Ages and magnetic structures of the South China Sea constrained by deep tow magnetic surveys and IODP Expedition 349

Abstract Combined analyses of deep tow magnetic anomalies and International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 349 cores show that initial seafloor spreading started around 33 Ma in the northeastern South China Sea (SCS), but varied slightly by 1–2 Myr along the northern continent‐ocean boundary (COB). A southward ridge jump of ∼20 km occurred around 23.6 Ma in the East Subbasin; this timing also slightly varied along the ridge and was coeval to the onset of seafloor spreading in the Southwest Subbasin, which propagated for about 400 km southwestward from ∼23.6 to ∼21.5 Ma. The terminal age of seafloor spreading is ∼15 Ma in the East Subbasin and ∼16 Ma in the Southwest Subbasin. The full spreading rate in the…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 91428309, 91028007
• TU
  Tongji University
• PF
  Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University
• SR
  Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China

  Award: 20100072110036