3D analogue modeling of the South China Sea: A discussion on breakup pattern

Sun, Zhen; Zeng, Zhihong; Keep, Myra; Zhou, Di; Cai, Dongsheng; Li, Xushen; Wu, Shimin; Jian-qun, Jiang

doi:10.1016/j.jseaes.2008.09.002

Cited by 177 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Following seafloor spreading in the Middle Oligocene, Reed Bank moved southwards, together with the Dangerous Grounds (Taylor and Hayes 1980;Briais et al 1993;Sun et al 2009), and finally collided with Palawan and Borneo continents during the Middle Miocene (Hutchison et al 2000; b Fig. 1 Franke et al (2013).…”

Section: Regional Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Oligocene–Miocene carbonates in the Reed Bank area, South China Sea, and their tectono-sedimentary evolution

Ding

Dong

et al. 2014

Mar Geophys Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We have analyzed two recently acquired multichannel seismic profiles across the Reed Bank area, South China Sea. A detailed seismic interpretation coupled with drilling data has proved the occurrence of a wide carbonate platform, developed between the Late Oligocene and the Early Miocene (32-20 Ma). The top of these carbonates is an important regional unconformity, corresponding to a strong and continuous seismic reflector. An age of about 20 Ma is inferred for this reflector, acting as a regional unconformity marking the cessation of seafloor spreading with an erosional/non-depositional hiatus, spanning 3 or 4 m.y. The time interval during which the carbonate platforms formed is concurrent with the opening of the South China Sea. The reconstruction of the tectonic subsidence in this area has shown a decrease in rate of subsidence during the drifting stage (32-17 Ma), indicating that the whole Reed Bank area was in a tectonically stable and shallow water environment for more than 10 m.y., favoring the development of shallow water carbonates. With a sharply increased subsidence rate after the end of spreading (17 Ma) and a continuously increased sea level, the carbonate platforms were drowned and died, except some structural highs with reef buildups, where the carbonate sedimentation continued to Middle Miocene. We suggest that delayed tectonic subsidence in Reed Bank area might have been related to a secondary mantle convection under the rift lasting more than about 10 m.y.

show abstract

Section: Regional Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Reed Bank is considered as a rigid continental block, which has experienced a little tectonic deformation during the Cenozoic (Sun et al 2009). The only sedimentary succession that clearly continues across the whole structure range in age from the T60 unit to recent times.…”

Section: Seismic Stratigraphymentioning

confidence: 99%

Oligocene–Miocene carbonates in the Reed Bank area, South China Sea, and their tectono-sedimentary evolution

Ding

Dong

et al. 2014

Mar Geophys Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Published industrial drilling data (Peng et al 2004 and data from an Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) borehole (ODP Site 1148), that reached the Oligocene (Wang et al 2000), were used to interpret seismic sequences against regional lithostratigraphic units. In addition, we incorporated published stratigraphic schemes from the study area (Zhou et al 1995Luedmann and Wong 1999;Pang et al 2007;Sun et al 2009) (Fig. 2).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies of the regional rifting architecture show that the Baiyun Sag features ductile deformation with composite grabens and short, small-vertical-offset faults. Sun et al (2009) conjectured that the slope area may overlie a relatively warmer and thinner lithosphere than the shelf area owing to stretching and mantle upwelling associated with continental rifting. During the following thermal cooling period (since the Miocene), the Baiyun Sag has been dominated by rapid thermal subsidence, which has been proved by the analysis of the basin filling history and sedimentary structures ).…”

Section: Structural Controlsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphotectonics and evolutionary controls on the Pearl River Canyon system, South China Sea

Ding

Li³

et al. 2013

Mar Geophys Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Pearl River Canyon system is a typical canyon system on the northern continental slope of the South China Sea, which has significant implications for hydrocarbon exploration. Through swath bathymetry in the canyon area combined with different types of seismic data, we have studied the morphotectonics and controlling factors of the canyon by analyzing its morphology and sedimentary structure, as well as the main features of the continental slope around the canyon. Results show that the Pearl River Canyon can be separated into three segments with different orientations. The upper reach is NW-oriented with a shallowly incised course, whereas the middle and lower reaches, that are located mainly in the Baiyun Sag, have a broad U-shape and have experienced consistent deposition. Seventeen deeply-cut canyons have developed in the slope north of the Baiyun Sag, playing an important role in the sedimentary processes of the middle and lower reaches of the Pearl River Canyon. These canyons display both asymmetrical V-and U-shapes along their lengths. Numerous buried channels can be identified below the modern canyons with unidirectionally migrating stacking patterns, suggesting that the canyons have experienced a cyclic evolution with several cut and fill phases of varying magnitude. These long established canyons, rather than the upper reach of the Pearl River Canyon, are the main conduits for the transport of terrigenous materials to the lower slope and abyssal basin during lowstand stage, and have contributed to the formation of vertically stacked deep-water fans in the middle reach. Canyon morphology is interpreted as a result of erosive sediment flows. The Pearl River Canyon and the 17 canyons in the slope area north of the Baiyun Sag probably have developed since the Miocene. Cenozoic tectonics, sea level change and sediment supply jointly control the morphology and sedimentary structure. The middle and lower reaches of the Pearl River Canyon developed on the paleo-terrain of the Baiyun Sag, which has been a persistently rapid depositional environment, receiving most of the materials transported via the canyons.

show abstract

“…A number of Cenozoic tectonic models have been proposed, but it remains uncertain as to whether the SCS basin experienced a single episode or multiple episodes of extension and seafloor spreading and, if multiple episodes, in what sequence the subbasins evolved (e.g., Taylor and Hayes, 1980;Pautot et al, 1986;Ru and Pigott, 1986;Briais et al, 1993;Yao et al, 1994;Hayes and Nissen, 2005;Li et al, 2007aLi et al, , 2008b. For example, the opening of the East and Northwest Subbasins may have predated or been synchronous with that of the Southwest Subbasin ( Figure F5A) (Taylor and Hayes, 1983;Briais et al, 1993;Lee and Lawver, 1995;Tongkul, 1994;Honza, 1995;Zhou et al, 1995;Schlüter et al, 1996;Hall, 2002;Hall and Morley, 2004;Hayes and Nissen, 2005;Braitenberg et al, 2006;Sun et al, 2009). This model contrasts with others in which earlier opening of the Southwest Subbasin is preferred ( Figure F5B) (e.g., Ru and Pigott, 1986;Yao et al, 1994;Li et al, 2007a).…”

Section: Iodp Proceedingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

South China Sea Tectonics

2015

Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

3D analogue modeling of the South China Sea: A discussion on breakup pattern

Cited by 177 publications

References 39 publications

Oligocene–Miocene carbonates in the Reed Bank area, South China Sea, and their tectono-sedimentary evolution

Oligocene–Miocene carbonates in the Reed Bank area, South China Sea, and their tectono-sedimentary evolution

Morphotectonics and evolutionary controls on the Pearl River Canyon system, South China Sea

South China Sea Tectonics

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About