Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structural and Kinematic Evolutions of the Okinawa Trough Backarc Basin

  • Chapter
Backarc Basins

Abstract

Refraction data acquired in the Okinawa Trough show that the crust is of continental origin and that its thickness increases from 10 km in the southern Okinawa Trough to 30 km in the northern Okinawa Trough. The Okinawa Trough is still in a rifting stage. In the southern Okinawa Trough, magnetic anomalies are linked either to limited arc volcanic intrusions located on the northern side of the Ryukyu arc, to the axis of the main depressions where basaltic intrusions with volcanic arc affinities are present, or to volcanic products lying at different depths within the thinned continental crust. A link among partial melting occurring just above the Benioff zone, ascent of volcanic products through extended continental crust, and the amount of crustal extension are proposed. We also suggest that both arc and backarc basin volcanism are derived from the same source located above the Benioff zone. Melt preferentially rises through the fissures and faults created by extension in the continental crust. The total amount of extension across the Okinawa Trough has been estimated from refraction and gravity data. It decreases slightly from 80 km in the southern Okinawa Trough to 74 km in the northern Okinawa Trough. Parameters of rotation have been established for the entire opening of the Okinawa Trough and for the three phases of extension already identified: (1) The late Pleistocene to Recent phase of extension is characterized by normal faults with vertical offsets of a few meters changing progressively in direction along the Okinawa Trough. The amount of extension is about 5 km in the middle Okinawa Trough. (2) The early Pleistocene phase of extension is characterized by large tilted blocks which affect late Pliocene-early Pleistocene sediments. Directions of these normal faults change progressively along the Okinawa Trough. Extension in the northern Okinawa Trough is estimated as 25 km. The difference in azimuth of the normal faults for these two tectonic phases increases toward the northern Okinawa Trough. (3) The early Miocene phase of extension is poorly characterized from geological data but has been calculated from parameters of other rotations. The corresponding pole of rotation is located 1500 km northeast of Kyushu; 50 km of extension in the northern Okinawa Trough and 75 km in the southern Okinawa Trough are expected. The proposed kinematic evolution of the Okinawa Trough differs considerably from the previous reconstructions and raises numerous questions, as for example, the interpretation of paleomagnetic measurements obtained in the southeastern Ryukyu Islands. The bending of the Okinawa Trough developed since the onset of the backarc basin extension, except for the southwestern portion of the Okinawa platelet whose pronounced bending is due to the collision in Taiwan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Boespflug, X. 1990. Evolution géodynamique et géochimique des bassins arrière-arcs. Exemples des bassins d’Okinawa, de Lau et Nord-Fidjien, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest, France

    Google Scholar 

  • Chenet, P.-Y., Montadert, L., Gairaud, H., and Roberts, D. G. 1983. Extension ratio measurements on the Galicia, Portugal and northern Biscay continental margins: Implications for evolutionary models of passive continental margins, in Studies in Continental Margin Geology (J. S. Watkins and C. L. Drake, eds.), Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 34:703–715

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, S.-N., Lee, C.-T., and Yeh, Y. T. 1992. Seismotectonics of the Ryukyu arc, in Proc. 4th Taiwan Symp. Geophys., Taipei, pp. 507–516

    Google Scholar 

  • Davagnier, M., Marsset, B., Sibuet, J.-C., Letouzey, J., and Foucher, J.-P. 1987. Mécanismes actuels d’extension dans le bassin d’Okinawa, Bull. Soc. Géol. France 8:525–531

    Google Scholar 

  • Eguchi, T., and Uyeda, S. 1983. Seismotectonics of the Okinawa Trough and Ryukyu arc, Mem. Geol. Soc. China 5:189–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Furukawa, M., Kondo, S., Miki, M., and Isezaki, N. 1991a. Report on DELP 1988 cruises in the Okinawa Trough. Part V: Measurement of the three components and total intensity of the geomagnetic field in the Okinawa Trough, Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., U. Tokyo 66:91–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Furukawa, M., Tokuyama, H., Abe, S., Nishizawa, A., and Kinoshita, H. 1991b. Report on DELP 1988 cruises in the Okinawa Trough. Part II: Seismic reflection studies in the southwestern part of the Okinawa Trough, Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., U. Tokyo 66:17–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, D. E., Houtz, R. E., Jarrard, R. D., Mrozowski, C. L., and Watanabe, T. 1978. Crustal structure, 1 sheet, scale 1:6,442,194, in A Geophysical Atlas of the East and Southeast Asian Seas, Map Chart, MC25 (D.E. Hayes, ed.), Geological Society of America, Boulder, CO

    Google Scholar 

  • Hilde, T. W. C., Lee, C.-S., and Vander Zouwen, D. E. 1984. Tectonic and sedimentation history of Okinawa Trough: Implications for development of the East China and Yellow seas. Korea-U.S. Conference on the Yellow Sea

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirata, N., Kinoshita, H., Katao, H., Baba, H., Kaiho, Y., Koresawa, S., Ono, Y., and Hayashi, K. 1991. Report on DELP 1988 cruises in the Okinawa Trough. Part III: Crustal structure of the southern Okinawa Trough, Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., U. Tokyo 66:37–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Ho, C. S. 1986. A synthesis of the geologic evolution of Taiwan, Tectonophysics 125:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsu, S.-K. in press. XCORR: A cross-over technique to adjust track data, Comput. Geosci.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishizaka, K., Yanagi, K., and Hayatsu, K. 1977. A strontium study of the volcanic rocks of the Myoko volcano group, central Japan, Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 63:295–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwasaki, T., Hirata, N., Kanazawa, T., Melles, J., Suyehiro, K., Urabe, T., Möller, L., Makris, J., and Shimamura, H. 1990. Crustal and upper mantle structure in the Ryukyu island arc deduced from deep seismic sounding, Geophys. J. Int. 102:631–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarrard, R. D., and Sasajima, S. 1980. Paleomagnetic synthesis for Southeast Asia: constraints on plate motions, in The Tectonic and Geologic Evolution of Southeast Asian Seas and Islands (D. E. Hayes, ed.), Geophys. Monogr. Ser., Vol. 23, pp. 293–317, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Jin, X., Yu, P., Lin, M., Li, C., and Wang, H. 1983. Preliminary study on the characteristics of crustal structure in the Okinawa Trough (in Chinese with English abstract), Oceanol. Limnol Sin. 14:105–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Kao, H., and Chen, W.-P. 1991. Earthquakes along the Ryukyu-Kyushu arc: Strain segmentation, lateral compression, and thermomechanical state of the plate interface, J. Geophys. Res. 96:21,443–21,485

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasahara, J., Nagumo, S., Koresawa, S., Ouchi, T., and Kinosita, H. 1985. Seismic features in the central Okinawa Trough—an active incipient rifting, Abstract for the 23rd General Assembly of IASPEI, Tokyo 1:279

    Google Scholar 

  • Kato, S., Katsura, T., and Hirano, K. 1982. Submarine geology off Okinawa Island, Rep. Hydrogr. Res. 17:31–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, M. 1985. Back-arc rifting in the Okinawa Trough, Mar. Petrol. Geol. 2:222–240

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimura, M., Kaneoka, I., Kato, Y., Yamamoto, S., Kushiro, I., Tokuyama, H., Kinoshita, H., Isezaki, N., Masaki, H., Oshida, A., Uyeda, S., and Hilde, T. W. C. 1986. Report on DELP 1984 cruises in the middle Okinawa Trough. Part V: Topography and geology of the central grabens and their vicinity, Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., U. Tokyo 61:269–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Pichon, X., Huchon, P., and Barrier, E. 1985. Geoid and the evolution of the western margin of the Pacific Ocean, in Formation of Active Ocean Margins (N. Nasu, ed.), pp. 3–42, Tokyo, Terrapub

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Le Pichon, X., and Sibuet, J.-C. 1981. Passive margins: A model of formation, J. Geophys. Res. 86:3707–3710

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C. S., Shor, G. G., Jr., Bibee, L. D., Lu, R. S., and Hilde, T. W. C. 1980. Okinawa Trough: Origin of a back-arc basin, Mar. Geol. 35:219–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Letouzey, J., and Kimura, M. 1986, The Okinawa Trough: Genesis of a back-arc basin developing along a continental margin, Tectonophysics 125:209–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig, W., Murauchi, S., Den, N., Bull, P., Hotta, H., Ewing, M., Asanuma, T., Yoshii, T., and Sakajiri, N. 1973. Structure of the East China Sea-West Philippine Sea margin of southern Kyushu, J. Geophys. Res. 78:2526–2536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miki, M., Matsuda, T., and Otofuji, Y. 1990. Opening mode of the Okinawa Trough: Paleomagnetic evidence from the South Ryukyu arc, Tectonophysics 175:335–347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagumo, S., Hinoshita, H., Kasahara, J., Ouchi, T., Tokuyama, H., Asamuma, T., Koresawa, S., and Akiyoshi, H. 1986. Report on DELP 1984 cruises in the Middle Okinawa Trough, Part II: Seismic structural studies, Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., U. Tokyo 61:167–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Nash, D. F. 1979. The geological development of the north Okinawa Trough area from Neogene times to Recent, J. Jpn. Assoc. Petrol. Technol. 44:121–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Oshida, A., Midorikawa, Y., Kawabata, K., Kanazawa, J., Kimura, M., and Kato, Y. 1988. Submarine acoustic and geomagnetic surveys in the north of Yaeyama-Gunto, Ryukyu arc (RN86 and RN87 cruises), Bull. Coll. Sci., U. Ryukyus 46:123–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Oshida, A., Tamaki, K., and Kimura, M. 1992. Origin of the magnetic anomalies in the southern Okinawa Trough, J. Geomagn. Geoelectr. 44:345–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oshima, S., Takanashi, M., Kato, S., Uchida, M., Okazaki, I., Kasuga, S., Kawashiri, C., Kaneko, Y., Ogawa, M., Kawai, K., Seta, H., and Kato, Y. 1988. Geological and geophysical survey in the Okinawa Trough and the adjoining seas of Nansei Syoto, Rep. Hydrogr. Res. 24

    Google Scholar 

  • Reches, Z. 1983. Faulting of rocks in three-dimensional strain fields. II: theoretical analysis, Tectonophysics 95:133–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Regan, R. D., and Rodriguez, P. 1981. An overview of the external field with regard to magnetic surveys, Geophys. Surv. 4:255–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seno, T., and Maruyama, S. 1984. Paleogeographic reconstruction and origin of the Philippine Sea, Tectonophysics 102:53–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sibuet, J.-C. 1991. The southern Okinawa Trough, in Taicrust Workshop Proc., June 10–12, 1991, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C., pp. 117–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Sibuet, J.-C. 1992. New constraints on the formation of non-volcanic continental Galicia-Flemish Cap conjugate margins, J. Geol. Soc. London 149:829–840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sibuet, J.-C., Dyment, J., Bois, C., Pinet, B., and Ondréas, H. 1990. Crustal structure of the Celtic Sea and western approaches from gravity data and deep seismic profiles: Constraints on the formation of continental basins, J. Geophys. Res. 95:10,999–11,020

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sibuet, J.-C., Letouzey, J., Barbier, F., Charvet, J., Foucher, J.-P, Hilde, T. W. C., Kimura, M., Ling-Yun, C., Marsset, B., Müller, C., and Stéphan, J.-F. 1987. Backarc extension in the Okinawa Trough, J. Geophys. Res. 92:14,041–14,063

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sibuet, J.-C., Letouzey, J., Marsset, B., Davagnier, M., Foucher, J.-P., Bougault, H., Dosso, L., Mauryt R., and Joron, J.-L. 1986. Tectonic evolution and volcanism of Okinawa Trough (abstract), Am. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull. 70:934

    Google Scholar 

  • Sibuet, J.-C., Monti, S., Renault, J.-P., Durand, C., Gueguen, E., and Louvel, V. 1991. Quantification de l’extension liée à la phase pyrénéenne et géométrie de la frontière de plaques dans la partie ouest du golfe de Gascogne, C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris 317:1207–1214

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun, S. C. 1981. The Tertiary basins of off-shore Taiwan, ASCOPE, Manila

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, B., Klaus, A., Brown, G. R., and Moore, G. F. 1991. Structural development of Sumisu rift, Izu-Bonin arc, J. Geophys. Res. 96:16,113–16,129

    Google Scholar 

  • Tsai, Y.-B. 1986. Seismotectonics of Taïwan, Tectonophysics 125:17–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsuburaya, H., and Sato, T. 1985. Petroleum exploration well Miyakojima-Oki, J. Jpn. Assoc. Petrol. Technol. 50:25–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ueda, Y. 1986. Geomagnetic anomalies around the Nansei Soto (Ryukyu Islands) and their tectonic implications, Bull. Volcanol. Soc. Jpn. 31:177–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Ujiie, H. 1980. Significance of “500 m deep island shelf” surrounding the southern Ryukyu Island arc for its Quaternary geological history, Quat. Res. 18:209–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uyeda, S. 1977. Some basic problems in trench-arc-back-arc-system, in Island Arcs, Deep Sea Trenches and Back-Arc Basins (M. Talwani and W. C. Pitman III, eds.), Maurice Ewing Ser., Vol. 1, pp. 1–14, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Uyeda, S., Kimura, M., Tanaka, T., Kaneoka, J., Kato, Y., and Kushiro, I. 1985a. Spreading center of the Okinawa Trough, Tech. Rep. JAMSTEC, pp. 123–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Uyeda, S., Nagumo, S., and Hilde, T. W. C. 1985b, Okinawa Trough—An early stage of continental margin rifting, in 1985 Geodynamics Symposium on Intraplate Deformation: Characteristics, Processes, and Causes, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

    Google Scholar 

  • Vander Zouwen, D. E. 1984. Structure and evolution of Southern Okinawa Trough, Master’s thesis, Texas A&M University, College Station

    Google Scholar 

  • Warner, M. R. 1987. Seismic reflections from the Moho: The effect of isostasy, Geophys. J. R. Astron. Soc. London 88:425–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wessel, P., and Smith, W. M. F. 1991. Free software helps map and display data, EOS, Trans. AGU 72:441–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamano, M., Uyeda, S., Foucher, J.-P, and Sibuet, J.-C. 1989. Heat flow anomaly in the middle Okinawa Trough, Tectonophysics 159:307–318

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamano, M., Uyeda, A., Kinoshita, H., and Hilde, T. W. C. 1986. Report on DELP 1984 cruises in the Middle Okinawa Trough. Part IV: Heat flow measurements, Bull. Earthquake Res. Inst., U. Tokyo 61:251–267

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IFREMER, Centre de Brest, 29280, Plouzané, France

    Jean-Claude Sibuet & Shu-Kun Hsu

  2. Institute of Oceanography, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Chuen-Tien Shyu & Char-Shine Liu

Authors
  1. Jean-Claude Sibuet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shu-Kun Hsu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chuen-Tien Shyu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Char-Shine Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

    Brian Taylor

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Sibuet, JC., Hsu, SK., Shyu, CT., Liu, CS. (1995). Structural and Kinematic Evolutions of the Okinawa Trough Backarc Basin. In: Taylor, B. (eds) Backarc Basins. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1843-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-1843-3_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5747-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-1843-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation