chron C5Dn), and ended about 14.4 Ma (chron C5ADn). The distribution of the magnetic anomalies indicate that the mechanism responsible for the development of Jane Basin was the subduction of the Weddell Sea spreading centre below the SE margin of the South Orkney Microcontinent, suggesting a novel mechanism for an extreme case of backarc development.     

Tidal oscillations in the Caspian Sea

Long-term hourly data from 12 tide gauge stations were used to examine the character of tidal oscillations in the Caspian Sea. Diurnal and semidiurnal tidal peaks are well-defined in sea level spectra in the Middle and South Caspian basins. High-resolution spectral analysis revealed that the diurnal sea level oscillations in the Middle Caspian Basin have a gravitational origin, while those in the South Caspian Basin are mainly caused by radiational effects: the amplitude of diurnal radiational harmonic S₁ is much higher than those of gravitational harmonics О₁, P₁, and K₁. In the North Caspian Basin, there are no gravitational tides and only weak radiational tides are observed. A semidiurnal type of tide is predominant in the Middle and South Caspian basins. Harmonic analysis of the tides for individual annual series with subsequent vector averaging over the entire observational period was applied to estimate the mean amplitudes and phases of major tidal constituents. The amplitude of the M₂ harmonic reaches 5.4 cm in the South Caspian Basin (at Aladga). A maximum tidal range of 21 cm was found at the Aladga station in the southeastern part of the Caspian Sea, whereas the tidal range in the western part of the South Caspian Basin varies from 5 to 10 cm.     

南极布兰斯菲尔德海峡及邻区地壳结构反演及构造解析

南极布兰斯菲尔德海峡及邻区是南极半岛海域火山、地震等新构造运动最活跃的地区,由于前人对资料处理解释的差异,导致盆地的构造格局仍部分存疑。本文以研究区的卫星重力数据为基础,以多道反射地震和部分岩性资料为约束,采用重震联合反演方法构建了三条横跨研究区的地壳结构剖面,并进一步研究布兰斯菲尔德海峡盆地的地壳结构。研究结果表明布兰斯菲尔德海峡盆地莫霍面深度为33—38km。菲尼克斯板块俯冲消减下沉至南设得兰岛弧之下,导致南设得兰海沟的俯冲带后撤,产生3—4km厚的岩浆混染地壳,密度为2.9g/cm³。分析认为受板块运动和弧后扩张影响,沿布兰斯菲尔德海峡盆地扩张脊分布的海底火山裂隙式喷发,并进一步导致盆地的持续性扩张。     

Plate tectonic history,basin development and petroleum source rock deposition onshore China

China comprises a mosaic of distinct continental fragments separated by fold belts. These fold belts are suture zones resulting from the accretion of various fragments formerly separated by intervening areas of oceanic crust.The major sedimentary basins onshore China can be classified into four groups. Those in western China are flexural, developing as a result of north-south compression. In contrast, those in the east are extensional and related to development of the Pacific oceanic margin. In central China, basins have a more problematic origin. Those of north central China (Ordos, Sichuan) are flexural basins controlled by eastward directed thrusting along their western margin. In contrast, basins further south (Chuxiong, Shiwandashan) are predominantly extensional and related to major strike-slip movements.By synthesizing basin stratigraphies across China in tectonostratigraphic terms (and in particular comparing the nature and timing of unconformities), it is possible to formulate a coherent model for the palaeoreconstruction of China. We identify five major tectonostratigraphic breaks which equate with the collision of the following continental fragments: Tarim/North China (Carboniferous-Permian), South China Block (Permian-Triassic), Qiantang (Late Triassic-Early Jurassic), Lhasa Block (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous) and India (Early Tertiary).Prior to Permian times, the southern margin of Eurasia ran approximately along the northern border of modern China. The Late Carboniferous collision of Tarim/North China with Eurasia resulted in the development of a flexural basin (Junggar) and deposition of non-marine clastics. To the south of the suture, shallow marine deposition continued. In the Late Permian-Early Triassic, the progressive collision from east to west of the South China Block with the North China Block resulted in a change to fluvial/lacutrine sedimentation across the entire North China-Tarim block. Open marine carbonate deposition in the north of the South China Block passed southward into a deeper marine clastic sequence deposited in a backarc basin. Further south, a subduction zone existed along the southeastern margin of the South China Block.In western China, northward subduction throughout the Triassic resulted in the development of the Songban-Ganzi accretionary prism with retroarc thrusting resulting in flexure and the first development of the Tarim basin. Oblique collision of the Qiantang Block in the Late Triassic along the east of the South China Block resulted in east-west directed thrusting which initiated the Suchuan and Ordos basins. Continued strike-slip deformation along the south western margin of the South China Block resulted in the development of basins with a significant extensional component such as Chuxiong.The collision of the Qiantang Block with the southern edge of the Tarim Basin (Early Jurassic) resulted in a renewed clastic influx in both the Tarim and Junggar basins. Along the eastern (Pacific) margin a compressional arc and retroarc basin in the south passed northwards into an extensional arc system. Subduction rollback of the extensional arc initiated rifting in the Late Jurassic in the Eren and Songliao basins.The Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous collision of the Lhasa Block in the west rejuvenated the thrust systems bordering the western basin and resulted in a renewed clastic influx. In the southeast, the compressional arc phase culminated in widespread thrusting and folding of Early Cretaceous age. In the northeast, extension continued with the progressive migration of the rift system southward with time.The arrival of the Indian Block in the Early Tertiary rejuvenated the bounding thrust belts of all the western basins. In the east, the change in convergence of the Pacific plate to a more westerly direction is marked by extension and widespread rifting along the entire length of Eastern China.Throughout most of China, Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposition occurred in predominantly non-marine environments. Source rocks in such settings comprise principally mudstones deposited in lakes (organic-rich mudstones). These can accumulate in both deep and shallow lakes. In order to accumulate substantial volumes, the lake must be significant in space and time.In China, lacustrine ORMs occur in both rift and flexural basins. Lacustrine ORMs deposited under humid climatic conditions are restricted to the period of maximum tectonic subsidence. In the flexural basins of western China, source rock deposition follows basin initiation by 20–30 Ma. In the extensional basins of eastern China, source rock deposition takes place 5–15 Ma after basin initiation. By contrast, semi-arid and arid climate lacustrine ORMs, whilst being best developed during the period of maximum tectonic subsidence, occur at all stages in the basin history.     

The basins of Sundaland (SE Asia): Evolution and boundary conditions

Most of the basins developed in the continental core of SE Asia (Sundaland) evolved since the Late Cretaceous in a manner that may be correlated to the conditions of the subduction in the Sunda Trench. By the end of Mesozoic times Sundaland was an elevated area composed of granite and metamorphic basement on the rims; which suffered collapse and incipient extension, whereas the central part was stable. This promontory was surrounded by a large subduction zone, except in the north and was a free boundary in the Early Cenozoic. Starting from the Palaeogene and following fractures initiated during the India Eurasia collision, rifting began along large faults (mostly N–S and NNW–SSE strike-slip), which crosscut the whole region. The basins remained in a continental fluvio-lacustrine or shallow marine environment for a long time and some are marked by extremely stretched crust (Phu Khanh, Natuna, N. Makassar) or even reached the ocean floor spreading stage (Celebes, Flores). Western Sundaland was a combination of basin opening and strike-slip transpressional deformation. The configuration suggests a free boundary particularly to the east (trench pull associated with the Proto-South China Sea subduction; Java–Sulawesi trench subduction rollback). In the Early Miocene, Australian blocks reached the Sunda subduction zone and imposed local shortening in the south and southeast, whereas the western part was free from compression after the Indian continent had moved away to the north. This suggests an important coupling of the Sunda Plate with the Indo-Australian Plate both to SE and NW, possibly further west rollback had ceased in the Java–Sumatra subduction zone, and compressional stress was being transferred northwards across the plate boundary. The internal compression is expressed to the south by shortening which is transmitted as far as the Malay basin. In the Late Miocene, most of the Sunda Plate was under compression, except the tectonically isolated Andaman Sea and the Damar basins. In the Pliocene, collision north of Australia propagated toward the north and west causing subduction reversal and compression in the short-lived Damar Basin. Docking of the Philippine Plate confined the eastern side of Sundaland and created local compression and uplift such as in NW Borneo, Palawan and Taiwan. Transpressional deformation created extensive folding, strike-slip faulting and uplift of the Central Basin and Arakan Yoma in Myanmar. Minor inversion affected many Thailand rift basins. All the other basins record subsidence. The uplift is responsible for gravity tectonics where thick sediments were accumulated (Sarawak, NE Luconia, Bangladesh wedge).     

北冰洋楚科奇边缘地的地球物理场与构造格局

利用高分辨率水深、重力、地磁和多道反射地震数据,综合分析了楚科奇边缘地及其周边区域的地形地貌和地球物理场特征,划分了区域构造单元。研究表明,楚科奇边缘地不仅是楚科奇大陆架外缘独特的地形单元,也是一个相对独立的构造单元,与周边的加拿大洋盆、阿尔法-门捷列夫大火山岩省、北楚科奇陆架盆地和阿拉斯加被动陆缘等构造单元在地球物理场和区域构造上具有截然不同的特征。楚科奇边缘地是一个地壳减薄的微陆块,新生代早、中期发生了大规模的E-W向构造拉伸作用,基底断块的差异性升降塑造了当前的地形地貌和沉积层的发育。边缘地可能形成于北楚科奇盆地侏罗纪-早白垩纪的张裂作用,而内部盆-脊相间排列的构造格局则可能与加拿大海盆相边缘地俯冲作用停止后的均衡调整有关。     

弧后盆地

有关岛弧的研究,在三十年代早已开始了.1930年时,荷兰一位地球物理学家在研究重力异常时发现,在印尼南部的诸岛形成了一个弧状的构造,称它为岛弧.而且发现了它以南弧形的爪哇海槽,这是个很深的海槽,在它北坡下有个很大的重力异常带.这个海槽发现后,许多地质学家普遍认为岛弧在海洋地质上是个很重要的现象,与造山运动有关.     

Depth anomalies in the Arabian Basin, NW Indian Ocean

We present previously unreported depth anomalies in the Arabian Basin, northwest Indian Ocean, to provide constraints on the evolution of the oceanic lithosphere of that basin. The depth anomaly reported in this study was calculated as the difference between the observed depth to oceanic basement (corrected for sediment load) and the calculated depth to oceanic basement of the same age. The results indicate an anomalous depth to basement of oceanic crust in the Arabian Basin in the age bracket of 63–42 Ma, suggesting that subsidence in this basin does not follow the age–depth relationship of normal oceanic crust. The depth anomalies in the basin vary from +501 to −905 m. A negative depth anomaly zone, mapped in the eastern part of the basin near the Laccadive Ridge, indicates that here the basement depth is shallower than predicted. By contrast, a positive depth anomaly zone, mapped in the western part of the basin, indicates a deeper basement depth than expected. We propose that the excess subsidence of basement of the western part of the basin is probably caused by a relatively cold mantle, compared to the nearby eastern part of the basin which is affected by the intense thermal field of the former Reunion hotspot. Here, the rise in oceanic basement is caused by the vertical upwelling of oceanic crust due to convection, followed by a lateral across-axis flow facilitated by the Reunion hotspot at the time of spreading in early Tertiary times. This interpretation is in good agreement with spreading-ridge propagation and ridge-hotspot interaction reported earlier for the basin.