New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts

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A gravity survey of the Wharekauhau Thrust, Palliser Bay, New Zealand

ALASTAIR F. MCCLYMONT

School of Earth Sciences
Victoria University of Wellington
P.O. Box 600
Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract  A gravity survey undertaken at Wharekauhau, Palliser Bay, New Zealand, determines the geometry of the Wharekauhau Thrust. Gravity observations made along two profile lines perpendicular to the strike of the fault, enable two-dimensional models of the thrust and Miocene-Quaternary basin sediments to be constructed. Observed gravity is best modelled by a thrust dipping 25 +/- 10deg. to the northwest over the depth interval 0-1 km. A second fault of steeper but unresolvable dip is modelled in the region of the Wharepapa River, across which Miocene-Quaternary sediments are downthrown c. 100 m to the east. The basin sediments produce a 25 mgal residual gravity low relative to the surrounding greywacke basement rock, which suggests a thickness of 1800 +/- 500 m, similar to previously published estimates.

Keywords  Wharekauhau Thrust; Wairarapa Fault; gravity survey

New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 2000, Vol. 43: 303-306

0028-8306/00/4302-0303 $7.00/0 (c) The Royal Society of New Zealand 2000

Short communication

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (368K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

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