Journal of Tropical Oceanography ›› 2018, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (6): 49-62.doi: 10.11978/2018011CSTR: 32234.14.2018011

• Marine Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of carbonates in Liyue Basin and their tectonic implications

Donghai XU1,2(), Lijie WANG1,2, Yongjian YAO3, Zhen SUN1(), Ning QIU1   

  1. 1. CAS Key Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Guangzhou 510301, China
    2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
    3. Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, China
  • Received:2018-01-15 Online:2018-11-20 Published:2018-12-24
  • Supported by:
    National NSFC & Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (U1301233);Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2017A030312002);Marine geological survey of southern South China Sea (DD20160138-04)

Abstract:

The study of carbonates (carbonate platform and reef) is of great significance in oil & gas productions as well as scientific research. Since the Oligocene, carbonates had been widely developed in the south margin of the South China Sea. To describe the development features, tectonic settings, and the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of the carbonates in the Liyue Basin and its surrounding area, several multi-channel seismic lines were utilized. First, the carbonate platforms and reefs are recognized. Then, the time of the evolution of these carbonates is constrained with wells and dredged samples. The results show that the carbonate platforms can be divided into three types: isolated platform controlled by inherited basement high, tilted fault-block platform, and forebulge carbonate platform. From the late Oligocene to the early Miocene, isolated platforms and tilted fault-block platforms mainly developed, while reefs were scattered. From the early Miocene to the middle Miocene, isolated carbonate platforms and reefs were prosperous. After the middle Miocene, most of the carbonates were drowned and only patch reefs remained. The combination of tectonic background and gravity analysis shows that the ancient uplift, the rotated fault-block, the forebulge migration, and the magmatic activity are the main controlling factors in different stages during the development of the carbonates. Modern reefs built up mainly on the seamount, which was due to the volcanism in the Pliocene-Pleistocene.

Key words: Liyue Basin, carbonate platforms and reefs, spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, tectonic implication

CLC Number: 

  • P588.24