A BRIEF REVIEW OF 1:1000000 MARINE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY AND MAPPING RESULTS OF THE HAINAN SHEET IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

The 1:1000000 marine geological survey and mapping project of Hainan sheet was implemented by Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey during 2006-2011. Detailed investigation and research on bathymetry, geomorphology, surface sediments, late Quaternary stratigraphy and depositional environments, heat flow, faults and magmatic activities, crustal structure, geo-hazards as well as mineral and energy resources have been carried out with various geological and geophysical survey methods. The mainly results of the project are as follows:(1) Submarine canyons, gullies and huge pockmarks have been found and submarine geomorphologic units subdivided using the high resolution bathymetric data; (2) The distribution patterns of surface sediments, minerals and geochemistry have been analyzed; (3) The Late Quaternary depositional sequences has been established and the changes in climate and environment analyzed; (4) The crustal structure of the area has been inversed with the integrated gravity, magnetic and seismic data; (5) Geo-hazards, such as slides, buried channels, shallow gas and mud diapirs, have been found in the survey area; (6) Petroleum prospects, gas hydrates and solid mineral resources with possible commercial value have been evaluated; (7) The bathymetric map, geomorphological map, geological map, tectonic map, mineral resource map and geo-hazard map as well as a series thematic geophysical maps have been compiled and submitted.