Plate tectonic control on the formation and tectonic migration of Cenozoic basins in northern margin of the South China Sea

The tectonic evolution history of the South China Sea(SCS) is important for understanding the interaction between the Pacific Tectonic Domain and the Tethyan Tectonic Domain,as well as the regional tectonics and geodynamics during the multi-plate convergence in the Cenozoic.Several Cenozoic basins formed in the northern margin of the SCS,which preserve the sedimentary tectonic records of the opening of the SCS.Due to the spatial non-uniformity among different basins,a systematic study on the various basins in the northern margin of the SCS constituting the Northern Cenozoic Basin Group(NCBG) is essential.Here we present results from a detailed evaluation of the spatial-temporal migration of the boundary faults and primary unconformities to unravel the mechanism of formation of the NCBG.The NCBG is composed of the Beibu Gulf Basin(BBGB),Qiongdongnan Basin(QDNB),Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB) and Taixinan Basin(TXNB).Based on seismic profiles and gravity-magnetic anomalies,we confirm that the NE-striking onshore boundary faults propagated into the northern margin of the SCS.Combining the fault slip rate,fault combination and a comparison of the unconformities in different basins,we identify NE-striking rift composed of two-stage rifting events in the NCBG:an early-stage rifting(from the Paleocene to the Early Oligocene) and a late-stage rifting(from the Late Eocene to the beginning of the Miocene).Spatially only the late-stage faults occurs in the western part of the NCBG(the BBGB,the QDNB and the western PRMB),but the early-stage rifting is distributed in the whole NCBG.Temporally,the early-stage rifting can be subdivided into three phases which show an eastward migration,resulting in the same trend of the primary unconformities and peak faulting within the NCBG.The late-stage rifting is subdivided into two phases,which took place simultaneously in different basins.The first and second phase of the early-stage rifting is related to back-arc extension of the Pacific subduction retreat system.The third phase of the earlystage rifting resulted from the joint effect of slab-pull force due to southward subduction of the proto-SCS and the back-arc extension of the Pacific subduction retreat system.In addition,the first phase of the late-stage faulting corresponds with the combined effect of the post-collision extension along the Red River Fault and slab-pull force of the proto-SCS subduction.The second phase of the late-stage faulting fits well with the sinistral faulting of the Red River Fault in response to the Indochina Block escape tectonics and the slab-pull force of the proto-SCS.

Plume interaction and mantle heterogeneity:A geochemical perspective

Mantle plumes originating from the Core-Mantle Boundary(CMB)or the Mantle Transition Zone(MTZ)play an important role in material transfer through Earth’s interior.The hotspot-related plumes originate through different mechanisms and have diverse processes of material transfer.Both the Morganian plumes and large low shear wave velocity provinces(LLSVPs)are derived from the D"layer in the CMB,whereas the Andersonian plumes originate from the upper mantle.All plumes have a plume head at the Moho,although the LLSVPs have an additional plume head at the MTZ.We compare the geochemical characteristics of various plumes in an attempt to evaluate the material exchange between the plumes and mantle layers.The D"layer,the LLSVPs and the Morganian plumes are consisted of subducted slab and post-perovskite from the lower mantle.Bridgmanite would crystallize during the upwelling process of the LLSVPs and the Morganian plumes in the lower mantle,and the residual is a basalt-trachyte suite.Unlike the Morganian plumes,the crystallization in the LLSVPs is insufficient that material accumulates beneath the MTZ to form a plume head.Typically,the secondary plumes above the plume head occur at the edge of the LLSVPs because it is easier for bridgmanite crystal separating from the plume head at the edge,and the residual material with low density upwells to form the secondary plumes.Meanwhile,Na and K are enriched during the long-term crystallization process,and then the basalt-phonolite suite appears in the LLSVPs.The geochemical characteristics of Andersonian plumes suggest that the basalt-rhyolite suite is the major component in the upper mantle.Meanwhile the basalt-rhyolite suite also appears in the LLSVPs and the Morganian plumes because of the assimilation and contamination in the plume head beneath the Mono.

Deformation characteristics and analog modeling of transtensional structures in the Dongying Sag,Bohai Bay Basin

Hydrocarbon exploration in the Dongying Sag is constrained by the development of many Cenozoic transtensional structures with complex patterns and dynamic mechanisms.This study uses seismic interpretation and analog modeling to investigate these transtensional structures.Significant results include dividing these transtensional structures into boundary fault,oblique rifting,and deep strike-slip fault controlled structures,according to the relationships between main and secondary faults.They developed in the steep slope zone,the central sag zone,and the slope zone,respectively.In profile,the transtensional structures formed appear to be semi-flower-like,step-like,or negative-flower-like.In plan-view,they appear to be broom-like,soft-linked,or en-echelon structures.Further,these transtensional structures are controlled by the oblique normal slip of boundary faults,by the oblique extension of sub-sags,and by the later extension of deep strike-slip faults.The geometric deformation of these transtensional structures is controlled by the angles between the regional extension direction and the strike of boundary faults,deep faults,or sub-sags,where a larger angle corresponds to less developed transtensional structures.Further,the transtensional structures in the Dongying Sag were created by multi-phase and multi-directional extensions in the Cenozoic—which is also controlled by pre-existing structures.The strike of newborn secondary faults was determined by the regional extension direction and pre-existing structures.

Plate boundary processes of the Caroline Plate

The tectonic evolution of the Caroline Plate during the Oligocene to Early Miocene was mainly controlled by two fulcrums.The west fulcrum at Palau Island remained fixed during 29-25 Ma as the Ayu Trough rifted and produced the abyssal hills parallel to its boundaries,and the Pacific Plate and part of the Caroline Plate subducted to the north.At the northeast corner of the Caroline Plate,the east fulcrum is surrounded by a series of arc seamount chains.These chains resulted from the convergence between the Caroline Plate and the Pacific Plate and crustal softening of the northeastern Caroline Plate induced by the Caroline Hotspot at~25 Ma.This softening of the crust also led to the dysfunction of the east fulcrum,and the west fulcrum migrated south,which caused dextral motion along the Ayu Rift and the development of an en echelon structure.The Yap Trench was a part of the spreading center in the Parece-Vela Rift at~29 Ma.However,sinistral motion along the Parece-Vela Rift at around 20-15 Ma led to the exposure of the subducted Yap Trench and left a triangular region with distinctive geophysical characteristics in the surrounding area.