Subduction history of the Proto-South China Sea: Evidence from the
Cretaceous - Miocene strata records of Borneo
Abstract
Cretaceous - Miocene sedimentary rocks of northern Borneo preserve
records of subduction of the Paleo-Pacific and Proto-South China Sea,
providing important evidence for reconstructing the tectonic evolution
of Southeast Asia since the Mesozoic. However, the genesis and tectonic
setting of these sediments remain controversial. In this study, new Sr
isotope, combined with Nd isotope data were used to determine the
provenance contribution of the Cretaceous – Late Eocene Lubok Antu
mélange and the Rajang Group. Detrital zircon ages and sedimentary
geochemistry data of the Cretaceous - Miocene strata are also used to
better understand the tectonic evolution of Borneo. Results show that
more than 60% of the sediments came from a magmatic belt during the
Late Cretaceous to Early Paleocene, and more than 50% from the Malay
Peninsula during the Paleocene to the Late Eocene. The proportion of
different detrital zircon ages and sedimentary geochemical
characteristics in Borneo changed from west to east during the
Cretaceous to the Miocene, which may be related to drainage changes
caused by the gradual closure of an ocean basin. Subduction ceased in
central Borneo during the Early Paleocene, slightly later than Late
Cretaceous cessation in western Borneo. The collapse of magmatic belt
lead river drainages from the Malay Peninsula to flow into Borneo.
Whereas subduction continued in Eastern Borneo until the Miocene.
Opening of the South China Sea cut off the drainage from the Malay
Peninsula, and the inner rocks in Borneo once again became the main
source of sediments.