Browsing by Subject "South China Sea"
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Item Continental extension in orogenic belts : modes of extension, origin of core complexes, and two-phase postorogenic extension(2016-05) Wu, Guangliang, Ph. D.; Lavier, Luc LouisContinental extension principally occurs in orogenic belts, however, most of numerical simulations use uniform crust that cannot represent an orogenic belt. We simulate lithospheric extension in an orogenic hinterland approximated by a crustal wedge. We first show that the presence of a preexisting weak mid-crustal shear zone dipping at low angle exerts a critical control on whether crustal and mantle deformation are decoupled or coupled. When the lower crust and the mid-crustal shear zone are weak, decoupling occurs and crustal deformation is compensated by lower crustal flow. When the lower crust is strong or a weak shear zone is absent, coupling occurs and crustal deformation is compensated by flow in the mantle. By varying the strength of the lower crust and the weak shear zone in numerical lithospheric extension experiments, we examine structures developed and compare them with structures observed in extended and collapsed orogenic belts. In models with a weak mid-crustal shear zone, we find that decoupling is particularly effective. In these models, we distinguish three modes of extension: 1) localized, asymmetric crustal exhumation in a single metamorphic massif with a weak lower crust, 2) the formation of rolling-hinge normal faults and the exhumation of lower crust in multiple metamorphic core complexes with an intermediate strength lower crust, and 3) distributed domino faulting over the weak mid-crustal shear zone with a strong lower crust. In models without a mid-crustal shear zone, extension is coupled and structures similar to those observed in continental margins form. We further analyze my model to better explain and understand the core complexes and low-angle normal faults which develop when a preexisting weak mid-crustal shear zone is present. We define three types of detachment systems and present four models which produce core complexes that bear striking resemblance to natural examples: 1) bivergent core complexes, 2) metamorphic core complexes, 3) boudinage structures, and 4) flexural core complexes. We also discuss intracrustal isostasy and the thermal history of material particles sampled in modeled detachment. Finally, based on a geological and geophysical synthesis and using numerical simulations, we propose a two-phase postorogenic extensional scenario that approximates the evolution and the structures observed in the South China Sea margins.Item Controls on isolated carbonate platform evolution and demise, Central Luconia Province, South China Sea(2009-06-02) Olave Hoces, SergioNumerous isolated carbonate platforms developed in the Central Luconia Province of offshore Sarawak (during Middle to Late Miocene time). Fault-bounded highs produced largely by extensional deformation and later overprinted by strike-slip deformation provided substrates for the platforms and affected their growth histories. Flooding of these structural highs at ~16.5 Ma initiated carbonate sedimentation nearly simultaneously across the area. Later, third-order sea-level fluctuations and extrinsic factors such as differential subsidence, paleowind patterns and siliciclastic influx then controlled the internal architecture of the platforms. 2-D regional seismic lines, publicdomain data and published literature were used to analyze growth patterns and demise of carbonate platforms across the study area. Five Growth Stages were recognized in the carbonate platforms based on seismic facies analysis and stratigraphic relationships between reflectors. Platforms from the southeastern part of Central Luconia are thicker and larger than platforms located toward the central and northwestern areas, which reflect greater long-term tectonic subsidence to the southeast. Additionally, northwestward prograding siliciclastic sediments from mainland Borneo caused additional flexural subsidence in the eastern part of the area and environmental deterioration for platforms located beyond the range of active siliciclastic sedimentation. Both of these factors reduced the growth potential of platforms and thus subdued carbonate development. Platform termination was regionally diachronous and was produced in two steps. The first platforms drowned (~12.5-9.7 Ma) were in the eastern parts of the study area which were affected by incoming siliciclastic sediments and high local subsidence. Platforms drowned later (~6.3-5.5 Ma) were caused by a rapid sea-level rise combined with an intense local subsidence. Carbonate accumulation rates were measured between intraplatform markers, resulting in a trend that indicates a decrease in sedimentation rate with the square root of time. Comparisons between Central Luconia carbonates and age-equivalent carbonate platforms elsewhere in East Natuna Basin showed that Central Luconia carbonate platforms were drowned earlier (latest late Miocene time) than East Natuna carbonate platforms (Early Pliocene time).Item From rifting to collision : the evolution of the Taiwan Mountain Belt(2013-05) Lester, William Ryan; McIntosh, Kirk D.; Lavier, Luc LouisArc-continent collisions are believed to be an important mechanism for the growth of continents. Taiwan is one of the modern day examples of this process, and as such, it is an ideal natural laboratories to investigate the uncertain behavior of continental crust during collision. The obliquity of collision between the northern South China Sea (SCS) rifted margin and Luzon arc in the Manila trench subduction zone allows for glimpses into different temporal stages of collision at different spatial locations, from the mature mountain-belt in central-northern Taiwan to the 'pre-collision' rifted margin and subduction zone south of Taiwan. Recently acquired seismic reflection and wide-angle seismic refraction data document the crustal-scale structure of the mountain belt through these different stages. These data reveal a wide rifted margin near Taiwan with half-graben rift basins along the continental shelf and a broad distal margin consisting of highly-extended continental crust modified by post-rift magmatism. Magmatic features in the distal margin include sills in the post-rift sediments, intruded crust, and a high-velocity lower crustal layer that likely represents mafic magmatism. Post-rift magmatism may have been induced by thermal erosion of lithospheric mantle following breakup and the onset of seafloor spreading. Geophysical profiles across the early-stage collision offshore southern Taiwan show evidence the thin crust of the distal margin is subducting at the Manila trench and structurally underplating the growing orogenic wedge ahead of the encroaching continental shelf. Subduction of the distal margin may induce a pre-collision flexural response along the continental shelf as suggested by a recently active major rift fault and a geodynamic model of collision. The weak rift faults may be inverted during the subsequent collision with the continental shelf. These findings support a multi-phase collision model where the early growth of the mountain belt is driven in part by underplating of the accretionary prism by crustal blocks from the distal margin. The wedge is subsequently uplift and deformed during a collision with the continental shelf that involves both thin-skinned and thick-skinned structural styles. This model highlights the importance of rifting styles on mountain-building.