Geometry and 3D seismic characterisation of post-rift normal faults in the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea

Based on high-resolution 3D seismic data acquired in the Pearl(Zhujiang)River Mouth Basin of the northern South China Sea,this study investigated the geometry,spatial extension,and throw distribution of the post-rift normal fault through detailed seismic interpretation and fault modeling.A total of 289 post-rift normal faults were identified in the study area and can be classified into four types:(1)isolated normal faults above the carbonate platform;(2)isolated normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform;(3)conjugate normal faults,and(4)connecting normal faults.Throw distribution analysis on the fault planes show that the vertical throw profiles of most normal fault exhibit flat-topped profiles.Isolated normal faults above the carbonate platform exhibit roughly concentric ellipses with maximum throw zones in the central section whereas the normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform miss the lowermost section due to the chaotic seismic reflections in the interior of the carbonate platform.The vertical throws of conjugate normal faults anomalously decrease toward their intersection region on the fault plane whereas the connecting normal faults present two maximum throw zones in the central section of the fault plane.According to the symmetric elliptical distribution model of fault throw,an estimation was made indicating that normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform extended downward between-1308 s and-1780 s(two-way travel time)in depth and may not penetrate the entire Liuhua carbonate platform.Moreover,it is observed that the distribution of karst caves on the top of the carbonate platform disaccord with those of hydrocarbon reservoirs and the post-rift normal faults cutting through the carbonate platform in the study area.We propose that these karst caves formed most probably by corrosive fluids derived from magmatic activities during the Dongsha event,rather than pore waters or hydrocarbons.

Tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecane in sediments from the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Estuary and South China Sea

Marine sediments collected from the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Estuary(ZRE) and South China Sea(SCS) were utilized to study the occurrence and spatial distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A(TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane(HBCDD).The levels of TBBPA and HBCDD in sediments ranged from not detected(nd) to 6.14 ng/g dry weight(dw) and nd to 0.42 ng/g dw.TBBPA concentrations in marine sediments were substantially higher than HBCDD.The concentrations of TBBPA and HBCDD in the ZRE sediments were significantly greater than those in the SCS.α-HBCDD(48.7%) and γ-HBCDD(46.2%) were the two main diastereoisomers of HBCDD in sediments from the ZRE,with minor contribution of β-HBCDD(5.1%).HBCDD were only found in one sample from the northern SCS.The enantiomeric fraction of α-HBCDD in sediments from the ZRE was obviously greater than 0.5,indicating an accumulation of(+)-α-HBCDD.The enantiomers of HBCDD were not measured in sediments from the SCS.This work highlighted the environmental behaviors of TBBPA and HBCDD in marine sediments.

Tectonic-thermal history and hydrocarbon potential of the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea:Insights from borehole apatite fission-track thermochronology

The Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)is one of the most petroliferous basins on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Knowledge of the thermal history of the PRMB is significant for understanding its tectonic evolution and for unraveling its poorly studied source-rock maturation history.Our investigations in this study are based on apatite fission-track(AFT)thermochronology analysis of 12 cutting samples from 4 boreholes.Both AFT ages and length data suggested that the PRMB has experienced quite complicated thermal evolution.Thermal history modeling results unraveled four successive events of heating separated by three stages of cooling since the early Middle Eocene.The cooling events occurred approximately in the Late Eocene,early Oligocene,and the Late Miocene,possibly attributed to the Zhuqiong II Event,Nanhai Event,and Dongsha Event,respectively.The erosion amount during the first cooling stage is roughly estimated to be about 455-712 m,with an erosion rate of 0.08-0.12 mm/a.The second erosion-driven cooling is stronger than the first one,with an erosion amount of about 747-814 m and an erosion rate between about 0.13-0.21 mm/a.The erosion amount calculated related to the third cooling event varies from 800 m to 3419 m,which is speculative due to the possible influence of the magmatic activity.

Astronomical Dating of the Middle Miocene Hanjiang Formation in the Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China Sea

The Hanjiang Formation of Langhian age （middle Miocene） in the Pearl River Mouth Basin （PRMB）, South China Sea consists of deltaic siliciclastic and neritic shelf carbonate rhythmic alternations, which form one of the potential reservoirs of the basin. To improve stratigraphic resolutions for hydrocarbon prospecting and exploration in the basin, the present study undertakes spectral analysis of high-resolution natural gamma-ray （NGR） well-logging record to determine the dominant frequency components and test whether Milankovitch orbital signals are recorded in rhythmic successions. Analytical results indicate the orbital cycles of precession （~19 ka and ~23 ka）, obliquity （-41 ka）, and eccentricity （~100 ka and --405 ka）, which provide the strong evidence for astronomically driven climate changes in the rhythmic alternation successions. Within biochronological constraint, a high-resolution astronomical timescale was constructed through the astronomical tuning of the NGR record to recent astronomically calculated variation of Earth＇s orbit. The astronomically tuned timescale can be applied to calculate astronomical ages for the geological events and bioevents recognized throughout the period. The first downhole occurrences of foraminifers Globorotalia peripheroronda and Globigerinoides sicanus are dated at 14.546 Ma and 14.919 Ma, respectively, which are slightly different from earlier estimates in the South China Sea. When compared with the global sea-level change chart, the astronomical estimate for the sequences recognized based on microfossil distributions have the same end time but the different initiation time. This is probably due to the local or regional tectonic activities superimposed on eustatic rise which postponed the effect of global sea-level rising. Astronomical timescale also resolves the depositional evolution history for the Langhian Stage （middle Miocene） with a variation that strongly resembles that of Earth＇s orbital eccentricity predicted from 13.65 Ma to 15.97 Ma. We infer that the main factor controlling the variability of the sedimentation rate in the Hanjiang Formation is related to the ^-405-ka-period eccentricity.

Structural Variability and Rifting Process of the Segmented Cenozoic Pearl River Mouth Basin,Northern Continental Margin of the South China Sea

The Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)is an important area for studying the evolution of continental marginal basins in the northern South China Sea(SCS),but the structural variability and spatiotemporal rifting process remains poorly understood.This study investigates the differential structural features of the eastern,middle and western PRMB,as well as the extensional deformation laws in operation during the rifting stage,according to an integrated analysis of geometric characteristics and kinematic parameters,i.e.,horizontal displacement and stretching factors of basin and crust.The PRMB underwent at least three phases of intense extension,which varied in time and space.(1)During the middle Eocene,most sags in the PRMB were intensely stretched and high-angle planar to listric boundary faults controlled the wedge-shaped stratigraphic geometry.(2)During the late Eocene-to-early Oligocene,the stratigraphic geometry of the sags was slightly wedge-shaped and continuously controlled by boundary faults,however,the extensional strength decreased relatively in the Northern depression zone,but increased in the Southern depression zone.(3)During the late Oligocene,the extension was extremely weak in the northeast PRMB,but relatively strong in the southwest PRMB,leading to tabular stratigraphic geometry in the northeast PRMB,but localized slightly wedge-shaped stratigraphic geometry in the southwest.The southwest PRMB still underwent relatively strong extension during the early Miocene.The southwest PRMB that was induced by a small-scale localized mantle convection system constantly rifted during the late Oligocene,controlled by the weak lithosphere,westward(southwestward)diachronous opening and southward jump of the ocean ridge.The applied quantitative parameters and spatiotemporal rifting process may be used as a reference with which to study the segmented continental margin rifts.

Reserves of Natural Gas Hydrates Equivalent to 100–150 Billion m^3 Natural Gas Has Been Discovered in the Pearl Mouth Basin of the South China Sea

Scientists have suggested that combustible ice in global marginal seas,deep trough areas and ocean basins covers an area of 400million km2,and its total reserve is twice the amount of the global proven oil,coal and gas reserves,equivalent to 50 times the amount of conventional natural gas reserves.

Size-fractionated Chlorophyll α biomass in the northern South China Sea in summer 2014

Spatial distribution of phaeopigment and size-fractionated chlorophyll a(Chl a) concentrations were examined in relation to hydrographic conditions in the northern South China Sea(NSCS) during a survey from 20 August to 12 September, 2014. The total Chl a concentration varied from 0.006 to 1.488 μg/L with a mean value of 0.259±0.247(mean±standard deviation) μg/L. Chl a concentration was generally higher in shallow water(<200 m) than in deep water(>200 m), with mean values of 0.364±0.311 μg/L and 0.206±0.192 μg/L respectively. Vertically, the maximum total Chl a concentration appeared at depths of 30–50 m and gradually decreased below 100 m. The size-fractionated Chl a concentrations of grid stations and time-series stations(SEATS and J4) were determined, with values of pico-(0.7–2 μm), nano-(2–20 μm) and micro- plankton(20–200 μm) ranging from 0.001–0.287(0.093±0.071 μg/L), 0.004–1.149(0.148±0.192 μg/L) and 0.001–0.208(0.023±0.036 μg/L), respectively. Phaeopigment concentrations were determined at specifi c depths at ten stations, except for at station A9, and varied from 0.007 to 0.572(0.127±0.164) μg/L. Nano-and pico-plankton were the major contributors to total phytoplankton biomass, accounting for 50.99%±15.01% and 39.30%±15.41%, respectively, whereas microplankton only accounted for 9.39%±8.66%. The results indicate that the contributions of microplankton to total Chl a biomass were less important than picoplankton or nanoplankton in the surveyed NSCS. Diff erent sized-Chl a had similar spatial patterns, with peak values all observed in subsurface waters(30–50 m). The summer monsoon, Kuroshio waters, Zhujiang(Pearl) River plume, and hydrological conditions are speculated to be the factors controlling the abundance and spatial heterogeneity of Chl a biomass in the NSCS.

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.

Tectonic Evolution and Dynamics of Deepwater Area of Pearl River Mouth Basin, Northern South China Sea

Quantitative studies on the evolution and dynamics of the deepwater area of Pearl River Mouth basin （PRMB） were carried out based on the latest geological and seismic data. The study area is generally in an extensional state during the Cenozoic. The major extension happened in the earlier syn-rift stages before 23 Ma and the extension after 23 Ma is negligible. Two rapid subsidence periods, 32-23 Ma and 5.3-2.6 Ma, are identified, which are related to the abrupt heat decay during margin breakup and the collision between the Philippine Sea plate and the Eurasian plate, respectively. The strongest crustal thinning in the Baiyun （白云） sag may trigger the syn-rift volcanism along the weak faulted belt around the sag. The Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the study area could be divided into five stages： rifting （～50-40 Ma）, rift-drift transition （～40-32 Ma）, early post-breakup （～32-23 Ma）, thermal subsidence （～23-5.3 Ma） and neotectonic movement （～5.3-0 Ma）.

Tectonic subsidence of the Zhu I Sub-basin in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, northern South China Sea

The Pearl River Mouth Basin, which is situated on the northern margin of the South China Sea, has attracted great attention not only because of its tectonic setting but also because of its abundant hydrocarbon resources. We have analyzed the Cenozoic tectonic subsidence history of 4 drilled wells and 43 artificial wells from the Zhu 1 Sub-basin of the Pearl River Mouth Basin by back-stripping, using newly interpreted seismic profiles. We also calculated the average tectonic sub- sidence rates of the four sags in the Zhu 1 Sub-basin. The rifting and post-rifting stages are separated by abrupt changes in the tectonic subsidence curves and average subsidence rates. In the eastem sags of the Zhu 1 Sub- basin, tectonic subsidence started to slow at ca. 30 Ma, compared with ca. 23.8 Ma in the western sags. This probably corresponds to the timing of break-up and suggests that tiffing in the Pearl River Mouth Basin ended earlier in the eastern sags than in the western sags. Anomalously accelerated tectonic subsidence occurred at 17.5-16.4 Ma during the post-tiffing stage, with average subsidence rates as high as 301.9 m/Myr. This distin- guishes the Pearl River Mouth Basin from classical Atlantic passive continental marginal basins, which demonstrate exponentially decaying post-rift tectonic subsidence.

Deep-water Depositional Features of Miocene Zhujiang Formation in Baiyun Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin

Eleven lithofacies and five lithofacies associations were indentified in the Miocene Zhujiang Formation on the basis of detailed core analysis. It could he determined that three depositional types developed, namely submarine fan, basin and deep-water traction current. Six microfacies were further recognized within the fan, including main channels in the inner fan, distributary channels in the middle fan, inter-channels, levees and the outer fan. The lower Zhujiang Formation, mainly sandstone associations, was inner fan and inner-middle fan deposits of the basin fan and the slope fan. The middle part, mainly mudstone associations, was outer fan deposits. With the transgression, the submarine fan was finally replaced by the basinal pelagic deposits which were dominated by mudstone associations, siltstone associations, and deep-water limestone associations. During the weak gravity flow activity, the lower channels, the middle-upper outer fans and basin deposits were strongly modified by the deep-water traction current. The identification of the deep-water traction deposition in Miocene Zhujiang Formation would be of great importance. It could be inferred that the deep- water traction current had been existing after the shelf-break formation since the Late Oligocene （23.8 Ma） in the Baiyun sag, influencing and controlling the sediment composition, the distribution, and depositional processes. It would provide great enlightenment to the paleo-oceanic current circulation in the northern South China Sea.

En Echelon Faults and Basin Structure in Huizhou Sag, South China Sea: Implications for the Tectonics of the SE Asia

The Huizhou sag is situated on the continental shelf of the northern continental margin of the South China Sea. In this paper we present a grid of reflection seismic and well data to characterize the basin structure and prominent unconformities. We employ EBM and 2DMOVE softwares to explore the subsidence history and stratigraphic development history of the basin. We found a rapid subsidence period since 15.5 Ma. Moreover, we calculated the stretching factors of the upper crust and the whole crust in the Huizhou sag. The results show the values are 1.10–1.13 and 1.08–1.31, respectively, indicating faulting in Huizhou sag is relatively small. It is noteworthy that the faults map reveals en echelon distribution at the north and south margins of the basin. We suggest en echelon faults here are caused by the subduction of Proto-South China Sea toward NW Borneo block and cease of the South China Sea. Considering the pronounced unconformities, subsidence rates, fault activities and sediment thickness, the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the basin can be divided into rifting（49–32 Ma）, post-rifted（32–15.5 Ma） and rapid subsidence（15.5–0 Ma） stages. Our study will shed new light on the tectonics of SE Asia and petroleum exploration in the South China Sea.

Evolution of Low-Angle Normal Faults in the Enping Sag,the Northern South China Sea: Lateral Growth and Vertical Rotation

Low-angle normal faults(dip<30°,LANFs)are widespread in the northern margin of the South China Sea where the maximum crust thickness is approximately 30.0 km.Based on 3 D seismic survey data and drilling wells in the Enping sag,evidences for LANFs that initially formed at high-angles are discussed.After a detailed investigation of extensional fault system and description of 3 D fault geometry,the initial fault dips under the model of distributed vertical simple shear are also calculated.The results indicate that the present-day dip angles of the LANFs are in the range of 12°to 29°,and the initial fault dip angles are in the range of 39°to 49°.Deep seismic imaging suggests that the upper crust in the footwall block of the LANFs was tilted at an angle of ~14°to 22°due to the isostatic rebound during rifting.Moreover,the temporal and spatial sequences of the lateral growth of the LANFs have been investigated by the seismic interpretation of four isochronous stratigraphic interfaces,which demonstrates that two individual fault segments propagated towards each other and subsequently,were hard-linked during the Early Eocene.

Dispersal of the Zhujiang River(Pearl River) derived sediment in the Holocene

High-resolution Chirp profiling and coring reveals an elongated （ca. 400 km） Holocene Zhujiang River （Pearl River）-derived mud area （maximum thickness 〉 20 m） extending from the Zhujiang River Delta, southwest-ward off the Guangdong coast, to the Leizhou Peninsula. Two depo-centers, one proximal and one distal, are identified. On the continental shelf off the west Guangdong Province, the mud is deposited in water depth shallower than 50 m; while to the southeast of the Zhujiang River Estuary, the mud area can extend to the -120 m isobath. A combined analysis with the stratigraphic sequences of other muddy deposits in the West-ern Pacific marginal seas （mainly Changjiang （Yangtze） and Huanghe （Yellow） Rivers derived） indicates that the initiation of the Zhujiang River muddy deposit can be further divided into two stages： Stage 1 is before the mid-Holocene sea-level highstand （ca. 7.0 cal. ka BP）, the proximal mud was mostly deposited after 9.0 cal. ka BP, when the sea-level rose slowly after the Meltwater Pulse -1C; Stage 2, after the mid-Holocene sea-level highstand, clinoform developed on the continental shelf off the west Guangdong Province, extending ca. 400 km from the Zhujiang River Estuary. The proximal clinoform thins offshore, from ca. 10 m thickness around 5-10 m water depth to less than 1-2 m around 20-30 m water depth. In addition, we also find a de-veloped distal clinoform in the east of the Leizhou Peninsula.

珠三坳陷珠江组一段沉积体系演化过程及其控制因素

珠江组一段沉积时期是珠三坳陷沉积体系演变的重要时期,由早期的大范围三角洲沉积体系演化为晚期的浅海陆架沉积体系,对其演化过程及控制因素展开研究,不仅有利于揭示海侵过程中沉积体系演化过程,而且对浅海陆架有利沉积相带预测具有指导意义。综合利用岩心、测井以及高分辨率三维地震资料,建立了珠三坳陷珠江组一段四级层序地层格架,通过地质-地球物理结合方法查明了珠江组一段沉积体系的时空演化特征,并讨论了沉积演化的主控因素。研究表明:珠三坳陷珠江组一段可划分为PS1、PS2、PS3、PS4共4个四级层序。PS3和PS4时期主要发育三角洲前缘沉积,具有水下分流河道、分流间湾、河口坝和远砂坝等沉积微相组合;PS1和PS2时期以浅海陆架沉积体系大规模发育为特征,在研究区西部发育潮流砂脊,东部发育滨外砂坝。珠三坳陷沉积体系的平面展布以及垂向演化受相对海平面变化、物源供给强度、构造沉降与古地貌等综合控制。水下分流河道、潮流砂脊与滨外砂坝等微相砂岩占比高且物性好,为油气储集的有利沉积相带。

Testing coral paleothermometers(B/Ca, Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca, U/Ca and δ^(18)O) under impacts of large riverine runoff

Sea surface temperature （SST） proxies including B/Ca, Mg/Ca, St/Ca, U/Ca and δ180 were analyzed in the skeleton of a Porites coral collected from the Zhujiang River （Pearl River） Estuary （ZRE）. These geochemical proxies are influenced by river runoff and this area of the northern South China Sea is strongly affected by seasonal freshwater floods. We assessed the robustness of each SST proxy through comparison with the local instrumental SST. Coral St/Ca shows the highest correlation with SST variations （r2=0.59）, suggesting St/Ca is the most robust SST proxy. In contrast, coral δ180 （r2=0.46）, B/Ca （r2=0.43） and U/Ca （r2=0.41） ratios were only moderately correlated with SST variations, suggesting that they are disturbed by some other factors in addition to SST. The poor correlation （r2=0.27） between SST and Mg/Ca indicates that Mg/Ca in coral skeletons is not a simple function of SST variations. This may ultimately limit the use of Mg/Ca as a coral paleothermometer.

南海北部陆缘不均匀伸展及脉动式构造升降史

南海北部陆缘在区域板块构造和深部地幔流影响下,发育了复杂的构造、岩浆和基底升降过程。本文采用最新提出的伸展校正回剥技术和4条长地震剖面,对南海北部陆缘新生代伸展变形和从张裂到裂后的构造升降过程开展详细研究。结果表明南海北部陆缘伸展减薄差别大,强伸展与弱伸展不仅具有南北分带特点,还具有东西交替出现的分块特征。琼东南盆地、珠江口盆地中部、台西南盆地伸展减薄大,部分地壳被减薄至10km以下;而珠江口西部和东部伸展减薄小,地壳厚度大都在20km以上。强伸展与弱伸展陆缘总应变不同,但应变速率均具有张裂早期慢、晚期快的二阶段特征。强伸展陆缘最大应变速率在4×10^(-15)~7×10^(-15)s^(-1)之间,地壳最大伸展系数为4~10;弱伸展陆缘最大应变速率小于1×10^(-15)s^(-1),最大伸展系数小于1.9。南海北部陆缘构造升降具有脉动式、快慢交替的特征。张裂期构造沉降快,裂后构造升降表现为4幕先慢后快及东早西晚的特点。陆缘西部琼东南盆地脉动式升降主要与深部地幔上升流引起的动力地形有关。陆缘东部珠江口和台西南盆地脉动式构造升降则可能受南海打开过程及吕宋岛弧与南海陆缘碰撞的影响。

南海南缘礼乐盆地在南海扩张前的位置恢复

本文依据洋中脊两侧磁条带的对称性和同期磁条带的等时性,利用南海已有的磁异常条带资料,假定华南大陆连同南海北缘位置相对固定,南海南缘从32 Ma开始向南漂移,恢复了南海的扩张历史和礼乐盆地在不同时期的相对位置。结果表明,礼乐盆地在南海扩张前的位置紧邻珠江口盆地东南缘。这一结果从礼乐盆地与南海北缘盆地在基底性质、中生代地层的发育情况和沉积特征以及新生代构造活动和沉降沉积特征的对比得到了进一步佐证,为礼乐盆地的构造演化、沉积充填特征和沉积物源分析、石油地质条件研究提供了重要参考。

南海北部陆缘超深水区珠四坳陷地质结构及其对烃源岩发育的控制

珠江口盆地珠四坳陷整体水深超过1500 m,属极低勘探程度区域,钻井发现的油气显示证实了该区存在烃源岩。地震资料揭示古近系是主力烃源岩发育层系,沉积厚度及面积均较大。珠四坳陷作为南海北部向超深水迈进的油气勘探新区,其各凹陷的石油地质条件亟待剖析。在珠江口盆地6种断陷形成机制认识的基础上,通过对新采集地震资料的系统分析,将珠四坳陷划分大西洋贫岩浆型大陆边缘的壳间韧性流变型、大西洋富岩浆型大陆边缘的壳上岩浆底侵型、大西洋贫岩浆型大陆边缘的壳上先存拼合型3类断陷结构。运用2Dmove软件及去压实技术恢复各个洼陷沉降速率和伸展速率,结合大量地震剖面深入研究了珠四坳陷地质结构及其对烃源岩发育的影响,明确了不同断陷结构下烃源岩发育背景的差异,以此认为荔湾、鹤山凹陷烃源岩发育条件优越,可作为南海北部超深水地区的重要勘探突破点。

珠江口盆地中新生代主要断裂特征和动力背景分析

对新处理及新采集的地质地球物理资料进行综合分析,结合前人研究成果,编制了中生代和新生代珠江口盆地主要断裂图,讨论了主要断裂的存在证据、展布形态、活动性质以及它们与盆地各级构造发育的关系等基本特征,并初步分析了它们形成演化的地球动力学背景。珠江口盆地断裂主要由NEE向和NW向断裂组组成,其次为NWW向断裂组和NE向断裂组。中生代西太平洋俯冲带呈NE SW向穿过南海东北部,相伴的有NE向火山弧、弧前盆地等压性构造和NW向左行走滑断裂,构成左行压扭体系。晚白垩纪至新生代NEE及NWW向断裂带控制了大规模张裂和沉积盆地的形成,又被NW向断裂带错切,形成了南北分带、东西分块的构造格局,显示了右行张扭应力场特征。