New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics abstracts
Origin of the Northland Ophiolite, northern New Zealand: discussion of
new data and reassessment of the model
Scott A. Whattam
John G. Malpas
Jason R. Ali
Department of Earth Sciences
University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road
Hong Kong, China
Ian E. M. Smith
Department of Geology
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92 019
Auckland, New Zealand
email: ie.smith@auckland.ac.nz
Ching-Hua Lo
Department of Geosciences
National Taiwan University
245 Chousan Road
Taipei 106, Taiwan
Abstract This paper discusses new results from the Northland
Ophiolite in northern New Zealand that indicate that it formed in a supra-subduction
zone setting, c. 26-29 m.y. ago, and very near to its late Oligocene obduction
site. This is in contrast to previous studies which have suggested that the
ophiolite is a far-travelled igneous Cretaceous-Paleocene terrane. Cretaceous
rocks formerly mapped as part of the ophiolite are minor and represent an
autochthonous Late Cretaceous-Paleocene volcanic arc. The tectonic setting,
age, and location of formation suggest that the ophiolite formed as part of
the southernmost South Fiji Basin crust. Obduction of the Northland Ophiolite
initiated subduction and volcanism resulting in the development of the Northland
volcanic arc during the early Miocene.
Keywords Northland Ophiolite; Southwest Pacific; Oligocene;
tectonics
G04022; Received 24 March 2004; accepted 13 May 2004; Online publication
date 7 September 2004
New Zealand Journal of Geology & Geophysics, 2004, Vol. 47: 383-389
0028-8306/04/4703-0383 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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