Recent endogenous regimes in South-Eastern Asia (South China Sea and adjacent lands)

Abstract

Types of the earthcrust are distinguished in the region of the South China Sea on the basis of many characteristics (the present-day altitudes, the earthcrust thickness, depth of the consolidated basement, heat flow values). The earthcrust types are used as a basis of scheme of the region showing recent endogenous regimes, their stages and phases of activity. The existing deep basin of the South China Sea is shown to originate at the very beginning of the recent epoch due to collapse of a broad dome of the continental earthcrust. The recent tectonic activity has already passed its peak. Some similarities are found in the basin formation of the South China Sea and seas of Mediterranean type, the Black and Caspian seas.