The Central Basin of the Sea of Japan: history and tectonics

Abstract

The authors analyzed the geological and geophysical data obtained in numerous expeditions during the investigation of the Sea of Japan. The paper shows that the formation of the Central basin was caused by destructive processes within the continent margin. The formation of the basin occurred in three stages. I — The Paleocene — the Middle Eocene: formation of tectonic depression during the rifting on the continental margin; initial volcanism. II. The Middle Eocene — end of the Early Miocene: normal sedimentation in the submerged basin; accumulation of sediments of the lower seismic complex of the cover; volcanism is located on volcanic edifices. III. The Middle Miocene — the Pleistocene: alternation in periods of normal sedimentation and condensation of precipitation at a time of the total of basin immersion; accumulation of deposits of the upper seismic complex of the cover; volcanism continues on volcanic edifices. Three tectonic-magmatic activations accompanied by volcanism are distinguished in the Central basin: 1 — in the Late Oligocene — the Early Miocene, 2 — the Middle Miocene — the Early Pliocene and 3 — the Pliocene — the Pleistocene.

Keywords

• crust model
• Moho
• volcanism
• K-Ar age