Different models have been proposed for the formation and tectonic evolution of the South China Sea （SCS）, including extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, backarc extension, two-stage opening, proto-SCS dragging, ex...Different models have been proposed for the formation and tectonic evolution of the South China Sea （SCS）, including extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, backarc extension, two-stage opening, proto-SCS dragging, extension induced by a mantle plume, and integrated models that combine diverse factors. Among these, the extrusion model has gained the most attention. Based on simplified physical experiments, this model proposes that collision between the Indian and Eurasian Plates resulted in extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, which in turn led to opening of the SCS. The extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, however, should have led to preferential open- ing in the west side of the SCS, which is contrary to observations. Extensional models propose that the SCS was a backarc basin, rifted off the South China Block. Most of the backarc extension models, however, are not compatible with observations in terms of either age or subduction direction. The two-stage extension model is based on extensional basins surrounding the SCS. Recent dating results indeed show two-stage opening in the SCS, but the Southwest Subbasin of the SCS is much younger, which contradicts the two-stage extension model. Here we pro- pose a refined backarc extension model. There was a wide Neotethys Ocean between the Australian and Eurasian Plates before the Indian-Eurasian collision. The ocean floorstarted to subduct northward at ~ 125 Ma, causing backarc extension along the southem margin of the Eurasian Plate and the formation of the proto-SCS. The Neotethys sub- duction regime changed due to ridge subduction in the Late Cretaceous, resulting in fold-belts, uplifting, erosion, and widespread unconformities. It may also have led to the subduction of the proto-SCS. Flat subduction of the ridge may have reached further north and resulted in another backarc extension that formed the SCS. The rollback of the fiat subducting slab might have occurred ~ 90 Ma ago; the second backarc extension may have initiated between 50 and 45 Ma. The opening of the Southwest Subbasin is roughly simultaneous with a ridge jump in the East Sub- basin, which implies major tectonic changes in the sur- rounding regions, likely related to major changes in the extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula.展开更多
There exist three mainstream opinions regarding the timing of the initial collision between the Indian and Eurasian continents,namely,65±5,45±5,and 30±5 Ma.Five criteria are proposed for determining whi...There exist three mainstream opinions regarding the timing of the initial collision between the Indian and Eurasian continents,namely,65±5,45±5,and 30±5 Ma.Five criteria are proposed for determining which tectonic event was related to the initial collision between India and Asia:the rapid decrease in the rate of plate motion,the cessation of magmatic activity originating from the subduction of oceanic crust,the end of sedimentation of oceanic facies,the occurrence of intracontinental deformation,and the exchange of sediments sourced from two continents.These criteria are used to constrain the nature of these tectonic events.It is proposed that the 65±5 Ma tectonic event is consistent with some of the criteria,but the upshot of this model is that the magmatic activity originating from the Tethyan subduction since the Mesozoic restarted along the southern margin of the Asian continent in this time after a brief calm,implying that the subduction of the Neotethys slab was still taking place.The magmatic activity that occurred along the southern margin of the Asian continent had a 7-Myr break during 72-65 Ma,which in this study is interpreted as having resulted from tectonic transformation from subduction to transform faulting,indicating that the convergence between the Indian and Asian continents was once dominated by strike-slip motion.The 30±5 Ma tectonic event resulted in the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau,which was related to the late stage of the convergence between these two continents,namely,a hard collision.The 45±5 Ma tectonic event is in accordance with most of the criteria,corresponding to the initial collision between these two continents.展开更多
基金supported by the NSFC(No.91328204,41421062)the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KZCX1-YW-15)
文摘Different models have been proposed for the formation and tectonic evolution of the South China Sea （SCS）, including extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, backarc extension, two-stage opening, proto-SCS dragging, extension induced by a mantle plume, and integrated models that combine diverse factors. Among these, the extrusion model has gained the most attention. Based on simplified physical experiments, this model proposes that collision between the Indian and Eurasian Plates resulted in extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, which in turn led to opening of the SCS. The extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula, however, should have led to preferential open- ing in the west side of the SCS, which is contrary to observations. Extensional models propose that the SCS was a backarc basin, rifted off the South China Block. Most of the backarc extension models, however, are not compatible with observations in terms of either age or subduction direction. The two-stage extension model is based on extensional basins surrounding the SCS. Recent dating results indeed show two-stage opening in the SCS, but the Southwest Subbasin of the SCS is much younger, which contradicts the two-stage extension model. Here we pro- pose a refined backarc extension model. There was a wide Neotethys Ocean between the Australian and Eurasian Plates before the Indian-Eurasian collision. The ocean floorstarted to subduct northward at ~ 125 Ma, causing backarc extension along the southem margin of the Eurasian Plate and the formation of the proto-SCS. The Neotethys sub- duction regime changed due to ridge subduction in the Late Cretaceous, resulting in fold-belts, uplifting, erosion, and widespread unconformities. It may also have led to the subduction of the proto-SCS. Flat subduction of the ridge may have reached further north and resulted in another backarc extension that formed the SCS. The rollback of the fiat subducting slab might have occurred ~ 90 Ma ago; the second backarc extension may have initiated between 50 and 45 Ma. The opening of the Southwest Subbasin is roughly simultaneous with a ridge jump in the East Sub- basin, which implies major tectonic changes in the sur- rounding regions, likely related to major changes in the extrusion of the Indochina Peninsula.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41672220 and 41130312)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB03010500)
文摘There exist three mainstream opinions regarding the timing of the initial collision between the Indian and Eurasian continents,namely,65±5,45±5,and 30±5 Ma.Five criteria are proposed for determining which tectonic event was related to the initial collision between India and Asia:the rapid decrease in the rate of plate motion,the cessation of magmatic activity originating from the subduction of oceanic crust,the end of sedimentation of oceanic facies,the occurrence of intracontinental deformation,and the exchange of sediments sourced from two continents.These criteria are used to constrain the nature of these tectonic events.It is proposed that the 65±5 Ma tectonic event is consistent with some of the criteria,but the upshot of this model is that the magmatic activity originating from the Tethyan subduction since the Mesozoic restarted along the southern margin of the Asian continent in this time after a brief calm,implying that the subduction of the Neotethys slab was still taking place.The magmatic activity that occurred along the southern margin of the Asian continent had a 7-Myr break during 72-65 Ma,which in this study is interpreted as having resulted from tectonic transformation from subduction to transform faulting,indicating that the convergence between the Indian and Asian continents was once dominated by strike-slip motion.The 30±5 Ma tectonic event resulted in the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau,which was related to the late stage of the convergence between these two continents,namely,a hard collision.The 45±5 Ma tectonic event is in accordance with most of the criteria,corresponding to the initial collision between these two continents.
