3D seismic structure of the Zhenbei-Huangyan seamounts chain in the East Sub-basin of the South China Sea and its mechanism of formation

Type Article
Date 2016-08
Language English
Author(s) Wang Jian1, 5, Zhao Minghui1, Qiu Xuelin1, Sibuet Jean-Claude2, 3, He Enyuan1, 5, Zhang Jiazheng1, Tao Chunhui4
Affiliation(s) 1 : Chinese Acad Sci, South China Sea Inst Oceanol, Key Lab Marginal Sea Geol, Guangzhou 510301, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
2 : IFREMER, Ctr Brest, Plouzane, France.
3 : 44 Rue Cloitre, Plouzane, France.
4 : State Ocean Adm, Inst Oceanog 2, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, Peoples R China.
5 : Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Beijing, Peoples R China.
Source Geological Journal (0072-1050) (Wiley-blackwell), 2016-08 , Vol. 51 , P. 448-463
DOI 10.1002/gj.2781
WOS© Times Cited 12
Note Supplement: Evolution of West Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and Indian Ocean
Keyword(s) extinct spreading ridge, Zhenbei-Huangyan seamounts chain, 3D seismic structure, post-spreading magmatism, East Sub-basin, South China Sea
Abstract The probable N055°-oriented extinct spreading ridge of the East Sub-basin is cut across by the post-spreading volcanic ridge oriented approximately E–W in its western part and called the Zhenbei–Huangyan seamounts chain. A three-dimensional ocean bottom seismometer survey was conducted in 2011 and covered both the extinct spreading ridge and the Zhenbei–Huangyan seamounts chain in the East Sub-basin. The comprehensive seismic record sections of 39 ocean bottom seismometers underline the high-quality data with clear and reliable P-wave seismic first arrivals. The three-dimensional tomographic results show that the crust is oceanic on each side of the Zhenbei–Huangyan seamounts chain. The seafloor spreading lineaments and associated fracture zones pattern provide channels for magma migration and eruption. Based on the ratio of volcanic extrusive and intrusive materials and the shape of the upward convex 6.4 km/s iso-velocity curve beneath the Zhenbei and Huangyan seamounts, we conclude that the Zhenbei and Huangyan seamounts appear to be dominantly formed by intra-crustal intrusion. Combining previous geochemical studies of post-spreading volcanic ridge outcropping samples, the formation mechanism of the seamounts chain might be explained by a buoyancy-driven decompression melting mechanism occurring as separately evolving partial melting bodies beneath each seamount.
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Wang Jian, Zhao Minghui, Qiu Xuelin, Sibuet Jean-Claude, He Enyuan, Zhang Jiazheng, Tao Chunhui (2016). 3D seismic structure of the Zhenbei-Huangyan seamounts chain in the East Sub-basin of the South China Sea and its mechanism of formation. Geological Journal, 51, 448-463. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.2781 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00314/42515/