The continent-ocean transition at the mid-northern margin of the South China Sea

摘要

The northern margin of the South China Sea (SCS) has particular structural and stratigraphic characteristics that are somewhat different from those described in typical passive margin models. The differences are attributable to poly-phase tectonic movements and magmatic activity resulting from the interaction among the Eurasian, Philippine Sea and Indo-Australian plates. Based on several crustal-scale multi-channel seismic reflection profiles and satellite gravity data across the northetn SCS margin, this paper analyzes the structures, volcanoes and deep crust of the continent-ocean transition zone (COT) at the mid-northern margin of the SCS to study the patterns and model of extension there.