Characteristics of the Neogene-Quaternary faults in the North Yellow Sea basin and the inheritance to the Paleogene faults

The role of the Neogene tectonic movements to the hydrocarbon accumulation has been paid more attention these years. To the better understanding of the Neogene geology and structural pattern of the North Yellow Sea basin, we identify main Neogene-Quaternary (N-Q) faults by interpreting the newly-acquired seismic data and ship borne gravity data. Most of the interpreted faults are boundary normal faults of the depressions within the basin and in the uplifts. Besides, some faults possess the characteristics of the strike-slip fault, e. g. the west-marginal North Yellow Sea fault. Compared with Paleogene faults, we find that the N-Q faults are inherited to the Paleogene faults within the basin, but it is difficult to determine the inheritance of the N-Q faults to the Paleogene ones in the upliftsbecause of the lack of the Paleogene fault data in the uplifts.