Continuous distribution pattern and the origin of the high‐velocity layer in the Pearl River Mouth Basin in the northern South China Sea: Constraints by gravity modelling

The high‐velocity layer in the lower crust is widely distributed in the northern continental margin of the South China Sea. A detailed anatomy of the high‐velocity layer is crucial for understanding the continental rifting and crustal thinning. Based on three seismic reflection profiles across the Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB) and the global free‐air gravity anomaly data in this study, by the gravity modelling we construct the crustal structure along three seismic reflection profiles across the depression and uplift zones. The free‐air gravity anomaly data within the uplift and depression zones indicates the distinct zonation, and the high and low values of free‐air gravity anomalies in the basin show the northeastward trend. Based on the gravity modelling along the three seismic profiles, the crustal thickness is of 12–23 km beneath the basin and thickness of the crust is gradually thinning from the continental shelf to the continental slope. The high‐velocity layer extends eastward to the Dongsha Uplift and terminates westward beneath the Baiyun Sag. The average thickness of the high‐velocity layer is 4–6 km and the maximum thickness is about 8 km at the Dongsha Uplift. The thickness variation of the high‐velocity layer suggests the continuous distribution of mantle underplating and intense magma activity. According to the isolated distribution and the continuous distribution of the high‐velocity layer found by previous studies in the northern South China Sea, we use gravity modelling to test which models of the high‐velocity layer within the PRMB are reasonable. According to testing models and preferred models of the crustal structure by gravity modelling, we propose that the continuous distribution pattern of the high‐velocity layer is the best model to interpret the crustal thinning characteristics and the gravity anomaly responses of the high‐velocity layer in the basin. We propose that the high‐velocity layer in the Pearl River Mouth Basin was formed by the long‐term underplating of the high‐temperature melted mantle.