Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-zzh7m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T09:25:02.880Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The mid-Cretaceous transition from basement to cover within sedimentary rocks in eastern New Zealand: evidence from detrital zircon age patterns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2012

CHRISTOPHER J. ADAMS ,
NICK MORTIMER ,
HAMISH J. CAMPBELL  and
WILLIAM L. GRIFFIN
CHRISTOPHER J. ADAMS
Affiliation:
GNS Science, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
NICK MORTIMER
Affiliation:
GNS Science, Private Bag 1930, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
HAMISH J. CAMPBELL*
Affiliation:
GNS Science, PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand
WILLIAM L. GRIFFIN
Affiliation:
ARC Key Centre for Geochemical Evolution and Metallogeny of Continents, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
*
‡Author for correspondence: h.campbell@gns.cri.nz
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Detrital zircon U-Pb ages for 30 Late Jurassic and Cretaceous sandstones from the Eastern Province of eastern New Zealand, combined with previously-published geochronological and palaeontological data, constrain the time of deposition in the Pahau and Waioeka terranes of the Cretaceous accretionary margin of Zealandia, and their adjacent cover strata. The zircon age patterns also constrain possible sediment source areas and mid-Cretaceous geodynamic models of the transition from basement accretionary wedge to passive-margin cover successions. Pahau Terrane deposition was mainly Barremian to Aptian but continued locally through to late Albian time, with major source areas in the adjacent Kaweka and Waipapa terranes and minor inputs from the inboard Median Batholith. Waioeka Terrane deposition was mainly Albian, with distinctive and exclusive sediment sources, principally from the Median Batholith but with minor inputs from the Western Province. Alternative tectonic models to deliver such exclusive Median Batholith and Western Province-derived sediment to the mid-Cretaceous Zealandia continental margin are: (1) the creation of a rift depression across Zealandia or (2) sinistral displacement of South Zealandia with respect to North Zealandia, to expose Western Province rocks directly at the Zealandia margin. Detrital zircon age patterns of Cretaceous cover successions of the Eastern Province of eastern New Zealand demonstrate purely local sources in the adjacent Kaweka and Waipapa terranes. Cretaceous zircon components show a decline in successions of late Early Cretaceous age and disappear by late Late Cretaceous time, suggesting the abandonment or loss of access to both the Median Batholith and Western Province as sediment sources.

Keywords

New ZealandCretaceousTorlesse TerranePahau TerraneWaioeka Terranesedimentary basinU-Pb datingdetrital zirconprovenance
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 150 , Issue 3 , May 2013 , pp. 455 - 478
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adams, C. J, Campbell, H. J. & Griffin, W. R. 2007. Provenance comparisons of Permian to Jurassic tectonostratigraphic terranes in New Zealand: perspectives from detrital zircon age patterns. Geological Magazine 144, 701–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adams, C. J., Campbell, H. J. & Griffin, W. R. 2008. Age and provenance of basement rocks of the Chatham Islands: an outpost of Zealandia. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 51, 245–59.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adams, C. J., Campbell, H. J. & Griffin, W. L. 2009 a. Tracing the Caples Terrane through New Zealand using detrital zircon age patterns and radiogenic isotope signatures. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 52, 223–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adams, C. J. & Kelley, S. 1997. Provenance of Permo-Triassic and Ordovician metagreywacke terranes in New Zealand: evidence from 40Ar/39Ar dating of detrital micas. Geological Society of America Bulletin 110, 422–32.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adams, C. J., Mortimer, N., Campbell, H. J. & Griffin, W. L. 2009 b. Age and isotopic characterisation of metasedimentary rocks from the Torlesse Supergroup and Waipapa Group in the central North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 52, 149–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adams, C. J., Mortimer, N., Campbell, H. J. & Griffin, W. L. 2011. Recognition of the Kaweka Terrane in northern South Island, New Zealand: preliminary evidence from Rb-Sr metamorphic and U-Pb detrital zircon ages. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 54, 291–309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allibone, A. H. & Tulloch, A. J. 1997. Metasedimentary, granitoid and gabbroic rocks from central Stewart Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 34, 83–6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Andrews, P. B., Speden, I.G. & Bradshaw, J. D. 1976. Lithological and paleontological content of the Carboniferous-Jurassic Canterbury Suite, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 19, 791–819.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnes, P. M & Korsch, R. J. 1990. Structural analysis of a middle Cretaceous accretionary wedge, Wairarapa, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 33, 355–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barnes, P. M. & Korsch, R. J. 1991. Melange and related structures in Torlesse accretionary wedge, Wairarapa, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 34, 517–32.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bassett, K. N. & Orlowski, R. 2004. Pahau Terrane type locality; fan delta in an accretionary wedge trench-slope basin. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 47, 603–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Begg, J. G. & Johnston, M. R. 2000. Geology of the Wellington Area. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences 1:250000 Geological Map 10.Google Scholar
Begg, J. G. & Mazengarb, C. 1996. Geology of the Wellington Area. Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences 1:50000 Geological Map 22.Google Scholar
Bishop, D. G., Bradshaw, J. D. & Landis, C. A. 1985. Provisional terrane map of South Island, New Zealand. In Tectonostratigraphic Terranes (ed. Howell, D. G.), pp. 515–21. Houston, Texas: Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources Earth Science Series No. 1.Google Scholar
Bradshaw, J. D. 1972. Stratigraphy and structure of the Torlesse Supergroup in the foothills of the Southern Alps near Hawarden (S60-61), Canterbury. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 15, 71–87.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradshaw, J. D. 1973. Allochthonous Mesozoic fossil localities in a melange in the Torlesse Group of North Canterbury. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 3, 161–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradshaw, J. D. 1989. Cretaceous geotectonic patterns in the New Zealand region. Tectonics 8, 803–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradshaw, J. D., Weaver, S. D. & Muir, R. J. 1996. Mid-Cretaceous oroclinal bending of New Zealand terranes. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 39, 461–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Campbell, H. J., Grapes, R. & Handler, M. 1993. Mukamuka: Geology of the Northwest Corner of Palliser Bay, Wairarapa. Geological Society of New Zealand Miscellaneous Publication No. 66, 28pp.Google Scholar
Campbell, J. D. & Warren, G. 1965. Fossil localities of the Torlesse Group in the South Island. Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand 3, 99–137.Google Scholar
Cawood, P. A., Nemchin, A. A., Leverenz, A., Saeed, A. & Ballance, P. F. 1999. U/Pb dating of detrital zircons: implications for the provenance record of Gondwana margin terranes. Geological Society of America Bulletin 111, 1107–09.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, R. A. 2004. A New Zealand Geological Timescale. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Monograph No. 22.Google Scholar
Crampton, J. S. 1989. An inferred Motuan sedimentary melange in southern Hawkes Bay. New Zealand Geological Survey Record 40, 3–12.Google Scholar
Crampton, J. S. 1997. The Cretaceous Stratigraphy of the Southern Hawkes Bay – Wairarapa region. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Science Report 97/08, 92pp.Google Scholar
Crampton, J. S., Tulloch, A. J., Wilson, G. J., Ramezani, J. & Speden, I. G. 2004. Definition, age, and correlation of the Clarence Series stages in New Zealand (late Early to early Late Cretaceous). New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 47, 1–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davy, B., Hoernle, K. & Werner, R. 2008. Hikurangi Plateau: crustal structure, rifted formation, and Gondwana subduction history. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 9. Published online 3 July 2008. doi: 10.1029/2007GC001855 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Delteil, J., Morgans, H. E. G., Raine, J. I., Field, B. D. & Cutten, H. N. C. 1996. Early Miocene thin-skinned tectonics and wrench faulting in the Pongaroa district, Hikurangi margin, North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 39, 271–82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DiVenere, V. J., Kent, D. V. & Dalziel, I. W. D. 1994. Mid-Cretaceous paleomagnetic results from Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica: a test of post-100 Ma relative motion between East and West Antarctica. Journal of Geophysical Research 99, 15115–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eagles, G. K., Gohl, G. K. & Larter, R. D. 2004. High resolution animated tectonic reconstruction of the South Pacific and West Antarctic margin. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 5. Published online 10 July 2004. doi: 10.1029/2003GC00657 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feary, D. A. 1979. Geology of the Urewera greywacke in Waioeka Gorge, Raukumara Peninsula, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 22, 693–708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Field, B. D., Uruski, C. I., Beu, A., Browne, G., Crampton, J., Funnell, R., Killops, S., Laird, M., Mazengarb, C., Morgans, H., Rait, G., Smale, D. & Strong, C. P. 1997. Cretaceous and Cenozoic Development and Hydrocarbon Geology of a Plate Margin: East Coast Region, New Zealand. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Monograph No. 19, 301pp.Google Scholar
Foley, L. A., Korsch, R. J. & Orr, T. O. H. 1986. Radiolaria of Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous ages from the Torlesse Complex, eastern Tararua Range, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 29, 481–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gaina, C., Müller, D., Royer, J-Y., Stock, J., Hardebeck, J. & Symonds, P. 1998. The tectonic history of the Tasman Sea: a puzzle with thirteen pieces. Journal of Geophysical Research 103, 12412–33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graham, I. J. 1985. Rb-Sr geochronology and geochemistry of Torlesse metasediments from the Central North Island, New Zealand. Chemical Geology (Isotope Geosciences Section) 52, 317–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jackson, S. E., Pearson, N. J., Griffin, W. L. & Belousova, E. A. 2004. The application of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) to in situ U-Pb zircon geochronology. Chemical Geology 211, 47–69.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kamp, P. J. J. 1999. Tracking crustal processes by FT thermochronology in a forearc high (Hikurangi margin, New Zealand) involving Cretaceous subduction termination and mid-Cenozoic subduction initiation. Tectonophysics 307, 313–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kamp, P. J. J. 2000. Thermochronology of the Torlesse accretionary complex, Wellington, New Zealand. Journal of Geophysical Research 105, 19253–72.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kimbrough, D. L., Tulloch, A. J., Coombs, D. S., Landis, C. A., Johnston, M. R. & Mattinson, J. M. 1994. Uranium-lead zircon ages from the Median Tectonic Zone, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 37, 393–419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Korsch, R. J. & Wellman, H. W. 1988. The geological evolution of New Zealand and the New Zealand region. In The Ocean Basins and Margins, Volume 7: The Pacific Ocean (eds Nairn, A. E. M., Stehli, F. C. & Uyeda, S.), pp. 411–82. New York: Plenum.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Laird, M. G. & Bradshaw, J. D. 2004. The break-up of a long-term relationship: the Cretaceous separation of New Zealand from Gondwana. Gondwana Research 7, 273–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, J. M. & Begg, J. G. 2002. Geology of the Wairarapa Area. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences 1:250000 Geological Map 11.Google Scholar
Lee, J. M., Bland, K. J., Townsend, D. B. & Kamp, P. J. J. 2011. Geology of the Hawkes Bay Area. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences 1:250000 Geological Map 8.Google Scholar
Leonard, G. S., Begg, J. G. & Wilson, C. J. N. 2010. Geology of the Rotorua Area. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences 1:250000 Geological Map 5.Google Scholar
Ludwig, K. R. 2003. Users’ manual for Isoplot/Ex Version 3.0. A geochronological toolkit for Microsoft Excel. Berkeley Geochronological Center Special Publication No. 3.Google Scholar
MacKinnon, T. C. 1983. Origin of the Torlesse terrane and coeval rocks, South Island, New Zealand. Geological Society of America Bulletin 94, 967–85.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mazengarb, C. & Harris, D. H. M. 1994. Cretaceous stratigraphic and structural relationships of Raukumara Peninsula, New Zealand: stratigraphic patterns associated with the migration of a thrust system. Annales Tectonicae 8, 100–18.Google Scholar
Mazengarb, C. & Speden, I.G. 2000. Geology of the Raukumara Area. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences 1:250000 Geological Map 6.Google Scholar
Moore, P. R. 1988. Structural Divisions of Eastern North Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Geological Survey Record No. 30.Google Scholar
Moore, P. R. & Speden, I. G. 1984. The Early Cretaceous (Albian) Sequence of Eastern Wairarapa, New Zealand. New Zealand Geological Survey Bulletin No. 97, 98pp.Google Scholar
Mortimer, N. 1994. Origin of the Torlesse Composite Terrane and coeval rocks, North Island, New Zealand. International Geology Review 36, 891–910.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortimer, N., Herzer, R. H., Gans, P. B., Parkinson, D. L. & Seward, D. 1998. Basement geology from Three Kings Ridge to West Norfolk Ridge, Southwest Pacific Ocean: evidence from petrology, geochemistry and isotopic dating of dredge samples. Marine Geology, 148, 135–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortimer, N., Hoehnle, K., Hauff, F., Palin, J. M., Dunlap, W. J., Werner, R. & Faure, K. 2006. New constraints on the age and evolution of the Wishbone Ridge, southwest Pacific Cretaceous microplates, and Zealandia-West Antarctica break-up. Geology 34, 185–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortimer, N., Tulloch, A. J. & Ireland, T. R. 1997. Basement geology of Taranaki and Wanganui Basins, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 40, 223–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortimer, N., Tulloch, A. J., Gans, P., Calvert, A. & Walker, N. 1999 a. Geology and thermochronometry of the east edge of the Median Tectonic Batholith (Median Tectonic Zone): a new perspective on Permian to Cretaceous crustal growth of New Zealand. The Island Arc 8, 404–25.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mortimer, N., Tulloch, A. J., Spark, R. N., Walker, N. W., Ladley, E., Allibone, A. & Kimbrough, D. L. 1999 b. Overview of the Median Batholith, New Zealand: a new interpretation of the geology of the Median Tectonic Zone and adjacent rocks. Journal of African Earth Sciences 29, 257–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muir, R. J., Weaver, S. D., Bradshaw, J. D., Eby, G. N., Evans, J. A. 1995. The Separation Point Batholith, New Zealand: granitoid magmas formed by the melting of mafic lithosphere. Journal of the Geological Society of London 152, 689–701.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muir, R. J., Ireland, T. R., Weaver, S. D. & Bradshaw, J. D. 1996. Ion microprobe dating of Paleozoic granitoids: Devonian magmatism in New Zealand and correlations with Australia and Antarctica. Chemical Geology 127: 191–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muir, R. J., Ireland, T. R., Weaver, S. D., Bradshaw, J. D., Waight, T. E., Jongens, R. & Eby, G. N. 1997. U-Pb geochronology of Cretaceous magmatism in northwest Nelson-Westland, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 40, 453–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norvick, M. S., Smith, M. A. & Power, M. R. 2001. The plate tectonic evolution of eastern Australia guided by the stratigraphy of the Gippsland basin. PESA Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium Melbourne 25–28 November 2001, 15–22. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Norvick, M. S., Langford, R. P., Hashimoto, T., Rollet, N., Higgins, K. L. & Morse, M. P. 2008. New insights into the evolution of the Lord Howe Rise (Capel and Faust basins), offshore eastern Australia, from terrane and geophysical data analysis. PESA Eastern Australasian Basins Symposium III, Sydney, 14–17 September 2008, 291–309. Petroleum Exploration Society of Australia.Google Scholar
Pickard, A. L., Adams, C. J. & Barley, M. E. 2000. Australian provenances for Upper Permian to Cretaceous rocks forming accretionary complexes on the New Zealand sector of the Gondwanaland margin. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 47, 987–1007.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rattenbury, M. S., Townsend, D. B. & Johnston, M. R. 2006. Geology of the Kaikoura Area. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences 1:250000 Geological Map 13.Google Scholar
Reay, M. B. 1993. Geology of the Middle Clarence Valley. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Geological Map 10.Google Scholar
Roser, B. P. & Korsch, R. J. 1999. Geochemical characterisation, evolution and source of a Mesozoic accretionary wedge; the Torlesse terrane, New Zealand. Geological Magazine 136, 493–512.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schellart, W. P., Lister, G. S. & Toy, V. G. 2006. A Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic reconstruction of the Southwest Pacific region: tectonics controlled by subduction and slab rollback processes. Earth Science Reviews 76, 191–233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Silberling, N. J., Nichols, K. M., Bradshaw, J. D. & Blome, C. D. 1988. Limestone and chert in tectonic blocks from the Esk Head subterrane, South Island, New Zealand. Geological Society of America Bulletin 100, 1213–23.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Speden, I. G. 1976. Fossil localities in Torlesse Rocks of the North Island, New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 6, 73–91.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spörli, K. B. & Ballance, P. F. 1988. Mesozoic ocean floor/continent interaction and terrane configuration, SW Pacific area. In: The Evolution of Pacific Ocean Margins (ed. Ben-Avraham, Z.), pp. 179–190. Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics No. 8.Google Scholar
Suggate, R. P., Stevens, G. R. & Te Punga, M. T. 1978. Geology of New Zealand, Volume 1. New Zealand Geological Survey, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington, New Zealand.Google Scholar
Sutherland, R. 1999. Basement geology and tectonic development of the greater New Zealand region: an interpretation from regional magnetic data. Tectonophysics 308, 341–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tulloch, A. J. & Kimbrough, D. L. 1989. The Paparoa Core Complex, New Zealand: Cretaceous extension associated with the fragmentation of the Pacific margin of Gondwana. Tectonics 8, 1217–34.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tulloch, A. J. & Kimbrough, D. L. 2003. Paired plutonic belts in convergent margins and the development of high Sr/Y magmatism: Peninsular Ranges Batholith of Baja California and Median Batholith of New Zealand. In Tectonic Evolution of Northwest México and the Southwestern USA (eds Johnston, S. E., Paterson, S. R., Fletcher, J. M., Girty, G. H., Kimbrough, D. L., & Martín-Barajas, A.). Geological Society of America Special Paper No. 374, 275–95.Google Scholar
Tulloch, A. J., Ramezani, J., Mortimer, N., Mortensen, J., Van den Bogaard, P. & Maas, R. 2009. Cretaceous felsic volcanism in New Zealand and Lord Howe Rise (Zealandia) as a precursor to final Gondwana break-up. In Extending a Continent: Architecture, Rheology and Heat Budgets (eds Ring, U. & Wernicke, R.), pp. 89–118. Geological Society of London Special Publication 21.Google Scholar
Turnbull, I. M., Allibone, A. H. 2003. Geology of the Murihiku Area. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences 1:250000 Geological Map 20.Google Scholar
Turnbull, I. M., Allibone, A. H. & Jongens, R. 2010. Geology of Fiordland Area. Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences 1:250000 Geological Map 17.Google Scholar
Uruski, C. I. 2010. New Zealand's deepwater frontier. Marine and Petroleum Geology 27, 2005–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wandres, A. M., Bradshaw, J. D., Weaver, S., Maas, R., Ireland, T. R. & Eby, N. 2004. Provenance analysis using conglomerate clast lithologies: a case study from the Pahau terrane of New Zealand. Sedimentary Geology 167, 57–89.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, G. J. & Helby, R. 1988. Early Cretaceous dinoflagellate assemblages from Torlesse rocks near Ethelton, North Canterbury. New Zealand Geological Survey Record 35, 38–43.Google Scholar
Wood, R. A., Andrews, P. B., Herzer, R. H., Cook, R. A., Hornibrook, N. de B., Hoskins, R. H., Beu, A. G., Maxwell, P. A., Keyes, I. W., Raine, J. I., Mildenhall, D. C., Wilson, G. J., Smale, D., Soong, R. & Watters, W. A. 1989. Cretaceous and Cenozoic geology of the Chatham Rise region, South Island, New Zealand. New Zealand Geological Survey Basin Studies No. 3, 76pp.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Adams Supplementary Material

Appendix

Download Adams Supplementary Material(File)
File 818.2 KB