Abstract
Sponsored by the Chinese National Fundamental Research and Development Program in 2001, Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey launched out a long geophysical survey from the northeastern part of the South China Sea (SCS), through the Luzon Arc, to the Huatung Basin and the Gagua Ridge. Based on high-resolution seismic data from this survey, combined with gravimetric and magnetic modeling, a systematic effort is made to the study of the regional geodynamics offshore southern Taiwan. By focusing particularly on precollisional tectonic interactions between adjacent geological units and their tectonic affiliations, this study can help reveal early arc-continent collisional processes that formed the Taiwan orogen. The construction of the Manila accretionary prism and its eastward progressive deformation indicate that the subduction of SCS have experienced multiple phases of increased activity. Active precollisional crustal shortening within the Northern Luzon Trough resulted in tilting of sedimentary layers at angles between 6° and 13°. But the shortening induced by tilting accounts for only a tiny part of regional total crustal compression. The eastern flank of the Luzon Arc appears to be more active than the rest, evidenced by active faulting and folding in the intra-arc basins on the eastern flank. Magnetic modeling/inversion shows that the Luzon Arc may have experienced multiple phases of magmatic activities, causing lateral magnetic inhomogeneity. Bouguer gravity anomalies and gravity modeling indicate that the Huatung Basin has anomalously higher crustal and upper mantle densities than those of SCS and the Luzon Arc. In addition, there is a large bathymetric difference between the Huatung Basin and the northeastern part of SCS basin. These observations argue against early hypothesis that the Huatung Basin and the northeastern part of SCS basin may once have belonged to one single oceanic crust, in part or in whole. The Gagua Ridge, as a sliver of uplifted oceanic crust, may be related to a transient northwestward subduction of the western Philippine plate. All evidences point to the argument that the region offshore southern Taiwan is experiencing multiple terrain amalgamation, which is a classical model for continental growth.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Biq C C. Transcurrent buckling, transform faulting and transpression, their relevance in eastern Taiwan kinematics. Petrol Geol Taiwan, 1972, 20: 1–39
Chai B H. Structure and tectonic evolution of Taiwan. Am J Sci, 1972, 272: 389–432
Teng L S. Geotectonic evolution of the late-Cenozoic arc-continent collision in Taiwan. Tectonophys, 1990, 183: 57–76
Seno T, Stein S, Gripp A E. A model for the motion of the Philippine Sea plate consistent with NUVEL-1 and geological data. J Geophys Res, 1993, 98: 17941–17948
Yu S B, Chen H Y, Kuo L C. Velocity field of GPS stations in the Taiwan area. Tectonophys, 1997, 274: 41–59
Davis D, Suppe J, Dahlen F A. Mechanisms of fold-and-thrust belts and accretionary wedges. J Geophys Res, 1983, 88: 1153–1172
Suppe J. Kinematics of arc-continent collision, flipping of subduction, and back-arc spreading near Taiwan. Mem Geol Soc China, 1984, 6: 21–34
Lundberg N, Reed D L, Liu C S, et al. Forearc-basin closure and arc accretion in the submarine suture zone south of Taiwan. Tectonophys, 1997, 274: 5–23
Lacombe O, Mouthereau F, Angelier J, et al. Structural, geodetic and seismological evidence for tectonic escape in SW Taiwan. Tectonophys, 2001, 333: 323–345
Malavieille J, et al. Geology of the arc-continent collision in Taiwan: marine observations and geodynamic model. Geol Soc Am Special Issue, 2002, 358: 187–211
Huang C Y, Yuan P B, Song S R, et al. Tectonics of short-lived intra-arc basins in the arc-continent collision terrane of the Coastal Range, Eastern Taiwan. Tectonics, 1995, 14: 19–38
Huang C Y, Wu W Y, Chang C P, et al. Tectonic evolution of accretionary prism in the arc-continent collision terrane of Taiwan. Tectonophys, 1997, 281: 31–51
Huang C Y, Yuan P B, Lin C W, et al. Geodynamics processes of Taiwan arc-continent collision and comparison with analogs in Timor, Papua New Guinea, Urals and Corsica. Tectonophys, 2000, 325: 1–21
Huang C Y, Xia K Y, Yuan P B, et al. Structural evolution from Paleogene extension to Latest Miocene-Recent arc-continent collision offshore Taiwan: comparison with on land geology. J Asian Earth Sci, 2001, 19: 619–639
Xia K Y, Huang C L, Jiang S R, et al. Comparison of tectonics and geophysics of the major structural belts between the northern and southern continental margins of the South China Sea. Tectonophys, 1994, 235: 99–116
Wang P, Xia K Y, Huang C L. Geological and geophysical characteristics and tectonic properties of Hengchun Ridge, Southern Taiwan Island. Tropic Oceanology (in Chinese), 2000, 19(3): 33–39
Chi W C. From Subduction to Collision: Results from Seismic Profiling, Gravity Modeling, and Earthquake Finite Fault Inversions in Taiwan Region. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Berkeley: University of California, Berkeley, 2003, 200
Hsu S K, Liu C S, Shyu C T, et al. New gravity and magnetic anomaly maps in the Taiwan-Luzon region and their preliminary interpretation. Terr Atmos Ocean Sci, 1998, 9: 509–532
Chen A T, Jaw Y S. Velocity structure near the northern Manila Trench: an OBS reflection study. Terr Atmos Ocean Sci, 1996, 7: 277–297
Nakamura Y, McIntosh K, Chen A T. Preliminary results of a large offset seismic survey west of Hengchun Peninsula, southern Taiwan. Terr Atmos Ocean Sci, 1998, 9: 395–408
Zhang J, Song H B. Crustal structures and gravity effects of the Central Range of Taiwan. In: Li J, Gao S, eds. Basin Evolution and Resources of the Chinese Marginal Seas, Serial studies of the Formation and Evolution of the Chinese Marginal Seas (in Chinese), Vol 3. Beijing: Ocean Press, 2004, 46–53, color plate III, IV.
Zhang J, Wang C Y, Shi Y, et al. Three-dimensional crustal structure in central Taiwan from gravity inversion with a parallel genetic algorithm. Geophys, 2004, 69: 917–924
Wu F T, Rau R J, Salzberg D. Taiwan orogeny: thin-skinned or lithospheric collision? Tectonophys, 1997, 274: 191–220
Cheng W B, Wang C, Shyu C T, et al. A three-dimensional Vp model of the southeastern Taiwan area and its tectonic implications. Terr Atmos Ocean Sci, 1998, 9: 425–452
Kao H, Huang G C, Liu C S. Transition from oblique subduction to collision in the northern Luzon arc-Taiwan region: Constraints from bathymetry and seismic observations. J Geophys Res, 2000, 105: 3059–3079
Tang J C, Chemenda A I. Numerical modeling of arc-continent collision: application to Taiwan. Tectonophys, 2000, 325: 23–42
Bautista B C, Bautista M L P, Oike K, et al. A new insight on the geometry of subducting slabs in northern Luzon, Philippines. Tectonophys, 2001, 339: 279–310
Deschamps A E, Lallemand S E, Collot J Y. A detailed study of the Gagua Ridge: A fracture zone uplifted during a plate reorganisation in the Mid-Eocene. Mar Geophys Res, 1998, 20: 403–423
Deschamps A, Monié P, Lallemand S E, et al. Evidence for early Cretaceous oceanic crust trapped in the Philippine Sea plate. Earth Planet Sci Lett, 2000, 179: 503–516
Sandwell D T, Smith W H F. Marine gravity anomaly from Geosat and ERS 1 satellite altimetry. J Geophys Res, 1997, 102: 10039–10054
Geological Survey of Japan. Magnetic Anomaly Map of East Asia. Miscellaneous Map Sr., 1994, No. 32
Talwani M, Worzel J L, Landisman M. Rapid gravity computations for two-dimensional bodies with application to the Mendocino submarine fracture zone. J Geophys Res, 1959, 64: 49–59
Yang T F, Lee T, Chen C H, et al. A double island arc between Taiwan and Luzon: consequence of ridge subduction. Tectonophys, 1996, 258: 85–101
Reed D L, Lundberg N, Liu C S, et al. Structural relations along the margins of the offshore Taiwan accretionary wedge: implication for accretion and crustal kinematics. Acta Geol Taiwanica, 1992, 30: 105–122
Hirtzel J O. Evolution of a forearc basin in arc-continent collision, offshore Taiwan. Thesis for the Master’s Degree. San Jose: San Jose Sate University, 1996, 1–41
Sibuet J C, Hsu S K, Le Pichon X, et al. East Asia plate tectonics since 15Ma: constraints from the Taiwan region. Tectonophys, 2002, 344: 103–134
Yang Y S, Wang T K. Crustal velocity variation of the western Philippine Sea plate from TAICRUST OBS/MCS line 23. Terr Atmos Ocean Sci, 1998, 9: 379–393
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the Chinese National Basic Research and Development Program (Grant Nos. G2000047604 and G2000078501)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, C., Zhou, Z., Li, J. et al. Precollisional tectonics and terrain amalgamation offshore southern Taiwan: Characterizations from reflection seismic and potential field data. SCI CHINA SER D 50, 897–908 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-007-0025-9
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-007-0025-9