Tectonic uplift in the northern Tibetan Plateau since 13.7 Ma ago inferred from molasse deposits along the Altyn Tagh Fault

IEECAS SKLLQG

Digital regionalization of geomorphology in Xinjiang

National Natural Science Foundation of China [40871177]; Project of State Key Lab of Resources and Environmental Information System [088RA304SA]; CAS Knowledge Innovation Project

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 (sic) 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 (similar to 50-40 Ma), rift-drift transition (similar to 40-32 Ma), early post-breakup (similar to 32-23 Ma), thermal subsidence (similar to 23-5.3 Ma) and neotectonic movement (similar to 5.3-0 Ma).

Discovery of Late Cretaceous garnet two-pyroxene granulite in the southern Lhasa terrane, Tibet and its tectonic significances

The Lhasa terrane, located between the Bangonghu-Nujiang suture zone and the Indus-Yalung Tsangpo suture zone in the southern Tibetan Plateau, was considered previously as a Precambrian continental block. Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Lhasa terrane is closely related to the subduction of the Tethys ocean and the collision between the Indian and European continents; so it is one of the keys to reveal the formation and evolution of the Tibetan plateau. The garnet two-pyroxene granulite which was found at the Nyingtri rock group of the southeastern Lhasa terrene consists of garnet, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, labradorite, Ti-rich amphibolite and biotite, with a chemical composition of mafic rock. The metamorphic conditions were estimated to be at T = 747 similar to 834 degrees C and P = 0.90 similar to 1.35GPa, suggesting a formation depth of 45km. The zircon U-Pb dating for the garnet amphibolite and marble associated with the granulite give a metamorphic age of 85 similar to 90Ma. This granulite-facies metamorphic event together with a contemporaneous magmatism demonstrated that the southern Lhasa terrane has undergone an Andean-type orogeny at Late Mesozoic time.

Geomorphology, sedimentary processes and development of the Zenisu deep-sea channel, northern Philippine Sea

The Zenisu deep-sea channel originates on the Izu-Ogasawara island arc, and disappears in the Shikoku Basin of the Philippine Sea. The geomorphology, sedimentary processes, and the development of the Zenisu deep-sea channel were investigated on the basis of swath bathymetry, side-scan sonar imagery, submersible observations, and seismic data. The deep-sea channel can be divided into three segments according to the downslope gradient and channel orientation. They are the Zenisu Canyon, the E-W fan channel, and the trough-axis channel. The sediment fill is characterized by turbidite and debrite deposition and blocky-hummocky avalanche deposits on the flanks of the Zenisu Ridge. In the Zenisu Canyon and the Zenisu deep-sea channel, sediment transport by turbidity currents generates sediment waves (dunes) observed during the Shinkai 6500 dive 371. The development of the Zenisu Canyon is controlled by a N-S shear fault, whereas the trough-axis channel is controlled by basin subsidence associated with the Zenisu Ridge. The E-W fan channel was probably affected by the E-W fault and the basement morphology.

Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Zhuanghai area, Bohai-Bay Basin, east China: the application of balanced cross-sections

The technique of balancing cross-sections, an important method for studying the tectonic history of sedimentary basins, has many applications. It enables one to compile charts for petroleum exploration and development, and growth sections of ancient structures can be restored so that the structural growth history can be studied. In order to study tectonic evolution in the Zhuanghai area of the Bohai-Bay basin, we selected two seismic profiles and compiled two structural growth sections. Based on the two balanced cross-sections, the evolution can be divided into four phases: the Triassic-Middle Jurassic phase, Late Jurassic - Cretaceous phase, Palaeogene extension phase, and Late Palaeogene-to-present phase. The whole area was uplifted during the Triassic-Middle Jurassic phase because of intense extrusion stress related to the Indo-China movement. During the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, intense extension occurred in east China, and the whole area rifted, leading to the deposition of a thick sedimentary sequence. In the Late Cretaceous, the area suffered uplift and compression associated with the sinistral strike slip of the Tanlu fault. In the Palaeogene, a rifting basin developed in the area. Finally, it became stable and was placed in its present position by dextral strike-slip motion. In addition, some problems associated with compiling balanced cross-sections are discussed.

Tectonic and geodynamic pattern of marginal seas on the West Pacific inferred from multi-satellite altewetry geoid

With the rapid development of satellite observations, we can use the altimetry geoid to study submarine tectonics and geodynamics. On the basis of the 4' x 4' geoid undulation calculated from altimeter data of Geosat, ERS-1/2 and Topex/Poseidon on the West Pacific, located between 0degreesN similar to 45degreesN, 100degreesC similar to 150degreesE, Bouguer, Glenni and isostatic geoid undulation are obtained from correction of gravitational potential of the global topography and isostacy. Moho discontinuity depth is inversed by the Glenni geoid undulation, and the stress field from small-scale mantle convection is reasonably calculated from the isostatic geoid undulation. The results show that within the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, short-wavelength lineations of the geoid undulation are parallel or cross to magnetic lineations and rifting ridges. The Moho depth of marginal sea basins becomes shallow southward, and its values are similar to that of the Philippine Sea. These facts show that strength of tectonic activities are almost the same on the both sides of the Ryukyu-Taiwan-Philippine are. Various kinds of tectonic features with different driving mechanisms of small-middle and large-scale of mantle convection, however, display a special pattern of tectonics and geodynamics of the continental marginal seas distinguished from oceans and continents.

Balanced cross section for restoration of tectonic evolution in the southwest Okinawa Trough

On the basis of the multi-channel seismic data and the other data, using 2DMove software, the tectonic evolution in three seismic profiles was restored since Pliocene. The tectonic restoration results show that: (1) the initial active center lay in the west slope and then was transferred to east and south via trough center during the evolution process; (2) several main normal faults controlled the evolution of the southern Okinawa Trough; (3) since Late Pliocene, the southern Okinawa Trough has experienced two spreading stages. The early is depression in Early-Middle Pleistocene and the late is back-are spreading in Late Pleistocene and Holocene, which is in primary oceanic crust spreading stage.