Crustal structure and deformation associated with seamount subduction at the north Manila Trench represented by analog and gravity modeling

We investigated the deformation in the accretionary wedge associated with subducted seamounts in the northern Manila Trench by combining observations from seismic profiles and results from laboratory sandbox experiments. From three seismic reflection profiles oriented approximately perpendicular to the trench, we observed apparent variations in structural deformation along the trench. A number of back-thrust faults were formed in the accretionary wedge where subducted seamounts were identified. In contrast, observable back-thrusts were quite rare along the profile without seamounts, indicating that seamount subduction played an important role in deformation of the accretionary wedge. We then conducted laboratory sandbox experiments to investigate the effects of subducted seamounts on the structural deformation of the accretionary wedge. From the analog modeling results we found that seamount subduction could cause well-developed back-thrusts, gravitational collapse, and micro-fractures in the wedge. We also found that a seamount may induce normal faults in the wedge and that normal faults may be eroded by subsequent seamount subduction. In addition, we constrained the crustal structure of the South China Sea plate from modeling free-air gravity data. The dip angle of the subducting plate, which was constrained by hypocenters of available earthquakes, increased from south to north in the northern Manila Trench. We found a laterally heterogeneous density distribution of the oceanic crust according to the gravity data. The density of subducted crust is ~2.92 g/cm³, larger than that of the South China Sea crust (2.88 g/cm³).     

南海中部海盆海山磁性反演及初步解析

南海中部海盆分布着众多海山,从实测磁异常反演海山磁性是南海海盆古地磁研究新的重要课题,它有助于解决南海海盆的运动方向和运动形式等问题.对南海海盆16座海山作磁性反演取得了较高的计算精度.对南海中部海盆海山磁性反演表明,海山均为非均匀磁化体,海山形成经过多期火山喷溢叠加.海山磁性差异清晰地显示了海盆分区特征.南海海盆分东部海盆区和西南部海盐区,海盆地壳运动规律差异较大:东部海盆以逆时针旋转由南往北运移;西南海盆先经历了顺时针旋转,后改为逆时针旋转,由北往南运移.     

Basin geometry and salt diapirs in the Flinders Ranges,South Australia: Insights gained from geologically-constrained modelling of potential field data

The Adelaide Basin in Australia is a complex of late Neoproterozoic to Early Cambrian rift and sag basins which was inverted during the Cambro–Ordovician Delamerian Orogeny. The deposition of evaporitic sediments during the earliest stage of basin development in the late Neoproterozoic (Willouran age) played a major role in the subsequent tectonic evolution of the basin. Previous studies have shown that early mobilization, vertical transport and withdrawal of the evaporites influenced the sedimentation during the late Neoproterozoic and Early Cambrian. The evaporites also influenced deformation during the inversion of the basin and the development of the Delamerian fold and thrust belt. However, the control exerted by basement structures in the deposition of the evaporitic beds and the role of these tectonic structures in the later inversion of the basin have been poorly constrained.     

The geomorphological features and continuity of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge (KPR)

The Philippine Basin,surrounded by a series of oceanic trenches,is an independent deep ocean basin in the West Pacific Ocean.Its middle part is divided into three marginal sea sub-basins by the Kyushu-Palau and West Mariana Ridges,namely,the West Philippine Basin,the Shikoku and Parece Vela Basins and the Mariana Trough.This paper,through the analysis of the geomorphologic features and gravity and magnetic characteristics of the basin and identification of striped magnetic anomalies,suggests that the entire Philippine Basin developed magnetic lineation of oceanic nature,and therefore,the entire basin is of the nature of oceanic crust.The basin has developed a series of special geomorphic units with different shapes.The KPR runs through the entire Philippine Basin.From the view of geomorphologic features,the KPR is a discontinuous seamount chain (chain-shaped seamounts) and subduction beneath the Japanese Island arc at the Nankai Trough which is the natural boundary between the basin and the Japanese Island arc.At the positions of 25 N,24 N,23 N and 18 N,obvious discontinuity is shown,which belongs to natural topographic discontinuity.Therefore,the KPR is topographically discontinuous.     

南海海盆及其周缘岩浆岩地球化学特征对岩浆过程及地幔结构的指示意义

本文通过对昆嵩高原,三水盆地以及玳瑁海山岩浆岩的地球化学研究来揭示南海海盆以及周边地区的岩浆过程以及地幔源区的性质。昆嵩,三水及玳瑁海山玄武质岩浆的地球化学特征均反应这些岩浆并非来源于一个起源于核幔边界的深部地幔柱,而是来源于较浅的岩浆源区,例如岩石圈下地幔或者软流圈地幔。此外,南海海盆岩浆岩的地幔源区较昆嵩高原和三水盆地岩浆岩的地幔源区更加亏损并且表现出较低的地幔温度。这些差异可能表明三水盆地内的岩浆活动被南海的开张所抑制,而之后又在昆嵩高原复苏。研究区的地幔表现出不均一性,其中的富集地幔端元表现出EM2的特征。这个EM2富集端员是由于伴随着大陆沉积物的中生代古南海板块俯冲到研究区地幔中所形成的。     

Cenozoic folding in the Cumuruxatiba basin,Brazil: An approach to the deformation trigger by the Abrolhos magmatism

The Cumuruxatiba basin is located in the central portion of the eastern Brazilian margin surrounded by Cenozoic magmatic highs that belong to the Abrolhos Magmatic Complex. This basin was formed by rifting, in the Neocomian followed by thermal subsidence during late Cretaceous like other basins along the Eastern Brazilian margin. In the Cenozoic, the Abrolhos magmatism took place as sills and dykes intruded the sedimentary section, primarily during the Paleogene. In that time, there was a strong NS contractional deformation in the basin represented by folds related to reverse faults coeval with Abrolhos magmatism activity. The structural restorations of regional 2D seismic sections revealed that most of the contractional deformation was concentrated at the beginning of the Cenozoic with maximum peak at the Eocene (up to 33% of total shortening and rate of 6 km/Ma). The Post-Eocene period was marked by a decrease in the strain rate that continues to the present day (around 4 km/Ma to less than 1). 3D structural modelling exhibited a major, well-developed E–W to NE–SW fold belt that accommodated most of the contractional Cenozoic deformation between Royal Charlotte and Sulphur Minerva magmatic highs. Volcanic eruptions and magmatic flows from the Abrolhos complex resulted in differential overburden on edge of the basin, acting as a trigger for halokinesis and the subsequent formation of fault-related folds. In general, such structures were developed close to adjacent magmatic highs, commonly exhibiting vergence towards the centre of the basin. Some magmatic features formed coeval with Cenozoic syn-deformation sediments clearly indicate that Abrolhos magmatism activity and contractional deformation development were associated. The study of the thickness variation of the syn-deformation section in relation to fault-related folds on deformation maps and maximum strain diagrams revealed that most folds were activated and re-activated several times during the Cenozoic without a systematic kinematic pattern. This lack of systematic deformation might be related to the variation of the magmatic pulse activity of adjacent magmatic highs resulting in a complex interference pattern of Cenozoic folds. These structural interpretations of the timing of fault-related folds that are potential Cenozoic traps in the Cumuruxatiba basin play a fundamental role in petroleum systems and exploration of low-risk hydrocarbon prospects.     

Relationship between mn nodule abundance and other geological factors in the northeastern pacific: Application of gis and probability method

The aims of this study are 1) to construct a database using geostatistics and Geographic Information System (GIS), and 2) to derive the spatial relationships between manganese nodule abundance and other geological factors such as metal grade, slope, water depth, topography, and acoustic characteristics of the sub-bottom. Using GIS, it is possible to analyze a large amount of data efficiently, and to maximize the practical application, to increase specialization, and to enhance the accuracy of the analyses. The greater the copper and nickel grade, the higher the rating. The distribution pattern of nickel grade is similar to that of copper grade. The slopes are generally less than 3° except for seamounts and cliff areas. The rating shows no correlation with slope. The rating is highest for slopes between 2.5 and 3.5° in block N1 and between 4.0 and 4.5° in block N3. The topography is classified into five groups: seamount, hill crest, hill slant, hill base or plain, and seafloor basin or valley. The rating proves lowest for seamount and hill crest. Our results show that the rating increases with the water depth in the study area. Nodule abundance dose not show any significant relationship with the thickness of the upper transparent layer in the study area.     

Cenozoic structural deformation and dynamic processes of the Bohai Bay basin province,China

Cenozoic structures in the Bohai Bay basin province can be subdivided into eleven extensional systems and three strike-slip systems. The extensional systems consist of normal faults and transfer faults. The normal faults predominantly trend NNE and NE, and their attitudes vary in different tectonic settings. Paleogene rifting sub-basins were developed in the hanging walls of the normal faults that were most likely growth faults. Neogene–Quaternary sequences were deposited in both the rifting sub-basins and horsts to form a unified basin province. The extensional systems were overprinted by three NNE-trending, right-lateral strike-slip systems (fault zones). Although the principal displacement zones (PDZ) of the strike-slip fault zones are developed only in the basement and lower basin sequences in some cross sections, the structural deformation characteristics of the upper basin sequences also indicate that they are basement-involved, right-lateral strike-slip fault zones. According to the relationships between faults and sedimentary sequences, the extensional systems were mainly developed from the middle Paleocene to the late Oligocene, whereas the strike-slip systems were mainly developed from the Oligocene to the Miocene. Strike-slip deformation was intensified as extensional deformation was weakened. Extensional deformation was derived from horizontal tension induced by upwelling of hot mantle material, whereas strike-slip deformation was probably related to a regional stress field induced by plate movement.     

Geological and petrologic evolution of seamounts near the EPR based on submersible and camera study

Observations from 17 ALVIN dives and 14 ANGUS runs plus laboratory study of basalt samples collected with ALVIN help to constrain the morphologic, volcanic and petrologic evolution of four seamounts near the East Pacific Rise (EPR). Comparison among the four volcanoes provides evidence for a general pattern of near-EPR seamount evolution and shows the importance of sedimentation, mass wasting, hydrothermal activity and other geologic processes that occur on submerged oceanic volcanoes. Seamount 5, closest to the EPR (1.0 Ma) is the youngest seamount and may still be active. Its summit is covered by fresh lavas, recent faults and hydrothermal deposits. Seamount D is on crust 1.55 Ma and is inactive; like seamount 5, it has a breached caldera and is composed exclusively of N-MORB. Seamounts 5 and D represent the last stages of growth of typical N-MORB-only seamounts near the EPR axis. Seamounts 6 and 7 have bumpy, flattish summits composed of transitional and alkalic lavas. These lavas probably represent caldera fillings and caps overlying an edifice composed of N-MORB. Evolution from N-MORB-only cratered edifices to the alkalic stage does not occur on all near-EPR seamounts and may be favored by location on structures with relative-motion-parallel orientation.     

The role of permeability evolution in fault zones on the structural and hydro-mechanical characteristics of shortening basins

We examine the role of basin-shortening on the development of structural compartments in passive margin basins. A coupled flow-deformation model is used to follow the evolution of an idealized prismatic basin during lateral shortening. This includes the deformation-induced generation (lateral compaction) and dissipation (hydraulic fracturing) of pore fluid pressures and the resulting natural evolution of an underlying décollement and subsidiary fault structures. This model is used to examine the influence of strata stiffnesses, strain softening, permeability-strain dependence, permeability contrast between layers, and deformation rate on the resulting basin structure and to infer fluid charge within these structures. For a geometry with a permeability contrast at the base of the basin a basal décollement forms as the basin initially shortens, excess pore pressures build from the impeded drainage and hydrofracturing releases fluid mass and resets effective stresses. As shortening continues, thrust faults form, nucleating at the décollement. Elevated pore pressures approaching the lithostat are localized at the hanging wall boundary of the faults. Faults extend to bound blocks that are vertically offset to yield graben-like structural highs and lows and evolve with distinctive surface topography and separate pore pressure signatures. Up-thrust blocks have elevated fluid pressures and reduced effective stresses at their core, and down-thrust blocks the converse. The development of increased permeability on localized fault structures is a necessary condition to yield this up-thrust and down-thrust geometry. In the anti-physical case where evolution of permeability with shear strain is artificially suppressed, pervasive shear develops throughout the basin depth as fluid pressures are stabilized everywhere to the lithostat. Correspondingly, permeability evolution with shear is an important, likely crucial, feedback in promoting localization.     

A multivariate analysis of larval fish and paralarval cephalopod assemblages at Great Meteor Seamount

Assemblage structures and distribution patterns of larval fishes and paralarval cephalopods were examined in September 1998 at Great Meteor Seamount, an isolated seamount located in the subtropical eastern North Atlantic. Early life stages of fish (n=18555) and cephalopods (n=1200) were collected at 23 stations with a multiple opening–closing net, in seven discrete depth strata from 290 m depth (close to the seamount plateau) to the surface. Oceanic species dominated in both taxonomic groups. A peak in diversity was observed at an intermediate depth, in the 100–150 m water layer. Direct and indirect gradient analyses showed distinct species assemblages in the upper and lower part of the water column, separated by approximately 150 m. The division was statistically significant, although a considerable overlap between species was also observed. Above the summit, vertical gaps were found in the distributions of the deeper assemblages, likely caused by increased predation pressure by benthopelagic fish. Horizontal distribution patterns of fish and cephalopods were similar and corresponded to the structure of closed circulation cells detected above the flanks and the flat plateau area. Fish assemblages were significantly different between the inner and outer seamount regime, which was approximately separated by the 1500 m depth contour. Differences in the taxonomic composition of cephalopods were less pronounced; for only one cephalopod species could a direct association with the seamount be assumed. The study indicates a significant retention potential at the seamount that facilitates local recruitment of resident stocks and generates self-sustainable populations isolated from the continental shelf and oceanic islands.     

Classification of seamount morphology and its evaluating significance of ferromanganese crust in the central Pacific Ocean

1 IntroductionCobalt-richcrust, alsoknownasferrom anganesecrustormanganesecrust, isdefined astheferroman-ganesedepositiondistributingontheseamountandoc-curringinlayer,crustandgravelornoduleinpart.Itisrich inthemetalofhigh economicvalue(cobalt,nick-el,plat…     

2014年冬季西太平洋雅浦海山与大洋海域大型浮游动物群落比较研究

2014年冬季对西太平洋雅浦Y3海山区和从西太平洋暖池区到黑潮源区之间的大洋海域的浮游动物进行了调查研究，分析了海山区和大洋海域大型浮游动物群落的物种组成、丰度和分布，并比较了两个海域大型浮游动物群落的差异，结合温度、盐度和叶绿素a浓度等环境因子数据，分析了海山对大型浮游动物群落的影响。结果表明，Y3海山区和大洋海域的大型浮游动物群落物种组成存在差异，二者的群落相似度系数为68.4%，两个海域的优势种/类群也不尽相同，海山区的优势种/类群是磷虾各期幼体、尖额磷虾和蛮𧊕，而大洋海域的优势种/类群分别是磷虾后期幼体、手磷虾、蛮𧊕、尖额磷虾和莹虾。大型浮游动物群落在海山区的平均丰度和最大丰度都要高于大洋海域，但海山区的生物多样性指数、均匀度指数和生物量占比都低于大洋海域，因而Y3海山对大型浮游动物群落的海山效应不明显。通过相关性分析和主成分分析结果可以看出，海山区的首要影响环境因子是盐度，而大洋海域则是温度；海山区和大洋海域的大型浮游动物丰度分别与200m层盐度和平均温度呈负相关关系，并且在两个调查海域均未发现大型浮游动物的丰度和生物量分布与叶绿素a浓度之间存在显著的相关关系。     

Indirect evidence of deep flow east of a North Pacific seamount

East-west vertical sections centered on Kinmei Seamount (35N, 172E) of potential temperature, salinity, and oxygen, based on recent standard hydrographic measurements, and vertical profiles ofin situ temperature and density ( ₄) east of the seamount, based on STD data, show contrasting variability in the deep water characteristics east and west of the seamount. These data are consistent with horizontal variations in water mass properties (temperature-salinity and temperature-oxygen curves) east of the seamount between 2,600–3,900 m but not west of the seamount. East of the seamount on surfaces of constant potential temperature (or density) salinity and oxygen are higher at a station 200 km from the seamount than at stations on either side. From these relations and from known deep water properties of the North Pacific, it is suggested that east of the seamount, between 2,600–3,900 m, the observations are consistent with northward flow, which is interpreted to be a western boundary current with an east-west scale of about 300 km.     

平衡剖面技术及其在济阳坳陷桩海地区的应用

平衡剖面技术在研究盆地演化方面有着重要的作用,可以编制盆地发育演化剖面,广泛地用于研究石油构造分析。平衡剖面的最基本原理就是在地层变形前后物质的总量是不变的。利用2DMove软件对济阳坳陷桩海地区的两条地震剖面进行构造恢复,编制了构造发育剖面,恢复该区的构造演化史。桩海地区在三叠纪一中侏罗世由于印支运动的强烈挤压作用而抬升剥蚀;晚侏罗世一早白垩世时期,在中国东部发生了强烈的伸展作用,发育了大量的断裂和接受了巨厚的沉积地层;在晚白垩世,由于郯庐断裂的左行走滑作用,桩海地区抬升并遭受剥实;在古近纪,受区域构造伸展作用,桩海地区发育成为断陷盆地。古近纪末,发生右行走滑运动和构造抬升。新近纪以来该区表现为稳定的坳陷沉积盆地。     

基于深度域地震成像的中沙海槽盆地东北部结构构造研究

文章基于叠前深度偏移地震成像分析, 结合前人重磁反演等地球物理资料成果, 对中沙海槽盆地东北部结构构造进行探索研究。研究表明: 中沙海槽盆地东北部发育新生代地层, 厚度在1500~2500m之间, 地层层速度为1500~ 3500m·s^-1, 不存在中生界沉积层, 盆地基底为海山或前寒武系基岩及岩浆岩隆起。中沙海槽盆地新生代陆源海相烃源岩丰富, 盆地新生界地层厚度大, 盆地凹陷、断裂发育, 具有一定的油气勘探潜力。     

麦哲伦海山链漂移史及可能的来源

麦哲伦海山链主要由十多座相对独立的平顶海山组成,呈北西向展布于太平洋海山密集区。结合前人对麦哲伦海山链形成和漂移的认识,从板块运动和几何学角度出发采用backtracking和hot-spotting海山追踪方法对该区海山的起源与形成进行了研究,结果表明,麦哲伦海山链是多热点成因的板内火山和板块构造运动共同作用的产物,最初于白垩纪期间由法属玻利尼西亚热点群西侧呈北北西向排列的热点活动产生,继而受到板块运动与区内近南北向和北北东向两组断裂及其热活化等的改造作用,最后形成了现今看到的平顶海山。     

Morphologic investigation of “uncharted” seamount from central Indian basin revisited with multibeam sonar system

Morphology of a seamount at 12°35'E and 76°18.5’ and two abyssal hills in its vicinity is described using the Hydrosweep multibeam‐swath bathymetric system. The height of the seamount is 1350 m, and it occupies an area of 330 km². Its basal width is 22.5 km, and the mount has a gentle and longer western flank and a steep and shorter eastern flank. There is a characteristic terracelike feature on the western flank, about 300 m from the top. A caldera is also observed on top of the seamount. Slope angles in this area are high (over 35"). Results of morphologic studies of the seamount from the multibeam survey are comparable to those from a narrow‐beam echosounding survey. The origin of the seamount may be related to the presence of a fracture zone at 75°45'E.     

南海南部海域构造地貌

构造地貌是指由新构造运动直接形成的一种动态的、积极活跃的地貌类型。南海南部海域新构造运动强烈,类型众多,它们是控制海底构造地貌形成和发育的主要内动力因素。根据地质地球物理资料,对该区区域构造沉降、海底扩张、断裂作用、褶皱作用和火山活动等新构造运动类型及其形成的构造地貌进行了分析。区域构造沉降形成规模较大的构造台地、深水阶地和陆坡盆地等;海底扩张形成西南海盆、中央海盆及其内部的众多构造地貌类型;断裂作用形成断层崖、断阶、海底谷、断块山、断陷盆地等;褶皱作用形成山地和挤压构造盆地;火山作用形成海山、海丘。     

Modelled effects of primary and secondary production enhancement by seamounts on local fish stocks

This paper addresses how large aggregations of fish found on many seamounts are sustained. We used a generic seamount ecosystem model from the Northeast Atlantic to examine the impact of a potential increase of local primary production on higher trophic levels, to quantify the immigration of allochthonous micronekton that would be required to maintain a “typical” seamount community, and to quantify if the necessary immigration ratios could be supported by local oceanographic conditions. Our simulation predictions indicate a lack of autochthonous resources in the system to support large amounts of seamount aggregating fish. In other words, autochthonous seamount production may be responsible for sustaining only a small amount of its total biomass. Additionally, our study supports the idea that enhancement of primary productivity also cannot sustain large aggregations of seamount fish. Our seamount model, which took into account high abundances of fish, marine mammals, seabirds and tuna, required a total immigration of allochthonous micronekton of 95.2 t km⁻² yr⁻¹ less than the potential available biomass after considering the immigration of prey based upon average current velocities and prey standing stocks in oceanic waters. Our model predicted that the horizontal flux of prey would be sufficient to sustain the rich communities living on seamounts.