Effects of igneous bodies on modification of modern slope morphology: Insights from the continental slope offshore Dongsha Islands, South China Sea

LIANG Chao; XIE Xinong; WANG Hua; ZHONG Guangjian; LIU Entao; SUN Ming; YI Hai; QIN Chunyu; CAO Haiyang; HE Jie; ZHAO Yanpu

doi:10.1007/s13131-019-1357-y

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Article Navigation > Acta Oceanologica Sinica > 2019 > 38(5): 109-117

LIANG Chao, XIE Xinong, WANG Hua, ZHONG Guangjian, LIU Entao, SUN Ming, YI Hai, QIN Chunyu, CAO Haiyang, HE Jie, ZHAO Yanpu. Effects of igneous bodies on modification of modern slope morphology: Insights from the continental slope offshore Dongsha Islands, South China Sea[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2019, 38(5): 109-117. doi: 10.1007/s13131-019-1357-y

Citation:

LIANG Chao, XIE Xinong, WANG Hua, ZHONG Guangjian, LIU Entao, SUN Ming, YI Hai, QIN Chunyu, CAO Haiyang, HE Jie, ZHAO Yanpu. Effects of igneous bodies on modification of modern slope morphology: Insights from the continental slope offshore Dongsha Islands, South China Sea[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2019, 38(5): 109-117. doi: 10.1007/s13131-019-1357-y

Citation:

LIANG Chao, XIE Xinong, WANG Hua, ZHONG Guangjian, LIU Entao, SUN Ming, YI Hai, QIN Chunyu, CAO Haiyang, HE Jie, ZHAO Yanpu. Effects of igneous bodies on modification of modern slope morphology: Insights from the continental slope offshore Dongsha Islands, South China Sea[J]. Acta Oceanologica Sinica, 2019, 38(5): 109-117. doi: 10.1007/s13131-019-1357-y

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Effects of igneous bodies on modification of modern slope morphology: Insights from the continental slope offshore Dongsha Islands, South China Sea

doi: 10.1007/s13131-019-1357-y

1.
College of Marine Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China;Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
2.
Key Laboratory of Tectonics and Petroleum Resources of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China;Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
3.
Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510760, China
4.
Faculty of Earth Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
5.
Institute of Sedimentary Geology, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

Received Date: 2017-11-24

Abstract

Abstract

A statistical analysis for the morphological parameters extracted from numerous seismic profiles, and a high-resolution seismic study of the southeastern slope of the Dongsha Islands (South China Sea) with water depth between approximately 500 and 3 100 m, has revealed the variation of morphological features due to the intrusion of igneous bodies and associated sedimentary processes. Three types of the continental slope are distinguished:(1) a rough and steep slope with multiple igneous bodies (Type 1), (2) a relatively smooth and gentle slope with the single igneous body (Type 2), and (3) a smooth and gentle slope without igneous bodies (Type 3). These igneous bodies, formed in the post-seafloor spreading of the South China Sea, are often characterized by high positive seismic amplitudes, and chaotic reflections with complex shapes. The igneous bodies in Type 1 separated the slope into two or more upper sub-sags and a lower main-sag, in which the sub-sags and main-sag could be filled with sediments transported by alongslope bottom currents at the same time. Whereas, the igneous body in Type 2 just separated the slope into an upper sub-sag and a lower main-sag, in which the sediments could be transported into the lower main-sag only after the upper sub-sag has been filled up. Type 3 represents a normal slope with common clinoform progradation. The modern slope morphologies in the study area are the results of adjustments of the continental slope due to the intrusion of igneous bodies and associated sedimentary processes. The distinctions among three types of modern slope morphologies indicate different depositional conditions and adjustments of slope morphologies.
- igneous bodies,
- modern slope morphology,
- Dongsha Islands,
- South China Sea

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References(35)

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