Abstract：During the Cretaceous to early Oligocene,the northern South China Sea(SCS)experienced a significant transition from Andean-type to passive Pacific-type continental margin,which was faithfully recorded in sedimentary strata. By combining the regional tectonic background of the southern SCS,we reconstructed the sedimentary and tectonic history of the northern SCS from the Cretaceous to early Oligocene,based on basin analysis,well logging and seismic interpretation. (1)The Cretaceous are widely distributed in the northern South China Sea,but the distribution of Paleocene is very limited. During the early-middle Eocene,the Qiongdongnan Basin developed small-scale,shore-lacustrine and delta fan facies within local deep sags,whereas the Baiyun Depression formed extensive lacustrine facies. During the late Eocene-early Oligocene,the Qiongdongnan Basin and Baiyun Depression were both influenced by the SCS transgression,and widely developed shore-neritic and coastal plain strata. (2)The tectonic evolution includes five stages: This study provides detailed discussion and comparison on the development of the Andean-type continental margin of the Cretaceous,the development of mountain basin and palaeo-orogenic belts of the Paleocene,rifting processes during the early-middle Eocene,break-up unconformity of the late Eocene-early Oligocene,and the final seafloor spreading during the eastern SCS in the late Oligocene. The study further discussed the Late Mesozoic/Early Cenozoic geodynamic transition and the Eocene marine sedimentary features.
Wu Zhe,Zhang Li-Li,Zhu Wei-Lin et al. Sedimentary environment evolution and tectonic evolution of the Cretaceous to early Oligocene in northern South China Sea[J]. JOPC, 2022, 24(1): 73-84.
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