Tecono-stratigraphy of Paleogene Zhu-3 depression of the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea: Implications for syn-rift architecture in multiphase rifts

• Published in: Marine and petroleum geology Vol. 155; p. 106389
• Main Authors: Ge, Jiawang, Dong, Yanlei, Tan, Mingxuan, Chen, Hehe, Sun, Lianpu, Li, Shunli, Zhao, Xiaoming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2023
• Subjects: Basin infill; Multiphase rift; Pearl river mouth basin; Sequence stratigraphy; Zhu-3 depression; Basin infill; Sequence stratigraphy; Zhu-3 depression; Multiphase rift; Pearl river mouth basin
• ISSN: 0264-8172; 1873-4073
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106389

In multi-phase rift basins, the links between fault activities and sequence stratigraphic architectures are still poorly understood compared to single-rift basins. The purpose of this work is to give implications for tectono-stratigraphic signatures in multiphase rifts based on seismic data from the Zhu-3 Depression in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, China. Stratigraphically, three composite sequences (CS1-3) defined by major unconformities in the Paleogene successions of the Zhu-3 Depression are interpreted, with each one subdivided into two or three third-order sequences. Regional unconformities and basin configurations indicate two episodic rift phases, termed rift phase 1 (formed CS1), and rift phase 2 (formed CS2) followed by a lithospheric breakup phase (formed CS3). From rift phase 1 to rift phase 2, the basin evolved from small-sized, independent half-grabens into relatively large-scale grabens and finally a dish-like basin configuration. Fault displacement and stratigraphic stacking patterns revealed three distinctive structural stages of rift phase 1: rift initiation (WC-SQ1), rift development (WC-SQ2), and rift termination (WC-SQ3) stages. However, an immediate decrease in fault activity was recorded in the rift phase 2. Immediate strain localization under rotated extension fields during episodic rift phases led to variabilities in tectono-stratigraphic architectures. In turn, this transition may likely contribute to interpreting the depositional pattern from balanced infill during rift phase 1 to an overfilled pattern during rift phase 2 as well as the breakup stage in response to possible enhanced sediment supply. This work enhanced our understanding of additional hydrocarbon evaluations in the Zhu-3 Depression, South China Sea.
•The Eocene-Oligocene sequence framework in the Zhu-3 rift are systematically reported.•Fault pattern, basin geometry and drainages basin in episodic rift phases are illustrated.•Tectono-stratigraphic signatures of three rift cycles in the Zhu-3 rift are proposed.•Controls of boundary fault arrays evolution on two-phase rift development are discussed.