南海碳酸盐台地分布自早中新世开始发育，至中中新世达到鼎盛，再到晚中新世大量台地被淹没而逐渐消亡。从分布看，南海碳酸盐台地具有南早北晚、东早西晚的发育规律；从堆积速率看，中中新统速率最大。控制这些台地的诞生、发育演化和消亡的因素十分复杂，可能包括构造活动、相对海平面的变化、陆源碎屑物质输入变化、古海洋环境变化。
The evolution of the Cenozoic reefs-carbonate platform is considered a part of the South China Sea opening, and plays an important role in the deepwater hydrocarbon reservoirs, the global carbon circulation, and the South China Sea tectonic history. The platforms were formed during the early Miocene, and flourished during the early Middle Miocene. However, they became drowned since the Middle Miocene, and many platforms disappeared during the Quaternary. It is found that the carbonate platform of the South China Sea sees a developmental pattern from south to north and from east to west. The highest accumulation rate of the platform was reached during the Middle Miocene. The control of the platform life history is very complex. But the most important four factors are the tectonic activities, the changes in the relative sea level, the changes in the input of the terrestrial detrital materials, and the changes in the paleo-ocean environment, and they are considered to control the development and the death of the reefs-carbonate platform.
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