Structural characteristics of the KPR-CBR triple-junction inferred from gravity and magnetic interpretations,Philippine Sea Plate

The intersection of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge (KPR) and the Central Basin Rift (CBR) of the West Philippine Basin (WPB) is a relic of a trench-trench-rift (TTR) type triple-junction, which preserves some pivotal information on the cessation of the seafloor spreading of the WPB, the emplacement and disintegration of the proto-Izu-Bonin-Mariana (IBM) Arc, and the transition from initial rifting to steady-state spreading of the Parece Vela Basin (PVB). However, the structural characteristics of this triple-junction have not been thoroughly understood. In this paper, using the newly acquired multi-beam bathymetric, gravity, and magnetic data obtained by the Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, China Geological Survey, the authors depict the topographic, gravity, and magnetic characteristics of the triple-junction and adjacent region. Calculations including the upward continuations and total horizontal derivatives of gravity anomaly are also performed to highlight the major structural features and discontinuities. Based on these works, the morphological and structural features and their formation mechanisms are analyzed. The results show that the last episode amagmatic extension along the CBR led to the formation of a deep rift valley, which extends eastward and incised the KPR. The morphological and structural fabrics of the KPR near and to the south of the triple-junction are consistent with those of the western PVB, manifesting as a series of NNE-SSW- and N-S-trending ridges and troughs, which were produced by the extensional faults associated with the initial rifting of the PVB. The superposition of the above two reasons induced the prominent discontinuity of the KPR in deep and shallow crustal structures between 15°N–15°30′N and 13°30′N–14°N. Combined with previous authors’ results, we propose that the stress produced by the early spreading of the PVB transmitted westward and promoted the final stage amagmatic extension of the CBR. The eastward propagation of the CBR destroyed the KPR, of which the magmatism had decayed or ceased at that time. The destruction mechanism of the KPR associated with the rifting of the PVB varies along strike the KPR. Adjacent to the triple-junction, the KPR was destroyed mainly due to the oblique intersection of the PVB rifting center. Whereas south of the triple-junction, the KPR was destroyed by the E-W-directional extensional faulting on its whole width.©2021 China Geology Editorial Office.     

中国西部活动地块运动模型的建立及其运动学分析

中国西部的青藏和新疆地区现代构造变形活动非常强烈, 业已证实该区可以进一步划分为塔里木、 阿拉善、 天山、 柴达木和西藏5个活动地块。 利用GPS观测资料得到的中国大陆地壳水平运动的速度场, 借鉴全球板块运动模型的建模方法, 将其视为刚性的地块系统, 反演得到各地块相对欧亚板块运动的欧拉矢量, 进而求得各地块两两之间相对运动的欧拉矢量, 并计算出沿地块边界的相对运动速率。 结果显示, 与地块边界上的地震滑移矢量, 由地质学资料得到的滑移速率, 以及GPS数据本身均有较好的一致性, 从而也说明了将该地区划分为若干活动地块并视为刚性地块的合理性。     

福建及沿海地区地震活动力源探讨

综合地震震源机制解和地壳形变观测资料的研究, 求得福建及其沿海地区现代震源应力场, 认为这与台湾地区、 台湾海峡应力场相互衔接, 主压应力轴优势方位为NW-SE向, 力轴仰角较小, 应力场近于水平挤压, 形变场反映近期福建沿海亦受北西方向, 接近与海岸垂直的挤压力。 进一步分析该区域内的断裂构造特征和地震活动强度由东至西逐渐减弱的规律, 认为菲律宾海板块与欧亚板块的相互作用力不仅是台湾强震力源所在, 而且其影响向西扩展, 福建及其沿海地区地震活动主要力源仍然是来自这两大板块的相互作用力。     

Impact of topography and land-sea distribution on East Asian paleoenvironmental patterns

Much geological research has illustrated the transition of paleoenvironmental patterns during the Cenozoic from a planetary-wind-dominant type to a monsoon-dominant type, indicating the initiation of the East Asian monsoon and inland-type aridity. However, there is a dispute about the causes and mechanisms of the transition, especially about the impact of the Himalayan/Tibetan Plateau uplift and the Paratethys Sea retreat. Thirty numerical sensitivity experiments under different land-sea distributions and Himalayan/Tibetan Plateau topography conditions are performed here to simulate the evolution of climate belts with emphasis on changes in the rain band, and these are compared with the changes in the paleoenvironmental patterns during the Cenozoic recovered by geological records. The consistency between simulations and the geological evidence indicates that both the Tibetan Plateau uplift and the Paratethys Sea retreat play important roles in the formation of the monsoon-dominant environmental pattern. Furthermore, the simulations show the monsoon-dominant environmental pattern comes into being when the Himalayan/Tibetan Plateau reaches 1000–2000 m high and the Paratethys Sea retreats to the Turan Plate.     

使用纵波和横波走时层析成像研究菲律宾海板块西边缘带和南海地区的深部结构

使用纵波震相及同台同源纵波和横波震相的走时资料及层析成像反演方法,分别给出了菲律宾海板块(PHP)和南海地区的纵波速度V_pf及同台同源的纵波和横波速度V_p和V_s结构. 结果表明,（1） PHP与欧亚板块(EUAP)的俯冲接触关系随地段而异,在琉球海沟,PHP向EUAP之下俯冲深达400 km;在台湾岛,EUAP先近陡直地俯冲到深度400 km,然后折向PHP之下达到660 km左右;在马尼拉海沟北段,俯冲板片几乎垂直达到660 km附近;在菲律宾海沟,PHP向EUAP之下的俯冲深度超过660 km．（2）南海地区之下是一个深达300～400 km的宽阔低速区,并且大致在莺琼海盆与700 km深处另一低速区曲折相通;在该宽阔低速区内部,有两个小而明显的低速区分别在海口火山和珠江口盆地下方．（3）对V_p和V_s及据其算出的容声速度V_b作分析发现,V_s和V_b的平均扰动量对深度的变化在一些深度范围内是反向的;年龄较大的太平洋板块俯冲体的V_s相对扰动量的平均值大于V_b的,而在较年轻的PHP俯冲体中则正好相反．     

Mesoproterozoic Earthquake Events and Breakup of the Sino-Korean Plate

In the Mesoproterozoic time, the northern part of the Sino-Korean Plate experienced a period of intensive tectonic extension and breakup. 1. An abundance of sedimentary earthquake records is preserved in the Chuanlinggou, Tuanshanzi and Gaoyuzhuang formations in the Mesoproterozoic Changcheng System （1800-1400 Ma） and in the Mesoproterozoic Wumishan Formation of the Jixian System （1400-1000 Ma）. These earthquake records are characterized by various liquefied sand-veins, carbonate microspar and coarser spar veins, limestone dikes, liquefied breccia and various forms of liquefied contorted bedding. This deformation is always associated with synsedimentary faults and igneous activity. 2. Three liquefaction models for soft carbonate sediments are recognized, including liquefaction in laminated carbonate rocks, liquefaction in thin-bedded carbonates and large-scale liquefaction along huge carbonate dikes. 3. Based on the record of earthquake and volcanic activities, the Sino-Korean Plate experienced at least twice intraplate breakups. One occurred between 1800-1400 Ma, and the other occurred at about 1200 Ma. The last breakup resulted in formation of the Yan-Liao aulacogen, a tectonic zone characterized by deeper material vibrancy, active faults, major igneous activity and frequent earthquakes.     

印度与欧亚大陆碰撞构造变形数值分析

在全面考虑了大陆构造变形三重非线性特征的基础上，用动态有限元法研究了藏东对印度与欧亚大陆碰撞作用的大变形响应。数值模拟结果显示了明显的纵向收缩变形，变形主轴多具有顺时针转动的趋势，但横向位移在总体上并不显著。其最大值正位于红河和鲜水河断裂之间，这一结果论证了印度板块对欧亚大陆的碰撞可能是川滇菱形块体向南东运动的动力来源。红河、鲜水河、昆仑及阿尔金活断层在碰撞作用下发生了顺时针的旋转变形；而且，计算结果模拟出了红河断裂由左旋变为右旋，另３条断裂始终左旋的运动特征     

论板块运动的驱动力

本文从动力学的角度讨论了板块运动的驱动机理,并提出了计算板块扩张速度的公式,然后求出了不同类型板块的扩张速度。用此公式所计算出的板块扩张速度与实际观测速度很符合。     

Plate tectonics,palaeoenvironments and limestone geomorphology in West-Central Britain

The variety of active, exhumed, and buried limestone landforms of northern England, North Wales, and the Isle of Man arises in part from the way in which Dinantian (Lower Carboniferous) sedimentation was affected by a tilt-block basement structure evolved during the closure of the Iapetus Ocean suture to the north, and partly to subsequent plate tectonic movements associated with the closure of the proto-Tethys ocean, the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and the Alpine orogeny. Landforms created during the Dinantian now form important exhumed and buried landscape features. The Permian half-graben structures of the eastern Irish Sea-Cheshire-Worcester Basins account for many of the contrasts between the upland karsts of the Pennines and the lowland karsts of coastal areas.