Formation and evolution of the Yunkai low uplift in the Pearl River Mouth Basin and its structural partition effects

doi:10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.5.26

Abstract

Abstract:

The Yunkai low uplift is located between two hydrocarbon-rich depressions, with good prospects for oil and gas exploration. It plays a critical role in understanding the differential evolution of the eastern and western Pearl River Mouth Basin. Based on 3D seismic data in the depth domain, this paper focused on the geological structures, fault characteristics and tectonic evolution process of the Yunkai low uplift by combining the characteristics of the growth strata, the results of tectonic evolution profiles and simulations of the subsidence history, as well as analysing the dynamic environment of the tectonic evolution and tectonic zoning role of low uplift. The Yunkai low uplift can be divided into three sections from north to south, with different structural patterns in each section, and the contacts between different sections and between them and depressions are mostly faults. The results of the growth strata characteristics analysis and the simulation of the uplift-descent response features of the low uplift and the depressions on both sides reveal that there are spatial and temporal variations in the uplift rate at different sections of the Yunkai low uplift. The geometric and kinematic characteristics of the faults in the Cenozoic rifting and post-rifting stages are different, and the fault strikes undergo clockwise rotation from early to late. Two-stage late Mesozoic fault systems with extrusion or compression-torsion properties can be identified within the basement and have significantly constrained the Cenozoic faults. Overall, the low uplift experienced two stages of extrusion deformation in the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous NW and early-middle Late Cretaceous near-SN directions during the late Mesozoic. It experienced three major formation stages in the Cenozoic: a rapid uplift stage during the Eocene, a slow uplift stage during the Late Eocene-Early Miocene, and a whole sedimentation-subsidence and deep burial stage from the Miocene to the present. Comprehensive analyses suggest that the Yunkai Low uplift, as a tectonic transition zone between the depressions on both sides, is deeply and shallowly superimposed on the southern section of the NW-trending Yangjiang-Yitong Ansha fault zone, which regulates the differential structural deformation of the depressions and the differential evolution of the basin. The NW-trending structural transition zone in which the Yunkai low uplift is situated has a significant deep dynamic setting, and this property results in the partitioning of the dominant Cenozoic NE-trending structures in the basin.

Key words: structural characteristics, formation and evolution, structural partition, Yunkai low uplift, Pearl River Mouth Basin

CLC Number:

P548

QIN Yang, LIU Chiyang, PENG Guangrong, HUANG Lei, LI Hongbo, LIANG Chao, WU Zhe, YANG Lihua. Formation and evolution of the Yunkai low uplift in the Pearl River Mouth Basin and its structural partition effects[J]. Earth Science Frontiers, 2025, 32(4): 422-443.

Figures/Tables 16

Fig. 1 Regional geological background and distribution of typical artificial wells in the Yunkai low uplift and adjacent areas of the Pearl River Mouth Basin. b modified after [27].

Fig.2 Tectonic stratigraphic divisions and the integrated Cenozoic stratigraphic histogram of the Pearl River Mouth Basin. Modified after [12,34,48,52].

Fig.3 Topography of the Yunkai low uplift and the surrounding Tg interface (a) and the structure of the Tg (b) and T50 (c) interfaces

Table 1 A comparison of the associated structural features in different sections of the Yunkai low uplift

对比项目		北段	中段	南段
地层结构构造	基底埋深	低(5 000~7 000 m)	较高(2 500~4 600 m)	高(1 750~4 200 m)
	地层分布	地层沉积序列相对完整 (缺失文6-5段)、地层厚度大	沉积序列部分缺失 (文6-4段、上文昌组大部)、地层厚度较小	沉积序列不完整(文昌组缺失严重)、地层厚度小
	构造形态	断凸结构构造	宽缓背斜构造	大型断阶构造
	生长地层	削截、上超、披覆; 上超期次少、披覆厚度大	上超、披覆;上超期次较多、披覆厚度较小	上超、披覆;上超期次多、披覆厚度小
	与两侧洼陷接触关系	断裂接触 (断裂、断裂-斜坡)	断裂接触关系不明显 (斜坡、断阶)	断裂接触 (大型断裂)
新生代断裂	走向	NW-NNW	NW-NWW、NEE	NW-NWW、NEE
	延伸长度	较小	小	较大
	密度	小	较小	较大
	活动性	较弱	弱	强
晚中生代断裂	走向	NW-NWW	NW-NWW、NEE	NW-NWW、NEE
	延伸长度	较小	小	较大
	密度	小	较小	较大

Fig.4 Seismic profiles A-A' in the NW direction and B-B'in the near SN direction at different sections of the Yunkai low uplift (see Fig.1c for the location of the profiles)

Fig.5 Relationship between different sections of the Yunkai low uplift and the depressions on either side of the stratigraphic contacts (see Fig.1c for location of profiles;legend as in Fig.4a)

Fig.6 Outline diagrams of Cenozoic faults of different structural layers in the study area (a-f) and the fault strikes of different tectonic units (g-i)

Fig.7 Density of fault development at different structural layers (a), length of extension (b), density of faults in the non-study area (c), percentage of fault development at different structural layers (d), and strike of faults (e-g) at the Yunkai low uplift and its surroundings (for location of faults,see Fig.1c)

Fig.8 Diagrams of paleo-vertical fault throws (a-d, f) and activity rates (e) statistics for basement faults (see Fig.1c for location of faults and line numbers)

Fig.9 Diagram of Late Mesozoic basement pre-existing structures (a), the spatial relationship between the extension directions in different tectonic stages (b) and the direction analysis of the stress field (c) in the study area

Fig.10 Late Mesozoic fault profiles characteristic of the Yunkai low uplift and the surroundings (see Fig.9a for the location of the profiles)

Fig.11 Diagram of subsidence characteristics of the Yunkai low uplift and surrounding sags (a-h) (see Fig.1c for specifics of well locations)

Fig.12 Diagram of the relative uplift rates of the different sections of the Yunkai low uplift

Fig.13 Diagram of the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the Yunkai low uplift and its surrounding different sections (see Fig.1c for locations of original sections)

Fig.14 Diagram of the Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonic evolutionary pattern of the Yunkai low uplift and its periphery. Sedimentary facies modified after [70].

Fig.15 Contour map of polar magnetic anomalies, Moho surface depth and geothermal heat flow in the study area and its neighboring areas. a-b modified after [20,21,47].

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