Characteristics and origin of continental marginal fault depressions under the background of preexisting subduction continental margin,northern South China Sea,China

Based on the new seismic and drilling data and the recent related research results,this paper systematically analyzes the diversity and complexity of evolution process of crustal lithosphere structure and basin structure in the Pearl River Mouth Basin on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Three types of detachment faults of different structural levels exist:crust-mantle detachment,inter-crust detachment and upper crust detachment.It is considered that different types of extensional detachment control different subbasin structures.Many fault depressions controlled by upper crust detachment faults have been found in the Zhu I Depression located in the proximal zone.These detachment faults are usually reformed by magma emplacement or controlled by preexisting faults.Baiyun-Liwan Sag located in the hyperextension area shows different characteristics of internal structure.The Baiyun main sag with relative weak magmatism transformation is a wide-deep fault depression,which is controlled by crust-mantle detachment system.Extensive magmatism occurred in the eastern and southwest fault steps of the Baiyun Sag after Middle Eocene,and the crust ductile extensional deformation resulted in wide-shallow fault depression controlled by the upper crust detachment fault.Based on the classical lithosphere extensional breaking and basin tectonic evolution in the Atlantic margin,it is believed that the magmatic activities and pre-existing structures in the Mesozoic subduction continental margin background are important controlling factors for the diversified continental margin faulted structures in the northern South China Sea.

Geological characteristics of the Qiaoyue Seamount and associated ultramafic-hosted seafloor hydrothermal system(~52.1°E,Southwest Indian Ridge)

Hydrothermal vent incidence was once thought to be proportional to the spreading rate of the mid-ocean ridges(MORs).However,more and more studies have shown that the ultraslow-spreading ridges(e.g.,Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR))have a relatively higher incidence of hydrothermal venting fields.The Qiaoyue Seamount(52.1°E)is located at the southern side of segment#25 of the SWIR,to the west of the Gallieni transform fault.The Chinese Dayang cruises conducted eight preliminary deep-towed surveys of hydrothermal activity in the area during 2009 and 2018.Here,through comprehensive analyses of the video and photos obtained by the deep-towed platforms,rock samples,and water column turbidity anomalies,a high-temperature,ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal system is predicted on the northern flank of the Qiaoyue Seamount.We propose that this hydrothermal system is most likely to be driven by gabboric intrusions.Efficient hydrothermal circulation channels appear against a backdrop of high rock permeability related to the detachment fault.

Comparative New Insight into the Tectonic Origin of Folds and Thrust Faults of an Extensional Basin: Soke-Kusadasi Basin, Aegean, Western Turkey

The Aegean area of the western Anatolian region of Turkey,controlled by the low-angle detachment normal fault system,forms an extensional province,the West Anatolian Extensional Province(WAEP).The tectonic deformation which occurred in the Miocene Period,including the Plio–Quaternary Period has created different structures in both the basement rocks and intra-basin deposits of the crust.One of these structures,high-angle normal faults,controls the supradetachment Soke-Kusadasi Basin(SKB).Within this basin,there are folds with different axes and thrust faults with a north-northwestnortheast(N,NW,NE)trend.These folds and thrust faults in the SKB deformed the sedimentary structures of intra-basin deposits.The folds and thrust faults,which caused the rotation of beddings and imbrications in the SKB,are mainly associated with the tectonic process of the low angle detachment normal fault,which affected the SKB and the Aegean part of western Anatolia.In the SKB,during the process of extensional deformation associated with primary low angle detachment normal faulting,the ramp-flat and inversion geometry observed in the basement rocks and basin deposits of the crust caused folds and thrust faults in only intra-basin deposits.In the WAEP,it is determined for the first time that the folds and thrust faults causing limited shortening deformed the Plio–Quaternary sediments.

Sulfide metallogenic model for the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge

Polymetallic sulfides present in mid-ocean ridges(MORs)have become important strategic resources for humans,and a scientific metallogenic model is necessary for the investigation and exploration of these resources.Compared to fast-and slow-spreading MORs,ultraslow-spreading MORs show substantial differences in magma supply,tectonic activity,and oceanic crust structures.However,information on hydrothermal circulation and a metallogenic model related to sulfides along the ultraslow-spreading ridges is still limited,which hinders further exploration of these resources.In this study,the distribution of hydrothermal activities,as well as the characteristics of the structures,heat sources,fluid pathways,host rock types,fluid properties,and sulfide assemblages in typical hydrothermal fields along the ultraslow-spreading Southwest Indian Ridge(SWIR),have been studied.It is concluded that the hydrothermal systems along the SWIR can be categorized into three types,including local enhanced magma-controlled,one-way detachment/high-angle large-offset fault-controlled,and flip-flop detachment-controlled types,which are further categorized into five subtypes based on their distinct geological backgrounds.Herein,we present a sulfide metallogenic model called Local Enhanced Heat Supply-Deep Faults(eHeat-dFault)for the SWIR.The overall spreading rate remains almost constant(14-18 mm/year),while the magma supply is heterogeneous in the segment scale along the SWIR.Over the past two decades,various hydrothermal systems and sulfide deposits have been identified along the SWIR.A deep magma chamber(4-9 km)is developed in the ridge segment with sufficient magma supply owing to the local enhanced magma supply,while long-lived active deep detachment faults(up to 13 km)with associated metallogenic belts are developed in ridge segments with poor magma supply.Hence,the ultraslow-spreading MORs fulfill the necessary conditions of a sustained heat source and stable hydrothermal pathway for the formation of large-scale polymetallic sulfide deposits.The number of hydrothermal fields detected in the investigation area is 2-3 times that predicted by the traditional Spreading Rate-Magma Flux model,demonstrating its significant endowment for sulfide resources.A balance between magma supply and faulting may influence the type and depth of hydrothermal circulation,the frequency of hydrothermal activity along the axis,and the scale of sulfide deposits.Spreading rate was previously believed to control heat sources,magma supply,and tectonic processes.However,for the SWIR,we suggest that local enhanced heat supply and deep detachment faults have a greater influence than the spreading rate on hydrothermal circulation and sulfide mineralization.The eHeat-dFault sulfide metallogenic model proposed herein could provide guidance for further exploration and research on polymetallic sulfides in ultraslow-spreading SWIR.