1887
Volume 37, Issue 4
  • E-ISSN: 1365-2117
PDF

Abstract

[

The Sanriku‐oki forearc basin along the Northeast Japan arc was transferred from the Cretaceous to Paleogene bay‐to‐estuarine basin restricted by the uplifted trench slope break to the Neogene open‐marine deltaic to slope basin due to a large‐scale subsidence, possibly related to the changes in the subducting plate condition.

, ABSTRACT

This paper aims to discuss the transition process of the forearc basin setting along the Northeast Japan arc, based on the results of strontium isotope dating, resistivity image facies analysis, sequence stratigraphic and depositional system interpretation, and seismic facies mapping, mainly using the Site C0020 succession data of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 337, off Shimokita Peninsula and surrounding seismic sections. The detailed correlations and strontium isotope ages constrain the geologic ages of Units II, III and IV of the Site C0020 succession as Eocene to Early Miocene. Cores and resistivity image logs show that Units II, III and IV consist of five facies associations, indicating bay, estuarine to fluvial, delta and muddy slope systems and eleven depositional sequences. Plot mapping of these facies associations and seismic facies indicates the drastic changes of the forearc basin setting through four tectonic phases from Eocene to Miocene. During Phase 1 (Eocene to Early Oligocene: Unit IV), the bay‐to‐estuarine system was dominant within a restricted forearc basin by a subaerially uplifted trench slope break. Phase 2 (Early to Late Oligocene: Unit III and the lowermost Unit II) was characterised by further uplift and erosion of the trench slope break, which formed three Oligocene unconformities: Ounc1, Ounc2 and Ounc3. During Phase 3 (Late Oligocene to Early Miocene: Unit II), a large‐scale subsidence of the trench slope break started, possibly related to the onset of tectonic erosion of the subducting plate, and the forearc basin became an open‐marine setting with a prograding delta system. After the formation of Miocene unconformity (Munc), Phase 4 (Middle Miocene‐: Unit I) caused the cessation of the delta system, and the forearc basin became a muddy deep‐water slope system, possibly resulting from the continent‐derived sediment supply decrease due to the backarc opening of the Sea of Japan.

]
Basin Research © 2025 John Wiley & Sons Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists © 2025 The Author(s). Basin Research published by International Association of Sedimentologists and European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1111/bre.70042
2025-07-03
2026-02-15

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1111/bre.70042
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/bre/37/4/bre70042.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1111/bre.70042&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Ando, H.2003. “Stratigraphic Correlation of Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene Forearc Basin Sediments in Northeast Japan: Cyclic Sedimentation and Basin Evolution.” Journal of Asian Earth Sciences21: 919–933.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Ando, H.2005. “Geologic Setting and Stratigraphic Correlation of the Cretaceous to Paleocene Yezo Forearc Basin in Northeast Japan.” Journal of the Japanese Association for Petroleum Technology70: 24–36. (in Japanese with English abstract).
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Arato, H., and O.Takano. 1995. “Significance of Sequence Stratigraphy in Petroleum Exploration.” In Sequence Stratigraphy—Toward a New Dynamic Stratigraphy, edited by Y.Saito, K.Hoyanagi, and M.Ito, vol. 45, 43–60. Memoirs of the Geological Society of America.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Bhattacharya, J. P.2006. “Deltas.” In Facies Models Revisited, edited by H. W.Posamentier and R. G.Walker, vol. 84, 237–292. SEPM Special Publications.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Bhattacharya, J. P.2010. “Deltas.” In Facies Models 4, edited by N. P.James and R. W.Dalrymple, 233–264. Geological Association of Canada.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Bowden, S. A., A. Y.Mohamed, A. N. F.Edilbi, et al. 2020. “Modelling the Shimokita Deep Coalbed Biosphere Over Deep Geological Time: Starvation, Stimulation, Material Balance and Population Models.” Basin Research32: 804–829.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Boyd, R.2010. “Transgressive Wave‐Dominated Coast.” In Facies Models 4, edited by N. P.James and R. W.Dalrymple, 265–294. Geological Association of Canada.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Boyd, R., R. W.Dalrymple, and B. A.Zaitlin. 2006. “Estuarine and Incised‐Valley Facies Models.” In Facies Models Revisited, edited by H. W.Posamentier and R. G.Walker, vol. 84, 171–235. SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) Special Publications.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Bridge, J. S.2006. “Fluvial Facies Models: Recent Developments.” In Facies Models Revisited, edited by H. W.Posamentier and R. G.Walker, vol. 84, 85–170. SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) Special Publications.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Dalrymple, R. W.2010. “Tidal Depositional Systems.” In Facies Models 4, edited by N. P.James and R. W.Dalrymple, 201–231. Geological Association of Canada.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Dalrymple, R. W., B. A.Zaitlin, and R.Boyd. 1992. “Estuarine Facies Models: Conceptual Basis and Stratigraphic Implications.” Journal of Sedimentary Petrology62: 1130–1146.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Dickinson, W. R.1995. “Forearc Basins.” In Tectonics of Sedimentary Basins, edited by C.Busby and R. V.Ingersoll, 221–261. Blackwell.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Expedition 337 Scientists . 2013a. “Expedition 337 Summary.” In Proc. IODP, 337, edited by F.Inagaki, K.‐U.Hinrichs, Y.Kubo, and The Expedition 337 Scientists , 1–8. Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International, Inc. https://doi.org/10.2204/iodp.proc.337.101.2013.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Expedition 337 Scientists . 2013b. “Site C0020.” In Proc. IODP, 337, edited by F.Inagaki, K.‐U.Hinrichs, Y.Kubo, and The Expedition 337 Scientists , 14–17. Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Management International, Inc. https://doi.org/10.2204/iodp.proc.337.103.2013.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Gaillot, P., T.Brewer, P.Pezard, and E. C.Ye. 2007. “Borehole Imaging Tools‐Principles and Applications.” Scientific Drilling5, no. 5: 1–4.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Gross, D., A.Bechtel, and G. J.Harrington. 2015. “Variability in Coal Facies as Reflected by Organic Petrological and Geochemical Data in Cenozoic Coal Beds Offshore Shimokita (Japan)—IODP Exp. 337.” International Journal of Coal Geology152: 63–79.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Inagaki, F., K. U.Hinrichs, Y.Kubo, and the Expedition 337 Scientists . 2016. “IODP Expedition 337: Deep Coalbed Biosphere off Shimokita ‐microbial processes and hydrocarbon system associated with deeply buried coalbed in the ocean.” Scientific Drilling21: 17–28.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Inagaki, F., K.‐U.Hinrichs, Y.Kubo, et al. 2015. “Exploring Deep Microbial Life Down to ~2.5 km Below the Ocean Floor.” Science349: 420–424.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Inagaki, F., K.‐U.Hinrichs, Y.Kubo, and the Expedition 337 Scientists . 2012. “Deep Coalbed Biosphere Off Shimokita: Microbial Processes and Hydrocarbon System Associated With Deeply Buried Coalbed in the Ocean.” Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Preliminary Report, 0337. https://doi.org/10.2204/iodp.pr.337.2012.
  20. Ishida, H.2005. “High Natural Gas Potential in the Pacific Ocean Offshore Tohoku: Considering Gas/Energy Cycle in the Hokkaido and Tohoku Areas.” Oil and Natural Gas Review, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC)39, no. 1: 41–56.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Ishikawa, T., and K.Ujiie. 2019. “Geochemical Analysis Unveils Frictional Melting Process in a Subduction Zone Fault.” Geology47: 343–346.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Itoh, Y., O.Takano, S.Kusumoto, and M.Tamaki. 2014. “Mechanism of Longstanding Cenozoic Basin Formation in Central Hokkaido: An Integrated Basin Study on an Oblique Convergent Margin.” Progress in Earth and Planetary Science1: 6.
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Itoh, Y., O.Takano, and R.Takashima. 2017. “Tectonic Synthesis: A Plate Reconstruction Model of the NW Pacific Region Since 100 ma.” In Dynamics of Arc Migration and Amalgamation –Architectural Examples From the NW Pacific Margin, edited by Y.Ito, O.Takano, and R.Takashima, 93–111. InTech.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Kakda, K., T.Tsuji, C.Chhun, and O.Takano. 2020. “Distributions of Gas Hydrate and Free Gas Accumulations Associated With Upward Fluid Flow in the Sanriku‐Oki Forearc Basin, Northeast Japan.” Marine and Petroleum Geology116: 104305.
     [Google Scholar]
  25. McArthur, J. M., R. J.Howarth, G. A.Shields, and Y.Zhou. 2020. “Chapter 7 Strontium Isotope Stratigraphy.” In Geologic Time Scale 2020, edited by F. M.Gradstein, J. G.Ogg, M. D.Schmitz, and G. M.Ogg, vol. 1, 211–238. Elsevier B.V.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Miall, A. D.1996. The Geology of Fluvial Deposits. Springer‐Verlag.
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Miall, A. D.2010. “Alluvial Deposits.” In Facies Models 4, edited by N. P.James and R. W.Dalrymple, 105–138. Geological Association of Canada.
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Noda, A.2016. “Forearc Basins: Types, Geometries, and Relationships to Subduction Zone Dynamics.” Geological Society of America Bulletin128: 879–895.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Osawa, M., S.Nakanishi, M.Tanahashi, and H.Oda. 2002. “Structure, Tectonic Evolution and Gas Exploration Potential of Offshore Sanriku and Hidaka Provinces, Pacific Ocean, Off Northern Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan.” Journal of the Japanese Association for Petroleum Technology67: 38–49. (In Japanese with English abstract).
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Phillips, M. P., D. M.Harwood, and G. J.Harrington. 2016. “Neogene and Early Pleistocene Diatom Biostratigraphy and Age Synthesis of Site C9001/C0020, Northwest Pacific.” Marine Micropaleontology128: 39–49.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Posamentier, H. W., M. T.Jervey, and P. R.Vail. 1988. “Eustatic Controls on Clastic Deposition I‐Conceptual Framework.” In Sea‐Level Changes: An Integrated Approach, edited by C. K.Wilgus, B. S.Hastings, C. G. C.Kendall, H.Posamentier, C. A.Ross, and J. C.van Wagoner, vol. 42, 109–124. SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) Special Publications.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Posamentier, H. W., and R. G.Walker. 2006. “Deep‐Water Turbidites and Submarine Fans.” In Facies Models Revisited, edited by H. W.Posamentier and R. G.Walker, vol. 84, 397–520. SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology) Special Publications.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Reineck, H. E., and I. B.Singh. 1980. Depositional Sedimentary Environments. Springer‐Verlag.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Taira, A., and D.Curewitz. 2005. “Shimokita Area Site Survey: Northern Japan Trench Seismic Survey, Northern Honshu, Japan.”CDEX Technical Report Vol. 2, CDEX‐JAMSTEC, Yokohama.
  35. Takano, O.2017. “Intermittent Formation, Sedimentation and Deformation History of Cenozoic Forearc Basins Along the Northwestern Pacific Margins as an Indicator of Tectonic Scenarios.” In Dynamics of Arc Migration and Amalgamation–Architectural Examples From the NW Pacific Margin, edited by Y.Ito, O.Takano, and R.Takashima, 1–24. InTech.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. Takano, O., T.Fujii, T.Saeki, et al. 2010. “Applications of Sedimentological Methodology to the Methane‐Hydrate Exploration Project in the Eastern Nankai Trough Area.” Journal of the Japanese Association for Petroleum Technology75: 30–41.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Takano, O., Y.Itoh, and S.Kusumoto. 2013. “Variation in Forearc Basin Configuration and Basin‐Filling Depositional Systems as a Function of Trench Slope Break Development and Strike‐Slip Movement: Examples From the Cenozoic Ishikari–Sanriku‐Oki and Tokai‐Oki–Kumano‐Nada Forearc Basins, Japan.” In Mechanism of Sedimentary Basin Formation: Multidisciplinary Approach on Active Plate Margins. 978‐953‐51‐1193‐1, edited by Y.Itoh, 3–25. InTech.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Takano, O., and T.Tsuji. 2017. “Fluvial to Bay Sequence Stratigraphy and Seismic Facies of the Cretaceous to Paleogene Successions in the MITI Sanriku‐Oki Well and the Vicinities, the Sanriku‐Oki Forearc Basin, Northeast Japan.” Island Arc26: e12184.
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Takano, O., and A.Waseda. 2003. “Sequence Stratigraphic Architecture of a Differentially Subsiding Bay to Fluvial Basin: The Eocene Ishikari Group in the Ishikari Coal Field, Central Hokkaido, Japan.” Sedimentary Geology160: 131–158.
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Vail, P. R.1987. “Seismic Stratigraphy Interpretation Procedure.” In Atlas of Seismic Stratigraphy Part 1, edited by A. W.Bally, vol. 27, 1–9. “Studies in Geology,” American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1111/bre.70042
Loading
Depositional Ages, Sequence Stratigraphy and Transition Process of Forearc Setting From Paleogene Restricted Bay/Estuarine to Neogene Open‐Marine Deltaic/Slope Systems in the Sanriku‐Oki Forearc Basin, Northeast Japan
Basin Research 37, e70042 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.70042
/content/journals/10.1111/bre.70042
/content/journals/10.1111/bre.70042
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): basin‐type transition; borehole resistivity image; depositional system; forearc basin; IODP Expedition 337; Sanriku‐oki basin; seismic facies; sequence stratigraphy

Most Cited This Month Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error