Cenozoic tectonics and paleogeography of continental fragments between Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand  


Authors / CoAuthors

Sutherland, R. | Collot, J. | Bache, F. | Stagpoole, V. | Viskovic, P. | Rouillard, P. | Hashimoto, T. | Hackney, R. | Higgins, K.L. | Rollet, N.

Abstract

The Tasman Frontier region includes c. 3,000,000 sq km of seabed that is thought to be underlain by crust with continental affinities: the Lord Howe Rise, Bellona Trough, Challenger Plateau, Dampier Ridge, Middleton Basin, Fairway Basin, New Caledonia Trough, Norfolk Ridge System, Reinga Basin, and deep-water parts of Taranaki and Northland basins. We have compiled and interpreted c. 100,000 line km of archival seismic reflection data. Using seismic stratigraphy tied to Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) wells, we identify a tectonic and stratigraphic event that we refer to as the 'Tectonic Event of the Cenozoic Tasman Area' (TECTA). This Middle Eocene to Late Oligocene event involved regional uplift followed by 1-2 km of tectonic subsidence of topographic highs, and >2 km of tectonic subsidence in the New Caledonia Trough. Strata below the TECTA reflector (or seismic unit in some places) are locally folded or reverse faulted. We present seismic-stratigraphic evidence that numerous islands were transiently created by uplift on the Lord Howe Rise during the TECTA event. We suggest that the underlying cause of the TECTA event was initiation of the subduction system that has since evolved into the Tonga-Kermadec system. Note: Abstract for initial submission; acceptance to be confirmed.

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nonGeographicDataset

eCat Id

73418

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EGD  

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Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)  
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia

Keywords

  • External PublicationAbstract
( Theme )
  • tectonic history
( Theme )
  • palaeogeography
( Theme )
  • sedimentary basins
( Theme )
  • tectonostratigraphy
( Theme )
  • seismic reflection
Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
  • Earth Sciences
  • Published_Internal

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2012-01-01T00:00:00

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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence    

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