Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Formation and syn-rifting process of the Wan’an Basin, South China Sea

  • Geology
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on seismic and drilling data, we calculated tectonic subsidence amounts and rates of the Wan’an Basin by backstripping. The genetic mechanism and syn-rifting process of the basin were analyzed in combination with the regional geological setting. The results reveal that the basin syn-rifted in the Eocene and early Miocene under the control of the dextral strike-slip Wan’an Fault Zone. The transtensional/extentional stresses along this fault zone may be attributed to seafloor spreading of the South China Sea (SCS) in multiple episodes. Extensive basal faults and some small initial rifts in the early Paleogene can be related to southeastward extrusion and clockwise rotation of the Indochina Block. During the Oligocene, the nearly N-S directed spreading of the SCS derived the transtensional stresses in a roughly NW-SE orientation. The basin subsided rapidly in the middle and north to form two major subsidence centers. In the early Miocene, the SCS spread again in a nearly NW-SE direction, resulting in rapid subsidence in the southern basin continuous extending until the period ∼16.3 Ma.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aitchison J C, Ali J R, Davis A M. 2007. When and where did India and Asia collide? J. Geophys. Res., 112: B05423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akciz S, Burchfiel B C, Crowley J L, Yin J Y, Chen L Z. 2008. Geometry, kinematics and regional significance of the Chong Shan shear zone, Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis, Yunnan, China. Geosphere, 4: 292–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen P A, Allen J R. 1990. Basin Analysis: Principles and Applications. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. p.349–395.

    Google Scholar 

  • Binh N T T, Tokunagab T, Sonc H P, Binh M V. 2007. Presentday stress and pore pressure fields in the Cuu Long and Nam Con Son Basins, offshore Vietnam. Mar. Petrol. Geol., 24: 607–615.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bond G C, Kominz M A. 1984. Construction of tectonic subsidence curves for the early Paleozoic miogeocline, southern Canadian Rocky Mountains: implications for subsidence mechanisms, age of breakup, and crustal thinning. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 95: 155–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briais A, Patriat P, Tapponnier P. 1993. Updated interpretation of magnetic anomalies and seafloor spreading stages in the South China Sea: implications for the Tertiary tectonics of Southeast Asia. J. Geophys. Res., 98(B4): 6 299–6 328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charusiri P, Imsamut S, Zhuang Z, Ampaiwan T, Xu X. 2006. Paleomagnetism of the earliest Cretaceous to early late Cretaceous sandstones, Khorat Group, Northeast Thailand: Implications for tectonic plate movement of the Indochina block. Gondwana Res., 9: 310–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clift P D, Lee G H, Duc N A, Barckhausen U, Long H V. 2008. Seismic reflection evidence for a dangerous grounds miniplate: no extrusion origin for the South China Sea. Tectonics, 27: 1–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clift P D, Lin J. 2001. Preferential mantle lithosphere extension under the South China margin. Mar. Petrol. Geol., 18: 929–945.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dong D D, Wu S G, Zhang G C, Yuan S Q. 2008. Rifting process and formation mechanisms of syn-rift stage prolongation in the deepwater basin, northern South China Sea. Chinese Sci. Bul., 53(23): 3 715–3 725.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falvey D A. 1974. The development of continental margins in plate tectonic theory. J. Aust. Petrol. Explor. Assoc., 14: 95–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fyhn M B W, Boldreel L O, Nielsen L H. 2009a. Geological development of the Central and South Vietnamese margin: Implications for the establishment of the South China Sea, Indochinese escape tectonics and Cenozoic volcanism. Tectonophysics, 478: 184–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fyhn M B W, Nielsen L H, Boldreel L O, Bojesen-Koefoed J, Petersen H I, Huyen N T, Duc N A, Dau N T, Mathiesen A, Reid I, Huong D T, Tuan H A, Hien L V, Nytoft H P, Abatzis I. 2009b. Geological evolution, regional perspectives and hydrocarbon potential of the northwest Phu Khanh Basin, offshore Central Vietnam. Mar. Petrol. Geol., 26: 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall R. 1996. Reconstructing Cainozoic SE Asia. In: Hall R, Blundell D eds. Tectonic Evolution of Southeast Asia. Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 106: 153–184.

  • Haq B U, Hardenbol J, Vail P R. 1987. Chronology of fluctuating sea levels since the Triassic. Science, 235: 1 156–1 167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway N H. 1982. North Palawan block, Philippines—its relation to Asian mainland and role in evolution of South China Sea. AAPG Bull., 66: 1 355–1 383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huchon P, Nguyen T H N, Chamot-Rooke N. 1998. Finite extension across the South Vietnam basins from 3D gravimetric modeling: relation to South China Sea kinematics. Mar. Petrol. Geol., 15: 619–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huchon P, Nguyen T H N, Chamot-Rooke N. 2001. Propagation of continental breakup in the southwestern South China Sea. In: Wilson R C L, Whitmarsh R B, Taylor B, Froitzheim N eds. Non-Volcanic Rifting of Continental Margins: A comparison of Evidence from Land and Sea, Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 187: 31–50.

  • Hutchison C S. 2004. Marginal basin evolution: the southern South China Sea. Mar. Petrol. Geol., 21: 1 129–1 148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee G H, Lee K, Watkins J S. 2001. Geologic evolution of the Cuu Long and Nam Con Son basins, offshore southern Vietnam, South China Sea. AAPG Bull., 85(6): 1 055–1 082.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee T, Lawver L A. 1994. Cenozoic plate reconstruction of the South China Sea region. Tectonophysics, 235: 149–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu B M, Xia B, Li X X, Zhang M Q, Niu B H, Zhong L F, Jin Q H, Ji S C. 2006. Southeastern extension of the Red River fault zone (RRFZ) and its tectonic evolution significance in western South China Sea. Sci. China, Ser. D Earth Sci., 49(8): 839–850.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu H L, Yan P, Zhang B Y, Yan Sunc, Zhang Y X, Shu L S, Qiu X L, Guo L Z. 2004. Role of the Wan-Na fault system in the western Nansha Islands (Southern South China Sea). J. Asian Earth Sci., 23: 221–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu Z H. 1998. Subsidence and hydrocarbon potential of the Wanan Basin, South China Sea. China Offshore Oil and Gas (Geology), 12(4): 235–241. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowry A R, Smith R B. 1994. Flexural rigidity of the Basin and Range-Colorado Plateau-Rocky Mountain transition from coherence analysis of gravity and topography. J. Geophys. Res., 99(B10): 20 123–20 140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lü C L, Yao Y J, Wu S G, Yao G S. 2011. Seismic responses and sedimentary characteristics of the Miocene Wanan carbonate platform in the southern South China Sea. Earth Sci. J. China Univ. Geosci., 36(5): 931–938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews S J, Fraser A J, Lowe S, Todd S P, Peel F J. 1997. Structure, stratigraphy and petroleum geology of the SE Nam Con Son, offshore Vietnam. In: Fraser A J, Matthews S J, Murphy R W eds. Petroleum Geology of Southeast Asia. Spec. Publ. Geol. Soc. London. 126: 89–106.

  • McKenzie D. 1978. Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basins. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 40: 25–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller K G, Kominz M A, Browning J V, Wright J D, Mountain G S, Katz M E, Sugarman P J, Cramer B S, Christie-Blick N, Pekar S F. 2005. The phanerozoic record of global sealevel change. Science, 310: 1 293–1 298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morley C K. 2002. A tectonic model for the Tertiary evolution of strike-slip faults and rift Basins in SE Asia. Tectonophysics, 347: 189–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murray M R, Dorobek S L. 2004. Sediment supply, tectonic subsidence, and basin-filling patterns across the southwestern South China Sea during Pliocene to Recent time. Continent-Ocean Interactions within East Asian Marginal Seas: Geophysical Monograph Series, 149: 235–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patriat P, Achache J. 1984. India-Eurasia collision chronology has implications for crustal shortening and driving mechanism of plates. Nature, 311: 615–621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruby W W, Hubbert M K. 1960. Role of fluid pressure in the mechanics of overthrust faulting, II, overthrust belt in geosynclinal area of western Wyoming in light of fluid pressure hypothesis. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., 60: 167–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sclater J G, Christie P A F. 1980. Continental stretching: an explanation of the post Mid-Cretaceous subsidence of the central North Sea basin. J. Geophy s. Res., 85: 3 711–3 739.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sylvester A G. 1988. Strike-slip Faults. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 100: 1 666–1 703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takemoto K, Halim N, Otofuji Y, Tri T V, De L V, Hada S. 2005. New paleomagnetic constraints on the extrusion of Indochina: Late Cretaceous results from the Song Da terrane, northern Vietnam. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 229: 273–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tapponnier P, Peltzer G, Le Dain A Y, Armijo R, Cobbold P. 1982. Propagating extrusion tectonics in Asia: new insights from simple experiments with plasticine. Geology, 10: 611–616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor B, Hayes D E. 1980. The tectonic evolution of the South China Basin. In: Hayes D E ed. The Tectonic and Geologic Evolution of Southeast Asian Seas and Islands. Part 1. Geophysical Monograph, AGU, Washington DC. 23: 89–104.

  • Taylor B, Hayes D E. 1983. Origin and history of the South China Sea Basin. In: Hayes D E ed. The Tectonic and Geologic Evolution of Southeast Asian Seas and Islands. Part 2. Geophysical Monograph, AGU, Washington DC. 27: 23–56.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wang P, Prell W L, Blum P. 2000. Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Initial Reports, 184, College Station. Ocean Drilling Program, Texas.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y J, Fan W M, Zhang Y H, Peng T P, Chen X Y, Xu Y G. 2006. Kinematics and 40 Ar/39 Ar geochronology of the Gaoligong and Chongshan shear systems, western Yunnan, China: Implications for early Oligocene tectonic extrusion of SE Asia. Tectonophysics, 418: 235–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watts A B, Ryan W B F. 1976. Flexure of the lithosphere and continental margin basins. Tectonophysics, 36: 25–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang M Z, Wang M J, Liang J Q, Sha Z B. 2003. Tectonic subsidence and its control on hydrocarbon resources in the Wanan Basin in South China Sea. Mar. Geol. Quat. Geol., 23(2): 85–88. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang S K, Huang L F, Li X Z, Lü Q. 1996. Special sequence stratigraphic pattern in the Pearl River Mouth Basin and its significance to exploration. Chin a Offshore Oil Gas, 10(3): 137–143. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao B C. 1994. Tectonic evolution on the southern margin of South China Sea. Geol. Res. South China Sea Mem., 6: 1–15. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao B C. 1997. A re-discussion on the tectonic evolutional history of the Wanan Basin in Nansha area. Trop. Oceanol., 16(3): 15–22. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yao B C. 1998. Arguments on the sea floor spreading ages of South China Sea basin, Geol. Res. South China Sea Mem., 10: 23–33. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhong G J, Wu J M, Wang L L. 1995. Characteristics of strikeslip zone and its relation to oil and gas in the south-west area of the South China Sea. J Ocean Univ Qingdao, 25(4): 495–502. (in Chinese with English abstract)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Caili Lü  (吕彩丽), Shiguo Wu  (吴时国) & Dongdong Dong  (董冬冬)

  2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Caili Lü  (吕彩丽)

  3. Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou, 510075, China

    Yongjian Yao  (姚永坚)

Authors
  1. Caili Lü  (吕彩丽)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yongjian Yao  (姚永坚)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shiguo Wu  (吴时国)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dongdong Dong  (董冬冬)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shiguo Wu  (吴时国).

Additional information

Supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) (No. 2009CB219406) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40930845)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lü, C., Yao, Y., Wu, S. et al. Formation and syn-rifting process of the Wan’an Basin, South China Sea. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 31, 190–201 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-013-1220-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-013-1220-5

Keyword

Search

Navigation