Mesozoic tectonic framework and basin distribution characteristics of northern margin of South China Sea

During the tectonic history of the South China Plate,continental crust gradually accreted and crustal structure became more and more complicated.In the northern margin of the South China Sea,tectonic framework was separated by regional basement faults and was characterized by a north-south zoning and west-east blocking distribution during Mesozoic.The major Mesozoic sedimentary basins in the northern margin of the South China Sea were located at the centeral-eastern Guangdong subsiding belt and the Dongsha-GaoXiong continental margin subsiding belt.In the Dongsha-Gaoxiong continental margin subsiding belt,there were three Mesozoic continental margin basins including the Chaoshan Basin,the Gaoxiong Basin and the Bijia Basin,and their total area was about 6.7×10⁴km².The Upper Triassic and Cretaceous strata were deposited with giant thickness in these basins and had good oil and gas geological conditions.The Dongsha-Gaoxiong continental margin subsiding belt is a favorable zone for the Mesozoic petroleum exploration in the future.