Submarine volcanism in the southern margin of the South China Sea

Submarine volcanism is widely developed in the South China Sea(SCS).However,the characteristics,distribution,and genesis of submarine volcanoes in the southern margin of the SCS remain obscure.In this study,we analyzed the characteristics of submarine volcanoes and identified a total of 43 submarine volcanoes in the southern margin of the SCS,based on a newly acquired 310-km seismic reflection profile,along with previous 45 multi-channel seismic(MCS)profiles,petrological results from volcanic rocks sampled by dredging and drilling,nearby ocean bottom seismometer(OBS)wide-angle seismic profiles,and gravity and magnetic data.The study ascertains that most of these volcanoes are located in fault-block belts and graben-horst zones with strong crustal stretching and thinning.These volcanoes exhibit positive high-amplitude external seismic reflections,weak and chaotic internal seismic reflections,and are accompanied by local deformation of the surrounding sedimentary strata.Meanwhile,they have higher positive gravity anomalies and higher magnetic anomalies than the background strata.The petrological dating results show that volcanic ages are primarily in the Pliocene-Pleistocene,with geochemical characteristics indicating dominance of oceanic island basalt(OIB)-type alkali-basalts.Extensional faults have obviously spatial correspondence with post-spreading volcanism,suggesting these faults may provide conduits for submarine volcanism.The high-velocity bodies(HVBs)in the lower crust and magma underplating exist in the southern SCS,which could provide a clue of genesis for submarine volcanism.The inference is that the intensity of post-spreading volcanism in the southern margin might be affected by stretching faults,crustal thinning and magma underplating.

The influence of lipid-extraction on theδ^(13)C of mesopelagic and demersal fish in the South China Sea:modification and application of lipid normalization models

Mesopelagic fish,the most important daily vertically migrating community in the oceans,are characterized by high lipid content which may obscure the interpretation of stable isotopes analysis.Demersal fish,which are important consumers in the food web dominated by mesopelagic fish,also have a high lipid content.Here we collected 127 fish samples from the South China Sea and evaluated the effect of lipid contents on△δ^(13)C of mesopelagic and demersal fish.In lipid-extracted mesopelagic fish,the C/N content ratio(<5.5)shows a clear correlation withΔδ^(13)C(the offset of bulk and lipid-extractedδ^(13)C values),especially in non-migratory and semi-migratory species;these values were less correlation in demersal fish.Based on our results,we suggest that mesopelagic and demersal fish in different regions of the South China Sea should be studied separately using appropriate correction models and less fit for the traditional model.Moreover,the C/N content ratio should be used cautiously for establishing the lipid normalization model,especially for the fish in migratory mesopelagic fish and demersal fish.Our results also reveal that mesopelagic fish across nearby regions could be analyzed together.The new models described here can be applied in future studies of mesopelagic and demersal fish in the South China Sea.

Layer-block tectonics of Cenozoic basements and formation of intra-plate basins in Nansha micro-plate, southern South China Sea

Layer-block tectonics （LBT） concept, with the core of pluralistic geodynamic outlook and multilayer-sliding tectonic outlook, is one of new keys to study 3-dimensional solid and its 4-dimensional evolution history of global tectonic system controlled by global geodynamics system. The LBT concept is applied to study the lithospheric tectonics of the southern South China Sea （SCS）. Based on the analysis of about 30 000 km of geophysical and geological data, some layer-blocks in the Nansha micro-plate can be divided as Nansha ultra-crustal layer-block, Zengmu crustal layer-block, Nanwei （Rifleman bank）-Andu （Ardasier bank） and Liyue （Reed bank） North Palawan crustal layer-blocks, Andu-Bisheng and Liyue-Banyue basemental layer-blocks. The basic characteristics of the basemental layer-blocks have been dicussed, and three intra-plate basin groups are identified. The intra-plate basins within Nansha micro-plate can be divided into three basin groups of Nanwei- Andu, Feixin-Nanhua, and Liyue-North Palawan based on the different geodynamics. In the light of pluralistic geodynamic concept, the upheaving force induced by the mid-crust plastic layer is proposed as the main dynamical force which causes the formation of the intra-plate basins within the Nansha micro-plate. Finally, models of a face-to-face dip-slip detachment of basemental layerblock and a unilateral dip-slip-detachment of basemental layer-block are put forward for the forming mechanisms of the Nanwei Andu and Liyue-North Palawan intra-plate basin groups, respectively.

The Earlier Spreading of South China Sea Basin due to the Late Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic Extension of South China Block: Structural Styles and Chronological Evidence from the Dulong-Song Chay Metamorphic Dome, Southwest China

To understand the forming and tectonic evolution of the South China Sea basin, new data of the structural styles and geochronology were obtained from the Dulong-Song Chay dome, southeastern Yunnan and northern Vietnam. The structural styles were acquired through field investigation and geo-chronological dating was carried out using zircon SHRIMP Ⅱ U-P and argon isotopic analyses. The South China Sea basin extension occurred firstly at Late Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic, and then at Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene （32-17 Ma）. The second stage of extension formed immediately after the first stage, and both extensions have a consistent forming mechanism. New structural analysis and geo-chronological data do not support the models of ＂backarc spreading＂ and ＂strike-slip faults producing the extension＂. Then what mechanism resulted in the extension of South China Sea basin？ The data indicate that at least two episodes of major extensional tectonics, i.e. , the D1 deformation at 237-228 Ma resulted in the rising and exhumation of the dome, and D2 deformation at 86-78 Ma overprinted and redeformed the dome. Of them, the D2 shows a consistent forming time, extensional direction and tectonic regime among Dulong-Song Chay dome, South China block and the northern margin of the South China Sea basin. Regional geology has proved that the northern margin of the South China Sea basin belongs to the South China block, therefore, we interpreted that the Late Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic extensional tectonics occurred in the northern margin of the South China Sea basin due to the intraplate deformation of the South China block, while the Ailaoshan-Red River sinistral slip strengthened the Cenozoic extension in the South China Sea basin.

Two-episode Tectono-thermal Events of the Heyuan Fault in Late Cretaceous and Oligocene and their Tectonic Implications, Southernmost South China Block

The Heyuan Fault, is one of the main NE-trending faults in the southernmost South China Block and is close to the northernmost South China Sea to the south. The fault features multi-stage deformation and controlled the formation of late Cretaceous to Cenozoic basins. Based on detailed field investigations and comprehensive geochronological research, including zircon U-Pb, Rb-Sr isochron, zircon U-Th-He dating, two episodic tectono-thermal events are recognized. The first occurred during ~79 Ma to 66 Ma, which is characterized by large-scale quartz-fluid emplacement. The other occurred at ~34 Ma, which features the eruption of a set of basalts. The two events show a changing on material source from siliceous hydrotherm to basalt magma, supporting obvious lithospheric thinning of the southernmost South China Block, which shed light on the geological evolution and the interaction mechanisms between the SCB and the northern South China Sea since the Late Cretaceous.

Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating of the Neogene coral reefs,Xisha Islands,South China Sea:implications for tectonic evolution

The Xisha Block is a minor one in the South China Sea and an important tectonic unit in the northwestern part of the region.Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb ages for three volcanic intrusive core samples from Xike-1,an exploratory well penetrating the bioherms of the Xisha Islands.The core samples are from the Miocene reef carbonate bedrock and are recognized as dark-gray biotite-hornblende gabbro,gray fne-grained biotite diorite,and gray fine-grained granite,respectively.Zircon cathodoluminescence (CL)images and trace Th,U and Pb compositions of the zircons show that these rocks are of volcanic intrusive origin.Zircon SHRIMP U-Pb dating yielded six groups of ages,ranging from 2451-1 857 Ma to early Cretaceous, which indicate that the formation and evolution of the Xisha Block was affected by the evolution and closure of Neotethys Ocean,probably within its eastern extension into South China Sea.Both old,deepsourced material,including fragments from Rodina supercontinent,and recent mantle-derived magma products contributed to the emergence and formation of the Xisha block.The SHRIMP U-Pb results also proved that this process differed from that of the Kontum massif,the Hainan Block,and the South China Block,but is similar to that of the Nansha and Zhongsha blocks.The process was associated with the effects of Yanshanian magmatism induced by subduction mechanisms of the Paleo-Pacific Plate or the reworking of the multiple magmatisms since the Early to mid-Yanshanian,possibly jointly experienced by the Xisha-Zhongsha-Nansha Block.

A study of intra-seasonal variations in the subsurface water temperatures in the South China Sea

Through analysis of the results of a verified high-fidelity numerical model, the intra-seasonal variations(ISVs) in the depth of the 22°C isotherm(D22) in the South China Sea(SCS) basin are investigated. The results show that the ISVs in the D22 exhibit distinct seasonality in the SCS. The ISVs in the D22 are quite significant, especially within a band along the northwestern boundary of the basin and at the southern end of the basin during boreal winter. In these areas, the ratio of the standard deviations(STDs) of intra-seasonal band to the STDs of total data could exceed 0.6. Although the ISVs in the D22 are detectable in the area affected by the Vietnam Offshore Current during boreal summer and autumn, these variations are sometimes overwhelmed by oscillations with other frequencies. An analysis of the causes of the ISVs in the D22 in the SCS indicates that sea surface fluxes and wind stirring are not the dominant external driving mechanisms of the phenomena described above. The ISVs in the D22 are thought to be induced mainly by the thermodynamic adjustment of the ocean itself and the associated instabilities. The energy of the northern and southern bands that display strong ISVs in the D22 may be derived from eddy kinetic energy, rather than eddy available potential energy. The diversity of the propagation of the ISVs in the D22 is very conspicuous within these two bands.

Tectonic unit divisions based on block tectonics theory in the South China Sea and its adjacent areas

Identifying distinct tectonic units is key to understanding the geotectonic framework and distribution law of oil and gas resources.The South China Sea and its adjacent areas have undergone complex tectonic evolution processes,and the division of tectonic units is controversial.Guided by block tectonics theory,this study divide the South China Sea and its adjacent areas into several distinguished tectonic units relying on known boundary markers such as sutures(ophiolite belts),subduction-collision zones,orogenic belts,and deep faults.This work suggests that the study area is occupied by nine stable blocks(West Burma Block,Sibumasu Block,LanpingSimao Block,Indochina Block,Yangtze Block,Cathaysian Block,Qiongnan Block,Nansha Block,and Northwest Sulu Block),two suture zones(Majiang suture zone and Southeast Yangtze suture zone),two accretionary zones(Sarawak-Sulu accretionary zone and East Sulawesi accretionary zone),one subduction-collision zone(RakhineJava-Timor subduction-collision zone),one ramp zone(Philippine islands ramp zone),and six small oceanic marginal sea basins(South China Sea Basin,Sulu Sea Basin,Sulawesi Sea Basin,Banda Sea Basin,Makassar Basin,and Andaman Sea Basin).This division reflects the tectonic activities,crustal structural properties,and evolutionary records of each evaluated tectonic unit.It is of great theoretical and practical importance to understand the tectonic framework to support the exploration of oil and gas resources in the South China Sea and its adjacent areas.

Distribution and Sources of Particulate Organic Matter in the Northern South China Sea: Implications of Human Activity

In order to understand origin and fate of particulate organic matter,the isotopic composition(δ^(13)C andδ^(15)N),total or-ganic carbon content,total nitrogen content,and C/N ratios were measured for suspended particulate organic matter(POM)collected from the northern South China Sea(NSCS)during summer.Our study revealed thatδ^(13)C generally decreased from land to sea,and elevatedδ^(13)C occurred at the nearshore stations,suggesting that POC was mainly contributed from the eutrophic level and microbial activity.Moreover,the distribution ofδ^(15)N values were complicated,and heterotrophic modification was responsible for higherδ^(15)N in the nearshore stations.These distribution patterns ofδ^(13)C andδ^(15)N in the nearshore stations may be associated with the intensifi-cation of human activity in the coast.Based on the Stable Isotope Analysis in R model,65%of POM was contributed by marine or-ganic matter in the NSCS,20%by terrestrial inputs,and 15%by freshwater algae.

3D Velocity Structure and Its Tectonic Implications in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea

3D structure of the crust and upper mantle in the studied area has been analyzed from surface wave tomography. The velocity distribution in the uppermost crust is symmetrical on two sides of the central line of the sea, and coincides with the structure of crystalline basement. The essential difference in tectonics between the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea mainly lies in that the velocity structures of their lower crust and upper mantle are identical to those of South China and North China respectively. In the upper mantle there exists a high-velocity zone with a nearly EW strike from the Hangzhou Bay, China, to the Tokara Channel, Japan, along about the latitude of 30°N. It is found that between the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea there are systematical differences in geomorphology, geology, seismicity, heat flow, quality factor and gravity and aeromagnetic anomalies, which is related to both left-lateral shear dislocation and right-lateral tear of the Benioff zone from the Hangzhou Bay to the Tokara Channel.It is inferred that the East China Sea was formed by Cenozoic back-arc extension. The boundary between the North China and South China crustal blocks stretches along the southern piedmont of Mts. Daba-Dabie-Hangzhou Bay-Tokara Channel, and the subduction zone at the Okinawa trench is the eastern boundary of the South China crustal block. The movements of the Pacific plate, Indian plate and upper mantle rather than the Philippine plate subduction have played a dominant role for the modern tectonic movements in East Asia.

The adjoint-based Two Oceans One Sea State Estimate(TOOSSE)

An eddy-resolving four-dimensional variational(adjoint)data assimilation and state estimate was constructed for the low-to mid-latitude Pacifi c,Indian Oceans,and South China Sea based on the framework of“Estimating the Circulation and Climate of the Oceans(ECCO)”.It is named as the Two Oceans One Sea State Estimate(TOOSSE).It fi ts a model to a number of modern observations of 2015-2016,including the Argo fl oat temperature and salinity,satellite altimetric sea surface anomalies,by adjusting initial temperature and salinity,sea surface boundary conditions,and background diapycnal diff usivities.In total,~50%of the original model-data misfi ts have been eliminated,and the estimated state agreed well with a variety of independent observations at meso-to large scales,and on the intra-seasonal to interannual timescales.Mesoscale variability is systematically strengthened in TOOSSE and closer to observations than that without data assimilation,which is especially evidenced by the improved simulation of the mesoscale tropical instability waves(TIWs).Adjustments to ocean surface forcing parameters exhibit both large and frontal/mesoscale structures,and the magnitude reach 20%-100%of the fi rst guesses;the adjustments to diapycnal diff usivity exhibit an obvious elevation(decrement)in(below)the thermocline in the equatorial band.The results indicate that TOOSSE represents a dynamically and thermodynamically consistent ocean state estimate of the 2015-2016 Indo-Pacifi c Ocean,and can be widely utilized for regional process studies.

Existence of Qiongnan suture zone on the north margin of South China Sea

This paper aims to explore whether paleo-suture zone exists in the pre-Cenozoic basement of South China Sea (SCS). By taking advantage of integrated geophysical surveying data, including multi-channel reflection seismicity, oceanic bottom seismicity, gravity and magnetic data as well as paleomagnetism and drilling information, a comprehensive analysis on sedimentary stratigraphy, seismic stratigraphy, magmatic and metamorphic petrology, geochemistry, gravity study, magnetics, paleogeomagnetics as well as geotectonics was carried out, and the results clearly indicate that a pre-Cenozoic suture zone, i.e. “Qiongnan (south Hainan Island) suture zone”, does exist on the north margin of SCS. This suture zone starts in the west from the Jiusuo-Lingshui fault zone in the south of Hainan Island, extends eastward across the continental slope to the north of SCS, and links with Shoufeng fault in Taiwan. It is inferred that the Qiongnan suture zone was sutured approximately in Indosinian (Triassic) Epoch and is actually the vestige of “Qiongnan ocean basin”, the extension of the main paleo-Tethys ocean basin in SCS. The formation of Qiongnan suture zone marked the collision-accretion of the Qiongnan Block toward the Qiongzhong Block. The Qiongnan suture zone is linked to the west with the southward extension of the principal suture zone of the Paleo-Tethys at Bitu-Changning-Menglian-Bentong-Raub, across the southern segment of the Red River-East Vietnam-Wanna strike-slip fault zone, and connected to the east with the suture zone emplaced into the south margin of the Oki-Hida Pre-Jurassic terranes in southwest Japan, across the northerni2 e segment of the Manila trench fault zone in the northeast side of Taiwan Island. The discovery of this suture zone is believed to be potentially significant toward study of the pre-Cenozoic geotectonic pattern of SCS, the temporal and spatial distribution of the east paleo-Tethys structural domain in SCS and the relationship of recombination and superimposition between the east paleo-Tethys structural domain and the west Pacific structural domain, in addition to the oil/gas geological potentials in the pre-Cenozoic marine vestige-superimposed basin in the study area.

南沙微地块花岗质岩石LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb定年及其地质意义

南沙微地块一直被作为华南大陆的一部分,但缺乏基底岩石学证据的支持。本文首次报道了南沙微地块花岗质岩石岩浆锆石年龄。测年方法为激光剥蚀等离子体质谱(LA-ICPMS)测年技术。在站位S08-18获得2个斜长花岗岩样品年龄:分别为159.1±1.6Ma和157.8±1.0Ma,在站位S08-32获得两个二长花岗岩样品年龄:分别为153.6±0.3Ma和127.2±0.2Ma,表明它们为燕山期晚侏罗世—早白垩世岩浆事件的产物。其中153～159Ma年龄值可与南岭燕山期花岗岩年龄比较,而127Ma年龄值可与浙闽沿海燕山期花岗岩年龄对比。一个样品中存在一个年龄为656.7Ma的残余锆石核,结合中西沙发现的前寒武纪基底岩石资料,表明南海内散落的微地块可能广泛存在前寒武纪结晶基底,本区中生代花岗岩为古老陆壳重熔形成的。这一新的资料,对研究燕山期岩浆作用在中国南部的影响范围、南海微陆块前寒武纪地质及微陆块的裂离动力学都具有重要意义。

南海西沙海槽83PC柱状沉积物组成特征及其古环境意义

为了解南海北部末次间冰期以来的沉积环境演化,分析了西沙海槽83PC柱状沉积物的浮游有孔虫氧碳同位素、碳酸钙、有机碳和粒度组成。浮游有孔虫的δ18 O值具有冰期-间冰期旋回特征,记录了海平面的升降和古气候的变化,而海平面变化控制了沉积物的碳酸钙和有机碳含量。冰期,海平面下降,陆源物质输入增多,带来了大量的碎屑物质和陆源有机质,沉积物具有低碳酸钙含量和高有机碳含量;间冰期,海平面上升,陆源物质输入减少,碎屑物质的稀释作用减弱,沉积物具有高碳酸钙含量和低有机碳含量。南海北部83PC柱状沉积物记录了末次间冰期以来的多次海平面升降旋回,还记录了气候变冷事件以及低碳酸钙沉积事件,其中,150、510、660和740cm处的低碳酸钙含量和相对重δ18 O值记录了全球性气候变冷事件,而冰后期的低碳酸钙沉积事件,则主要反映了季风降雨的增强,出现了洪水高发期,陆源碎屑物质对碳酸钙沉积的稀释作用明显增强。

中国南方灯影峡期海洋碳酸盐岩原始δ^(13)C和δ^(18)O组成及海水温度

中国南方灯影峡期(晚前寒武纪)是白云岩广泛发育的海洋碳酸盐沉积时期,在灯影组中部发育从海水直接沉积、沉淀的原生白云岩,目前仍保留其原始组构特征。从40个原生白云石(岩)中测得:泥晶白云石的C值为3.64‰,O值为-1.17‰(n=6);藻白云岩的C值为3.52‰,O值为-1.86‰(n=15);海水纤状白云石胶结物C值为2.90‰,O值为-2.65‰(n=8);海水刃状白云石胶结物的C值为2.96‰,O值为-2.41‰(n=8);泥晶纹层和海水纤状白云石胶结物的C值为2.79‰,O值为-3.13‰。40个岩样的C平均值为3.25‰±0.44‰,O平均值为-2.12‰±0.98‰(均以PDB标准)。对于灯影峡期海相白云岩的原始C和O值,不采用所有样品的平均值,而是采用原生白云石沉积物与海水白云石胶结物C值和O值两个图示分布区重叠部分的最重同位素值,即:C值为4.43‰(PDB标准),O值为-0.62‰(PDB标准),将其作为灯影峡期海洋碳酸盐岩的原始同位素组成。对海水原生白云石胶结物包裹体盐度进行了测定,海水O计算值为2.90‰(SMOW标准),用原始O值计算的原生白云石形成时的海水温度为40.8℃。这说明中国南方灯影峡期的海洋为炎热的较高的海水温度环境。

南海C区块高温高压气井井控技术

为确保南海C区块高温高压气井钻井过程中的井控安全,针对存在的地层压力高且复杂、地层温度高、钻井液安全密度窗口窄、高密度钻井液性能维护困难等井控技术难点,制定了实时检测溢流、控制溢流量,压井时逐渐提高压井液密度,防止发生井漏,钻井液降温和性能维护,井下溢漏共存处理等技术措施。防止井漏的技术措施包括提高地层承压能力和钻井液的封堵性、优化井身结构、控制井底循环当量密度、阶梯开泵、简化钻具组合及控制下钻速度等。南海C区块30余口高温高压井在钻井过程中采取了制定的井控技术措施,未发生井控事故。这表明,采取所制定的井控技术措施可以确保南海C区块高温高压气井的钻井井控安全。

南海文昌区块深部地层旋转切削齿PDC钻头提速技术

针对南海西部海域文昌区块深部地层常规固定齿PDC钻头磨损严重、机械钻速较低的问题,研究了旋转切削齿PDC钻头提速技术。分析了文昌区块深部地层的钻井难点,基于地层和钻头磨损特征分析结果,用旋转切削齿代替常规PDC钻头肩部高磨蚀区的固定切削齿,并优化布齿,形成了适用于文昌区块深部地层的旋转切削齿PDC钻头,并在文昌区块3口探井进行了应用,结果表明,该钻头提速效果明显、单只钻头进尺长且出井钻头磨损评价良好。研究认为,旋转切削齿PDC钻头兼具攻击性和耐磨性,可有效提高南海西部海域文昌区块深部地层的机械钻速,建议在该区块和类似强研磨性地层推广应用。

南海SEATS站超微型浮游植物类群及其碳生物量和叶绿素a浓度比值的变化

浮游植物的碳生物量和叶绿素a浓度比值(简记为C∶Chl-a)是海洋生物地球化学过程中的关键基础参数,在自然环境下有极大的变化.通过收集和整理近年来南海的东南亚时间序列观测(the South East Asian Time-series Study,SEATS)站的现场调查资料,对比分析了超微型浮游植物中三大类群的变化及其总C∶Chl-a的垂直分布.叶绿素a浓度通过高效液相色谱分析获得,碳生物量依据文献报道的同纬度海区的C∶Chl-a计算或基于流式细胞技术分析细胞丰度与体积后经换算得到.结果显示基于这两种方法计算得到的超微型浮游植物三大类群的碳生物量之间均存在极显著正相关(n=41,p<0.001),其中聚球藻(Synechococcus)基于高效液相色谱分析获得的碳生物量有一定的高估,而原绿球藻(Prochlorocoecus)和超微型真核藻类(pico-eukaryotes)的数据结果则基本一致,这种差异可能与聚球藻的光适应机制有关.通过计算南海SEATS站全粒径浮游植物的C∶Chl-a,发现其呈现随深度递减的变化趋势,但相对于同纬度海区整体上偏小,进而讨论了南海SEATS站浮游植物时空分布模式和C∶Chl-a变化的原因.

中国南海天然气水合物沉积成藏条件初探及其分布

中国南海是西太平洋最大的边缘海之一 ,具备良好的天然气水合物成藏条件和勘探前景。根据沉积条件 (沉积速率、沉积相和含砂率等 )分析 ,综合多方面的地质条件 ,认为气水合物存在于水深30 0～ 35 0 0m的区域 ;陆坡和靠近沉积中心的高沉积速率的厚层沉积为天然气水合物聚集的有利部位 ,与BSR分布的吻合率在 6 0 %～ 80 %之间 ;等深流、重力流沉积和各类扇体 (如三角洲、扇三角洲、低位扇等 )的前缘为水合物沉积的有利相带 ,与BSR分布的吻合率在 5 0 %～ 75 %之间 ;赋存气水合物的沉积物的含砂率通常在 35 %～ 70 %之间。依据多方面资料的研究 ,在南海海域划分出 1 1个有利的天然气水合物勘探远景区块 ,面积共 1 2 .5 (± 1 .5 )× 1 0 4km2 ,约占整个南海总面积的 3.6 %。

新生代华夏岩石圈减薄与东亚边缘海盆构造演化的年代学与地球化学制约研究

年代学与地球化学制约表明,华南的茂名与三水盆地从92～38Ma期间有近连续的火山喷发,并在(56±2)Ma火山作用源区发生了急剧的转折。这与东亚边缘海盆地最早伸展在时间上和构造方向上是一致的,形成了一系列NE向左旋剪切伸展盆地以及南海南西海盆、苏拉威西海、西菲律宾海等洋盆。35～17Ma期间印支块体沿红河断裂向东南挤出,使东亚沿NE向左旋剪切伸展受阻。因此,这一期间华夏块体上没有出现与拉张有关的玄武质岩浆作用,始新世洋盆NE向扩张也逐渐被终止。关于南海的晚第三纪扩张,年代学与构造证据是与根据磁异常确定的32～17Ma扩张期相矛盾的。17Ma以后,华夏、东海至日本海岩石圈均出现了强的NE向伸展,也使印支块体沿红河断裂从左旋挤出转向右旋走滑。南海在这一期间再次出现扩张,应是一个合理的构造格局。