台湾南部恒春海脊地质地球物理特征及其大地构造属性

恒春海脊的地质,地球物理特征与其相邻的南海海盆,吕宋火山弧和北吕宋海槽等地质构造单元所反映的特征明显不同,主要表现为低密度,弱磁性,推测其地壳性质为陆壳,是恒春半岛的南延部分,海脊西侧缓坡为陆缘增生楔,可见刺穿现象,这些刺穿构造是由逆冲挤压引起的泥底辟,海脊东部受弧陆碰撞的影响而急剧抬升,东部的弧陆碰撞是海脊抬升和增生楔形成的主要原因。     

台湾增生楔的构造单元划分及其变形特征

台湾增生楔位于欧亚板块、菲律宾海微板块和南海的结合部位,是现代弧陆碰撞研究的理想场所。通过对南海973航次在该区域的多道地震剖面的解释,对该增生楔进行了构造单元的划分,并分析了变形特征。认为台湾增生楔是由3个部分,即弧陆碰撞产生的增生部分、洋内俯冲产生的增生部分和增生楔后端在恒春海脊和北吕宋海槽之间的构造楔组成,研究区的高屏斜坡、恒春海脊和北吕宋海槽西端变形带分别是3个部分的反映。自中中新世以来,南海洋壳开始沿着马尼拉海沟向菲律宾海微板块俯冲,形成增生楔中洋内俯冲增生部分;与此同时菲律宾海微板块开始向NW方向移动,前缘的吕宋岛弧自6．5Ma B．P以来与亚洲陆缘斜向碰撞,形成增生楔中弧陆碰撞增生部分。碰撞首先发生在台湾岛的北部,由于弧陆强烈的挤压作用,增生楔后端部分向北吕宋海槽倒冲楔人,使得上部的北吕宋海槽的沉积发生隆升变形。滨海的各个地貌单元可以和台湾陆上的地貌单元相联系,它们具有相似的地质特征,但是由于陆上部分增生历史久,不仅抬升为陆,而且地层的年代也更老。     

南海东北部陆坡与恒春海脊天然气水合物分布的地震反射对比

经过对"探宝号"调查船在2001年8月在南海东北部陆坡及台湾南部恒春海脊海域采集的多道地震剖面资料进行的地震反射波数据分析、研究和解释,结果表明:(1)南海东北部陆坡段区域和台湾南部恒春海脊海域地震剖面上均显示有被作为天然气水合物存在标志的BSR,但两区域构造成因、形式和相关地质环境的不同造成了此两处的天然气水合物成因及过程的不同.(2)南海东北部陆坡区域的水合物形成与该区广泛发育的断裂带、滑塌构造体及其所形成的压力场屏蔽环境有关,而台湾南部恒春海脊海域的天然气水合物的形成则与马尼拉海沟俯冲带相关的逆冲推覆构造、增生楔等及其所对应的海底流体疏导体系有关.(3)南海陆缘区域广泛发育有各种断裂带、滑塌构造体、泥底辟、俯冲带、增生楔等,且温压环境合适,是天然气水合物矿藏极有可能广泛分布的区域.     

南海东北部陆坡与恒春海脊天然气水合物分布的地震反射特征对比

对“探宝号”调查船2001年8月在南海东北部陆坡及台湾南部恒春海脊海域采集的多道地震剖面资料进行了地震反射波数据分析、解释和研究,并对南海北部陆坡、陆隆及其东侧俯冲带等区域天然气水合物矿藏的成藏规律及分布特征作了初步的分析与探讨,结果表明:(1)南海东北部陆坡和台湾南部恒春海脊海域地震剖面上均显示有BSR,但两区域构造成因、形式和相关地质环境的不同造成了天然气水合物的成因及过程不同。(2)南海东北部陆坡区域的天然气水合物形成与该区广泛发育的断裂带、滑塌构造体及其所形成的压力场屏蔽环境有关,而台湾南部恒春海脊海域天然气水合物的形成则与马尼拉海沟俯冲带相关的逆冲推覆构造、增生楔及其所对应的海底流体疏导体系有关。(3)南海陆缘区域广泛发育有各种断裂带、滑塌构造体、泥底辟、俯冲带、增生楔等,且温压环境合适,是天然气水合物矿藏极有可能广泛分布的区域。     

吕宋海峡夏季内潮数值模拟

利用三维海洋环流模式MITgcm,对吕宋海峡夏季内潮的生成与传播进行了分析。结果表明,在八分潮驱动的情况下,吕宋海峡夏季生成的内潮能量有4.7GW传入西太平洋,7.7GW传入南海,其中M2分潮最强,K1分潮次之。半日分潮主要在恒春海脊中部和巴坦群岛附近生成,并在传播过程中衰减迅速;全日分潮主要在巴布延群岛西北处及兰屿海脊北部生成,在传播过程中衰减较慢。西传M2和K1内潮主要在兰屿海脊南部生成,且西传M2内潮在恒春海脊北部得到增强,在恒春海脊中部则被削弱。在恒春海脊北部生成的东传M2和K1内潮在经过兰屿海脊时被削弱。恒春海脊使得部分源于兰屿海脊的西北向全日内潮转向西南,形成向南海海盆的内潮分支。     

台湾弧 - 陆碰撞的地球动力学过程

弧—陆碰撞是俯冲带发生的主要造山过程之一。在西太平洋 ,台湾、帝汶和巴布亚新几内亚还发生着活跃的弧—陆碰撞。其中台湾的构造是最不复杂的 ,因而其地质记录得以较好地保存下来。以前对台湾弧—陆碰撞的研究基本上依据陆地地质和地球物理 ,近年来台湾东部和南部的海洋调查极有助于更好地了解台湾弧—陆碰撞的演化。笔者综合了１９°～２５°Ｎ、１１９°～１２２°Ｅ的陆地与海洋资料 ,提出台湾陆上及其周边地区现今同时依序发生着４个地球动力学过程（洋内俯冲、初始弧—陆碰撞、高级弧—陆碰撞、弧的塌陷／俯冲）。台湾４个地球动力学…     

台湾岛以东海域海底地形特征及其构造控制

基于2000年5~6月在台湾岛以东海域调查获得的多波束全覆盖测深等地质和地球物理资料,对该海域海底地形特征进行了研究,探讨了构造对海底地形的控制作用及其构造地质意义.研究表明,琉球岛弧岛坡区和琉球海沟表现为典型的西太平洋沟-弧-盆体系控制下的构造地形;台湾岛东部岛坡等深线近南北向平行密集排列,地形坡度大,弧陆碰撞造就了该区独特的地形特征;花东盆地海底峡谷发育,其形成主要受基底起伏和走滑断裂的控制;加瓜海脊东西两侧水深和地形特征明显不同,但其基底可能属于花东盆地,加瓜海脊的东侧对应了两个不同性质板块的边界;西菲律宾海盆表现为北西向线状脊-槽相间排列,并遭受北东向转换断层的切割,根据海底地形、转换断层和磁异常条带的方向推测,研究区海底形成于距今60~45Ma的西菲律宾海盆北东-南西向扩张期.     

南海深海物理过程与地质过程的关系探讨

南海东北部沉积物波等特殊的沉积现象与深海物理过程密切相关,海洋地质研究推断其与上升爬坡流、等深流、浊流作用有关,而南海东北部海洋遥感观测到的最显著现象则是广泛发育的非线性内波的西向传播和涡旋的西向漂移。南海东北部涡旋、内潮内波的形成演变与地形地貌有密切关系,重要的地形地貌如海脊(恒春海脊与吕宋水下火山弧)和陆架坡折,主要受构造过程控制。南海现代深海物理过程的建立及演变涉及到海盆本身的演化,也涉及到南海北部张裂大陆边缘的演化与东部俯冲大陆边缘的演化。构造过程、沉积过程与深海物理过程密切相关,对其关系的综合研究必将深化南海深海过程演变的认识。地震海洋学发展迅猛,但尚处于初级阶段,新的发现可能会改变人们的传统认识,可望揭示地球系统流体部分与固体部分相互作用的本质,为地球系统科学的突破做出贡献。     

台湾南部恒春半岛中新世增生楔碎屑锆石U-Pb年代学及其地质意义

恒春半岛中新世增生楔沉积岩相、遗迹化石均表明其牡丹层主体部分和乐水层均为深海沉积环境,沉积相为中扇至下扇亚相。里龙山层属于大陆棚至大陆斜坡的浅海环境,沉积相为补给水道和上扇亚相。锆石U-Pb定年物源分析结果显示,里龙山层与牡丹层源自福建武夷山的闽江水系,而乐水层砂岩与九龙江河口砂质沉积物的锆石年谱相似,说明乐水层可能源自九龙江水系。结合野外沉积地层观察等,认为恒春半岛晚中新统是南海北坡深水扇的一部分,因晚中新世南极冰盖迅速扩张(12~5 Ma),导致全球海水面大降,海岸线往坡折带外移约200m,有利于深水扇的发育,然后随着南海海洋地壳向东俯冲卷入恒春半岛-恒春海脊增生楔内。     

马尼拉俯冲带北段增生楔形态结构及演化过程

为揭示马尼拉增生楔的形态结构并加深对其演化过程的理解,本文对横穿马尼拉俯冲带北段的几条典型地震剖面进行了深度偏移处理,得到叠前深度偏移剖面和深度-速度模型,并对马尼拉增生楔的形态结构及内部特征进行了精细解释,将马尼拉增生楔分为原始沉积段、褶皱变形段、逆冲推覆段和背逆冲段四个部分,分别代表增生楔演化的不同阶段。推断马尼拉增生楔下部存在由早期仰冲的菲律宾海板块的残留块体构成的弧前基盘,弧前基盘是控制马尼拉增生楔形成演化的关键构造。弧前基盘前端是拆离滑脱面突然降阶并在地震剖面上"隐没"的部位;弧前基盘向增生楔底部的不断挤入导致了逆冲脱序断层的渐次发育以及增生楔向弧前基盘之上的不断爬升,导致了增生楔上、下陆坡地貌的分化,并为褶皱变形段和逆冲推覆段的地层形变提供了主要的应力。     

Bannock Basin,Sirte Abyssal Plain and Conrad Spur: structural relationships between Mediterranean Ridge and its western foreland and implications on the character of the accretionary complex (eastern Mediterranean)

In previous publications, the relationship between the Sirte Abyssal Plain as foreland and the Mediterranean Ridge as accretionary complex was considered to be simple: the foreland is undeformed, the accretionary complex consumes the foreland, the Messinian evaporites control the internal structure of the growing complex. The compilation of our own and published data results in a more complex tectonic pattern and a new geodynamic interpretation. The Sirte Abyssal Plain is imprinted by extensional tectonics which originated independently from and prior to the approaching process of accretion. The structural setting of the pre-Messinian and Messinian Sirte Abyssal Plain is responsible for the highly variable thickness of Messinian evaporites. The foreland setting in the Sirte Abyssal Plain also controls the internal structure of the Mediterranean Ridge, at least between the deformation front and Bannock Basin, following sediment deformation within the accretionary wedge with a dominating inherited SW-NE orientation. The taper angle of the post-Messinian Mediterranean Ridge is unusually small compared with other accretionary wedges. In the studied area, within a distance of about 45 km from the deformation front, there is no appreciable dip in the décollement. Therefore, the slope of the outer 45 km of the Mediterranean Ridge is considered to be caused only by gravitational spreading of Messinian evaporites deposited on the slope of pre-Messinian accretionary wedge. As a consequence, the Mediterranean Ridge underlying such slope is interpreted to belong to the foreland. The allochthonous evaporites overlie autochthonous evaporites of the Sirte Abyssal Plain. The NE-dipping décollement (and thus of the true tectonically driven deformation front) is expected to initiate at about the present position of Bannock Basin. The Sirte Abyssal Plain, the adjacent Cyrene Seamount and neighbouring seafloor relief on the African continental margin are considered to be the product of tectonic segmentation of the continental crust.     

An overview of Mediterranean Ridge collisional accretionary complex as deduced from multichannel seismic data

 The Mediterranean Ridge (eastern Mediterranean) is a large accretionary complex that results from the Africa–Europe–Aegean plates convergence. Multichannel seismic data, combined with previous results showed that the ridge comprises distinct major structural domains facing different forelands: (1) An outer domain is bounded to the south by the ridge toe. Underneath the Ionian and Levantine outer Ridge, Messinian evaporites act as a major decollement level. (2) An axial, or crestal, ridge domain with mud diapiric and mud volcano activity is bounded to the north by backthrust. (3) A less tectonized inner Ridge domain, possibly a series of former forearc basins, abuts the Hellenic Trench. The ridge displays strong along-strike variations. These variations can be interpreted as consequences of an ongoing collision against the Libyan continental promontory.     

Seismic stratigraphy and structure of the Northland Plateau and the development of the Vening Meinesz transform margin,SW Pacific Ocean

The Northland Plateau and the Vening Meinesz “Fracture” Zone (VMFZ), separating southwest Pacific backarc basins from New Zealand Mesozoic crust, are investigated with new data. The 12–16 km thick Plateau comprises a volcanic outer plateau and an inner plateau sedimentary basin. The outer plateau has a positive magnetic anomaly like that of the Three Kings Ridge. A rift margin was found between the Three Kings Ridge and the South Fiji Basin. Beneath the inner plateau basin, is a thin body interpreted as allochthon and parautochthon, which probably includes basalt. The basin appears to have been created by Early Miocene mainly transtensive faulting, which closely followed obduction of the allochthon and was coeval with arc volcanism. VMFZ faulting was eventually concentrated along the edge of the continental shelf and upper slope. Consequently arc volcanoes in a chain dividing the inner and outer plateau are undeformed whereas volcanoes, in various stages of burial, within the basin and along the base of the upper slope are generally faulted. Deformed and flat-lying Lower Miocene volcanogenic sedimentary rocks are intimately associated with the volcanoes and the top of the allochthon; Middle Miocene to Recent units are, respectively, mildly deformed to flat-lying, calcareous and turbiditic. Many parts of the inner plateau basin were at or above sea level in the Early Miocene, apparently as isolated highs that later subsided differentially to 500–2,000 m below sea level. A mild, Middle Miocene compressive phase might correlate with events of the Reinga and Wanganella ridges to the west. Our results agree with both arc collision and arc unzipping regional kinematic models. We present a continental margin model that begins at the end of the obduction phase. Eastward rifting of the Norfolk Basin, orthogonal to the strike of the Norfolk and Three Kings ridges, caused the Northland Plateau to tear obliquely from the Reinga Ridge portion of the margin, initiating the inner plateau basin and the Cavalli core complex. Subsequent N115° extension and spreading parallel with the Cook Fracture Zone completed the southeastward translation of the Three Kings Ridge and Northland Plateau and further opened the inner plateau basin, leaving a complex dextral transform volcanic margin.     

A Compilation of Geophysical Data from the Lazarev Sea and the Riiser-Larsen Sea, Antarctica

On the basis of new geophysical data acquired by the Federal Institute of Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the Polar Marine Geological Research Expedition (PMGRE) as well as existing data new geophysical maps were compiled for the Lazarev Sea and the Riiser-Larsen Sea between 10°W and 25°E. The new results are: – The drastic change in the strike direction of the volcanic Explora Wedge between longitudes 10°W and 5°W is accompanied with a gradual change from one major wedge, i.e. the Explora Wedge, into at least two wedge-shaped volcanic constructions, each manifested by a sequence of seaward-dipping reflectors in the seismic records. – The southern Lazarev Sea is best described as a continental margin affected by multiple rifting episodes accompanied with transient volcanism. – A distinct N80°E striking basement depression separates the volcanic-prone continental margin of the southern Lazarev Sea from oceanic crust upon which the Maud Rise rests. The southern scarp of the narrow depression was presumably aligned with the eastern scarp of the Mozambique Ridge during the Early Cretaceous. – The Astrid Ridge proper occupies the transition from the volcanic-prone continental margin of the Lazarev Sea to old oceanic crust of the Riiser -Larsen Sea, and it rests upon a large volcanic apron which covers the basement of the southwestern Riiser-Larsen Sea. – No evidence was found that prolific volcanism has affected the early opening of the Riiser-Larsen Sea. – The Lazarev Sea is a sediment-starved region.     

A seismic reflection study of the External Calabrian Arc in the northern Ionian Sea (eastern Mediterranean)

The External Calabrian Arc is located off the convex side of the Calabro-Peloritanian Arc in the northern Ionian Sea. A systematic reflection seismic survey indicates that it is made of different structural elements whose characters seem consistent with an active accretionary margin. The main structures are the Crotone-Spartivento slope (comparable to an inner trench slope) and the intermediate depressions (comparable to a trench area). Internal to these elements, the Crotone-Spartivento basin may represent a fore-arc basin. This partly outcrops in Calabria and its structure suggests that the accretionary margin developed at least since middle-upper Miocene.Subduction processes do not affect a true oceanic crust, because of the great thickness of sediments covering the whole eastern Mediterranean. Hence some peculiar features occur in the system. as the cobblestone topography, or are lacking, as a typical and continuous trench zone.In the areas with cobblestone topography we distinguish a Calabrian Ridge sensu stricto from a Calabrian Ridge sensu lato. The former is a N-S trending swell, external to the supposed trench zone, interpreted as a sedimentary outer-arc ridge produced by rather surficial tectonic accumulation of sediments further chaoticized by gravitative mechanisms. The Ridge s.l. is a very wide area with low relief and little or no seismic penetration. Tectonization seems gentler than in the Ridge s.s. and structural axes seem to possess different orientations. These areas are interpreted as due to a widespread surficial chaoticization above presumed decollement layers occurring within the sedimentary column of the Ionian bathyal plain.The pattern of deformations of the Calabrian Ridge seems consistent with the Calabro-Peloritanian Arc actively overriding the eastern Mediterranean, with a resultant direction of movement essentially towards the East.     

Oblique subduction of the Gagua Ridge beneath the Ryukyu accretionary wedge system: Insights from marine observations and sandbox experiments

The Gagua Ridge, carried by the Philippine Sea Plate, is subducting obliquely beneath the southernmost Ryukyu Margin. Bathymetric swath-mapping, performed during the ACT survey (Active Collision in Taiwan), indicates that, due to the high obliquity of plate convergence, slip partitioning occurs within the Ryukyu accretionary wedge. A transcurrent fault, trending N95° E, is observed at the rear of the accretionary wedge. Evidence of right lateral motion along this shear zone, called the Yaeyama Fault, suggests that it accommodates part of the lateral component of the oblique convergence. The subduction of the ridge disturbs this tectonic setting and significantly deforms the Ryukyu Margin. The ridge strongly indents the front of the accretionary wedge and uplifts part of the forearc basin. In the frontal part of the margin, directly in the axis of the ridge, localized transpressive and transtensional structures can be observed superimposed on the uplifted accretionary complex. As shown by sandbox experiments, these N330° E to N30° E trending fractures result from the increasing compressional stress induced by the subduction of the ridge. Analog experiments have also shown that the reentrant associated with oblique ridge subduction exhibits a specific shape that can be correlated with the relative plate motion azimuth.These data, together with the study of the margin deformation, the uplift of the forearc basin and geodetic data, show that the subduction of the Gagua Ridge beneath the accretionary wedge occurs along an azimuth which is about 20° less oblique than the convergence between the PSP and the Ryukyu Arc. Taking into account the opening of the Okinawa backarc basin and partitioning at the rear of the accretionary wedge, convergence between the ridge and the overriding accretionary wedge appears to be close to N345° E and thus, occurs at a rate close to 9 cm yr^–1. As a result, we estimate that a motion of 3.7 cm yr^–1±0.7 cm should be absorbed along the transcurrent fault. Based on these assumptions, the plate tectonic reconstruction reveals that the subducted segment of the Gagua Ridge, associated with the observable margin deformations, could have started subducting less than 1 m.y. ago.     

Geological Characteristics and Distribution of Submarine Physiographic Features in the Taiwan Region

The sea floor topography around Taiwan is characterized by the asymmetry of its shallow and flat shelves to the west and markedly deep troughs and basins to the south and east. Tectonics and sedimentation are major controls in forming the submarine physiographic features around Taiwan. Three Pliocene-Quaternary shelves are distributed north and west of Taiwan: East China Sea Shelf (passive margin shelf), the Taiwan Strait Shelf (foreland shelf), and Kaoping Shelf (island shelf) from north to south parallel to the strike of Taiwan orogen. Off northeastern Taiwan major morpho/tectonic features associated with plate subduction include E-W trending Ryukyu Trench, Yaeyama accretionary wedge, forearc basins, the Ryukyu Arcs, and the backarc basin of southern Okinawa Trough. Off eastern Taiwan lies the deep Huatung Basin on the Philippine Sea plate with a relatively flat floor, although several large submarine canyons are eroding and crossing the basin floor. Off southeastern Taiwan, the forearc region of the Luzon Arc has been deformed into five alternating N-S trending ridges and troughs during initial arc-continent collision. Among them, the submarine Hengchun Ridge is the seaward continuation of the Hengchun peninsula in southern Taiwan. Off southwestern Taiwan, the broad Kaoping Slope is the major submarine topographic feature with several noticeable submarine canyons. The Penghu Canyon separates this slope from the South China Sea Slope to the west and merges southwards into the Manila Trench in the northern South China Sea. Although most of sea floors of the Taiwan Strait are shallower than 60 m in water depth, there are three noticeable bathymetric lows and two highs in the Taiwan Strait. There exists a close relationship between hydrography and topography in the Taiwan Strait. The circulation of currents in the Taiwan Strait is strongly influenced by seasonal monsoon and semidiurnal tides. The Penghu Channel-Yunchang Ridge can be considered a modern tidal depositional system. The Taiwan Strait shelf has two phases of development. The early phase of the rift margin has developed during Paleoocene-Miocene and it has evolved to the foreland basin in Pliocene-Quaternary time. The present shelf morphology results mainly from combined effects of foreland subsidence and modern sedimentation overprinting that of the Late Pleistocene glaciation about 15,000 years ago.     

Geological Characteristics and Distribution of Submarine Physiographic Features in the Taiwan Region

The sea floor topography around Taiwan is characterized by the asymmetry of its shallow and flat shelves to the west and markedly deep troughs and basins to the south and east. Tectonics and sedimentation are major controls in forming the submarine physiographic features around Taiwan. Three Pliocene-Quaternary shelves are distributed north and west of Taiwan: East China Sea Shelf (passive margin shelf), the Taiwan Strait Shelf (foreland shelf), and Kaoping Shelf (island shelf) from north to south parallel to the strike of Taiwan orogen. Off northeastern Taiwan major morpho/tectonic features associated with plate subduction include E-W trending Ryukyu Trench, Yaeyama accretionary wedge, forearc basins, the Ryukyu Arcs, and the backarc basin of southern Okinawa Trough. Off eastern Taiwan lies the deep Huatung Basin on the Philippine Sea plate with a relatively flat floor, although several large submarine canyons are eroding and crossing the basin floor. Off southeastern Taiwan, the forearc region of the Luzon Arc has been deformed into five alternating N-S trending ridges and troughs during initial arc-continent collision. Among them, the submarine Hengchun Ridge is the seaward continuation of the Hengchun peninsula in southern Taiwan. Off southwestern Taiwan, the broad Kaoping Slope is the major submarine topographic feature with several noticeable submarine canyons. The Penghu Canyon separates this slope from the South China Sea Slope to the west and merges southwards into the Manila Trench in the northern South China Sea. Although most of sea floors of the Taiwan Strait are shallower than 60?m in water depth, there are three noticeable bathymetric lows and two highs in the Taiwan Strait. There exists a close relationship between hydrography and topography in the Taiwan Strait. The circulation of currents in the Taiwan Strait is strongly influenced by seasonal monsoon and semidiurnal tides. The Penghu Channel-Yunchang Ridge can be considered a modern tidal depositional system. The Taiwan Strait shelf has two phases of development. The early phase of the rift margin has developed during Paleoocene-Miocene and it has evolved to the foreland basin in Pliocene-Quaternary time. The present shelf morphology results mainly from combined effects of foreland subsidence and modern sedimentation overprinting that of the Late Pleistocene glaciation about 15,000 years ago.     

Petrogenesis and tectonic implication of lavas from the Yap Trench,western Pacific

We present major and trace element data of lava recovered from the northern Yap Trench in the western Pacific and discuss their petrogenesis and tectonic implications within the framework of interactions between the Caroline Ridge and Yap Trench. Rocks were collected from both landward and seaward trench slopes and exhibited geochemical characteristics similar to backarc basin basalt (BABB) and mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), including high Fe content, tholeiitic affinity, high TiO2 value at a given FeOT/MgO ratio, Ti/V ratio between 20 and 50, low Ba/Nb ratio and Th/Nb ratio, and trace element patterns commonly displayed by BABB and MORB, which are distinct from arc lava. These rocks seem to have been generated during mantle upwelling and decompression melting at a spreading center. However, compared with typical forearc lava produced by seafloor spreading in the Mariana forearc region, such as the early Eocene forearc basalts and late Neogene forearc lava in the southernmost Mariana Trench, the Yap Trench lava is derived from a more fertile mantle and feature a more minor subduction component; thus, they cannot be the products of forearc mantle decompression melting. We suggest that the landward slope lava represents backarc basin crust that was overthrust onto the forearc lithosphere during the collision of the Caroline Ridge with the Yap Trench (20–25 Ma), which played a key role in the evolution of the Yap subduction system. Moreover, the seaward slope lava represents the subduction plate crust that accreted onto the deep trench during the collision. This collision event resulted in the cessation of Yap Arc magmatism; thus, the Yap Trench volcanic rocks (<25 Ma) previously suggested to be arc magma products may actually represent the nascent island arc lava with a lower subduction component than in the mature Mariana Arc lava.