Rapid transition from continental breakup to igneous oceanic crust in the South China Sea

H. C. Larsen; G. Mohn; M. Nirrengarten; Z. Sun; J. Stock; Z. Jian; A. Klaus; C. A. Alvarez-Zarikian; J. Boaga; S. A. Bowden; A. Briais; Y. Chen; D. Cukur; K. Dadd; W. Ding; M. Dorais; E. C. Ferre; F. Ferreira; A. Furusawa; A. Gewecke; J. Hinojosa; T. W. Hofig; K. H. Hsiung; B. Huang; E. Huang; X. L. Huang; S. Jiang; H. Jin; B. G. Johnson; R. M. Kurzawski; C. Lei; B. Li; L. Li; Y. Li; J. Lin; C. Liu; Z. Liu; A. J. Luna; C. Lupi; A. McCarthy; L. Ningthoujam; N. Osono; D. W. Peate; P. Persaud; N. Qiu; C. Robinson; S. Satolli; null Sauermilch; J. C. Schindlbeck; S. Skinner; S. Straub; X. Su; C. Su; L. Tian; F. M. Van Der Zwan; S. Wan; H. Wu; R. Xiang; R. Yadav; L. Yi; P. S. Yu; C. Zhang; J. Zhang; Y. Zhang; N. Zhao; G. Zhong; L. Zhong

doi:10.1038/s41561-018-0198-1

Rapid transition from continental breakup to igneous oceanic crust in the South China Sea

H. C. Larsen^* (Corresponding Author), G. Mohn (Corresponding Author), M. Nirrengarten, Z. Sun, J. Stock, Z. Jian, A. Klaus, C. A. Alvarez-Zarikian, J. Boaga, S. A. Bowden, A. Briais, Y. Chen, D. Cukur, K. Dadd, W. Ding, M. Dorais, E. C. Ferre, F. Ferreira, A. Furusawa, A. GeweckeJ. Hinojosa, T. W. Hofig, K. H. Hsiung, B. Huang, E. Huang, X. L. Huang, S. Jiang, H. Jin, B. G. Johnson, R. M. Kurzawski, C. Lei, B. Li, L. Li, Y. Li, J. Lin, C. Liu, Z. Liu, A. J. Luna, C. Lupi, A. McCarthy, L. Ningthoujam, N. Osono, D. W. Peate, P. Persaud, N. Qiu, C. Robinson, S. Satolli, Sauermilch, J. C. Schindlbeck, S. Skinner, S. Straub, X. Su, C. Su, L. Tian, F. M. Van Der Zwan, S. Wan, H. Wu, R. Xiang, R. Yadav, L. Yi, P. S. Yu, C. Zhang, J. Zhang, Y. Zhang, N. Zhao, G. Zhong, L. Zhong

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

199 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Continental breakup represents the successful process of rifting and thinning of the continental lithosphere, leading to plate rupture and initiation of oceanic crust formation. Magmatism during breakup seems to follow a path of either excessive, transient magmatism (magma-rich margins) or of igneous starvation (magma-poor margins). The latter type is characterized by extreme continental lithospheric extension and mantle exhumation prior to igneous oceanic crust formation. Discovery of magma-poor margins has raised fundamental questions about the onset of ocean-floor type magmatism, and has guided interpretation of seismic data across many rifted margins, including the highly extended northern South China Sea margin. Here we report International Ocean Discovery Program drilling data from the northern South China Sea margin, testing the magma-poor margin model outside the North Atlantic. Contrary to expectations, results show initiation of Mid-Ocean Ridge basalt type magmatism during breakup, with a narrow and rapid transition into igneous oceanic crust. Coring and seismic data suggest that fast lithospheric extension without mantle exhumation generated a margin structure between the two endmembers. Asthenospheric upwelling yielding Mid-Ocean Ridge basalt-type magmatism from normal-temperature mantle during final breakup is interpreted to reflect rapid rifting within thin pre-rift lithosphere.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	782-789
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature Geoscience
Volume	11
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0198-1
Publication status	Published - 20 Aug 2018

Bibliographical note

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the IODP Proceedings of Expeditions 367/368 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/publications/bibliographic_information/367368cit.html) to be published 28 September 2018. All IODP data from any expeditions can be obtained from https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.367368.2018. Further questions can be directed to the corresponding authors.

The authors acknowledge the Chinese National Offshore Oil and Gas Company (CNOOC) for providing access for Z.S. and H.C.L. to work on their large regional database of seismic reflection data, which CNOOC subsequently amended with acquisition of new data to document our selected drill sites. The authors thank the RV JOIDES Resolution crew and the IODP technical staff. The IODP–China office supported international workshops to develop the original drilling proposal. Co-principal investigators of the drilling proposal, P. Wang and C.-F. Li, are acknowledged for their contributions to planning. This research used data and samples provided by the International Ocean Discovery Program. A.K. and C.A.-Z. acknowledge support from NSF award no. OCE-1326927. D.Z. was supported by the Korean IODP program (KIODP).

Keywords

NORTHERN MARGIN
RIFTED MARGINS
IBERIA-NEWFOUNDLAND
THERMAL STRUCTURE
MAGMA-POOR
EXTENSION
GENERATION
EVOLUTION
ATLANTIC
LITHOSPHERE

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Larsen, H. C., Mohn, G., Nirrengarten, M., Sun, Z., Stock, J., Jian, Z., Klaus, A., Alvarez-Zarikian, C. A., Boaga, J., Bowden, S. A., Briais, A., Chen, Y., Cukur, D., Dadd, K., Ding, W., Dorais, M., Ferre, E. C., Ferreira, F., Furusawa, A., ... Zhong, L. (2018). Rapid transition from continental breakup to igneous oceanic crust in the South China Sea. Nature Geoscience, 11(10), 782-789. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0198-1

Larsen, HC, Mohn, G, Nirrengarten, M, Sun, Z, Stock, J, Jian, Z, Klaus, A, Alvarez-Zarikian, CA, Boaga, J, Bowden, SA, Briais, A, Chen, Y, Cukur, D, Dadd, K, Ding, W, Dorais, M, Ferre, EC, Ferreira, F, Furusawa, A, Gewecke, A, Hinojosa, J, Hofig, TW, Hsiung, KH, Huang, B, Huang, E, Huang, XL, Jiang, S, Jin, H, Johnson, BG, Kurzawski, RM, Lei, C, Li, B, Li, L, Li, Y, Lin, J, Liu, C, Liu, Z, Luna, AJ, Lupi, C, McCarthy, A, Ningthoujam, L, Osono, N, Peate, DW, Persaud, P, Qiu, N, Robinson, C, Satolli, S, Sauermilch, Schindlbeck, JC, Skinner, S, Straub, S, Su, X, Su, C, Tian, L, Van Der Zwan, FM, Wan, S, Wu, H, Xiang, R, Yadav, R, Yi, L, Yu, PS, Zhang, C, Zhang, J, Zhang, Y, Zhao, N, Zhong, G & Zhong, L 2018, 'Rapid transition from continental breakup to igneous oceanic crust in the South China Sea', Nature Geoscience, vol. 11, no. 10, pp. 782-789. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0198-1

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title = "Rapid transition from continental breakup to igneous oceanic crust in the South China Sea",

abstract = "Continental breakup represents the successful process of rifting and thinning of the continental lithosphere, leading to plate rupture and initiation of oceanic crust formation. Magmatism during breakup seems to follow a path of either excessive, transient magmatism (magma-rich margins) or of igneous starvation (magma-poor margins). The latter type is characterized by extreme continental lithospheric extension and mantle exhumation prior to igneous oceanic crust formation. Discovery of magma-poor margins has raised fundamental questions about the onset of ocean-floor type magmatism, and has guided interpretation of seismic data across many rifted margins, including the highly extended northern South China Sea margin. Here we report International Ocean Discovery Program drilling data from the northern South China Sea margin, testing the magma-poor margin model outside the North Atlantic. Contrary to expectations, results show initiation of Mid-Ocean Ridge basalt type magmatism during breakup, with a narrow and rapid transition into igneous oceanic crust. Coring and seismic data suggest that fast lithospheric extension without mantle exhumation generated a margin structure between the two endmembers. Asthenospheric upwelling yielding Mid-Ocean Ridge basalt-type magmatism from normal-temperature mantle during final breakup is interpreted to reflect rapid rifting within thin pre-rift lithosphere.",

keywords = "NORTHERN MARGIN, RIFTED MARGINS, IBERIA-NEWFOUNDLAND, THERMAL STRUCTURE, MAGMA-POOR, EXTENSION, GENERATION, EVOLUTION, ATLANTIC, LITHOSPHERE",

author = "Larsen, {H. C.} and G. Mohn and M. Nirrengarten and Z. Sun and J. Stock and Z. Jian and A. Klaus and Alvarez-Zarikian, {C. A.} and J. Boaga and Bowden, {S. A.} and A. Briais and Y. Chen and D. Cukur and K. Dadd and W. Ding and M. Dorais and Ferre, {E. C.} and F. Ferreira and A. Furusawa and A. Gewecke and J. Hinojosa and Hofig, {T. W.} and Hsiung, {K. H.} and B. Huang and E. Huang and Huang, {X. L.} and S. Jiang and H. Jin and Johnson, {B. G.} and Kurzawski, {R. M.} and C. Lei and B. Li and L. Li and Y. Li and J. Lin and C. Liu and Z. Liu and Luna, {A. J.} and C. Lupi and A. McCarthy and L. Ningthoujam and N. Osono and Peate, {D. W.} and P. Persaud and N. Qiu and C. Robinson and S. Satolli and Sauermilch and Schindlbeck, {J. C.} and S. Skinner and S. Straub and X. Su and C. Su and L. Tian and {Van Der Zwan}, {F. M.} and S. Wan and H. Wu and R. Xiang and R. Yadav and L. Yi and Yu, {P. S.} and C. Zhang and J. Zhang and Y. Zhang and N. Zhao and G. Zhong and L. Zhong",

note = "The data that support the findings of this study are available from the IODP Proceedings of Expeditions 367/368 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/publications/bibliographic_information/367368cit.html) to be published 28 September 2018. All IODP data from any expeditions can be obtained from https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.367368.2018. Further questions can be directed to the corresponding authors. The authors acknowledge the Chinese National Offshore Oil and Gas Company (CNOOC) for providing access for Z.S. and H.C.L. to work on their large regional database of seismic reflection data, which CNOOC subsequently amended with acquisition of new data to document our selected drill sites. The authors thank the RV JOIDES Resolution crew and the IODP technical staff. The IODP–China office supported international workshops to develop the original drilling proposal. Co-principal investigators of the drilling proposal, P. Wang and C.-F. Li, are acknowledged for their contributions to planning. This research used data and samples provided by the International Ocean Discovery Program. A.K. and C.A.-Z. acknowledge support from NSF award no. OCE-1326927. D.Z. was supported by the Korean IODP program (KIODP). ",

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doi = "10.1038/s41561-018-0198-1",

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T1 - Rapid transition from continental breakup to igneous oceanic crust in the South China Sea

AU - Larsen, H. C.

AU - Mohn, G.

AU - Nirrengarten, M.

AU - Sun, Z.

AU - Stock, J.

AU - Jian, Z.

AU - Klaus, A.

AU - Alvarez-Zarikian, C. A.

AU - Boaga, J.

AU - Bowden, S. A.

AU - Briais, A.

AU - Chen, Y.

AU - Cukur, D.

AU - Dadd, K.

AU - Ding, W.

AU - Dorais, M.

AU - Ferre, E. C.

AU - Ferreira, F.

AU - Furusawa, A.

AU - Gewecke, A.

AU - Hinojosa, J.

AU - Hofig, T. W.

AU - Hsiung, K. H.

AU - Huang, B.

AU - Huang, E.

AU - Huang, X. L.

AU - Jiang, S.

AU - Jin, H.

AU - Johnson, B. G.

AU - Kurzawski, R. M.

AU - Lei, C.

AU - Li, B.

AU - Li, L.

AU - Li, Y.

AU - Lin, J.

AU - Liu, C.

AU - Liu, Z.

AU - Luna, A. J.

AU - Lupi, C.

AU - McCarthy, A.

AU - Ningthoujam, L.

AU - Osono, N.

AU - Peate, D. W.

AU - Persaud, P.

AU - Qiu, N.

AU - Robinson, C.

AU - Satolli, S.

AU - Sauermilch, null

AU - Schindlbeck, J. C.

AU - Skinner, S.

AU - Straub, S.

AU - Su, X.

AU - Su, C.

AU - Tian, L.

AU - Van Der Zwan, F. M.

AU - Wan, S.

AU - Wu, H.

AU - Xiang, R.

AU - Yadav, R.

AU - Yi, L.

AU - Yu, P. S.

AU - Zhang, C.

AU - Zhang, J.

AU - Zhang, Y.

AU - Zhao, N.

AU - Zhong, G.

AU - Zhong, L.

N1 - The data that support the findings of this study are available from the IODP Proceedings of Expeditions 367/368 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/publications/bibliographic_information/367368cit.html) to be published 28 September 2018. All IODP data from any expeditions can be obtained from https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.367368.2018. Further questions can be directed to the corresponding authors. The authors acknowledge the Chinese National Offshore Oil and Gas Company (CNOOC) for providing access for Z.S. and H.C.L. to work on their large regional database of seismic reflection data, which CNOOC subsequently amended with acquisition of new data to document our selected drill sites. The authors thank the RV JOIDES Resolution crew and the IODP technical staff. The IODP–China office supported international workshops to develop the original drilling proposal. Co-principal investigators of the drilling proposal, P. Wang and C.-F. Li, are acknowledged for their contributions to planning. This research used data and samples provided by the International Ocean Discovery Program. A.K. and C.A.-Z. acknowledge support from NSF award no. OCE-1326927. D.Z. was supported by the Korean IODP program (KIODP).

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Y1 - 2018/8/20

N2 - Continental breakup represents the successful process of rifting and thinning of the continental lithosphere, leading to plate rupture and initiation of oceanic crust formation. Magmatism during breakup seems to follow a path of either excessive, transient magmatism (magma-rich margins) or of igneous starvation (magma-poor margins). The latter type is characterized by extreme continental lithospheric extension and mantle exhumation prior to igneous oceanic crust formation. Discovery of magma-poor margins has raised fundamental questions about the onset of ocean-floor type magmatism, and has guided interpretation of seismic data across many rifted margins, including the highly extended northern South China Sea margin. Here we report International Ocean Discovery Program drilling data from the northern South China Sea margin, testing the magma-poor margin model outside the North Atlantic. Contrary to expectations, results show initiation of Mid-Ocean Ridge basalt type magmatism during breakup, with a narrow and rapid transition into igneous oceanic crust. Coring and seismic data suggest that fast lithospheric extension without mantle exhumation generated a margin structure between the two endmembers. Asthenospheric upwelling yielding Mid-Ocean Ridge basalt-type magmatism from normal-temperature mantle during final breakup is interpreted to reflect rapid rifting within thin pre-rift lithosphere.

AB - Continental breakup represents the successful process of rifting and thinning of the continental lithosphere, leading to plate rupture and initiation of oceanic crust formation. Magmatism during breakup seems to follow a path of either excessive, transient magmatism (magma-rich margins) or of igneous starvation (magma-poor margins). The latter type is characterized by extreme continental lithospheric extension and mantle exhumation prior to igneous oceanic crust formation. Discovery of magma-poor margins has raised fundamental questions about the onset of ocean-floor type magmatism, and has guided interpretation of seismic data across many rifted margins, including the highly extended northern South China Sea margin. Here we report International Ocean Discovery Program drilling data from the northern South China Sea margin, testing the magma-poor margin model outside the North Atlantic. Contrary to expectations, results show initiation of Mid-Ocean Ridge basalt type magmatism during breakup, with a narrow and rapid transition into igneous oceanic crust. Coring and seismic data suggest that fast lithospheric extension without mantle exhumation generated a margin structure between the two endmembers. Asthenospheric upwelling yielding Mid-Ocean Ridge basalt-type magmatism from normal-temperature mantle during final breakup is interpreted to reflect rapid rifting within thin pre-rift lithosphere.

KW - NORTHERN MARGIN

KW - RIFTED MARGINS

KW - IBERIA-NEWFOUNDLAND

KW - THERMAL STRUCTURE

KW - MAGMA-POOR

KW - EXTENSION

KW - GENERATION

KW - EVOLUTION

KW - ATLANTIC

KW - LITHOSPHERE

U2 - 10.1038/s41561-018-0198-1

DO - 10.1038/s41561-018-0198-1

M3 - Article

SN - 1752-0894

VL - 11

SP - 782

EP - 789

JO - Nature Geoscience

JF - Nature Geoscience

IS - 10

ER -

Rapid transition from continental breakup to igneous oceanic crust in the South China Sea

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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