Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea
Based on the interpretations of three seismic profiles and one wide-angle seismic profile across the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea, stratigraphic sequences, deformation characteristics and an extension model for this sub-basin have been worked out. Three tectonic-stratigraphic units are deter...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2011-10-01
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| Series: | Geoscience Frontiers |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000491 |
| _version_ | 1797706813324394496 |
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| author | Weiwei Ding Mingbi Li Lihong Zhao Aiguo Ruan Zhenli Wu |
| author_facet | Weiwei Ding Mingbi Li Lihong Zhao Aiguo Ruan Zhenli Wu |
| author_sort | Weiwei Ding |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Based on the interpretations of three seismic profiles and one wide-angle seismic profile across the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea, stratigraphic sequences, deformation characteristics and an extension model for this sub-basin have been worked out. Three tectonic-stratigraphic units are determined. Detailed analyses of extension show that the event occurred mainly during the Paleogene and resulted in the formation of half-grabens or grabens distributed symmetrically around the spreading center. Sediments are characterized by chaotic and discontinuous reflectors, indicating clastic sediments. Farther to the southwest, the sub-basin features mainly continental rifting instead of sea-floor spreading. The rifting would have been controlled by the shape of the massif and developed just along the northern edge of the Zhongsha-Xisha Block, rather than joined the Xisha Trough. After 25 Ma, a southward ridge jump triggered the opening of the Southwest Sub-basin. The NW-directed stress caused by the sea-floor spreading of the Northwest Sub-basin may have prevented the continuous opening of the sub-basin. After that the Northwest Sub-basin experienced thermal cooling and exhibited broad subsidence. The deep crustal structure shown by the velocity model from a wide-angle seismic profile is also symmetrical around the spreading center, which indicates that the Northwest Sub-basin might have opened in a pure shear model. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:57:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c39b82e7b6c0449a9175f7ffa2a537a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1674-9871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T05:57:55Z |
| publishDate | 2011-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geoscience Frontiers |
| spelling | doaj.art-c39b82e7b6c0449a9175f7ffa2a537a02023-09-03T04:28:05ZengElsevierGeoscience Frontiers1674-98712011-10-012450951710.1016/j.gsf.2011.05.010Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the Northwest Sub-basin, South China SeaWeiwei Ding0Mingbi Li1Lihong Zhao2Aiguo Ruan3Zhenli Wu4Key Laboratory of the Submarine Geoscience, State Oceanic Administration, 32# North Baochu Road, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Submarine Geoscience, State Oceanic Administration, 32# North Baochu Road, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaShandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266510, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Submarine Geoscience, State Oceanic Administration, 32# North Baochu Road, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaKey Laboratory of the Submarine Geoscience, State Oceanic Administration, 32# North Baochu Road, Hangzhou 310012, ChinaBased on the interpretations of three seismic profiles and one wide-angle seismic profile across the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea, stratigraphic sequences, deformation characteristics and an extension model for this sub-basin have been worked out. Three tectonic-stratigraphic units are determined. Detailed analyses of extension show that the event occurred mainly during the Paleogene and resulted in the formation of half-grabens or grabens distributed symmetrically around the spreading center. Sediments are characterized by chaotic and discontinuous reflectors, indicating clastic sediments. Farther to the southwest, the sub-basin features mainly continental rifting instead of sea-floor spreading. The rifting would have been controlled by the shape of the massif and developed just along the northern edge of the Zhongsha-Xisha Block, rather than joined the Xisha Trough. After 25 Ma, a southward ridge jump triggered the opening of the Southwest Sub-basin. The NW-directed stress caused by the sea-floor spreading of the Northwest Sub-basin may have prevented the continuous opening of the sub-basin. After that the Northwest Sub-basin experienced thermal cooling and exhibited broad subsidence. The deep crustal structure shown by the velocity model from a wide-angle seismic profile is also symmetrical around the spreading center, which indicates that the Northwest Sub-basin might have opened in a pure shear model.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000491Continental riftingCenozoicTectono-sedimentary characteristicsExtension modelNorthwest Sub-basinMarginal sea |
| spellingShingle | Weiwei Ding Mingbi Li Lihong Zhao Aiguo Ruan Zhenli Wu Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea Geoscience Frontiers Continental rifting Cenozoic Tectono-sedimentary characteristics Extension model Northwest Sub-basin Marginal sea |
| title | Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea |
| title_full | Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea |
| title_fullStr | Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea |
| title_short | Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the Northwest Sub-basin, South China Sea |
| title_sort | cenozoic tectono sedimentary characteristics and extension model of the northwest sub basin south china sea |
| topic | Continental rifting Cenozoic Tectono-sedimentary characteristics Extension model Northwest Sub-basin Marginal sea |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987111000491 |
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