Tectonics and petroleum potential of the East Arctic province

Tectonics and petroleum potential of the underexplored East Arctic area have been investigated as part of an IPY (International Polar Year) project. The present-day scenery of the area began forming with opening of the Amerasia Ocean (Canada and Podvodnikov—Makarov Basins) in the Late Jurassic—Early Cretaceous and with Cretaceous—Cenozoic rifting related to spreading in the Eurasia Basin. The opening of oceans produced pull-apart and rift basins along continental slopes and shelves of the present-day Arctic fringing seas, which lie on a basement consisting of fragments of the Hyperborean craton and Early Paleozoic to Middle Cretaceous orogens. By analogy with basins of the Arctic and Atlantic passive margins, the Cretaceous—Cenozoic shelf and continental slope basins may be expected to have high petroleum potential, with oil and gas accumulations in their sediments and basement.     

俄罗斯的沉积盆地和油气资源(英文)

俄罗斯的内陆和海上大约有 30个盆地赋含油气。这些盆地囊括了所有的以板块构造为分类准则的盆地类型 ,即 :( 1)内陆裂谷和超裂谷台坳 ;( 2 )现代大陆边缘的上叠台坳 ;( 3)与冲断褶皱系统毗邻的被动大陆边缘和 ( 4 )岩石圈板块聚敛带 (即大洋板块俯冲到大陆板块之下的地带 )。第一类盆地包括广袤的西西伯利亚超拗拉槽盆地和西伯里亚的Viluy拗拉槽等。第二类包括一些具油气远景的俄罗斯北冰洋盆地和里海边缘盆地。第三类包括乌拉尔前渊的伏尔加—乌拉尔盆地 (Volga—Urals)、大高加索前渊的亚速—库班盆地 (Azov—Kuban)和捷列克—里海盆地 (Terek—Caspian)以及其它盆地。被动大陆边缘经历了 2个到 3个演化阶段 ,主要油气聚集期通常对应后裂谷期。第四类盆地是指远东和俄罗斯东北部的盆地。在鄂霍次克海 (萨哈林岛—鄂霍次克和西堪察加—鄂霍次克 )已经发现了油气田 ,有一些盆地 (Anadyr和Khatyrka)已被证实含有油气。裂陷作用也控制着弧后盆地的形成。盆地的地球动力学特征控制着油气藏的分布、圈闭类型和资源富集程度。俄罗斯的油气富集区主要集中在伏尔加—乌拉尔、西西伯利亚、铁梓哥—伯朝阿 (Timano—Pechora)和萨哈林 (Sakhalin)地区 ,大约 4 5%的资源量被采出 ,其他盆地有很好的远景。里海的俄?     

非洲地区盆地演化与油气分布

非洲地区盆地整体勘探程度较低,待发现资源量大,是当前油气勘探开发的热点地区之一。非洲板块在显生宙主要经历了冈瓦纳大陆形成、整体运动和裂解3个构造演化阶段,形成多种不同类型的盆地。通过板块构造演化和原型盆地研究及石油地质综合分析,明确了不同类型盆地的构造特征与油气富集规律。北非克拉通边缘盆地形成于古生代早期,受海西运动影响,油气主要富集在挤压背景下形成的大型穹隆构造之中,以古生界含油气系统为主;北非边缘裂谷盆地海西运动之后普遍经历了裂谷和沉降,裂谷期各盆地沉降幅度和沉降中心的差异导致了油气成藏模式和资源潜力的差异;东、西非被动陆缘盆地形成于中生代潘吉亚大陆的解体、大西洋和印度洋张裂的过程中,西非被动陆缘盆地普遍发育含盐地层,形成盐上和盐下两套含油气系统,东非被动陆缘盆地结构差异较大,油气分布主要受盆地结构控制;中西非裂谷系是经历早白垩世、晚白垩世和古近纪3期裂谷作用而形成的陆内裂谷盆地,受晚白垩世非洲板块与欧亚板块碰撞的影响,近东西向展布盆地抬升剧烈,油气主要富集在下白垩统,北西南东向盆地受影响较弱,油气主要富集在上白垩统和古近系之中;新生代东非裂谷系盆地和红海盆地形成时间相对较晚,以新生界含油气系统为主,新生代三角洲盆地中油气分布主要受三角洲砂(扇)体展布和盆地结构所控制。     

Evolution of sedimentary basins from Mesozoic times in Australia's continental slope and shelf

Three basic tectonic styles are described from structural trends and sedimentary sequences within sedimentary basins in the Australian continental slope and shelf. These tectonic styles are related to sea-floor spreading events and plate-tectonic movements within the adjacent ocean floor. The same tectonic styles occur within sedimentary basins of different ages; Mesozoic and early Tertiary basins contain rift valley sequences and late Cainozoic basins contain geosynclinal sedimentary suites.Northwestern, western and southern continental margins reflect spreading events explained by an Atlantic-type model in which there are rift-valley sedimentary sequences. The oldest rift valleys in the northwest and the youngest rifts in the south formed ahead of Gondwanaland break-up. After sea-floor spreading commenced, the rate of continental margin collapse varied from place to place. The eastern and northeastern slopes and shelves border marginal seas and do not contain recognizable rift-valley sequences, except for tensional splays (triple junctions) in the Tasman Sea. Short-lived spreading within marginal seas started in the Late Cretaceous in the south and in the Paleocene in the northeast. The tectonism of the northern margin is mainly recorded on land in Timor, Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea, where, in the Neogene to Holocene, the Australian continent collided with the Asian Plate at the Banda Arc and the sub-plates of the western Pacific at the Louisiade and Bismarck Arcs.     

全球典型被动陆缘盆地油气成藏特征

以被动陆缘油气富集理论为指导,通过研究南大西洋和印度洋被动陆缘盆地油气地质条件,分析油气差异富集因素。研究结果表明:被动陆缘盆地主要发育3套含油气系统,其中印度洋地区主要发育克拉通陆内裂谷期含油气系统,裂陷期含油气系统,漂移期含油气系统。南大西洋地区主要发育裂陷期含油气系统,漂移早期含油气系统和漂移晚期含油气系统。根据不同油气成藏特征,总结为10类成藏模式,不同成藏模式发育背景和成藏主控因素各异。为被动陆缘盆地不同构造沉积演化阶段油气勘探方向提供研究基础,对相关或类似盆地勘探研究提供借鉴。     

西非被动大陆边缘盆地群大油气田形成条件与成藏模式

以板块学说为理论基础,利用IHS能源信息库及新项目评价资料,从西非被动大陆边缘盆地群原型盆地入手,系统剖析了该区大油气田的形成条件与主控因素,建立了大油气田3类成藏模式。研究认为,西非经历了早白垩世贝利亚斯期至巴雷姆期陆内裂谷、阿普特期陆间裂谷、阿尔必期以来的被动大陆边缘3个原型阶段,分别充填了陆相、过渡期泻湖相及漂移期海相沉积体系。陆内裂谷湖相及漂移海相沉积形成了“下湖上海”两套优质烃源岩;过渡早期海侵砂砾岩,漂移期碳酸盐岩、三角洲、深水浊积砂体形成了多套优质储集层;过渡晚期盐岩及漂移期海相页岩分别为盐上及盐下大油气田形成了高效区域封堵。以此为依据,分别建立了南段“盐岩不发育裂谷型”、中段“盐岩发育双层型”及北段“高建设性三角洲型”3类大油气田成藏模式。该研究不但深化了被动大陆边缘盆地油气富集规律,而且能为我国石油公司在该类盆地新项目评价中提供充分的地质依据。     

孟加拉湾地区大陆边缘盆地勘探概况与油气富集主控因素

孟加拉湾位于印度大陆以东、缅甸-安达曼-苏门答腊以西、孟加拉国南部海上地区,该区存在主动和被动两种不同类型的大陆边缘,并发育众多大陆边缘含油气盆地。根据板块位置和构造特征将其划分为三大类,分别是:被动大陆边缘盆地(马哈纳迪、K-G和高韦里盆地);主动大陆边缘盆地(若开、缅甸中央、马达班、安达曼和北苏门答腊盆地);残留洋盆地(孟加拉盆地)。根据火山岛弧带分布情况进一步将主动大陆边缘盆地划分为:①海沟型——若开盆地;②弧前型——缅甸中央盆地;③弧后型——马达班、安达曼和北苏门答腊盆地。对这些盆地油气勘探情况的统计与分析表明,该区大陆边缘盆地的油气分布主控因素为:烃源岩类型与有机质丰度决定了流体性质与资源强度;大型河流—三角洲形成富油气区;盆地类型、性质及晚期构造活动强度决定区带勘探潜力。     

Meso‐Cenozoic Evolution of Earth Surface System under the East Asian Tectonic Superconvergence

The East Asian geological setting has a long duration related to the superconvergence of the Paleo‐Asian, Tethyan and Paleo‐Pacific tectonic domains. The Triassic Indosinian Movement contributed to an unified passive continental margin in East Asia. The later ophiolites and I‐type granites associated with subduction of the Paleo‐Pacific Plate in the Late Triassic, suggest a transition from passive to active continental margins. With the presence of the ongoing westward migration of the Paleo‐Pacific Subduction Zone, the sinistral transpressional stress field could play an important role in the intraplate deformation in East Asia during the Late Triassic to Middle Jurassic, being characterized by the transition from the E‐W‐trending structural system controlled by the Tethys and Paleo‐Asian oceans to the NE‐trending structural system caused by the Paleo‐Pacific Ocean subduction. The continuously westward migration of the subduction zones resulted in the transpressional stress field in East Asia marked by the emergence of the Eastern North China Plateau and the formation of the Andean‐type active continental margin from late Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (160‐135 Ma), accompanied by the development of a small amount of adakites. In the Late Cretaceous (135‐90 Ma), due to the eastward retreat of the Paleo‐Pacific Subduction Zone, the regional stress field was replaced from sinistral transpression to transtension. Since a large amount of late‐stage adakites and metamorphic core complexes developed, the Andean‐type active continental margin was destroyed and the Eastern North China Plateau started to collapse. In the Late Cretaceous, the extension in East Asia gradually decreased the eastward retreat of the Paleo‐Pacific subduction zones. Futhermore, a significant topographic inversion had taken place during the Cenozoic that resulted from a rapid uplift of the Tibet Plateau resulting from the India‐Eurasian collision and the formation of the Bohai Bay Basin and other basins in the East Asian continental margin. The inversion caused a remarkable eastward migration of deformation, basin formation and magmatism. Meanwhile, the basins that mainly developed in the Paleogene resulted in a three‐step topography which typically appears to drop eastward in altitude. In the Neogene, the basins underwent a rapid subsidence in some depressions after basin‐controlled faulting, as well as the intracontinental extensional events in East Asia, and are likely to be a contribution to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.     

被动大陆边缘盆地油气勘探进展

自21世纪以来,被动陆缘盆地已成为全球油气勘探的重点领域。在统计被动陆缘盆地勘探数据,分析被动陆缘盆地历次理论、技术进展带来的勘探领域的不断突破和油气发现规律基础上,认为有三个方面大的持续发展,在勘探理论上已突破过去围绕裂谷找油,近年发展了坳陷型、转换型陆缘盆地油气成藏理论,提出在被动陆缘半封闭—封闭的局限大型坳陷周缘、转换型被动陆缘转换坳陷带、地幔出露带洋壳上覆远洋浊积砂领域找油的观点,在南大西洋西非段、西南非段、地中海东部、中北大西洋两端、东非海上均取得重大勘探突破;在勘探领域上横向呈现由陆上—浅海—深水—超深水,纵向由斜坡水道—斜坡扇—坡底扇—盐下碳酸盐岩—深水扇发展趋势;在工程技术上随着深水钻探、盐下目标地震识别刻画等技术发展,带动了水深3000 m以上目标钻探和勘探突破。全球被动陆缘早期勘探主要在墨西哥湾周缘、南大西洋两岸中段,近年来逐步向中- 北大西洋两岸、东非沿岸、北极等领域转移,未来被动陆缘油气勘探越来越走向远洋超深水、盐下、深层、极地等领域。     

West Pacific-type convergent boundaries and their role in the formation of the Central Asian Fold Belt

The type of convergent boundaries forming in the area of mantle plumes is considered. These convergent boundaries (West Pacific type) are characteristic of the western margin of the Pacific. West Pacific-type boundaries are a regular succession of structures from ocean to continent: island arcs, marginal basins, rift basins, and associated OIB-type volcanics at the continental edge. The convergence zones are up to a thousand kilometers wide.Studies of the history of the part of the Central Asian Fold Belt forming the folded periphery of the Siberian continent have shown that the continent drifted above the African plume or corresponding low-velocity mantle province for most of the Phanerozoic (up to the Early Mesozoic inclusive). This fact determined the West Pacific type of convergent boundaries for the accretionary structures of the Central Asian Fold Belt. The drift of Siberia from African to Pacific province in the Late Cenozoic determined the structure and development of the convergent boundary in the western Pacific, including extensive intraplate magmatism in continental Asia in the Late Mesozoic and Cenozoic.     

共轭被动大陆边缘的基本类型及其特征

随着被动大陆边缘勘探的需求日益增加,为了更好的概括全球共轭被动大陆边缘的基本特征,本文试图在广泛调研全球具有代表性的12对大陆边缘的基础上,从大地构造背景、裂解时限、空间变化3个方面,系统总结12对共轭被动大陆边缘,进而得到4种基本类型：伊比利亚—纽芬兰型、加蓬—巴西南部型、新斯科舍—摩洛哥型、几内亚湾—巴西东北部型。伊比利亚—纽芬兰型是最常见且分布最广泛的类型,具有板缘造山带型、窄边缘型、长裂谷期型特征,地壳厚度及沉积物厚度小。结构呈明显分段性特征,裂谷时间充足,地幔剥露并发生蛇纹石化。加蓬—巴西南部型以板缘造山带型为主,具有窄边缘型、中裂谷期型特征,沉积厚度大,盆地发育大型高角度正断层控制沉积,并发育丰富的盐构造,边缘与古缝合带不重合。新斯科舍—摩洛哥型以板缘造山带型为主,具有宽边缘型、中裂谷期型特征,具有不对称裂解模式和洋盆生长模式,地壳结构和沉积物在共轭边缘呈现明显不对称性;发育反转构造,生长断层,走滑断层等多种类型构造。几内亚湾—巴西东北部型以板缘非造山带型为主,具有窄边缘型、短裂谷期型特征,发育多个转换边缘盆地,受张剪性的深大断层控制,地壳厚度及沉积物厚度的变化很大,具有裂谷—剪切边缘过渡特征。     

中国近海海域新生代成盆动力机制分析

中国近海海域发育了渤海湾、东海和南海等10多个新生代富油气沉积盆地,其发育演化过程及动力学背景的异同需要在统一的研究思路和方法下进行系统的总结.以海域盆地油气勘探开发中积累的丰富的地质地球物理资料为基础,详细解释和分析了渤海、东海和南海三大海域新生代盆地的构造地层格架,进一步明确了渤海湾盆地斜向拉分盆地的演化阶段,证实了区域走滑断裂体系对盆地发育的重要控制作用;在东海陆架盆地划分出弧后前陆盆地的演化阶段,认识到区域挤压作用对该盆地的演化过程的重要性;在南海北部深水区发现了大型拆离断层及其所控制的拆离盆地,提出大型拆离断层作用是地壳薄化、地幔剥露和陆缘深水盆地形成演化的主要机制.研究揭示出中国近海海域盆地新生代期间在经历了古新世-中始新世期间分布全区的均一断陷作用之后,从晚始新世开始进入到区域构造的差异性演化阶段,其中渤海湾盆地进入斜向走滑拉分阶段,并持续到渐新世末期,随后是中新世的热沉降和上新世以来的加速沉降过程;东海陆架盆地则进入长期的弧后前陆盆地演化阶段,直到上新世开始才进入区域性的沉降过程;而南海则持续伸展形成深水拆离盆地,并最终在渐新世初期（32 Ma）发生岩石圈裂解,南海洋盆开始扩张,陆缘则进入被动大陆边缘演化阶段.区域板块运动学分析表明,晚始新世发生的全球板块运动重组事件导致了中国近海海域盆地构造的差异性演化.该事件发生之前,中国东部处于欧亚板块和太平洋板块相互作用构建的"双板块"动力体制之下,太平洋板块的俯冲后退作用导致了陆缘弧后伸展,形成了广布中国东部大陆边缘的盆岭式断陷盆地系.该事件之后,中国大陆处于印度板块、欧亚板块、太平洋板块和菲律宾海板块等构建的"多板块体制"之下,印度-欧亚大陆的碰撞、太平洋板块俯冲方向的转变、古南海的俯冲碰撞、菲律宾海板块的楔入及其与太平洋板块向西运移俯冲等产生了更为复杂的板块运动过程和多期次的运动重组事件导致了中国海域盆地成因类型的多样性和构造演化过程的差异性.海域盆地是我国重要的油气生产基地,本文的研究不仅进一步深化了中国海域盆地的形成演化过程和动力机制的认识,而且对于该区的油气勘探和开发也具有重要的实际应用价值.      

东亚西太平洋巨型裂谷体系岩石圈与软流圈结构及动力学

笔者根据地震面波层析成像结果，对欧亚大陆及西太平洋岩石圈和软流圈速度结构进行了研究，发现东亚至西太平洋间存在一巨型低速异常带，结合构造地质学、地幔岩石学、地球化学及其他地球物理特性的研究，确认该区存在巨型裂谷体系。该巨型裂谷体系的岩石圈和软流圈三维Vs速度结构与太平洋洋中脊、大西洋洋中脊和印度洋洋中脊及其邻区的岩石圈和软流圈地震Vs速度结构十分相似，而与东太平洋边缘现代板块俯冲带的岩石圈与软流圈Vs速度结构有显著差异。在进一步论述该区动力学特征后认为，该巨型裂谷体系是中生代中晚期以来岩石圈整体主动伸展变形，大型裂陷盆地形成，岩石圈强烈拆沉减薄，以及软流圈物质上涌加热引起的。边缘海是在大陆裂谷系形成基础上发展起来的，主导扩张期为中渐新世至中中新世（32－13Ma），这些边缘海在17－15Ma后停止扩张，因而未能将所有边缘海和洋中脊联通。据此划分出4期构造变形动力学演化阶段，现今东亚至西太平洋间大陆裂谷、边缘海与沟弧体系是新生代中晚期以来，邻区各板块构造相互作用叠加的结果。     

Geodynamics of the Riphean stage in the evolution of the northern passive margin of the East European Craton

The nearly parallel northwest-trending Onega-Kandalaksha, Kerets-Leshukonsky, and Barents paleorift zones located in the northeastern part of the East European Platform are interpreted as a common structural assemblage that was formed in the Middle-Late Riphean as a result of horizontal extension of the continental margin. Therefore, it is reasonable to combine these paleorift structural features into the common White Sea Rift System instead of subdividing them into two or more systems as done previously. The White Sea Rift System originated owing to the breakup of the ancient Paleopangea supercontinent 1300–1240 Ma ago. The latter event occurred as a result of the divergence of the Baltia and Laurentia continental plates that most probably was caused by mantle spreading within the hot equatorial belt of the Earth. The diffuse rifting of that time occurred in the form of near-parallel rifts developing progressively from the inner part of the continental plate toward its margin. A pericratonic sedimentary basin eventually formed at the passive margin of Baltia as a system of roughly parallel rift zones. The geologic and geophysical data show that the passive margin of the East European Platform formed in the Riphean, a phenomenon that corresponds with a model of large-scale extension of the lithosphere after the stage of early ocean-floor spreading. In the course of this process, the brittle upper crust was detached from the ductile lower crust. The geodynamic regime of the Riphean passive margin of the East European Platform probably was similar to the regime of the present-day Atlantic-type passive margins. The White Sea Rift System differs from the transverse Mid-Russian Paleorift System both in origin and age. The Mid-Russian Paleorift System is considered to have formed in the Late Riphean as a result of transtension along a mobile zone in the ancient basement. The lithosphere of northeastern Fennoscandia has experienced horizontal extension since the Middle Riphean, a phenomenon that is closely related to the evolution of the White Sea Rift System, i.e., to the formation of the passive margin of the Baltia continent.     

Oil and Gas Potential of Deep- and Ultradeep-Water Zones of Continental Margins

Oil- and gas-bearing basins of the World Ocean spreading to the continental shelf and foothill are considered. Large hydrocarbon resources, including oil pools have been discovered in the deep-water basins. The basins are confined to passive continental margins and characterized by the common mechanism of formation. Oil and gas (hereafter, petroleum) generation and accumulation are dictated by the optimum specifics of source and reservoir rocks accumulated under favorable conditions of rifts and deep-sea fans. Halokinesis played an important role in the formation of traps and migration of hydrocarbons. The global experience shows that the northern, eastern, and southern shelves of the Russian seas, as well as their continental slopes and foothills, have a big petroleum potential.     

蒙古弧形褶皱带上叠沉积盆地油气远景

根据我们近年来在蒙古国开展的油气地质调查和勘探开发实践,对蒙古大地构造演化、盆地沉积充填、构造发育以及盆地含油气系统等开展综合研究。探讨了蒙古弧形褶皱带构造叠加变形特征,指出北西、北东向构造是蒙古西部和东部中新生代的叠加构造,南北向构造带是蒙古西部晚期发育的上叠构造;发育于蒙古弧形褶皱带的中生代沉积盆地群可分为残余海盆地、前陆盆地、裂陷盆地三种类型。根据石油地质条件综合分析,认为蒙古盆地群中塔木察格、东戈壁等盆地具有良好的油气勘探远景。     

北美东部被动大陆边缘盆地的分段性与油气勘探

北美东部被动大陆边缘是世界上最古老的完整被动大陆边缘之一,是研究被动大陆边缘发育演化的天然实验室。本文在大量国外研究成果的基础上,应用盆地构造解析方法,深入研究了北美东部被动大陆边缘盆地群的地质结构和构造演化特征,并揭示了盆地群的油气地质规律。研究认为,北美东部盆地群沉积充填和不整合面发育具有明显的分段性和差异性。以区域不整合面为界,不同段盆地可划分为不同的构造层:南段盆地可划分为两套构造层;中段南部盆地可划分为3套构造层;中段北部盆地可划分为4套构造层;而北段盆地可划分为5套构造层。盆地群整体经历了陆内裂谷—陆间裂谷—被动大陆边缘的演化过程,但不同段盆地的构造演化具有明显的分段性和迁移性:晚三叠世沉降中心位于南段盆地;早侏罗世初期迁移至中段盆地,南段大陆开始裂解;中侏罗世逐渐迁移至北段盆地,中段大陆开始裂解;早白垩世晚期,北段大陆开始裂解。受持续的抬升剥蚀及大西洋岩浆活动省的联合作用,南段盆地和中段大多数盆地缺乏油气保存条件;斯科舍盆地和大浅滩盆地是主要的含油气盆地,以上侏罗统烃源岩为主,主要发育断层—背斜圈闭和盐体刺穿圈闭,整体表现为“自生自储”和“下生上储”的特征。     

被动大陆边缘构造演化对深水区烃源岩形成的控制

以世界被动大陆边缘含油气盆地构造演化、油气田资料为基础,采用地质综合分析方法,探讨了不同类型被动大陆边缘盆地在不同构造演化阶段深水区烃源岩的形成条件:开阔海型被动大陆边缘盆地群裂谷阶段发育大型局限湖盆,区域分布的厚层湖相富生油黑色泥页岩为主力烃源岩;边缘海型被动大陆边缘盆地群裂谷阶段发育受河流—波浪控制的大型三角洲,海陆过渡相富生气炭质泥页岩和煤系为主力烃源岩;被动大陆边缘阶段盆地群发生持续性海侵,在高水位体系域缺氧环境下的富有机质海相泥页岩为盆地重要的烃源岩。     

北山地区早古生代板块构造特征

位于甘肃省西北边界和内蒙古自治区西端的北山地区,早古生代大地构造单元由塔里木板块东段北缘和北侧贝加尔期分裂出来的旱山微板块组成,其间被石板井-小黄山蛇绿混杂岩带所分隔。在漫长的构造演化进程中发育有蛇绿岩带。同时,经历了大西洋型、安第斯型(?)和西太平洋型大陆边缘的演化阶段,陆壳增厚,地壳成熟度增加,由大洋地壳和过渡型地壳向大陆型地壳转化。晚古生代初,全区进入板内活动时期。     

Observations on the processes of sedimentary basin formation at the margins of Southern Africa

Three variants of Atlantic-type continental margin border Southern Africa. On the west is a rifted margin with a rift phase no more than 50 m.y. in length (180–130 m.y. ago). Sedimentary basin formation was by upbuilding of a sediment terrace during the rift phase and the 30 m.y. following, with outbuilding of the terrace dominant during the Cainozoic. Little downwarping of the oceanic crust occurred but the continent—ocean transition zone appears to be wide.To the south of South Africa is an extensive sheared margin. Basin formation began here in mid-Triassic times with intermontane deposition. Local increase in lower crustal density appears to have accompanied subsidence. Truncation of the basins occurred 130–2100 m.y. ago and in places detrital influx was trapped behind a marginal fracture ridge. No continental rise sedimentary apron and characteristic deep structure were formed in these places. A ‘welding’ of the continental edge appears to have taken place.East of 30° E a complex continental margin with a protracted rift phase exists. From Triassic to Cretaceous times sedimentary basin formation was controlled by an E-W tensional stress regime resulting in N-S horsts and grabens. This was accompanied by vol-canicity and crustal thinning. Other stress systems may have prevailed during continental break-up in the Cretaceous while today the region is seismically active and the tensional stress assumed to be E-W. Following break-up sedimentary basins in Natal Valley and Mozambique Channel encroached southwards.