Impact of basement thrust faults on low-angle normal faults and rift basin evolution: a case study in the Enping sag, Pearl River Basin

Abstract. Reactivation of pre-existing structures and their influence on subsequent rift evolution have been extensively analysed in previous research rifts that experienced multiple phases rifting, where were deemed to affect nucleation, density, strike orientation, displacement newly formed normal faults during later rifting stages. However, studies paid less attention the extensional superimposing onto an earlier compressional background, leading a lack understanding of, e.g. reactivation growth pattern thrust as low-angle impact high-angle structures. This study investigating spatial relationship between intra-basement rift-related Enping sag, northern South China Sea, indicates system is built previously deformed basement with pervasive thrusting major fault area results from faults. It also implies mode dependent overall strain distribution across rifts, scale faults, shadow zone. In addition, reactivated dip, nearby new causing them nucleate at or merge into downwards it, which representative coupled decoupled models work not only provides insights interacting but has broader implications for how structures, evolution, syn-rift stratigraphy.