This proposal on "Analysis of the Tectonic Origin and Stratigraphy of the Bohai Basin, between Dag Nummedal of Louisiana State University Baton Rouge (LSU), and Mr. Xue Shuhao of the Research Institute for Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED) of the People's Republic of China is sponsored by NSF. The Bohai basin is a large Cenozoic basin in eastern China with up to 10,000 predominantly fluvial and lacustrine sediments. Despite extensive research on the basin, the relationship between tectonics and sedimentation, and the depositional environments remain unanswered. The purpose of the proposed joint research between the RIPED and LSU is to address some of these questions. The first phase of the proposed research would determine (1) tectonic origin, (2) stratigraphy of the basin fill, and (3) depositional systems of the basin. The second phase of the proposed research would employ the knowledge developed in the first phase to: (1) develop criteria that may be used to differentiate and identify what factors (climate, tectonics, sediment supply, base.level changes, etc.) controlled sedimentation, (2) develop techniques which would allow modern concepts of sequence stratigraphy to be applied to lacustrine rocks, and (3) test existing models for rift or pull.apart basins. The major tasks of the proposed research would be to: (1) construct subsidence curves in order to provide information on the history of tectonics, base.level changes, and subsidence in the basin and to provide a basis for interpreting lithospheric structures and mechanics, (2) analyze the geometry of faults and fold in the basin, (3) estimate the sense of motion along faults, (4) map the 3.D geometry of depositional sequences, (5) interpret depositional environments, and (6) evaluate the effects of tectonics, fluctuations in base level, climate, and other factors on sedimentation. The data used to accomplish these tasks would include well logs, core, and seismic reflection profiles.
