Crustal Structure of the Jurassic Quiet Zone in the West Pacific Ocean: Insights from 2D Multichannel Seismic Reflection Profiles

Yang, Xiaodong1,2,3; Lin, Jingxue1,4; Zhang, Jinchang1,2,3; Luo, Yiming5; Zhang, Xubo1,2,3; Qin, Zhen6; Huang, Yanming7

2023-03-01

10.1007/s11802-023-5437-4

JOURNAL OF OCEAN UNIVERSITY OF CHINA   Impact Factor & Quartile

1672-5182

1993-5021

The Jurassic oceanic crust is the oldest existing oceanic crust on earth, and although distributed sparsely, carries essential information about the earth's evolution. The area around the Pigafetta Basin in the west Pacific Ocean (also known as the Jurassic Quiet Zone, JQZ) is one of a few areas where the Jurassic oceanic crust is present. This study takes full advantage of high-resolution multichannel seismic reflection profiles in combination with bathymetry, magnetic, and gravity data from the JQZ to examine the structure, deformation, and morphology of the Jurassic oceanic crust. Our results show the following insights: 1) The Moho lies at 2-3s in two-way travel time beneath the seafloor with the segmented feature. The gaps between the Moho segments well correspond to the seamounts on the seafloor, suggesting the upward migration of magma from the mantle has interrupted the pre-existing Moho. 2) The oceanic crust is predominantly deformed by crustal-scale thrust faults, normal faults cutting through the top of basement, and vertical seismic disturbance zones in association with migration of thermal fluids. The thrust faults are locally found and interpreted as the results of tectonic inversion. 3) Seafloor morphology in the JQZ is characterized by fault scarps, fold scarps, seamounts, and small hills, indicating the occurrence of active faults. 4) The oceanic crust in the JQZ and East Pacific Rise has many structural and geometrical variations, such as the thickness of sediments, seafloor topography, basement morphology, fault size and type.

Jurassic oceanic crust crustal structure Moho fault sedimentary deformation

SCI

English

Others

Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation[2021B1515 020098] ; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)[GML2019ZD 0205] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China["41776058","41890813","42006056","42276222"] ; Chinese Academy of Sciences Project["133244KYSB2 0180029","131551KYSB20200021","Y4SL021001","QYZDY-SSW-DQC005","ISEE2021PY03","E1SL3C02"] ; Development Fund of South China Sea Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences[SCSIO202207] ; Guangdong Provincial Research and Development Program in Key Areas[2020B1111520001] ; Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China[421QN381] ; Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou[202201010221] ; China Postdoctoral Science Foundation[2022M711480]

Oceanography

Oceanography

WOS:000948760900004

OCEAN UNIV CHINA

Web of Science

1.Chinese Acad Sci, Innovat Acad South China Sea Ecol & Environm Engn, South China Sea Inst Oceanol, CAS Key Lab Ocean & Marginal Sea Geol, Guangzhou 511458, Peoples R China
2.Southern Marine Sci & Engn Guangdong Lab Guangzhou, Guangzhou 511458, Peoples R China
3.CAS HEC, China Pakistan Joint Res Ctr Earth Sci, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
4.Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Beijing 100049, Peoples R China
5.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Ocean Sci & Engn, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China
6.Chongqing Inst Geol Survey, Chongqing 401122, Peoples R China
7.Yangtze Univ, Key Lab Explorat Technol Oil & Gas Resources, Minist Educ, Wuhan 430100, Peoples R China

Yang, Xiaodong,Lin, Jingxue,Zhang, Jinchang,et al. Crustal Structure of the Jurassic Quiet Zone in the West Pacific Ocean: Insights from 2D Multichannel Seismic Reflection Profiles[J]. JOURNAL OF OCEAN UNIVERSITY OF CHINA,2023.

Yang, Xiaodong.,Lin, Jingxue.,Zhang, Jinchang.,Luo, Yiming.,Zhang, Xubo.,...&Huang, Yanming.(2023).Crustal Structure of the Jurassic Quiet Zone in the West Pacific Ocean: Insights from 2D Multichannel Seismic Reflection Profiles.JOURNAL OF OCEAN UNIVERSITY OF CHINA.

Yang, Xiaodong,et al."Crustal Structure of the Jurassic Quiet Zone in the West Pacific Ocean: Insights from 2D Multichannel Seismic Reflection Profiles".JOURNAL OF OCEAN UNIVERSITY OF CHINA (2023).