Structure and Tectonic Evolution of the NW Sulu Sea Basin (SE Asia)

Cadenas, Patricia; Ranero, César R.

doi:10.1029/2022jb026180

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 101 publications

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“…Gravity and magnetic studies suggested that the NW Sulu Sea was mainly floored by a relict Late Creataceous to Eocene oceanic slice (Liu et al, 2014). However, a recent seismic interpretation revealed riftrelated depocenters overlying crystalline basement in the southeastern part of the NW Sulu Sea, and the riftrelated depocenters consists of uncalibrated but tentatively dated Paleogene to Lower Miocene units (Cadenas & Ranero, 2024). The Cagayan Ridge runs approximately parallel to Palawan Island, and extends northward to the islands of Panay, Romblon and Mindoro (Bellon & Rangin, 1991;Marchadier & Rangin, 1990) (Figure 1a).…”

Section: Geology Offshore Palawanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Arc‐Continent Collision in the Southeastern Margin of the South China Sea: Insight From the Isugod Basin in Central‐Southern Palawan

Chen,

Yan,

Carter

et al. 2024

Tectonics

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The evolution of arc‐continent collision between the Palawan microcontinental block and the Cagayan Ridge in the southeastern margin of the South China Sea (SCS) is vital to understand how this collision correlated with seafloor spreading of the SCS. To address the evolution of arc‐continent collision, we studied the biostratigraphy and provenance of syn‐collisional sediments in the Isugod Basin in central‐southern Palawan. Microfossil analysis indicates a Late Miocene age (11.5–5.6 Ma) for the Isugod and Alfonso XIII Formations and rapid subsidence during initiation of the basin which may have been triggered by local extensional collapse of the wedge in response to forearc uplift. Multidisciplinary provenance analysis reveals that the Isugod and Alfonso XIII Formations were derived from the Middle Eocene–lower Oligocene Panas‐Pandian Formation on the Palawan wedge and the Late Eocene Central Palawan Ophiolite. These results suggest the emergence of both the orogenic wedge and obducted forearc ophiolite at ∼11.5 Ma, implying collision onset before ∼11.5 Ma. The collision initiation in Palawan could be better constrained to ∼18 Ma, based on the drowning of the Nido carbonate platform in the foreland. Therefore, the gravitational collapse of the Palawan wedge and the subsidence/formation of the Isugod Basin might reflect a significant uplift pulse in the hinterland of the wedge beginning within 13.4–11.5 Ma in the late stage of collision. It indicates that although compression originated from spreading of the SCS had ceased at 16–15 Ma, arc‐continent collision in Palawan did not stop and was sustained by compression from the upper plate afterward.

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Section: Geology Offshore Palawanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Arc‐Continent Collision in the Southeastern Margin of the South China Sea: Insight From the Isugod Basin in Central‐Southern Palawan

Chen,

Yan,

Carter

et al. 2024

Tectonics

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Opening and Closure of the Sulu Sea: Revealed by Its Peripheral Subduction and Collision Processes

Yang,

Xie,

et al. 2024

JMSE

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The Sulu Sea is a small marginal sea in the western Pacific, but it is a very complex and tectonically active region, situated amidst the convergence of the Eurasian, Pacific, and India-Australian plates. Deciphering its geodynamic evolution is crucial, but our understanding of its opening, closure, and tectonic history remains inadequate. The main aim of this study was to systematically study the opening and subsequent closure of the Sulu Sea though discerning tectonic unconformities, structural features, and subduction-collision tectonic zones around margins of the sea. The interpreted sections and gravity anomaly data indicate that the NE Sulu Sea has undergone Neogene extension and contraction due to subduction and collision along the northern margins of the Sulu Sea, whereas the SE Sulu Sea gradually extended from northwest to southeast during the Middle Miocene and has subsequently subducted since the Middle Miocene along the southeastern margins of the Sulu Sea. Several subduction and collision boundaries with different characteristics were developed including continent-continent collision, arc-continent collision, and ocean-arc subduction. The different margins of the Sulu Sea showed distinct asynchronous subduction and collision processes. The northern margins of the Sulu Sea can be divided into three subduction-collision tectonic zones from west to east: the Sabah-Nansha block collision has occurred in NE Borneo since the Early Miocene, followed by the SW Palawan-Cagayan arc collision in SW Palawan Island since the Middle Miocene, and the NW Palawan-Mindoro arc collision since the Late Miocene with further oblique subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate. The southeastern margins can also be divided into two subduction tectonic zones from south to east: the SE Sulu Sea has subducted southward beneath the Celebes Sea since the Middle Miocene, followed by the southeastward subduction beneath the Philippine Sea Plate since the Pliocene. Since the Miocene, the interactions among the Australia-India, the Philippine Sea, and the Eurasian plates have formed the circum-Sulu Sea subduction-collisional margins characterized by microplate collisions, deep-sea trough development, and thick sediments filling in the orogenic foreland. This study is significant for gaining insights into the opening and closure of marginal seas and the dynamics of multiple microplates in Southeast Asia.

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Structure and Tectonic Evolution of the NW Sulu Sea Basin (SE Asia)

Cited by 2 publications

References 101 publications

Evolution of Arc‐Continent Collision in the Southeastern Margin of the South China Sea: Insight From the Isugod Basin in Central‐Southern Palawan

Evolution of Arc‐Continent Collision in the Southeastern Margin of the South China Sea: Insight From the Isugod Basin in Central‐Southern Palawan

Opening and Closure of the Sulu Sea: Revealed by Its Peripheral Subduction and Collision Processes

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