New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts

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Shore platforms at +6-8 m above mean sea level on Banks Peninsula and implications for tectonic stability

AILEEN LAWRIE

Department of Geography
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract Two levels of interglacial platforms are identified on Banks Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand. The oldest is 6-8 m above present sea level and was formed during the Last Interglacial. Evidence supporting this is the presence of loess deposits overlying the upper platforms and proxy dated at 31 ka, the presence of lower, younger platforms, and sea-level records for the late Quaternary showing sea level at 2-8 m in height globally at c. 120 ka. The upper platforms were formed by a high sea level (6-8 m above present) when the coast south of Banks Peninsula was well inland from the present coast. As a consequence, the Last Interglacial platforms extend westward of the lower platforms. The lower platforms are at an elevation of 1 m above mean sea level and are Holocene in age. These platforms are cut into the foot of the upper marine platforms. The presence of an interglacial shore platform at an elevation of 6-8 m above present sea level strongly suggests that Banks Peninsula was either tectonically stable or subject to very low rates of movement since the formation of these features. It is most likely that Banks Peninsula has been stable at least during late Quaternary time.

Keywords marine platforms; Banks Peninsula; sea level; Quaternary; Last Interglacial; tectonic stability

Received 28 May 1993; published 3 December 1993
New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 1991, Vol. 36: 409—415
0028Ð8306/06/3604—0409 ©The Royal Society of New Zealand 1991

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1240K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process). Digitisation of this article from the printed journal was kindly facilitated by the Geological Society of New Zealand

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